Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping
With average hotel rates among the most expensive in the world, Moscow is
not a cheap place to sleep. The city is flush with international luxury hotels,
but more affordable hotels are harder to find. Fortunately, a slew of hostels
have opened, and more midrange accommodations are now also appear-
ing, usually in the form of 'minihotels'.
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tp://lonelyplanet.com/hotels/
. You'll find independent reviews, as well as recommend-
ations on the best places to stay. Best of all, you can book online.
Hotels
The most visible type of accommodation in Moscow is the palatial four- or five-star hotel that
has proliferated in the last decade. Priced for the business market, they may be prohibitively
expensive for some travellers.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Soviet
gostinitsa
(hotel). These old-style institutions
have gradually adapted to the needs of the modern traveller, and most have undertaken some
degree of renovation. As a result, the quality of rooms can vary widely, and prices usually do
too (even within the same hotel).
In recent years, some smaller private hotels have opened in Moscow. Many are housed in
historic buildings, and their smaller size means they offer more intimacy than the larger chain
hotels. However, the level of comfort and service at these smaller hotels can vary widely.
Minihotels
Privately owned 'minihotels' usually occupy a few floors in an apartment building. The rooms
have been renovated to comfortably accommodate guests, but the hotel itself (which might
have a dozen rooms or less) does not usually offer other facilities. Considering the shortage
of midrange options, minihotels are among the best-value accommodation in the city.
