There are some large travel agencies in Moscow who can get really good rates with local hotels but do not have websites or online booking facilities.

Hi we just returned from a 10 day trip to St. Petersburg and Moscow. I booked our hotel Petro Palace which was fantastic on Hotels.Com website and found that the reviews posted were very correct. We paid around 85-100 euros per night for a great room. The service at the hotel is good, we arranged airport pickup for $50.00 USD and they were waiting for us with our names on their sign. WE booked theatre tickets from there, guides to take us sight seeing and train station to Moscow delivery. The service very good and wi- fi everywhere in the hotel at no charge. I would highly recommend Petro Palace to anyone. We have travelled throughout France and Italy as well and always use Hotels.com to book our rooms. In Moscow we stayed at the Sheraton a 15 mon walk from Red Square again a great recommendation from Hotels. Com. I would also really recommend hiring a local guide to take you to see the sights...we booked one daily and it made the trip!!

We loved the Russian Museum...you can spend hours there. We also took in the Ballet "Swan Lake" it was fabulous!!! Only 85.00 per person....booked with our hotel concierge

Wenday, Petro Palace would be nice, but Hotels.com offers it now for my dates at over $220 a night for a standard room (including taxes) about $30 a night more than the hotel direct. The Other hotels I checked also were cheaper direct than with Hotels.com, but maybe they'd be better for last minute? I have often used Hotels.com to get an idea of what's available, but I honestly don't think I've ever found a rate with them better than booking direct.

be sure to google 10-15% off coupons/ promos for expedia and hotels.com or any other third party. They are available at times.

In St Petersburg we stayed here http://www.nlightsrussia.com/

Good prices and we really enjoyed staying there

alihutch, someone else mentioned Northern Lights. I hate to sound like a wimp -- and I live in a three story townhouse, but the idea of walking all day and returning to climb 4 flights to get to my hotel (maybe another flight inside once you reach that level?) just doesn't appeal to me. Especially since I'm normally the type of traveler who will go in and out of my hotel a number of times per day! And also those stairs can be torture on my bad ankle after a full day of walking.

Patrick,

Looking forward to a report come September...

An update:
I've now booked in St. Petersburg, 3 Mosta, a stone's through from the Hermitage and a less than one year old small hotel. Price is 18,000 R for the 6 nights or about $100 per night including taxes and breakfast for a small single room with private bath. It seems to have only raves TA (but too new to have very many) and it does have an elevator.

Looks like a fine place.. have a wonderful time.

bookmarking thanks

Patrick where did you get that rate for 3Mosta. I can only see rates of $200 a nite?

It's a single -- half price! I did it through booking.com, but it appears on other websites too.

yes I see that now. Booking.com has great rates. It is interesting how much cheaper it is as a single. In Laos it was the same price for one or two people. thanks for the clarification.

Well, this is a little different. This isn't a double room for single use. It is actually a SINGLE room -- with one twin bed.
I'm expecting a shoebox to sleep in. LOL

I was surprised though how many Russian hotels do offer a substantial discount for a single using a double room. They don't seem to do that much in the US or most other places.

Gee, Kelly, what is the point of telling us what company you booked your hotel through rather than tell us what hotel it was and reviewing it? Most of us here are more interested in actual hotel information instead of just a plug for a website.

NeoPatrick,

I remembered this thread I came back to find moscowhotels.net to do some researching for a possible trip and.... IT IS DEFUNCT.

Just an FYI. You might check with Budapest to see if you still have a room reserved...

oops. Maybe that was MY mistake. It's www.moscow-hotels.net
Try that.

They just sent me my Visa/ land voucher two weeks ago.

Good! Now I can get back to looking for a hotel...

Comrade Patrick is going to Russia :D