The Hilton Leningradskaya Moscow was nearly flawless. The crap Orient Express Grand Hotel of Europe in Sant Petersburg, was twice as expensive with half the facilities and half the service. The difference seems to be American management versus Russian mismanagement, and that was completely obvious in the way the staff carried out their duties, handled problems, and the hotel's care for their guests.
I was told my some locals not to stay at the Hilton Moscow near Leningradskaya station serving Sant Petersburg. As it is about 1000m (the hotel says 300m but maybe as the crow flies to the edge of the station parking lot) from the railroad station, albeit by sidewalks and crossing busy roads, I would not need yet another taxi transfer, which I see now were all totally rip off disasters.
Minya?
The Hilton turned out to be one of my favorite parts of Russia. I guess since it is on the far side of the city ring road from the gaudy skyscrapers, the worst elements of Russian society, or should I just call it more bluntly the Russian population, do not patronize the hotel. It is mostly the overseas business people who are not involved in nefarious enterprises. The hotel is one of the seven bizarre but beautiful "seven sister" copies of the Empire State Building that Lenin ordered dot the city, a few in very close proximity. Another is a few blocks away from the Hilton, which is confusing if using the cool distinctive shape to find your hotel.
The Hilton Leningradskaya scored 10/10 with its comfortable spacious excutive level (though located on several floors) rooms, which included separate en suite toliet and bathing areas. How did Hilton retrofit this old Commie building so naturally?! The basement has a handy 25m pool and full gym, both empty, for my morning workouts on the road, and of course a sauna and hottub. Excellent.
Best of all, the regular people must use the lobby, but executive guests use the sixth floor, with a series of beautiful meals all day, and liquor at night. I noticed Germans wolfing down their dinners every night, which I thought was crass, but on my final night I cancelled my resso and ate what i wanted to eat and drank a lot of vodka, for free, while i used the Internet for free.
My only caveat is that the Hilton Exec rooms should come with free wifi, and I shouldnt have to make the decision to be nickel and dimed us$30/day so my uploads go through all night. Maybe $5 or $10. Come on Hilton. Internet is free in all restaurants, coffee shops, even the fricking subway, but not your exec rooms. I do understand the business modeling, but it makes me resent the brand, and that is not worth your potentially getting $30/day from a few people.
Minya gastinitsa?
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