Way to Russia Talk Lounge

hpesch · Frequent Guest Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 14

Do not believe what internet sites promise when it comes to accomodation in Russian cities.
If you book via internet you probably pay much more than when booking at the hotel reception.
We were told and some internet booking sites assured us that all Novosibirsk hotels were full.
When we arrived we went to the railway station and rented a two room flat half a kilometer from the station, top floor of a 12 store building and paid 50 Euro per night (4 people). The flat was ok, no luxury, but rather clean. The lift was scary though. So we lived two days Russian style, buing food from the market hall around the corner.

In Barnaul we went to the best hotel, the Zentralnaja, and got a double room for 1600 roubles. Actually it had to beds in two bedrooms and a small living room. Breakfast included. If we had taken the internet booking offer, we would have paid 150 Euro (6000 roubles).
The last night in Novosibirsk we spent at the airport hotel, a double room with shower and wc on the corridor costed 1350 roubles. The place is run Soviet style, with dejournaja waking you up when it is time to get to the airport.
Taxi from Novo city center to the airport was 650 roubles.

When buing the train ticket from Novo to Barnaul (Altai Express leaving 13.08, 3,5 hours), we had to show all our passports! Buses are cheaper but take longer because of traffic jam. Our 1. class compartement had TV. so we had to endure a Russian movie at full volume. Perhaps 2. class has no TV? During this visit in Russia I have probably seen most Tom & Jerry episodes I was fortunate to avoid the last 50 years.

We ate three times at the restaurant Russkoe Zastoln'e, excellent Russian dishes and nice atmosphere, NO Russian pop music like everywhere else. The business lunch is unbelievably 230 roubles, a la carte dishes about 300-450 roubles. Highly recommended!

I guess the same is true for other Russian cities. We spent one evening at the Red Fox on Mayakovsky street in St. Petersburg, listened to live jazz and did not pay very much for drinks and food, which was very tasty.

JuicyFruit · Just Starting Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 3

Hi hpesch,

I plan to go to Russia in the spring for the first time--ALONE!--and your message gave me hope of finding cheap accommodations, however, just winging it at the last minute seems more feasible when you're traveling with three other ppl! You are lucky to have found such amazing deals. But how did you manage the visa with no set place to stay before heading there?

I wish I could just show up and see where I end up too but unfortunately I am female and don't speak the language (thought I plan to take a class before I go!) so it may be a little more risky in my case...

Do you have any other advice for a first-timer to Russia? I am so excited about going and want to make the most of the (hopefully positive) experience.