Gabriel

The experience is dual: good stay for budget, kind personnel, but you should be ready to get into post- soviet type mood: it is funny, also strange and has challenges. Hotel is organized inside the hostel or former " barak". First of all you get into common smoking area next to the outside door of the building. I think it works against higher points for this place. There are people sitting there like in sauna, as if in 90' ties- in " chalat" and slippers, smoking and "scanning" arrivals. Not very cosy at the beginning, indeed. We made a contact call and the Mr. owner/ manager met us. It is good if someone speaks Russian, no problems to communicate then. The check in was smooth, however cash deposit was asked from us for extras or damage if happened, and, as we did not have cash, the document to leave there as a guarantee was asked. It is all understandable if you had experience in soviet era, however part of our company could not understand such a " deal". Mr. owner/ manager kindly piovided us to the apartment with 2 rooms and common bathroom which was on the 1st floor ( out of 3 or 4 ). Beddings and linnen were clean. The weather was perfect and we did not need air conditioning, which, we think, they have no to provide. However, the heeting works fine even during summer, if needed. Furniture was outdated but we were ok with this as needed minimum of those. Keys were "mechanica"l and separate from both rooms and worked fine, however, main door could not be locked from the outside, so we were leaving the apartment open just by locking our rooms when going out.

Some soap and/ shower stuff would be a benefit. Working keys would add a better safety feeling.

The receptionist Mihail was very kind with me and the owner too. They waited for me that I arrived almost at 11pm. Thanks!