The "Astra" sign was a bit hidden at night, it looked like the taxi had brought me instead to the Connaught. Ah no, it's QonaQui, Kazakh for hotel, it's the right place.
Friendly efficient staff, good location 200 m from Almaty-2 main railway station. Boxy, somewhat worn business hotel, thin walls, noisy mobile conversations in corridors. But clean, comfy & inexpensive, fine for a short stay before travelling on.