There are no restrictions on where foreigners can stay in Turkmenistan. When Turkmenistan gained independence, there was an acute shortage of hotel accommodation, a situation which the Turkmen are working hard to rectify. Feverish hotel construction is underway in Ashgabat. A row of luxury hotels has recently been built on the edge of town along a road known locally as the 'Miracle Mile'. These are small hotels with between 15-40 rooms that are owned and run by various ministries and governmental organisations.
Architectural motifs are mosques, palaces and fortresses.
Every provincial centre has at least one hotel, but visitors should not expect Western standards of comfort and amenities. Accommodation and services in hotels are payable in hard currency, usually US Dollars. It is sometimes possible for travellers to obtain accommodation in them. There are campsites on the shores of the Caspian Sea, and the facilities are in the process of being improved.