Hotel Review For The Hotel Arbat

The Hotel Arbat is over 40 years old. When communist leaders from other countries came to Moscow, this is where they stayed, including Castro. The location of the hotel is very good because the neighborhood is desirable and Arbat Street is maybe a 3 minute walk away. (Arbat Street is a very nice pedestrian street with restaurants, stores, artists and street performers.)

I was told an interesting story by the front desk person: from time to time they get a customer who provides proof that they paid for their reservation through an online hotel reservation service, and the hotel knows nothing about it! She spoke of one gentleman from the United States who had paid for his hotel stay and then learned after arriving in Moscow that he had no reservation and that the hotel had received no money. The hotel was also fully booked. The man was in tears over his dilemma. The hotel went to work calling local hotels and found him a place to stay. I think if you want to stay here, deal with the hotel directly to avoid this problem. I got the impression they want nothing to do with the online reservation services.

The lobby area is a bit dated. On the ground floor is a purple and black themed bar. There is a regular restaurant. Both are nothing dazzling. A hairdresser is on the ground floor also, plus a souvenir stand.

The hotel has brand new "Kone" elevators. I detected a slight mustiness in one of the halls. The rooms have hardwood floors. The bathrooms are nice. Rooms have a type of (new) portable air conditioning unit that must be set up in order to operate. The rooms may be slightly dated.

The hotel is not on the cutting edge of comfort. It is just okay. Room rates are currently $130 to $245 (as of March 21, 2004). People with an interest in history might get a kick out of staying here. I think for similar money you can get a better deal at the nearby Belgrad.

However, you are much less likely to get run over on the way to Arbat Street when you stay at the Hotel Arbat compared to the Belgrad.

My wife and I just stayed in the Hotel Arbat.

As of early July 2005 the lobby and associated public areas are being renovated.The reception desk is temporarily shoehorned into a small room off of the main lobby, into which 3 or 4 front-desk workers and the switchboard operator are stuffed. If you want to use the internet service (small fee) you will also get to squeeze into this room and have the privilege of overhearing all of the hotels business get discussed while you type on a dirty keyboard.

There are two types of rooms at the Arbat-renovated and unrenovated. Insist on a renovated room. The unrenovated rooms are dumps and filled with crappy furniture and cracked plaster. I felt totally ripped off paying peak summer rates to stay in such a dive. However, on our return to Moscow after traveling into the hinterlands, we stayed in a refurbished room. It was quite nice and very pleasant. However, on close inspection the renovation work seemed shoddy. I don't think it will hold up very well.

The dining room is only open for breakfast. It's quite nice and very good. For a few extra bucks it's well worth it. Behind the hotel is a garden area where it's nice to sit and relax when the weather is warm. We didn't hit the bar but it looked inviting if you like modern decor.

The Arbat is a great choice if you want to be near Arbat Street with it's selection of American-style dining and tourist shopping.

Mike

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