Downtown Moscow hotels

[RooFlyer]

Am intending to re-visit Moscow later this year and want to stay at one of the central, downtown hotels (say 10 mins walk from Red Square), rather than commuting in from Mendelevskaya like we did last year. I'm thinking of the Arbat Park Hyatt, Hotel Metropol, Baltschug Kempinski sort of area.

Nothing wrong with the Metro of course, I just would like the benefit of wandering out of the hotel straight into the thick of things.

Of course they are all likely to be a pricier than my average budget! Has anyone had recent experience in any of them? Recommendations or 'avoids' welcome, especially if its a good 'lesser known' place.

 

[dmitri]

Rooflyer, I stayed here with my wife in December-intercontinental moscow tverskaya hotel, good location, walking distance to major sites, breakfast buffet was really good and its easy to get to from the airport. Let me know if you need any other info.

cheers,

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks Dmitri - will give it a good look.

Cheers

 

[sergeyvzn]

a couple of years ago I stayed at this little place:

- - - - 8-964-561-90-17 8-495-650-47-47, - ,

at a fraction of the cost of big downtown hotels. It was right in the centre of everything and a 10 min walk from Red Square, nice, clean and comfortable.

 

[Katie]

I stayed at the Metropol in Oct 2011. I found it to be good, room service was a bit uninspiring (only bothered on my first night, and my mistake might have been ordered something more Russian than Western). A bit annoying at times to always walk to the back of the building to the guarded entrance to get in - walking to/from the office I came along the major street on the Bolshoi side, and my room was near a front corner on the Bolshoi side.
Great for access to Red square, Gum, the weekend markets, Lenin's tomb, the underground shopping arcade.
Work paid for it, I did have a minor heart attack when I saw the rates, and was expecting a tiny room with a single bed based on their website!! I had breakfast included on some nights, and not on others, and had fun sorting that out when I checked out. The breakfast spread in the restaurant was impressive, I didn't have dinner there, though.
Free wifi in the lobby area, but incredibly expensive in-room (at that time, there was an AUD100+ connection fee, and a daily charge of over $20).

I arrived early (~9-10am) and our corporate TA had not requested early checkin. They were able to accommodate me with a room by lunch time; I was asked to wait in the lobby, but I said I'd explore and come back. I ended up with a very nice room - Queen bed, desk, and a sofa, coffee table, plus two chairs; plenty of room to swing a cat or 10!

The ladies who seek male custom in the lobby and bar area did not bother me, and I didn't actually realise that they were seeking customers until about my last night there. Pretty typical for Moscow, as I understand.
As a solo woman traveller, I found it to be comfortable and safe. Helpful staff, even with a brusque Russian demeanour, especially when I melted on my last day when the driver didn't show up to pick me up and take me to Domodedovo (or he was the rude bugger who was in the car park ignored me, and left by the time I got a bellman to ask if he was for me).

The area around Metropol was quieter through the week; and busier Fri/Sat/Sun with the markets, etc. I quite liked the area, and am bummed that our office has moved and I'd probably have to stay somewhere else if I ever have to go back for work.