These reviews are a bit dated. They were written in March 2004, but still might be useful.
If you're going to Russia, be sure to check out St. Petersburg too. Find useful information here:
Alphabetical listing of Moscow hotels.
Central Moscow Hotels which are inside or close to the Garden Ring.
Closest hotels to Moscow's exhibition center park.
* * *
Best located
hotel for tourists
* * *
Best bathrooms in the guest rooms out of all Moscow hotels.
- First Place:
Ararat Park Hyatt
- 2nd Place: Renaissance Hotel
* * *
Best themed
guest rooms of all Moscow hotels.
- First Place: Zvezdnaya Hotel
* * *
Best value in
a Moscow hotel.
* * *
Best hotel near Moscow's Sheremetyevo 2 Airport.
Novotel Sheremetyevo 2 Moscow Airport Hotel
* * *
Best hotel near Moscow's Domodedovo Airport.
Air Hotel
* * *
Best Guest Relations Pro at a Moscow hotel.
Michael Sergienko
Renaissance Hotel
* * *
Best pool at a Moscow hotel.
* * *
Best fitness center at a Moscow hotel
* * *
Best casino at a Moscow hotel.
* * *
Best fish tanks in a Moscow hotel.
* * *
The Best hotel in Moscow.
* * *
Most pathetic front desk staff of all Moscow hotels.
* * *
Weirdest hotel in Moscow.
* * *
Worst smell in a Moscow hotel.
* * *
Most atrocious odor in a Moscow hotel lobby men's room.
* * *
Most expensive Moscow hotel with the worst customer service attitude.
* * *
Most unusual pet/mascot kept in a Moscow hotel lobby.
An owl at... Svershkov 8 Hotel
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The Moscow hotel where you will most likely be accused of being a spy
* * *
The only two Moscow hotels that offered me a drink:
- Hotel Akvarel
-
Hotel Tatiana
The only two Moscow hotels that had a lobby employee eagerly and immediately greet me and ask how they could assist me (the moment I entered the hotel).
-
Katerina City Hotel
- Renaissance Hotel
* * *
Going to Saint Petersburg, Russia? Check out my Saint Petersburg hotel reviews here. Info on 175+ hotels.
Need an English speaking guide in either Moscow or Saint Petersburg? This is our specialty. Click here.
* * *
About the hotel critic:
Ed Ryder started "Russian Guide Network, Inc." in early 2002 for the purpose of offering English-speaking guide services in Saint Petersburg. Sorely needed was comprehensive hotel information for tourists. He visited every hotel he could find and posted his reviews on the company's site at:
In 2004, Ryder expanded his company's offerings to Moscow and he decided to visit every hotel he could find within the Moscow city limits during March/April 2004. The results of that work are posted here on this site:
Interested in buying this domain
name? It's possible. But it won't be cheap.
Email:
ideamaned@yahoo.com
Write in English and put "VisitMoscow.com" in the subject title.
Russian Guide Network, Inc.
P.O. Box 4107
Elwyn, PA 19063
USA
Street Address: 1/2 Leninsky Prospect - Moscow, Russia
Location: Good.
Nearest Metro: Oktyabrskaya
Staff Speaks English? No.
Would I Stay Here? Hmm... I'm not sure.
From their brochure...
"Ladies and Gentlemen! We are glad to inform you that 'Academicheskaya' hotel has been renovated. Today you may sence absolutely new quality of the whole comfort and high level service. New comfortable rooms with modern furniture, fine interior, cosy atmosphere are at your service."
Here is reality:
1. The exterior appearance of the building lowered my expectations by quite a lot.
2. The brand new, stylish lobby surprised me and raised my expectations back up.
3. Then the standard floors shocked me.
It was a roller coaster.
I was surprised to see 13" televisions in their "half luxury suites." Bathroom lighting is subdued. I don't like that. There was a strange odor in the 3rd floor hallway. There is no air conditioning. The only room I saw that seemed comfy to me was room 319. I got the impression that locals use the hotel for "quickies." The nicest part of the hotel is the lobby. Unless you are prepared (mentally) for rough conditions, don't get an un-renovated room. Those old rooms have very unattractive bathrooms. As of March 22, 2004 pricing ranges from $47 to $200. Restaurants and shops are all around in the surrounding busy neighborhood. Yet, I advise travellers to go elsewhere for a room. The Academicheskaya is nothing spectacular at all. Check out the Warsaw Hotel instead, which is in the same neighborhood. That is a much better value.
Aerostar Hotel J +7 (095) 213-9000 www.aerostar.ru
Street Address: 37 Leningradsky Prospect, Korpus 9 - Moscow, Russia
Location: I guess it is good if you want to be close to Sheremetyevo Airport
Nearest Metro: Dinamo
Staff Speaks English? Yes.
Would I Stay Here? Yes.
* Canadian Managed *
The Aerostar is a Russian/Canadian joint venture. The hotel has Canadian management and Canadian chefs. It opened in May 1991. The hotel was actually built for the 1980 Olympic Games, but it never opened in time and was used for another purpose until being taken over by its current management. The hotel has 343 rooms.
The Aerostar is a quality hotel. They have a clean, nice-looking lobby. All staff are professionally dressed. They have 2 comfortable restaurants and 2 bars, plus a two room fitness center. Complimentary champagne is served in the evening. For those staying on their executive floor, you get access to the executive lounge, which includes free use of a boardroom. Another executive level perk is the DVD room, where you can choose from their DVD library and watch a movie in their special DVD lounge - for executive floor customers only. The hotel has ample free parking. The corridors are really nice. The rooms are tastefully decorated and of very good quality. Their Borodino restaurant was the winner of the "Best Restaurant In Moscow" and the "Best Chef Award" according to their sales literature.
I found the Aerostar to be a pleasant surprise. They have nice areas to eat and relax. The rooms are comfortable. But you sure can't walk to the Kremlin from here. The hotel has a one-way shuttle bus at 8:15 every morning that heads into the center of the city. On weekends they offer a shuttle to Izmailovo souvenir market. Room prices are currently $235 to $275 (as of 3/26/2004).
Aerostar Update 8/31/2004: The Canadians have been thrown out. The hotel has been seized with force by a Russian business group. And the hotel is closed.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040817.whotel0817/BNPrint/International/
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2004/08/17/001.html
Air Hotel..... at Domodedovo Airport J +7 (095) 795-3572 www.eastline.ru
Street Address: 500 meters up the main road from the airport. Moscow Region.
Location: Excellent if you need a hotel room by the airport. The city and anything else is far, far away.
Nearest Metro: Domodedovskaya
Staff Speaks English? Yes.
Would I Stay Here? Yes.
Air Hotel has a "Best Eastern" affiliation. It is owned by East Line. They operate the Domodedovo Airport and also have an airline. I did not have high expectations when I arrived and I was quickly and pleasantly surprised as soon as I walked in the door. This is a very high quality facility.
They have a good pool table room (American billiards), a good gym, 2 cash machines, a large, fancy restaurant, 2 nice little bar areas, and a free shuttle to the airport which runs 24 hours. Security is very good.
The hotel has 294 rooms. They say they are always busy. I see no other hotel anywhere near here. The rooms were renovated in 2001. Everything - the whole hotel - looks brand new. And it is not difficult to find a hotel worker who understands English. They have a very good service attitude here.
As for the rooms, they are all very good. Excellent quality. As of April 1, 2004 room rates range from 83 y.e. to 281 y.e. for their best club suite, which includes a fireplace. Taxes and breakfast are included. I think the hotel is a good deal.
- y.e.
- c.u.
- u.e.
- units
Previously these currency designations meant "dollar equivalent." When the dollar began to lose value, businesses began to set their own exchange rates. It could be that a y.e. or a unit or whatever they are calling it, is worth 33 rubles, or 35 rubles, or 30 rubles, instead of the going dollar exchange rate, which as of early April 2004 is worth around 28 rubles to the dollar. It is a way for a business to set their own exchange rate.
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