Does anybody know about an affordable hotel near Sheremetyevo 2 airport? My fiance has an overnight layover in Moscow going to Europe, and all hotels I have found on the web are well over $200.00 per night!

Welcome to Moscow... Convenience will be expensive, it just isn't very cheap there.

When faced with this problem myself, I usually check my bags, then find a nice bar that is open late. The bar tab is much cheaper than a hotel. Then (early in the morning), stumble back to the airport. Then sleep well on the flight.

Not a good plan for your fiance. Realistically, I don't think that you will find anything under $150. Anything cheaper will not be worth the hassle. It is only 1 night.

I got stuck with an unexpected layover there do to some flight problems. I don't think there are any cheap hotels near there. When I arrived, the few I checked were full anyway. I figured I might get one in the city for $ 150.00 but the cab each way would add another $ 100.00. I camped out on one of the benches for the night. There really were not too bad but stake one out before 11PM or so or they are all taken. There are restaurants (and bars) open all night as well. Actually it was not a bad night.

I am not sure it is a good idea for a young girl to camp out alone in Moscow airport all night. Looks like we will have to pay over $200.00.

I wouldn't either. How long is the layover? Taking the Moscow Metro from the airport is not that bad, other than the crappy bus that gets you to the station (spring for a cab to the metro station, it's worth a few bucks. Be prepared to haggle a bit).

In the larger scheme of things, one night in a good hotel is not the end of the world (it is just money).

The layover is 11 hrs, but we are meeting in Italy the next day, so she wants to have plenty of rest before we meet Probably be better off to stay in Sheremetyevo 2 hotel. Anyone had any experience with this hotel?

Pretty much your only option to get 8 hours of sleep, given the time to get out of and back to the airport.

My wife has done the camping thing at airports and train stations in Russia on numerous occasions. Nothing to be scared of she says. It is a very common thing for many Russians to do. Most people who works and live in Russia can't afford those hotel prices.

If the issue is danger, I agree with Satelitte there is none. There are people all over the place and police everywhere. She is probably safer at the airport than in some hotels there.

From a rest standpoint that is another thing. Even with an 11 hour layover, keep this in mind. It may take her an hour to get her bags. It will take her at least an half hour each way to get a cab and get to the hotel maybe more. She will need to be at the airport 2-3 hours minimum before flight time. Add an hour to get something to eat, pack, unpack, check in and all that and you are looking at 5 hours in the hotel room to sleep. She may get more rest at the airport.

On the other hand I have always tried to be more protective of my fiancee. If someone had to sleep in an airport because we couldn't get close arrival times, I always made sure it was me. I will agree, most Russians don't hesitate to do things like sleep at the airport. I would suggest giving her the choice. The price of a hotel room is the average monthy income for many Russians.

My wife stayed at Sheremetyevo 2 hotel on the way here. She said it wasn't that nice, "like old Soviet style." Better to stay somewhere in the city using the cab/metro option listed before.

I'd also recommend checking out Olga's site: http://www.russiangirlfriday.com. She can help you arrange travel to/from the airport and accomodation for less than Sheremetyevo 2. Your fiancee can even stay at her flat if it's available for something like $35/night.

I've stayed at Sheremetyevo two lots of times, and at the Novotel across the street a couple of times. (By the way, my screen name is a contraction of her city and the one I used to live in, and has nothing to do with the hotel!)

The Sheremetyevo 2 hotel used to be an old Soviet dump -- overpriced, stinky, no good food, lousy beds but clean bathrooms. They've invested into it in the past couple years. I don't know if any of the restaurants in it are any good -- I haven't tried them in years. (I rather like 5 Oceans on the 5th floor of the international terminal for meals.) But with the "renovations" they also jacked up the price. And, with those renovations, I don't see much improvement in the rooms. Last time I was there (last summer, I think) the beds were still lumpy, and the room still smelled funny. The heating was typical Soviet fare, uncontrollable and hot. It still isn't good value for money.

The hotel across the street, a Novotel, is up to western European standards. I've been there several times -- not as many as Sheremetyevo 2, but several times.

It has excellent, firm beds, clean, crisp, ironed linens, fine, clean bathroom fixtures, television with a good selection of Russian and European stations. My wife was fascinated that there was a thermostat on the wall that would actually heat and cool the room. She'd seen it during business trips abroad, but never in Russia. (Me neither, in Russia.) It is more expensive. Last time we stayed there cost $269. I could have gotten it for $100 less, probably, with slightly less nice room. Frankly, given our situation (our last night together at the end of a brief honeymoon before she returned to Novosibirsk and me to the States) it was worth it. And she I accompany her back to the States, we will stay there again. It is safe, comfortable for Russians and westerners alike, but unambiguously prices -- just as it would be in NY, London, Frankfurt, or a similar hub elsewhere in Europe. One caveat -- the Mexican restaurant in the Novotel doesn't have food as good as at the good airport restaurant. But it is convenient and -- I find the "old west" ambience of this hotel restaurant just very amusing. We'll probably eat there again.

There is no where else close to the aiprort. Once I stayed at a hotel that, I think, used to be a Children's Museum. It was a 10-15 minute taxi ride from the airport. A taxi driver recommended it one time and, for that trip, I had a sense of advanture. Why not try something new? I won't go back. Not that I really know where I stayed! I saw a plaque on the outer wall of the building that was the same as in my Russian grammar book describing this building that, in Soviet times, was a museum. And the building had some slightly unusual architectural features captured in the phot of my grammar book. I will *not* stay there again, even if I could find it. It was cheaper -- although the cabbie captured most of the difference -- and the food -- well -- it gave me the only case of food poisoning I experienced in 16 months in Russia over 5 years -- and the bed was little bigger than a coffin.

Her departure from Russia will be difficult, especially if she is alone. If it were me, I would for 100% spring for the Novotel. It is would seem important to me to give her, from the get-go, a good sense of safety and protection provided by her new husband.

It will be her most important trip away from Russia. If I weren't there, I'd be sure to take the best care of her that I could.

As it is, I just look forward to spending a bit more time with her there .... I really hope this fall!