Hotel As Shams International

This place felt a bit overpriced for what it offered. Bangladesh often experiences power outages; being on the 9th floor meant a tough and hot climb up the stairs. The owner offers currency exchange, but the fees are quite high, so I wouldn't recommend it. There's no sink or hairdryer in the room, though towels and soap were provided. The ceiling fan works but is very noisy (as is the generator during power cuts). We did get complimentary water and a box of tissues. The hotel is within walking distance from the station, or a rickshaw ride costs 50 Taka. You can definitely find better hotels in the same price range.

As a solo female traveler, I've had experiences where some accommodations gave me an unwelcoming look or even refused my stay. So, I was really grateful that this place happily accepted me.

The hotel is exceptionally convenient, with plenty of great food options right downstairs and easy access to everywhere.

Extremely small, incredibly dirty, and the facilities are ancient. The sheets and pillows were covered in black stains. There were bugs everywhere – big ones, small ones, biting ones, non-biting ones. When I opened the cabinet, dozens of bugs scurried out. I was bitten all over my head and hands overnight, it was so painful and itchy! My arms and back, where they touched the sheets, were absolutely ravaged with dozens of bites! Seriously, do NOT try to save money by staying here, it's a cheap price but you'll pay for it in blood.

Considering the low price, having Wi-Fi was a definite plus. It had all the basic amenities I needed.