Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Try
Quo Vadis,
at 24 Nevsky Prospekt; or
Café Max
at 90/92 Nevsky Prospekt.
Both are open 24 hours.
Postal Services
The main city post office (Glavny Pochtamt) is at 9 Pochtamt-
skaya Ulitsa (
&
812/312-8302
). Several international shipping companies serve
Russia, such as
FedEx
(
&
812/379-9040
) and
DHL
(
&
812/318-4472
).
Telephone
The city code for St. Petersburg is 812. For international calls from
Russia, dial 8, wait for a tone, dial 10, then dial the country code. Access num-
bers in St. Petersburg are AT&T
325-5042;
MCI
747-3322;
BT Direct 8 (tone)
10-80-01-10-1044;
Canada Direct
755-5045
or
747-3325
.
WHERE TO STAY
Variation and innovation characterize St. Petersburg's hotel scene. The nicest and
priciest hotels, and nearly all of the international chains, are clustered on upper
Nevsky Prospekt. The huge Soviet-era hotel towers are farther from the center, and
sometimes quite far from the metro. They offer better prices, but their quality is vari-
able. The best price-to-quality ratio is found in the “minihotels” springing up around
town. When choosing accommodations in St. Petersburg, bear in mind that it's a city
of bridges that are drawn up in the wee hours to allow shipping traffic through. This
means that if your late-night plans involve something on the other side of the Neva
River from your hotel, you may be in for a long wait or a detour to get back.
Prices below are in U.S. dollars and British Pounds and do
not
include breakfast or
18% VAT unless noted.
VERY EXPENSIVE
Astoria
An example of Art Nouveau at its apex, the five-star Astoria offers
21st-century decadence in a pre-revolutionary setting, overlooking St. Isaac's Cathe-
dral with the Neva River in the background. The Astoria and adjacent Angleterre (see
next listing) opened in 1912 on the site of a 19th-century English/Russian hotel ven-
ture. Unfortunately, the mirrored, Art Nouveau Winter Garden is open only for spe-
cial events—peek inside and imagine the balls held here a century ago. The Astoria is
an excellent stop for tea even if you're not staying overnight.
39 Ulitsa Bolshaya Morskaya.
&
812/313-5757.
Fax 812/313-5059. www.astoria.spb.ru. 220 units. From $380 (£190)
double; from $700 (£350) suite. Rates 10% higher May-July. AE, DC, MC, V. Metro: Nevsky Prospekt.
Amenities:
2
restaurants; bar and lounge; pool; health club; spa; Jacuzzi; sauna; billiard room; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk;
limo; 24-hr. business center; shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; non-
smoking rooms; executive rooms. In room:A/C, TV w/satellite, dataport, minibar, fridge, hair dryer, iron, safe.
EXPENSIVE
Angleterre
Initially a wing of the Astoria, the four-star Angleterre shares a
designer and a kitchen with its “sister hotel,” though they're now under separate man-
agement. Today the Angleterre is a slightly less expensive, less well-preserved neighbor
of the Astoria, but it is still a luxurious place to stay. The spacious guest rooms, many
boasting wide windows, are decorated in warm woods that differ little from the Asto-
ria's. The view of St. Isaac's makes a street-facing room worthwhile.
39 Bolshaya Morskaya Ulitsa.
&
812/313-5787.
Fax 812/313-5118. www.angleterrehotel.com. 193 units. $260
(£130) double; from $400 (£200) suite. Mid-May to mid-July $330 (£165) double. AE, DC, MC, V. Metro: Nevsky
