Way to Russia Talk Lounge

drifter · Just Starting Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 3

I think that you WaytoRussia guys do a great job with all the thorough practical information about Russia in your pages. In my travels in Russia I have vastly utilized it. So I was sure that also short term apartment rental in my next trip to Moscow through your pages would be convenient and without problems.

Unfortunately I am not having a positive experience. The process with the reservation – at least in my case - is being made too uncertain and confusing.
Let me tell you my story:

I made a reservation for 10 days in September for a budget class apartment near Belorusskaja metro. In your classification this is a “CH-apartment.”

***** Date of my submission was August 7.
I of course submitted my reservation in the respective form of the chosen apartment with all the necessary information from my part.

***** On August 9 I got a message from apforward@waytorussia.net. saying that my request was forwarded to Delta Ltd and that I would receive a reply within 24 hours. Further it read that if I did not receive any reply I should contact the Landlord directly. What seemed strange to me in the text was that as contact to the Landlord there were 2 Moscow telephone numbers given, no Email address, no fax number.

***** Today on August 12 I called these numbers. The other was out of use. The other worked and a lady answered. We spoke in English. I introduced myself and gave the references of my reservation. She had no notion of that. I asked what company I have called and she said that they are Continental Holding in Moscow… Yes she knows WaytoRussia, yes they have apartments to rent, no the one that I had mentioned was not available on the dates I wanted. No, she cannot give me any email number where I could continue the booking process for any other apartments. Could I call her after 2 two weeks and then she could tell me which apartments will be free in September for the dates I want… I ended the conversation by saying that this time I seem to need to utilize another operator.

Are you kidding me ? Am I supposed to make a reservation by phone to a company who are not any Delta Ltd, who do not have any email number to contact ? Why did I have to contact the Landlord – why did they not contact me ?
These are rhetorical questions more or less - now I will start to check other possibilities for my accommodation.

Pasha · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2003 7:49 am Post subject: SORRY.

Dear Drifter,

I'm sorry about your experience.
I think you are talking about M. GRUZINSKAYA St. (#m2513kn)

The actual name of our partner company is Debra Ltd. (not Delta Ltd).
We are working with them since the beginning and never had any
problems or unsatisfied customer. Well, they are experiencing some
temporary problem as it's the high vocational season. I'm sure they
will get in touch with you. And you'll have your 10 pleasant September
days in Moscow.

By the way, I want to remind you that:
"WayToRussia.Net is an information resource. We provide information
about possible rental opportunities online, but do not rent out the
apartments ourselves. All communication regarding the apartment
(reservation and payment issues) should be conducted with the
landlords (owners) and operators directly, not WayToRussia.Net."

Sincerely
Pasha

PS If for some reasons they won't contact you soon, pleae feel free to contact me directly and I find the best possible variant for you.

Guest · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2003 8:45 am Post subject: Apartment in Moscow

Dear Drifter,

It is clearly stated on WayToRussia.Net that it is an information resource. We help you to find information about reliable travel service providers on our website, and you can use them directly.

The experience you've had is a misunderstanding. As far as I know, once you submit a request for an apartment in Moscow, you get the next confirmation page where it is written:

"To finalize your reservation you need to contact the landlord directly to confirm your order. Please, refer to the number of your apartment, date of reservation, and "WayToRussia.Net":"

So, to confirm your reservation, you need to contact the landlord by phone (they speak English) and confirm your reservation. No prepayment is taken, so landlords prefer to talk directly to the tenants to make sure they will actually arrive. The phonecall to Russia is not so expensive, and it is much easier to communicate with the landlords by phone, than e-mail (most of them, unfortunately, do not use internet daily, that's why their e-mail addresses are not given).

You contacted the landlord directly, she has an officially registered company called "Continental Holding". As far as I understand from your message, she did not have any apartmetns available, but she agreed to keep your reservation in mind and in case something becomes available for your dates, she would reserve it for you, but she would know in two weeks only.

Debra Ltd. actually refers requests to the landlords directly. This company is now working on creating a specialized call center and customer support center to give a possibility to people to make the whole reservation process (apartments and hotels) by e-mail, without having to phone or talk directly to the landlord. However, it will be given as an option, and will be more expensive, to cover the costs. It will start working in September. You will still have the option of contacting the landlord directly and paying less.

Thank you,
Dmitri / WayToRussia.Net

drifter · Just Starting Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 3

Dear Pasha and Dmitri,

Thank you both for taking time to answer me thoroughly and correcting me in some points. I was surprised to read that Dmitri does not find it odd that all the communication to the landlord ( in Debra Ltd/Continental Holding case ) at the moment goes by phone. Client’s reservation, Continental:s confirmation, payment arrangements, everything ? I would not dare – and I can say that I am not the only one – to face the possibility that because of some misunderstanding or misconduct the apartment that I understand I firmly have booked is not available when I arrive to Moscow. With an email copy with all the correspondence there would be ground to claim a replacement apartment in case of a double booking. But if I refer to some telephone conversations I would not stand a chance: “sorry Mister, we cannot help you…”

For the trip I am planning in September I will book myself to a hotel with all the arrangements to be made by a travel agency in my home country. After the confusing experience with you WayToRussia I turned to another operator
- who received and replied to my emails quickly and with all the right answers and comments – but I had to cancel that too. The reason can be read in the next passage.

This next thing should be under another topic but just to let you know:
the reason for me for not to stay in a short term apartment was the 4 day time it would take to get my visa registered in Moscow. I know that many foreigners do not care about what the law says: all visitors must register themselves if the stay is more that 3 days. I anyhow want to play it safe. My hotel will automatically stamp my visa for the whole period of my staying. Natalya Savtchenko ( you most propably know the name ) from a well known visa service company confirmed this 4 day duration to me. In my 10 day trip including 2 full weekends there are not working days enough to ensure me to get my visa/passport back from the service company before my departure day.
Anyway it was good to learn from N Savtchenko that when handing over the visa/passport the client always gets an official document confirming that the original documents have been taken for registration. This for the possibility that a police man in the street stops the client and checkes his papers.

One more thing: my request was for Kondratievski Pereulok #2402CH. Not the one that Pasha mentioned.

Multimedian · Guest

Dear Drifter.

I too am having a similar experience.

I have not had a reply to my initial submission via the site, so I took the advice of another poster and called direct to a phone number listed for CH apartments. (Butyriski Val St #b2406ch)

I spoke with Vera who had some English, alas I have no Russian but am working on it ! (books arrived today)
The upshot for me too was basically it may/may not be available. Call 1 week before arrival and she will arrange somewhere for me.

Like you this concerns me. No paperwork, nothing definate. Uncertainty as far as clear understanding between parties gos. Not a good situation for a non speaker to face on arrival.
I emphasise I am not distrusting, I just am cautious. All may be fine.

I just mailed info@rentline.ru and explained this an asked if anyone could help liase for me.

Could you please send me that other contact you had for apartments? I arrive on a Monday and am happy to take a taxi direct to the office of my visa support company the next morning to get my visa stamped. So I'm still hoping to avoid using a hotel.

Many thanks in advance.

Re the website waytorussia as a whole- FANTASTIC. Keep it up guys. A great resource.

Ian
Multimedian, Cardiff UK

Multimedian · Guest

Drifter,

my email is :

ian@multimedian.co.uk

Thanks again

drifter · Just Starting Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 3

Dear Ian,

For your information: I have today sent you a private email to the
address you gave. The subject is "WayToRussia/Drifter".
This just to inform you that you would not delete it as junk mail.