The city of Kazan is very nice and quiet in comparison with Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Two days are enough to visit this city, because the historical center is quite small, but it's worth it!
They say that Moscow is the biggest village in the world -- a place you will love or hate, but one you must see in your lifetime to appreciate the gravity of history. Russians are intense people who don't mince words, which often rubs Anglo-Saxons the wrong way. I loved Moscow for the contradictions that it is; vibrant, monotone, beautiful and hideous, artistic and bland... a mystery i will return to.
Moscow is such amazing place! I've been many places in Europe and in Russia as well and it is on the top tier cities of Europe in my mind. The people are just awesome to you there and the women were so beautiful everywhere we went. Food is hit and miss depending on where you stay, as well as the overly salty McDonald's as well. Red Square is the pinnacle of what Russia is as a country and is a must see when visiting. You will witness poverty, extreme wealth, and gorgeous architecture all in one afternoon traveling. Be aware of pickpockets and thieves of course although, no one in my group had any issues there at all. Trains will take you to anywhere you want to go but be aware they are not that nice or plush so don't expect much. The history alone will take your breath away as you move through the city. Traffic from the airport is terrible if flying in and will take you three hours to get in or out so be ready. It's the best city I've ever been to but, yes, it's a bit pricey for…
Moscow … This place has more culture than any city I have ever visited -- the Russian soul is evident and very real. They are a proud people who love who they are and what their nation has accomplished. I cannot get enough of visiting mother Russia.
Moscow … What a great city!! I enjoyed it as much as New York, but it's a bit expensive and I live in Dublin!
Nord Petersburg Hostel in St. Petersburg … My boyfriend and I spent five days in this hostel in May 2007 in a ten-bedded dorm which at the time was almost empty -- only two people and us in our room. 24EUR might not be quite cheap, but St. Petersburg is actually an expensive city and Nord is on probably the best location there. They provide an excellent breakfast for free 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but there are cookies, tea, and coffee that you can have all day long (as well as all the other things from the fridge, nobody really checks). And for breakfast you can eat as much as you want.The kitchen is very small, so it might be a slight problem when there's a lot of people staying at the hostel. The bathrooms were clean with gel/soap, you get a towel and linen for free. Everything is cleaned every day. We were on the floor above the reception, there are two showers and three toilets and I suppose there might be a problem if there's more people. One of the most important things for foreigners in Russia is provided for free there …
HI - Moscow - Home from Home Hostel in Moscow … Me, my girlfriend, and a friend of ours visited this hostel in mid october 2006. When we got there, the only people who were there were other guests, which describes the excellent "aura" of this place. They showed us to our beds, and told us a bit of the place. The stay at Hostel Home From Home was a complete success, and it's close to everything! And add to that, this is probably the cheapest stay you can find in Moscow! I'm currently planning another trip to Moscow, and guess where i'll be staying?
Yellow Blue Bus Hostel in Moscow … Friend and i stayed three nights here in August 2006, two to three weeks it started business. it is excellent experience. Beside the clean and cozy environment, the staff speak good english. We prepared food like others do in the kitchen, sharing experience with the rest while enjoying the food.
Yellow Blue Bus Hostel in Moscow … The owners of this hostel are unbelievably nice people!When we realised we didnt have a double bed in our room as requested the owner brought us his own double bed from home, dismantled two bunk beds, moved them out, and set up double bed for us! It's just like sharing a flat at Uni, the atmosphere is homey and open, and the owners are great people. Good location at Metro Mayakovskaya. Would recommend this hostel to anyone.
HI - Moscow - Godzillas Hostel in Moscow … Fabulous. especially if the reviews of the other options were true. Godzilla's is in the swankiest place of town and within walking distance from the famous sites. The guys running it were awfully relaxed, so it did have that 'home away from home' feeling. That feeling usually means the place is rundown, but this place is actually quite new, so showers and all that are fine, too. When I was there (Sep 2005) they couldn't yet help with stamps in your passport, that's pretty much the only downside I could find.
7 Bridges Hostel in St. Petersburg … We stayed for two nights in a double room -- except for the mosquitoes we really enjoyed it! But Tim, the hostel owner, even had a fantastic small device to scare off all the mosquitoes -- remember to ask him about that, otherwise the mosquitoes drive you mad in St. Petersburg. The 7 Bridges is not hard to find -- at least the address is clear. But there is no sign on the door so just trust the address on the house and walk in -- when the door of apartment 34 opens it's a great small hostel with kitchen, living room, and Gismo the cat. The only problem was that one shower did not have hot water. Apart from that it could have been a little cleaner but all in all it's really cosy and Tim will try to help you with anything.
HI - Moscow - Godzillas Hostel in Moscow … Spent a total of three weeks here and have not a negative word to say. Nice place and great staff. If I go to Moscow again, this is where I am staying.
Yellow Blue Bus Hostel in Moscow … This hostel is well located. Furnitures in the dorms are brand new and there is a locker available free of charge. It is very clean. There is a computer with free Internet access in the kitchen. The staff is really laid back and helpful. The only bad thing is that there is only one shower so you have to queue in the morning. I highly recommend this hostel.
Irkutsk Downtown Hostel in Irkutsk … This place has a great location, great staff, friendly atmosphere, lots of information, and it's clean, etc. Stay here!
Traveller's Guest House Hostel in Moscow … I stayed here for a week. The staff and guests were friendly. I had scheduled for them to pick me up from the airport. When my plane was late, their driver waited 2 1/2 hours until it came in. He wasn't happy about it, but he did it. They'll help arrange your visa and city registration. Check out the price difference from other hotels and you'll want to stay here for sure.
Sleep Cheap in St. Petersburg … To any and all travellers wishing to stay in a safe, secure, close-to-it-all, small, intimate, FRIENDLY, dorm-style lodging, this is the place to be. I and my two children, (daughter, 13, son, 15) stayed here for two nights, 14 & 15JUL2004. It was fantastic! So clean, so friendly, so intimate (we were in one of the 8-bunk dorms), and just such a wonderful way to go. Poline is one of the friendliest and most helpful persons I have ever known, excepting for the woman in the St. Petersburg International Hostel, as she had directed us to Sleep Cheap because the YH was full. I cannot say enough good things about Sleep Cheap, and know that I will stay here whenver I return. I also recommend eating at ∟ ∏АΤИО ("The Patio") on Nevsky Prospect. It has excellent food at a very reasonable price. Happy travels to all, which will be even better if you spend your money wisely by staying at Sleep Cheap and eating at The Patio!
Napoleon Hostel in Moscow … Everywhere in the hostel itself is spotless, although the entrance may look a bit dodgy. The beds are extremely comfortable as is the lounge area. It's also kept nice and warm during the winter. There is a decent kitchen and a laundry service is available. The internet is free but can be a bit on the slow side. There are really nice hot showers too. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful -- you can ask them anything and they will do their best for you. The atmosphere is very friendly among guests -- a good mix of people in transit and people who are around for a bit longer. It's really easy to make friends and a good stopover for people on their way out or back from the Trans-Siberian. This was the last hostel my friend and I stayed in on our six months tour and was easily the best.
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