How to Find Cheap Hotels in Baku, Azerbaijan

Nearly 20 percent of the Azerbaijan population lives in Baku, a city in Transcaucasia, believed to mean "God's City." The capital is located along the Silk Road, which has been hosting travelers for centuries and has been a hub of merchant trade. Baku is wrapped around a harbor called Baku Bay and lies on the Apsheron Peninsula. Considered the crowning glory of the Caucasus area, Baku features many restaurants, a seaside promenade and beautiful garden areas.

Things You'll Need

• A computer with Internet access

Instructions

Know Your Destination

1. Plan to spend a day seeing the Ategah Fire Temple, which is the only thing of its kind outside of India. It is known for its imposing structure and sheer majesty.

2. Get a feel for ancient times at the Qobustan Museum, an open-air structure that has thousands of inscriptions scrawled on rocks.

3. Dare to beat the maze of alleys in the city that ends in an area known as Acropolis of Baku.

4. Get some cheap tickets. Baku has plenty of opera, ballet and theatrical productions.

Select Your Accommodations

1. Contact local tourist offices for furnished apartment or house rentals within Baku, which are a cheap alternative to the name brand hotels.

2. Visit Baku in the summer months to take advantage of cabins and camping in the countryside.

3. Select a hotel that has in-room kitchens as a cheap solution for eating at restaurants every day.

4. Save money by staying at cheap Baku hotels that have minimal amenities. Rates at these places start at $50 a night.

5. Splurge on elegant European-styled hotels with restaurants, luxurious décor, swimming pools and spas. Rooms at these hotels generally cost more than $200 a night.

6. Choose a central location. Stay at an inn or hotel near Ichari Shahar, which means the Inner City or Old Town, where you can shop for hidden treasures and view the Bronze Age burial chambers.

Organize Your Transportation

1. Book a flight from Europe to Baku because there are more flight options. Heydar Aliyev Bina International Airport has been renovated with the help of German engineers for improved safety and efficiency.

2. Take a bus in Baku because the transport system connects to most major towns in Azerbaijan.

Tips & Warnings

• There are numerous Internet cafes throughout Baku so you can keep up with your email while staying in this ancient city.

• All kinds of cuisine is available-from British and Chinese to Indian and Continental cuisines-because there are many expatriates that have moved to Baku and Azerbaijan.

• Driving a rental car is not recommended because the roads are poorly paved. If you decide to rent a car, you will need an international driver's license.

• It is not safe to use the subway system in Baku due to the fear of electrical fires.

• The train from Georgia to Baku takes 20 hours. If you have a lot of time and like the desert, this is the way to go.