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. Railway station - 5 minutes.
Services are infrequent, always full and station staff can be astoundingly surly or even hostile.
Since independence, Turkmenistan has seen an increase in the number of cars, leading to heavy congestion on major routes in Ashgabat during rush hour. Turkmenistan shares borders with Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the east, Afghanistan to the southeast and Iran to the south. To the west is the Caspian Sea. The land of Turkmenistan has been inhabited for thousands of years. Some buildings over 2000 years old are still standing in the towns and villages, forming the walls of contemporary houses.