Moscow Hotels

You might think that a world capital with a population of more than 10 million would have a large number of hotels, but this is not yet the case in Moscow. As Russia comes in from the cold, the city's hotel scene is expanding slowly, with on average one new major hotel opening a year. A Ritz-Carlton is under construction (scheduled to open in spring 2006) on Tverskaya ulitsa on the site of the former landmark Intourist hotel, demolished in 2002. Another icon of Moscow, the Moskva hotel featured on the label of Stolichnaya vodka—was torn down in 2003. A deluxe hotel is to rise on the same site with a replica facade of the original by 2006.

For travelers able and willing to splurge, Moscow's top hotels offer a level of amenities and pampering that were unavailable a decade ago. Fine restaurants, business centers, cafés and cocktail bars, health clubs, and attentive service are now the norm at hotels geared to business travelers. Mid-level establishments are improving their facilities and service, too. For example, most now have card keys, and it's rare to find rooms that are not clean, even if they are a bit tattered.

That noted, the city suffers from a dearth of decent mid-range hotels, and old-style hangovers are still evident at many of these lodgings. Some mid-range spots retain their Soviet decor—mouse-brown carpet, tarnished gold-patterned polyester upholstery, and plywood furniture. Competition among hotels is slowly leading to improvements, but be prepared for a lower level of service than you might expect at home. When reserving, it really pays to ask for a room that has been renovated; the cost is usually the same and the difference can be startling, particularly in the lower-price hotels. If it matters, you should also ask whether your double room has twin beds or one large one; either is possible.

The city's best hotels can—and do—charge high rates that are mostly paid by travelers with expense accounts. Many of these hotels often offer steeply discounted weekend rates. Budget properties are available, though they generally have few amenities and are some distance from the city center. Hotels generally list their prices in conditional units (linked to that day's dollar rate).

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