Hotel Review For The Pulkovskaya Hotel

Pulkovskaya Hotel J www.pulkovskaya.ru St. Petersburg, Russia Phone: 7 (812) 123-5856
New phone number provided on January 24, 2005: 7 (812) 140-3900

Location Rating: Fair. It is nowhere near the heart of the city, which is 11 miles away.

Lobby Appearance: It's fine. Although another lobby on the other side was in the process of renovation, and that area was closed. Photo: Pulkovskaya Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia

Photo: Pulkovskaya Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia

Room Appearance: The rooms and bathrooms look fine and it appears they are all alike. All with recent furnishings.

Useful Nearby Businesses: A major shopping area is right there. Whatever you want, you can probably get it there. A McDonald's is also there.

Would I Stay Here? Yes. Although with it being so far from the city's core area, this hotel would not be my first choice. It is definitely clean though.

Comments: Big hotel - 840 guest rooms. Very good security. The hotel is located at the edge of the city. Go north and you are in the big city. Go south and you are in the quiet (dull) suburbs. When the airport closes or there are problems with a flight, this hotel benefits because it is only 3 miles from the airport. The neighborhood is interesting and busy, but it really is not the most interesting place to be. The good news is the metro is close by. From here you are 7 metro stops away from the heart of the city. This hotel was the busiest in Saint Petersburg during my inspections (January 2002).

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I stayed at the Pulkovskaya Hotel in June, 2001. On the upside, the hotel is clean, rooms are modern and comfortable with full dark window shades (you want this during White Nights). The front desk staff speak English, are helpful, and friendly. Security is good. A large, buffet style, cafeteria-like breakfast room is available. This can be priceless when returning to your hotel after an all-nighter wondering when the sun was going to go down. There is also a much smaller, more formal dining room available. The banya (sauna), and pool is another nice feature, particularly if you plan a winter trip. A small gift/snack shop is on the premesis, good for a quick bottle of juice. There is also a very good restaurant directly across the square from the hotel. Sundries shopping is next door, and along the street towards the metro.

If you are looking for architectural aesthetics in a hotel building, this is not one to consider as it is evidently drafted in Soviet-era style; though not particularly ugly, it is huge. ( http://www.saint-petersburg.com/panoramas/index.asp) This massive structure is situated along the southern rim of St. Petersburg in Victory Square. It's a good distance from Nevsky, however the Moskovskaya metro station is but a 15 minute walk away, with Nevsky station seven stops along. Give yourself half an hour or more to get from the hotel to Nevsky if using the metro. If you are looking for a good location and need to be places in a real hurry, try one of the hotels closer to downtown. If your stay is less time-constrained, you should consider staying at the Pulkovskaya. You will appreciate the size of the city by doing so, and you get to see more than just downtown; indeed you have something else to compare it to. Note that the metro system shuts down around 12:30 or so. After hours you can flag down any passing car for a ride. Better price if you have a Russian companion. Do not take proper taxis.

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