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Vladivostok
Hotels
by
Kevin McCaughey
Convenience and comfort can be costly in Vladivostok. Complicating
matters is the need to be registered as a foreign visitor, and
not all hotels can do this. Really though, you only need to register
the first night. That means you could move to a cheaper place afterwards,
saving your receipts in case some official asks for documentation.
Near the Train Station
This area is accustomed to travelers so foreign registration should
not be a problem. Exit the train station, and find the statue of
Lenin. That’s the direction to go to find the hotels.
Hotel Moryak. We’re
not talking luxury, but the price is a little lower than most hotels
in the area. The hotel
has no sea view and is almost exclusively used by visiting Chinese.
Still, you can walk to Svetlanskaya Street in 30 seconds. There’s
also sauna, karaoke, and billiards for fun-lovers. A “lux” room
will go for about $90 US. A regular single or double $35 US.
There’s a first night “bron,” or reservation
fee, for 10-25% of the daily price.
Address: Posyetskaya 38. To get there
from the train station, walk up to the statue of Lenin. Behind
him runs Ulitsa Posyetskaya.
Go right, you immediately cross Pervaya Morskaya, and head upward.
When you start heading down again, you’ll probably see Chinese
guys smoking cigarettes on your right. That’s Hotel Moryak.
Contacts: (4232) 49-94-95
Hotel Primorye. The place seems interested
in its casino, but it’s
quite decent. Some English spoken. Over a hundred rooms. Try to
get one with views of the train station and Golden Horn Bay. Too
bad the little branch of “Pizza M” downstairs is undergoing ‘remont.’ That
could last literally for years.
Address: Posyetskaya 20. Across from the train station, climb the
steps past Lenin, and turn left. Walk for 1 minute and find the
Primorye on your left. Contacts: (4232) 411-422
Hotel Vladivostok. On
the hill overlooking the Amursky Bay. Economy rooms are 1300R (about
$50 US) though these
may be booked by package
tours from China, and you might have fork out $80 -100 US. I heard
someone at the desk speak English here once. A plus is that you
can reserve online: http://www.vladhotel.vl.ru/en/price.php. The
fourth floor is the Hotel Visit, a separate hotel. They usually
put foreigners here, so you can bypass the desk on the main floor
if you like.
Address: Ul. Naberezhnaya 10, corner of Naberezhnaya and Tigrovaya.
Contact: (4232) 41-28-08, 41-27-97
Hotel Amursky Zaliv. Across the street
from the Hotel Vladivostok and down some stairs, you’ll find
two concrete edifices shaped like giant armchairs with stain-glass
windows. These are the Amursky
Zaliv hotel and its brother nightclub Nautilus. They may sometimes
be without hot water from May to September, and that’s why
singles go for as little as 550 rubles ($20 US). Rooms have
little balconies looking over the bay, a great place to lounge
at sundown.
Address: Naberezhnaya 9. Don’t
let the address fool you—it’s
not really on a street. The hotel is built in to the side of the
cliff. Contacts: (4232) 22-55-20
Hotel Chaika. Go
ahead and try. But the place is always full. A double costs $45
US, the quality is so-so, and they will not register your visa.
Address: Bestyuzheva 29. Contacts: (4232) 41-43-87.
Hotel Versailles. The elegant approach
for your dollars (about 140 of them). Very convenient if you need
the German Consulate,
which is in the same building. Only 42 rooms. The restaurant gets
good reviews.
Address: 10 Svetlanskaya St. Contacts: (4232) 26-51-14, 26-94-84
Schkot Peninsula/Egersheld
Egersheld is the thin strip of land south of the train station.
Hotel Gavan. The Gavan bills itself
as a business hotel, located in a place where you would never do
any business, or even end up
if you weren’t staying there. It’s a nice location
though, out on the peninsula, but you’ll need a vehicle,
public transport, or 30 minutes on foot to get to the train station.
They have their own water supply, which, as the web site promises, “will
prevent you from any negative circumstances.” The advertise
Economy rooms for about USD $60/95 single/double. To use the 25-meter
pool for free you’ll need to book a Standard room.
Address: 3 Krygina St. Contacts: (4232) 495-363, 512-415. email
hotel@gavan.ru. Web site: http://www.gavan.ru
Near Pokrovsky Park
Now you are out of the tourist area, but still in the city center.
Pokrovsky Park is at the intersection of three very central streets,
Aleuskaya St., Okeansky Prospekt, and Ulitsa Oktyabryaskaya. Octryabryaskaya
heads along the right (or south) side of the park and becomes Partizansky
Prospekt. A few minutes walk up Paritzansky you’ll find two
cheapie hotels side by side, but neither will do registration.
Hotel Aviso. A
small and hidden place, with small beds. But it’s
clean and personal. A room with shower and toilet is 900 rubles
($30 US). That’s a good price if there are two of you. You
can also just book a bed at 350 rubles ($13) in a room of four
beds and hope
nobody
else shows up.
Address: Partizansky Prospekt 16/18.
Bus stop: Partizansky Prospekt. The entrance is behind the building.
Ring the bell. Contacts: telephone
(4232) 42-63-10 or 42-63-09
Hotel Areal. The
Areal is next to the Aviso, right at the Partizansky Bus stop.
Singles/doubles: 800/1200
rubles ($30/$45 US).
Address: Partizansky Prospekt 22-19. Contacts: telephone (4232)
42-16-15
Off Okeansky Prospekt
Hyundai Hotel. Strictly for the “it’s-on-the-company” crowd.
Standard singles and doubles go for 5400R (nearly two $200). You
get the Presidential Suite for USD $2,000. Don’t ignore the
Hyundai though—it has attractive services even for non-guests.
A two-hour pass to the swimming pool and exercise room costs 180R.
Downstairs, you’ll also find a travel agent, hair salon,
flowers, souvenirs, and 2 bankomats. On the first floor: video/DVD
rental available, and a Korean restaurant. The waitresses and the
drink prices are very tall in the Pacific Bar on the 12th floor.
Address: 29 Semyonovskaya St. (uphill from Okeansky Prospekt).
Contacts: (4232) 40-22-33. web site: www.hotelhyundai.ru
Tikhaya Region
Hotel Ostrovok. In
the midst of some serious outdoor rubble and remont, you’ll
find, amazingly, the clean and comfy Hotel Ostrovok. It is in the
region of Tikhaya, 30 minutes from the center,
but right on the tram line. A 5-ruble ride will get you here from
the central square. A taxi ride will 100 rubles ($3.5). The staff
here is kind, the place as yet undiscovered by tour hordes. The
rooms
are Spartan but spotless. The sauna complex downstairs is a deal,
starting from 600R ($22) per hour—bring five or six friends.
Rooms: 800R ($30) single. 1200R ($45) double. 2000R (70) for “lux.” They
don’t
do registration.
Address: Brisance St. 35. Tram stop: Borisenko. From the train
station or central square take Tram 4 toward Sakhalinskaya. Borisenko
is two stops from the end. Look for a tall newish building among
the wasteland terrain on your left. Contacts: (4232) 21- 55-15
Sanitoria Region
On the way to/from the airport.
Vlad Motor Inn. The place to be for those
who don’t want
to know they are in Russia. You’re removed from the hustle
of the city, in the suburb-like sanitarium area, and you’re
near the water. Everybody speaks English and makes you feel good.
The restaurant is popular with local expats. The steaks and burgers
are big and yummy. The Sunday Brunch (11:00-2:00, $13.00) is
popular and fun—it’s even wise to reserve--with local
guitarist Fyodor singing songs in English, French, and Russian.
(Even the author of this Vladivostok guide has been known to bring
his ukulele and do a couple numbers).
Lots of prospective adopters of children stay here. Price is around
$150: but discounts for Trans-Siberian Express travelers and those
adopting kids.
Address: #35, 8th Street, Sanatoraya. Contacts: (4232) 38-88-88.
Website: www.vlad-inn.ru
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