Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Rick · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:26 pm Post subject:

Maybe i am being plagued by my architect's training in this, but i think there's definitely beauty in that concrete monster of a building... Very Happy

init6 · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: thanks

Leeloo4_u · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:31 pm Post subject: lol

LOL, cute I'm not used to big buildings that's all, I don't think big brown squares are ugly I had lots of little brown squares to play withwhen I was little so its just funny seeing binnger ones Wink

So most people in Moscow live in apartment blocks?

I wouldn't say I'm fussy, as long as like you said I will at least get clean sheats when I arrive and hot water and a chair without visible cum marks on them it should be fine Twisted Evil

Leeloo4_u · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:28 pm Post subject: itneresting

Yeah I agree with that statment it was probably an American who mad that statment Laughing

, damn everyithing in Italy is expensive and Monaco as you've said, but I have found that hotels in Belgium and Holland I know these are small countries but most of the hotels here are on a much smaler scale and there are a lot of boutique hotels here, and then you go to Russia and there's hotels with over 2000 rooms (this I find a very scary thought)

cyndy22 · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:26 am Post subject:

Good hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg are very expensive. I just stayed at a "moderate" priced hotel in St. Petersburg for example. By moderate, I mean that it was expected to be a 3 star hotel and cost about $125 per night and included full buffet breakfast. It was by definitition a huge concrete slab. Very Soviet style. Rooms were very cramped. I could not even push a small wheelchair into the small bathroom. Service sucked. The reception people could of cared less that I could not use the bathroom in our room. If you wanted to use the pool and sauna it wouldcost you $24 FOR 2 hours and they would not even let you put it on your room charge. I would say that this hotel would be a 1.5 or 2 star hotel in US or western Europe. The only convenient thing about it is that it is adjacent to Metro station. Hotels and housing in general in Russian cities leave alot to be desired, unless you are very wealthy. I reccommend you get bed and breakfast accommodations.

Intourist · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:02 pm Post subject:

In response to the original question, leeloo, I think it depends on the circumstances of what you're going over for. Are you staying with friends, going for business, meeting long lost relatives, what ? How are they inviting you ? My gut guess is if it's personal, it'd be typical to stay at their flat, if it's feasible. I can't think of any good Russian friends who've invited me anywhere and ever expected me to stay in a hotel.

Yet, if you will be staying in a hotel, I'd also say you check out the Hotel Rossiya. It's apparently slated for demolition soon, but for now, no closure dates have been set, and it seems to be open for the forseeable future. It's a bit of a tourist trap in regards to exchange rates and souvenirs, but all together, the prices are pretty decent.

A 'renovated' room, which are more or less decent, clean, and comfortable runs for, I think, 3500 rubles right now. A non-renovated room is like 1000 rubles cheaper.

In any case, it's literally right next to Red Square, as central as you can get and if it gets demolished, well, it might be your last chance to experience this last bastion of Soviet service in a monolithic Moscow eyesore that at one time (if not still) was Europe's largest hotel (in square meters).

Leeloo4_u · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject: EEEEEEk

I will be visiting friends and will like Mediashark said have to discuss everything with my friend before I go, coz for me to stay 10 days in Moscow and have to pay and average or $100 a night and the current Rand Dollar rate is $1 – R7.00 it means
That for 10 nights @ $100 x R7-00 would mean R7000-00 (this is about just a little less than 2 months salary and it’s only for 10 days – and this is not even including my monthly expenses like medical aid and transport back home) and I haven’t even eaten anything yet or paid for my air ticket!!!!!! That would turn out to be a very expensive holiday!!!!

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

You should stay at one of the small and modern mini hotels - lots have opened up in the last few years. They are usually located close to the center and provide good service at moderate prices. I don't know why Cyndy expected to get decent service in a soviet-style hotel. Don't expect to get much for $125/night during the White Nights season - this is the most expensive time to stay in St Petersburg.

Remember that Russia is a developing country where the modern hotel business is only 5-7 years old. The only decent hotel that existed 7-10 years ago were opulent, expensive hotels like Hotel Europe in St Petersburg. And, as many people noted, there are many nice apartments that are being rented to tourists by travel firms where they provide all the hotel services including visa registration.

Most russians living in large cities reside in apartment buildings and the same is true of most European countries, as well as Canada and New York City.

cyndy22 · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 1:10 am Post subject:

Mr. Spice,
You asked, why would I or any tourist expect to get decent service and a comfortable room in Soviet style hotel in St. Pete even at $125 per night during White Nights. Unlike you, I have never lived in Russia. I relied on various sources including WTR, SPB disability organizations, other SPB web sites, and a travel agent in Cambridge, MA reccommended by the Amherst High School Russian Language teacher who makes frequent trips there with her students to inquire what would be my most favorable situation for accessible, reasonably priced and comfortable accommodations. My travel agent spoke quite favorably of Hotel Mosbva. His opinion was that it had lifts, was accessible and being so close to metro would be ideal. Even if I had trouble using metro, he felt that it would be easy to get taxi there. My original preferance was to stay in an apartment because I prefer to get groceries from market and prepare our own meals and live like ordinary people versus tourists.

While I am happy to hear that there is a growing tourism and hospitality field in St. Petersburg and that mini hotels and bed and breakfasts are popping up in the city, I don't think you understand my situation which is far more complex than the average person. In fact looking back at this trip, I am amazed I even made this trip. I am used to being very independent and it just plain sucks when for example when you are not even able to use the toilet. Can you understand?

Leeloo4_u · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:43 am Post subject: it's shocking

It's actually shocking to see how many hotels and other places (world wide) claim to be facilitated for guest with wheelchairs but the requirements aren't met. Like they don't widen the doors of the bathroom or room and there's not enough space around the bed and they just mount a railing next to the toilet but you can't even get into the bathroom, it's not nice at all false advertising.

cyndy22 · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 2:50 pm Post subject:

Leeloo,
You are absolutely right. Most people have no clue what access is. I think people in the tourism field should have a better understanding of access but the majority don't even in the USA. The world has a long way to go in terms of universal design. If I wanted to spend $400 per night I could have stayed in a luxurious hotel in SPB that has accessible rooms, but to me that is neither feasible or acceptable.

I am glad I made this trip because St. Petersburg is one city I really wanted to see. And in spite of the limited access, I managed with help but also compromised my comfort, independence etc. The entire 2 weeks of my trip, the only other persons in wheelchairs I saw were- one begger in front of our metro station; one other tourist at the Hermitage. In Estonia I saw a child being pushed in a wheelchair by his father at the market. In Helsinki however there were several people I saw using wheelchairs as well as seeing other people with other disabilities such as down syndrome etc. Russia and the former Soviet Pepublic countries are at their very beginning of the independent living movement for persons with any type of disability.

Leeloo4_u · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 8:02 am Post subject: true

I think the only reason SA has such good facilities are because of people who rely on wheelchairs that are in very influential positions in the hospitality industry, we have famous chefs (almost celebrity status) that are in wheelchairs and people on our tourism board, so much so that if you want to get a 3 – 5 star rating for your property you have to abide to having facilities for wheelchair users (in the public areas as well as guest rooms) they really come and inspect and if it doesn’t suit the regulations you get a trail period to fix it or you may not be associated to the tourism board but some people always try to get away with it Wink

I know a guy who got paralysed from the waist down after a really bad tackle in rugby, so every time he went out clubbing with his friends would be flung over one of the bigger friends shoulder a Smile

nd carried up the club stairs for a night of drinking and partying, he didn’t mind it coz they are really good friends, I just wonder how many times they fell with him when they were really drunk? Razz