Moscow Hotel(s)

[Dashinka 24,598]

I apologize for such a simple topic, but I am getting ready to go to Moscow (late March) to join my fiance for her interview. Now I have spent a lot of time in Krasnoyarsk, but I have yet to spend any time in Moscow. Does anyone have any hotel recommendations for a good and reasonable hotel in Moscow close (within 2 km) of the U.S. Embassy?

Thanks

[TheFoxxy 76]

Hello and congrats on reaching the interview stage of the process!

I have been to Moscow a few times with Diana. We always stay in different hotels so that we can have a new experience each and every time. The way we go about picking a hotel is to first decide on an area, after that we go to tripadvisor.com and look for a hotel that has the accommodations and rating that we desire.

Since you want to stay in the area of the U.S. Consulate then I suggest Arbat. It is a nice area with a lot of liveliness and it is only 1 mile south of the consulate. It is actually on the same road. The Mercure Arbat hotel is a wonderful hotel, 1 mile south of the consulate, a metro is only a 1 minute walk south and a mcdonalds and grocery store are 1 minute walks away as well.

As I am not sure of your price range, this hotel can be a bit on the pricey side. Moscow is going to be on the more expensive side anyways though. Either way go to tripadvisor.com to help you pin point the hotel you are looking for. If you have any more questions please feel free to PM me

[Misha'sgirl 44]

If you're savvy with public transportation, you can book a hotel anywhere not just on the same street or district as the U.S. embassy.

I've been to Moscow a couple times. Once I spent the night in my rental car (not reccomended). The two other times I and my fiance spent in hotels.

The first hotel was called "Cosmos". (By car, from hotel to embassy is about 20 min usually) (By public transit, 40 min usually) It was priced decently and we got a room high up so the view was wonderful. The heating was great. The bathroom was clean as well as the bedding. The con for me was, the whole hotel stank of cigarrettes but we did get a non-smoking room and it only smelled slightly of cigs.

The second hotel was called "Best Western Vega Hotel and Convention Center". (By car, from hotel to embassy 25 min usually) (By public transit, 30 min usually) It was also priced fair. I think, maybe even cheaper. And in my opinion, better. Smaller, but better.

Those are my only two suggestions based on experience.

However, if my fiance and I hadn't been pinching pennies, we might have stayed at The Ritz Carlton located in the Red Square or Lotte Hotel right near the embassy.

[mendeleev 68]

Another option is to get a short term rental on an apartment. There's an American ex-pat, the guys name is Rick and the moniker is Moscow Rick, who runs a service called Moscow STAR that we've used a half dozen times over the years.

We've been happier with the flats we've rented from him in Tverskaya although he used to have less expensive ones too elsewhere in Moscow. His prices were competitive with hotels further out. The accomodations were fine and you couldn't beat the location.

[Turboguy 6]

I have stayed at the Cosmos probably 6-8 times for a total of 6-8 weeks worth of nights. I is my favorite but is far from the Embassy. Of course the metro is right across the street and it is easy to get anywhere. The other hotel I stayed at a lot seems to be gone. That was the Ukraina which was within walking distance of the Embassy. If I do a search for Moscow hotels it no longer shows up. The Cosmos seems to run about $ 115.00 a night.

An apartment might be a good choice. Moscow Rick has a good reputation but I have never used him.

[Neonred 3,576]

The other hotel I stayed at a lot seems to be gone. That was the Ukraina which was within walking distance of the Embassy. If I do a search for Moscow hotels it no longer shows up.

.

I also stayed there before the renovation. It is now the Radisson Royal Hotel.

[Turboguy 6]

I also stayed there before the renovation. It is now the Radisson Royal Hotel.

I hope they did a great job on the renovation. I think I paid around 80 bucks to stay there. Now that it is the Radisson they want $ 438.00 per night.

[Neonred 3,576]

I hope they did a great job on the renovation. I think I paid around 80 bucks to stay there. Now that it is the Radisson they want $ 438.00 per night.

Unbelieveable, right? For many of my trips to Moscow we stayed at the old Rossiya hotel next to Red Square. Great location, and the first time I stayed there it cost me $69 a night. They had over 3000 rooms. They closed in 2006.

[Turboguy 6]

Yes, I stayed at the Rossiya as well for about the same price. My room at the most beautiful view of the Kremlin and Red Square. I liked that hotel and was sad to see it close.

[BastillaShan 30]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Lesnaya

http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/moscow/mowlu/hoteldetail

It was a little pricey but not too terrible. It was good in that you can take the train into Moscow from the airport and walk from the train station to the hotel. Then metro to the embassy which is about two stops away as the metro was right there also.

There are also some creature comforts in that there is a Starbucks very close and my favorite Russian chain restaurant Elki Palki.

[jft 12]

We stayed at the Mercure Arbat hotel once when we took a side-trip to Moscow and it was excellent. Prices can be good if there is a sale and it's a weekend and can be eye-poppingly expensive on popular weekdays. For her interview my wife stayed at the Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya near the train station of the same name and loved it. She also liked it because while it was not close to the embassy it was right by her train station which means she didn't have to lug her luggage through the metro which she absolutely hates (something that anyone should think of in deciding where to stay as it really is a pain).

Edited March 2, 2014 by jft

[Misha'sgirl 44]

We stayed at the Mercure Arbat hotel once when we took a side-trip to Moscow and it was excellent. Prices can be good if there is a sale and it's a weekend and can be eye-poppingly expensive on popular weekdays. For her interview my wife stayed at the Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya near the train station of the same name and loved it. She also liked it because while it was not close to the embassy it was right by her train station which means she didn't have to lug her luggage through the metro which she absolutely hates (something that anyone should think of in deciding where to stay as it really is a pain).

Or just pack light.

[Dashinka 24,598]

I want to thank everyone for the suggestions. My fiancé found an apartment on Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya Street that seems reasonable. I will let everyone know the outcome when I get back. I am so looking forward to meeting her for her interview for a lot of reason, but mostly since I haven't seen her for several months.

[Dashinka 24,598]

Just a quick update. The flats on Sadovya-Kurdrinskaya street are quite nice. We did not arrive until almost 9pm on Wednesday and a very nice lady met us. The cost for 3.5 days was 16k rubles which seemed reasonable. The flat was very modern, really a studio style, but with everything necessary except for curtains from the stairwell into our flat. Didn't realize this at first, so hopefully no one was scared off. Anyway, the flat was very close to the Embassy and not too far from the medical clinic either. I would definitely stay here again when I come back to Moscow.

Btw, my fiancé was approved for her K1 today!

[Turboguy 6]

Congratulations on being approved for the K-1. That is great news and thanks for the update about the apartment.