Street Address: 4 Neglinnaya Street - Moscow, Russia

Location: Very Good.

Nearest Metro:

Staff Speaks English? Yes.

Would I Stay Here? Certainly.

* The Best Hotel In Moscow. Extremely Impressive, Brand New Facility *

Although quite expensive, this hotel is value-priced compared to its peers and offers a better deal with the finest hotel facility in the city together with lower pricing.

The Hyatt opened in 2003 and features 219 modern, well-designed, tastefully decorated rooms. And the rooms are very much larger than normal. I really loved their yellow and black marble combinations in the bathrooms. Everything about this hotel is very modern, very nice, very comfortable. The facility is spotless - perfectly clean. The ninth floor diplomatic room is their nicest, with interesting city views and of course - a fantastic bathroom. The hotel actually has a small Armenian church hidden inside of it. This is because the hotel owner is Armenian. On the top floors are fantastic bar and sitting areas with great city views from up high. You can go outside and stand along a railing for a better city view. Simple food like a hamburger will cost you 15 bucks up there. Great hang-out spot. And their fitness center is certainly one of the best equipped among the city's luxury hotels.

One other note: If you are afraid of heights, you might have some difficulty here. There is a 10 or 11 story atrium. Beneath the railing on all floors is clear glass. It gave me pause to be there, and I think for some with a big fear of heights, it could provoke a panic attack.

The hotel is close to the metro, the Bolshoy Theater, and Red Square is a short walk away. Because it is so comfortable and generous in its appointments, the Ararat Park Hyatt is one of my top recommendations for Moscow.

Hotel Arbat     K    +7 (095) 244-7628        www.hotelarbat.ru       email: hotelarbat@hotmail.com

Street Address: Plotnikov Lane, 12 - Moscow, Russia

Location: Very Good

Nearest Metro: Smolenskaya

Staff Speaks English? Yes.

Would I Stay Here? Yes.

* Castro Was Here *

The Hotel Arbat is over 40 years old. When communist leaders from other countries came to Moscow, this is where they stayed, including Castro. The location of the hotel is very good because the neighborhood is desirable and Arbat Street is maybe a 3 minute walk away.

I was told an interesting story by the front desk person: from time to time they get a customer who provides proof that they paid for their reservation through an online hotel reservation service, and the hotel knows nothing about it! She spoke of one gentleman from the United States who had paid for his hotel stay and then learned after arriving in Moscow that he had no reservation and that the hotel had received no money. The hotel was also fully booked. The man was in tears over his dilemma. The hotel went to work calling local hotels and found him a place to stay. I think if you want to stay here, deal with the hotel directly to avoid this problem. I got the impression they want nothing to do with the online reservation services.

The lobby area is a bit dated. On the ground floor is a purple and black themed bar. There is a regular restaurant. Both are nothing dazzling. A hairdresser is on the ground floor also, plus a souvenir stand.

The hotel has brand new "Kone" elevators. I detected a slight mustiness in one of the halls. The rooms have hardwood floors. The bathrooms are nice. Rooms have a type of (new) portable air conditioning unit that must be set up in order to operate. The rooms may be slightly dated.

The hotel is not on the cutting edge of comfort. It is just okay. Room rates are currently $130 to $245 (as of March 21, 2004). People with an interest in history might get a kick out of staying here. I think for similar money you can get a better deal at the nearby Belgrad.

However, you are much less likely to get run over on the way to Arbat Street when you stay at the Hotel Arbat compared to the Belgrad.

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