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Home - City Guide - Moscow - Accommodation | ||
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Accommodation Rumours of cheaper prices in Eastern Europe do not seem to cross the Russian border, at least as far as Western-standard accommodation is concerned. Moscow can be an expensive place to stay, but many people (especially those in business) feel it is worth paying for the comprehensive services and minimised language problems that the large international hotels offer. Security is not always high at anything less than a five-star hotel. Hotels formerly belonging to the Soviet travel agency Intourist (as well as those they still own) are more hit-and-miss for facilities and standards and often have more spartan and out-of-date furnishings, but they do offer a sense of atmosphere lacking in the chain hotels and many are located within walking distance of the Kremlin. Even more rewarding (and much cheaper) can be a stay in a Russian home - there are many agencies that will organise home stays or bed & breakfast accommodation, and often individual Russians will approach Westerners at the city's main railway stations to offer a place to stay in a private room or flat. Hotel bookings may be made through Mosintour (tel: (095) 276 2677); but there are also a number of other private agencies. Russian Company for Tourism, Liza Chaikina 1 (tel: (095) 785 0995), comes highly recommended or try Moscow Bed & Breakfast (tel: (095) 457 3508). There is a Room, Food and Beverage Tax (VAT) of 20% in Moscow. Hotel Metropol Moscow Teatralny proezd 1/4, 103012 Moscow Tel: (095) 927 6000. Fax: (095) 927 6010. E-mail: moscow@interconti.com Web site: www.interconti.com/russia/moscow/ Cost: US$360-400. A grand hotel built in 1905, the Metropol faces onto the same square as the Bolshoi Theatre. The hotel was renovated in 1990 and now offers 415 rooms and a range of facilities, including restaurants serving Russian and international cuisine, a business centre, fitness centre, casino, shops and a beauty salon. Kempinski Hotel Baltschug Moscow Balchug ulitsa 1, 113035 Moscow Tel: (095) 230 6500. Fax: (095) 230 6502. E-mail: oksana.balandina@kempinski.com Web site: www.kempinski-moscow.com Cost: US$350-450 (plus VAT). One of Moscow's most distinguished addresses, this historic five-star hotel (the façade dates from 1898) faces the Kremlin across the Moskva River. It offers elegant dining in Le Romanoff restaurant, serving Russian-European cuisine, as well as a buffet restaurant, café, bar and lounge. There are 234 guest rooms, meeting rooms and banqueting facilities, and a swimming pool and full fitness centre for relaxation. Novotel Moscow Sheremetyevo II Airport Sheremetyevo 2, 103339 Moscow Tel: (502) 220 6611 or (095) 926 5900. Fax: (502) 220 6604 or (095) 926 5903. E-mail: novotel.reservations@com.ru Web site: www.novotel.com Cost: US$267.60 (including VAT but not breakfast). The Novotel offers 488 rooms near the international airport. Its nine meeting rooms (capacity 250) offer secretarial support and translation services. For relaxation, there is the Atrium restaurant, a fitness centre and swimming pool, shops and a nightclub. Hotel Savoy Rozhdestvenka ulitsa 3, 103012 Moscow Tel: (095) 929 8500. Fax: (095) 230 2186. E-mail: infahotel@ntu.ru Cost: US$257.04. Moscow's Savoy is one of the oldest luxury hotels in the city and is located in the main administrative and financial district. Its 86 guest rooms are complemented by a range of facilities, including boutiques, a casino, bars, banqueting and conference rooms, a business centre and an art gallery. The Savoy Restaurant is considered to be one of Moscow's finest. Mezhdunarodnaya-1 Krasnopresnenskaya naberezhnaya 12, 123610 Moscow Tel: (095) 258 2122. Fax: (095) 253 2051. E-mail: booking@wtc.msk.ru Web site: www.wtcmo.ru Cost: US$234-300 (plus VAT). Part of the World Trade Centre in Moscow and a short walk from the Expocentre fair ground, this five-star hotel is ideally situated for business travellers. Some of the 577 rooms overlook the Moskva River, as do all the suites. Business and conference facilities are supplemented by a fitness centre, shopping gallery, casino, nightclub, café, restaurants, bars and other services. Moscow Marriott Grand Hotel Tverskaya ulitsa 26, 103050 Moscow Tel: (095) 935 8500. Fax: (095) 935 8501. Web site: www.marriott.com/marriott/mowgr/ Cost: US$229 (plus VAT). Despite its elegant fin-de-siècle appearance, this five-star hotel was only built in 1997. Located on Moscow's finest shopping street, it has 390 rooms, four restaurants and lounges, seven meeting rooms, a business centre, health club and swimming pool. Radisson Slavjanskaya Hotel Berezhkovskaya naberezhnaya 2, 121059 Moscow Tel: (095) 941 8020. Fax: (095) 240 6915. Web site: www.radisson.com Cost: US$219 (breakfast and VAT not included). On the banks of the Moskva River between the Kremlin and the International Expo Centre, sits this modern hotel with 410 rooms. In addition to the Business Services Centre (fax, computer, translation and secretarial services), there are ten meeting rooms and a 548-seat conference hall. Other facilities include a fitness centre, four restaurants, bank/bureau de change, and a casino. Hotel Intourist Tverskaya ulitsa 3, 103009 Moscow Tel: (095) 956 8400. Fax: (095) 956 8450. E-mail: intour@dialup.ptt.ru Web site: www.intouristhotel.com Cost: US$146 (including VAT). Amex not accepted. It may not be pretty from the outside, but with its central location and good tourist information services, the Intourist is not a bad option. The hotel has 458 rooms, three restaurants, a banquet room, bars, casino and a nightly variety show. Hotel Rossiya Varvarka ulitsa 6, 101435 Moscow Tel: (095) 232 6046. Fax: (095) 232 6262. Cost: US$90. Only MasterCard and Visa are accepted. With 3100 rooms, the Rossiya is one of the largest hotels in Europe. Since opening in 1967, its size and central location (facing the Kremlin) have insured that it has developed a reputation. There is a health club, hairdresser, and conference and business facilities, in addition to some very long corridors. One of its restaurants, Tokyo, is reputed to serve the best Japanese cuisine in Moscow. Traveller's Guest House 10th Floor, Bolshaya Pereyaslavskaya ulitsa 50, 129041 Moscow Tel: (095) 280 9030. Fax: (095) 280 7686. E-mail: tgh@glasnet.ru Cost: US$48. Only MasterCard and Visa are accepted. The best bet for the independent budget traveller, this American-run hostel offers basic facilities (laundry, café, bar) just to the north of the Garden Ring Road. Helpful advice and tourist information is readily provided. |