 |
| The sitting room of our Almaty Airbnb. It had wonderful sunlight lighting up all the rooms in the morning. |
We’ve just returned from a 14-day trip across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan—our longest travel stretch ever—and yet, strangely enough, I don’t feel drained. Usually, even a 7- or 10-day holiday ends with me needing a few days to “recover” from the trip. But not this time. This time, I came back feeling light, happy, and somehow… rested.
I’ve been thinking about why. There were days when we walked more than 24000 steps across forests and uneven terrain, there were days we kept hopping across the city at multiple sightseeing points, we also had long train journeys or flights. And alongside we occasionally we got a chance for soaking in the slow joys of Central Asia as well like a nice relaxed lunch in a chaykhana or just catching our breath in one of the many beautiful parks of Almaty. And while the landscapes, markets, mountains, and memories were incredible, there's one unexpected hero that truly made our travel experience smoother, warmer, and surprisingly less exhausting – our Airbnb stays. The warm, welcoming Airbnbs felt like an extension of our own home.
And after this, I can safely say—Airbnb over hotel, every
single time. Let me tell you a little more why I feel this way.
From Skeptic to Believer
This was my first Airbnb experience. Naturally, I had doubts
when I was deliberating between choosing a hotel or an Airbnb in a completely
new country. Will it be safe? Clean? Will it be awkward to stay in someone
else’s home in a foreign land?
I looked through several Airbnb listings and was genuinely
impressed by the warm, welcoming vibe they gave off—many felt more inviting
than mid-range hotels. That led me to choose Airbnbs for about 80% of my trip.
For short layovers where convenience mattered more, I opted for hotels.
From a cost perspective, Airbnbs were a great deal. They
offered more space at a lower price, which was a big plus. Since it was my
first time staying in Airbnbs, I made sure to pick places with excellent
reviews—not just for the homes but also for the hosts. Thankfully, both hosts
turned out to be incredibly responsive and helpful.
On the very first day, when we arrived at our Airbnb in
Almaty, any lingering doubts I had quickly disappeared. The hostess was
exceptionally kind and took the time to patiently answer all my questions,
offering helpful tips that made exploring the city much easier.
One of my favorite features of that home was the beautiful
kitchen, especially the counter that doubled as a dining table. I’ve always
loved open designs like that—where you can cook, sit at the counter, and still
be part of the conversation happening in the living room. It made the space
feel cozy and connected.
As the days passed and we began settling into these
thoughtfully done-up homes in Almaty and Tashkent, I realized something magical
was happening: we weren’t “just traveling”—we were living.
There was space to move, breathe, cook, sit by the window,
watch local life unfold outside the balcony, and just be still. We weren’t
stuck in a cramped hotel room where the bed was the only place to exist.
Instead, we had cozy bedrooms, well-lit kitchens, dining tables where we shared
meals, sofas to stretch out on, and even little corners where each of us could
be alone with our thoughts.
After long days of walking, hiking, sightseeing, and
sometimes just getting lost in beautiful neighborhoods or chaotic bazaars, we
never had that usual ‘hotel fatigue’ I’ve often felt in the past. This time the
thought wasn’t “let’s go back to the hotel”—rather it was “let’s go
home.” That shift in vocabulary says it all.
 |
| It was a pretty Airbnb in Almaty |
 |
| The sofa could be converted into a bed if you had more members |
 |
| The bedroom of the Airbnb |
 |
| Our bedroom. It was spacious and had wonderful lighting |
The Joy of a Simple Home-Cooked Meal, in a Foreign Land
One of the biggest blessings of staying in an Airbnb was
being able to cook.
Traveling can often wear you out because your body doesn’t
get the rest or the nourishment it truly needs. Eating restaurant food twice or
thrice a day, no matter how tempting, gets tiring. But here, we had the option
to cook our meals, and we embraced it. And mind you this was not just for
saving some bucks, because both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are pocket friendly
countries where you don’t break a bank when you eat outside. But it was more
for eating what our body is accustomed to so that we keep healthy during this
long tour.
We shopped from local markets—Green Bazaar and Chorsu Bazaar
were full of fresh fruits, vegetables, teas, and spices. That local produce
ended up on our plates. We didn’t just taste the country’s food—we cooked
with it. You begin to understand a country far more deeply when you cook its
tomatoes or brew its tea in your own kitchen.
After walking for hours, navigating new cultures and
languages, nothing feels more grounding than a simple, home-style meal. We
cooked humble fare—dal, stir fried sabzi, omelet, simple chicken curry. No
frills, just love. And eating that warm food, seated around a proper dining
table, watching a YouTube travel vlog, while chit chatting about the day—that
was luxury. Not silver platters in five-star dining rooms, but hot food from
your own hands, made with local ingredients and shared with your loved ones. We
never had to crave for Indian food because we carried our home with us, right
inside the Airbnb kitchen.
It was slow travel. It was slow cooking. And it was perfect.
And honestly, there's something deeply grounding about washing vegetables, stirring a pot of curry, or sipping chai made just the way you like it in a foreign land.
 |
| Chicken Marination in progress. We kind of repurposed lal food items we had. So we had got some dahi from air astana which we didn't consume on the flight. We carried it with us and it came handy for marinating the chicken. |
 |
| We just marinated the chicken and throwed in some essential spices and let it cook on its own with an occasional stir or tasting and voila we had such a delicious chicken curry. |
 |
Egg curry or dimer jhol. But can you tell the vegetable used in the curry? It's pumpkin. Weird? Not really. In Bengal we do make egg curries with vegetables also and we got excellent sweet pumpkins in the green bazar of Almaty. Since I'm a big pumpkin fan so this was probably the best way to bring them home and taste them. Let me tell you it was absolutely delicious  |
 |
| Dal making in progress |
 |
| Alu peyajkoli bhaja - one of the quick meal recipes. The spring onions were flavourful and very delicious |
 |
| Egg curry with pumpkin |
 |
| Multitasking in the kitchen. |
 |
| Boiling Eggs for egg curry |
 |
| The cooking utensils were of very solid quality. It was triple layer and we could make rice with ease in it. |
 |
| Look at the size of the garlic cloves |
 |
| Again a simple masoor dal with a tadka of pach foron. Simple, and homely prep |
 |
| Our stash of groceries we carried from india. The ready to eat dal chawal was a life saver on day one as we landed late and by the time we finished settling down we were super exhausted to cook. So we just popped the packets in hot water, let it sit for ten minutes and dinner was ready. It was tasty and convenient. |
 |
| The Kitchen |
 |
| All the pots and pans were of solid quality and it was a joy to cook in them. Heat retention and distribution was great. |
 |
| This little pot was super handy for boiling milk, prepping two cups of tea. It may look small but it had a good capacity. |
Life in the Neighborhood
Our Airbnbs were nestled in actual residential neighbourhoods—not
touristy hotel zones. There were children playing in small parks just outside
our window. Old uncles walking hand-in-hand with their grandkids. Gardeners
tending to flowering bushes. Cats sunning themselves in courtyards. The rhythm
of daily life in Tashkent or Almaty became part of our story too.
And us—sitting in our balcony with tea mugs in hand,
watching life unfold.
One rainy evening in Tashkent, we simply sat and watched the
raindrops blur the world outside while sipping a hot cup of chai. It was so
beautiful, so simple. These are moments hotels don’t usually offer. These are
the kind of slow, quiet memories that only come when you're staying in
someone’s home.
 |
| Some of the faraway snow capped mountain |
 |
| Some of the faraway snow capped mountain |
 |
| The neighbourhood |
 |
| Kids playground in the apartment premise |
The Joy of Local Connections
Right below our Airbnb in Almaty, there was a small 24*7 utility
store. We’d go there to grab essentials—water bottles, snacks, medicines.
Across the street, a woman sold fresh vegetables and fruits. We got cherries
and bananas from her along with some vegetables. And because it was a
neighbourhood shop the prices were much cheaper than wholesale markets like
Green bazar. We once had a wonderful little chat with her and stumbled upon a
hilarious language twist—turns out, “onion” is called pyaaz in
Kazakh too! Earlier, we were struggling to explain what we
needed, trying all sorts of gestures and words. Then, in a moment of mild
frustration, we switched to Bengali and said, “How do we make them understand
we want peyaz?” To our surprise, the lady picked up on that word instantly and
exclaimed, “We also call it peyaz!” We all burst out laughing—it was such a
wholesome moment of unexpected connection! That little moment, that warmth—it
wouldn’t have happened in a hotel.
Airbnb, by design, encourages you to live like a local, not a tourist. You don’t just pass through a city. You live in it, even if for a few days.
 |
| The neighborhood shop of vegetable and fruits |
 |
| So many fresh fruit options. Especially since we were there around the eid time so they used to bring lots of fruits. |
 |
| More fruit shopping from neighborhood shop |
Thoughtful Hosts, Unexpected Kindnesses
We met some truly wonderful hosts. Warm, responsive,
respectful—and genuinely interested in making our stay a pleasant one. In fact,
we even left a few thank-you gifts for them because it felt more personal than
just a commercial transaction.
In one apartment, we found extra cooking oil, spices,
biscuits, expensive coffee left behind for guests. She also sent me some local
activities details in WhatsApp which might be of interest. In another, the host
patiently guided up for resetting the router or finding the stash of hidden cutlery
leading to some lighter moments. These weren’t hotel concierges trained to
smile. These were real people who opened their doors and shared their space.
These Little Joys…
There was a day we laughed endlessly trying to decode milk
labels in a Kazakh supermarket. 3.2%, 6.5%, 7.2%—was it fat content? Taste
intensity? We had no clue, and the language barrier made it even funnier. But
in the middle of that confusion, we laughed, we guessed, we adapted.
We cooked. We chatted while someone chopped onions and
someone else flipped omelets. We watched travel vlogs and Masha & the Bear during
our chores. We soaked in the joy of doing nothing at all.
 |
| So many milk options you are always confused what to pick |
Cleaning Up—Because It Matters
And here’s the thing about Airbnb: when you step into a home
that is sparkling clean, thoughtfully arranged, and smells like care, it’s only
natural you treat it with the same respect. Not because anyone forces you to,
but because it just feels right.
In Almaty, our Airbnb was spotless—not even a strand of
hair anywhere. Nothing chipped, nothing out of place. So before checking
out, we set aside time, both in the morning and evening, to restore it to its
original glory.
We swept the floors, vacuumed the carpets and sofas, dusted
all corners. The host had kept beautiful glass vases and fragile pieces around
the home. Out of caution, we had kept them aside during our stay. Before
leaving, we placed each item back in its original spot—like restoring a
delicate artwork.
The kitchen got a deep clean too. Since we’d cooked Indian
meals with haldi and spices known to linger, we washed everything
thoroughly—pots, pans, counters, even boiling water in the utensils after
washing, just to ensure no aroma lingered. The stove, sink, and counters were
wiped twice, and the dish towels and tissues disposed of responsibly.
We even made the beds, tidied the washrooms, emptied trash
bins, folded drying racks, and ensured all switches—ACs, lights, gas—were
turned off. It wasn’t a rule. It wasn’t a chore. It was just what felt right.
Because you’re not just a guest—you’re a respectful visitor
in someone’s sacred space.
Practical Comforts That Just Make Sense
Let’s talk logistics too.
- Space:
You have room. Real, walk-around, unpack-your-suitcase room. No
squeezing between beds or tripping over your own backpack.
- Amenities:
A washing machine, kitchen basics like oil, sugar, tea—many things are
already there, saving you time, money, and effort.
- Privacy:
You can be as quiet as you want. There’s no hotel hallway drama or noisy
room next door.
- Security:
Gated entries, digital locks, multiple passkeys—modern Airbnbs are often
as secure (if not more so) than any hotel.
One Word: Peace
We weren’t bound by buffet breakfast timings. We didn’t have
to deal with over-attentive hotel staff or noisy check-in lines. We had slow
mornings with tea in the balcony. We had restful nights after home-cooked
dinners.
A Final Thought
Of course, not all Airbnbs are equal. You must choose wisely
read reviews, check locations, ensure safety. But when you find the right one,
the experience can be transformational.
And when you’re 4,000 kilometers away from home, that makes all
the difference.
And in a world where travel can sometimes feel rushed,
transactional, and commercial—Airbnb offers you a rare gift: the chance
to feel at home in a new country, to slow down, to live like a local, and to
carry back memories that aren’t just about where you went—but about how you felt.
 |
| Begun bhaja , omlette , dal and rice. Don't go by the charred look of the begun, as it took time for us to get used to the heating time of the gas the Airbnb had. But nonetheless it tasted awesome after a long day of sightseeing |
 |
| The ready to eat dal chawal |
 |
| One of our dinner spread. After coming back from the sightseeing, we would pop into the microwave the food and by the time we freshened up the hot food was ready. We enjoyed our dinner in a leisurely manner in our pajamas talking about the day |
 |
| Almaty is known for its apples |
 |
| Tasting the floral khazakhstan choy or chai for the first time. |
 |
| Black coffee and milk coffee. The coffee was there in the pantry for us to use |
 |
| We got these baby wheat buns from a supermarket. They were supposedly meant for kids lunch boxes but they were so delicious. These were a constant part of our breakfast along with fruits or coffee |
