The local manat money will take you a long way...In ashkabad, the old sheraton, now Grand Turkmen, has a very nice swimming pool, the restaurant is cheap but a bit dull. Opposite the hotel there is a nice pub / restaurant, as well as a market with fresh fruits etc...
Have a look at the largest carpet in the world, negotiate a taxi for the day to drive you around...Remember that all carpets needs a licence to get exported, so a cheap one is not cheap without a licence.
Every else is nominal as an ex russia sops