Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
100
Family-Friendly Hotels
Because Moscow's hotel scene still caters more to the business visitor than the
school-age one, family-friendly details are not yet par for the course. That is
changing gradually, led by such chains as
Marriott,
whose three Moscow
hotels offer baby-friendly rooms complete with crib, toys, bottles, and steriliz-
ers.
Sheraton Palace
boasts a children's room where clowns entertain kids
during mealtimes, and hosts special holiday events for kids. The
Cosmos
has a
bowling alley with croquet-sized balls great for kids' hands, as well as game
rooms and a theater that often shows kid-friendly fare. Farther outside town,
Holiday Inn Vinogradovo
offers boat trips, horseback riding, and cross-coun-
try skiing in the surrounding countryside. Babysitting services are increasingly
available, even if they're not listed on the hotels' official websites and bro-
chures. It's worth a call to check in advance.
staying here. Clientele is a mix of “new Russian” regulars who never glance at price tags,
and foreign investors, though the National is increasingly reaching out to tourists
through online discounts.
15/1 Mokhovaya Ulitsa.
&
495/258-7000
or 800/543-4300. Fax 495/258-7100. www.national.ru. 206
units. 115,000 rubles double; from 19,000 rubles for studio Kremlin view; 61,000 rubles suite. AE, DC, MC,
V. Metro: Okhotny Ryad or Teatralnaya.
Amenities:
2 restaurants; mezzanine cafe; bar/lounge; babysit-
ting; concierge; executive-level rooms; health club; Jacuzzi; small heated indoor pool; room service;
sauna; smoke-free rooms; spa.
In room:
A/C, TV w/satellite, fridge, hair dryer, minibar, free Wi-Fi.
Ritz-Carlton
The most recently built, top-of-the line hotel in Moscow
opened in July 2007 in the place of the razed Soviet-era Intourist behemoth, whose drab
aging structure had come in increasingly stark contrast with upscale Tverskaya. The Ritz's
classicist-style building, topped with a high-tech glass structure with a spacious roof ter-
race overlooking the Kremlin, competes with its neighbor, the National, for the title of
the city's poshest hotel. Sumptuous interiors include brocaded silk bedspreads and uphol-
stery, rich draperies substantial enough to block out the 4am summer sun, marble coun-
tertops, and Murano glass lampshades. All rooms are spacious, with large windows, and
suites include such touches as gold-encrusted globes and ebony and ivory chess sets.
Bathrooms are roomy and lined with every amenity.
3 Tverskaya Ulitsa.
&
495/225-8888.
Fax 495/225-8400. www.ritzcarltonmoscow.ru. 334 units. 21,000
rubles double with breakfast; 125,000 rubles club room. AE, DC, MC, V. Valet parking and underground
parking garage.
Amenities:
2 restaurants; 2 bars; concierge; health club and spa w/indoor pool, hot tub,
sauna, and steam rooms; room service; barrier-free access for travelers w/disabilities.
In room:
A/C, satel-
lite TV, CD/DVD player, hair dryer, minibar, free Wi-Fi.
5
EXPENSIVE
Metropol
The Art Nouveau mosaic by Mikhail Vrubel that tops the Metropol's
facade sets it apart in era and in style from other hotels of its class. Across the street from the
Bolshoi Theater and with a view of the Kremlin, the Metropol is a historic and visual trea-
sure. Even the elevators are exquisite: glass-and-wood chambers ringed with mosaics reflect-
ing the building's exterior. The tearoom is a cozy alternative to the almost-too-opulent main
