How to Revive Faith in Yourself and Love Life, or “Quba Palace Hotel” as a Cure for Depression

(A guest review worthy of a separate publication)

Have you ever had a feeling when you desperately want to take a break, but there’s neither time nor desire to travel abroad? When your body insists on a reset, your stress levels are sky-high, and you feel disconnected from reality, almost turning into a misanthrope? That’s exactly what happened to me.

On top of everything, I had a huge fight with my fiancé, who is crazy about active leisure: skiing in Shahdag in winter, diving in oceans in the summer, and golf for the "light" option. Feeling offended by his unwillingness to tolerate my whims, I decided to breathe some freedom (mountain air, to be precise) and escape for the weekend. Choosing my destination wasn't difficult; since I love mountains, snow, and real winter, and I was absolutely not inclined towards active recreation, I set my eyes on my beloved Guba. The first hotel that caught my attention on the famous booking website was the Quba Palace Hotel. It simply enchanted me, resembling a fairy-tale palace surrounded by mountains, fields, and lakes, close enough to the city yet seemingly detached from urban bustle. It whispered to me: "Come, here you’ll find everything you need to escape from everyone and everything."

Checking out the hotel’s website, I discovered that everything I needed for relaxation was available: a SPA offering various massages, a beauty salon, sauna, pool, restaurants for every taste, bowling, and even a nightclub. I gleefully noted they also had trapshooting (I already pictured the target I'd aim at) and... golf! "Watch out, sweetheart," I thought, "I'll go away, learn how to play golf, and we'll see who's the capricious one!"

Choosing a room wasn't easy—I hesitated between one with a mountain view and one with a lake view, but ultimately settled on a cozy room with two separate beds. I wasn’t brave enough to travel alone, so I invited my beloved sister, for which she now loves me even more.

Of course, ideally, I wanted to book one of the villas, each resembling a real palace, and imagine myself as its owner. Everything there suits my taste: wooden walls and floors, cozy carpets, pools... But then I decided it’d be nicer in summer (as the pool is open-air), especially if my future husband paid for it. Did you notice? Even while choosing, I had already mentally forgiven him. Leaving the villa as a future dream, I booked our room, and my sister and I set off.

My intuition was right: as soon as we left the city, the stress began to melt away. Arriving at the hotel territory, I realized that happiness exists, and fairytales are real. The expansive golf course captured my heart with its scale, terrain, and a promise of future victories.

Upon settling in, I understood that the best antidepressant is a change of scenery—specifically, the scenery of Guba. The rugged mountain landscape softened by pristine snow, and the calm lake surface had a truly relaxing effect. Just sitting by the window and gazing outside made me feel grateful, calm, and proud of my magnificent homeland.

The service was impeccable: registration was quick, and the staff was exceptionally courteous. Our room greeted us with soft bathrobes, towels, cosmetic amenities, and a convenient hairdryer. Our favorite feature was the balcony in every room, perfect for selfies and breathing in fresh mountain air.

We indulged ourselves fully: after breakfast, we enjoyed a relaxing SPA session, sauna, and massage, then spent the afternoon exploring hotel entertainment. After "shooting away" my "fears, doubts, and stresses" (exactly what I wrote on the target!), I felt truly refreshed. Now, I’m planning to return and fully experience the 18-hole golf course praised so highly by the staff.

In the evening, we visited the cozy lounge bar, enjoyed delicious desserts and cocktails, and further relaxed with pleasant music.

I wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to all my friends and family, especially those with children, as it offers everything for an ideal family vacation.

I know I’ll definitely be back.