I had a strange and disappointing experience at the Oriyo. I agreed with the manager to extend my stay the day before my flight for an additional $60, which I was happy to pay. The evening prior, I was told my room had been sold and I had to move (after I already paid for the extension). I was using the room as an evening/weekend office, so I was very unhappy when the manager broke our agreement to sell the room. He then claimed he could do nothing about it. When I asked who is in charge, he laughed in my face and said he was.

The hotel attempts many strange things (heated floors, a Jacuzzi) but then misses the basics of a one-star hotel. The pictures in the elevator look great, but:

• When I asked if there were non-smoking rooms I was told they are all non-smoking, but I could smoke anywhere I liked.
• There are many other things that are not right with this hotel. Except for one front desk staff who works at different hours, all others speak almost no English.
• There lux room was enormous. The TV was 20 meters from the bed and only had three English channels (all news). The room had a china cabinet, 4 end tables, a vanity but NO DESK!
• The room was not cleaned regularly. You had to make a special request!
• When the maid cleaned the room, she unplugged the refrigerator with my perishables inside. In addition, she moved all my belongings and mixed up my work papers.
• There is not a proper shower in the bathroom. One must squat in the Jacuzzi—very inconvenient.
• For breakfast I was sent to a ballroom and had to bang on the kitchen door and try and communicate with a cook who spoke no English. The daily omelet was disappointing.
• The café is almost never open.
• I could never locate the gym, pool, sauna (I suspect it is closed or never opened)
• The place was noisy with loud guests congregating and smoking in the hall at midnight.
• For $100 per night I was told I was getting a good discount off the $120 rack rate (other long stays were getting a third off)—total poor value in my extensive travel experience.

There are better values in Dushanbe. Avoid Hotel Oriyo at all costs.