Crowne Plaza Minsk — Hotel in Minsk

I have stayed at this hotel for the past 3 or 4 years.

However, there seems to be more faults with it than ever.

There needs to be more English TV channels - having just 2 news channels in English where the news is on a loop is unacceptable. The internet was painfully slow and every time I wanted to connect to WiFi in my room I had to try at least 3 times. The mattress needed replacing - there was a deep dip in it. Many things in the room didn't work - the light cord in the headboard of the bed, it was impossible to have a simple bedside light on to read - I had to have all the lights on. The light in the close-up/beauty mirror in the bathroom didn't work, the hairdryer kept cutting out and took several attempts just to get it started (clearly faulty wiring) and the overall appearance of the room looked tired and in need of renovation and repair - the hotel is looking old and damaged in the rooms.

The front desk staff were polite, friendly and helpful. The fresh fruit in the room is a nice touch. The breakfast selection is excellent and delicious. The drinks and food range in the Club Lounge, however, is VERY poor and limited. The SPA is EXCELLENT -- I had a brilliant sports massage. The fitness room is somewhat limited and please, please, please, do not play such loud music in the gym - it's impossible to hear your own music or videos on your smartphone - I had to ask each time for the volume to be reduced. Please make the bar non-smoking. Those people like me who hate smoking...

If you think just the sleep quality and the location, the place is great. But if you think other things and compare it to the price to pay, this place is just not worth it. I feel stupid to pay too much just to stay in IHG property when I could've stay somewhere else same or even better property and spend the saved money to...well something else.

Pool was great, we spent all spare time there even though one off the shower rooms had some sewer smell problems. Staff were great, especially thumbs up for the maintenance guy who solved the problems "in a second" with a style!

Location is great, at least it was for us. Short walking distance from station and other main places. Safe and quiet area.

Everything wroted below ( pictures), doesn't affect to the sleep quality and good location, but worth to mention if someone wants to think the overall value for the money.

Lamps: Half off them were off or as it happen in our case, our broken room bulb were replaced from corridor. Most of corridor lamps didn't have bulbs, so probably common case...

Remote: Batteries were melt inside. Fixed by taking remote from another room.

Carpets, various places: Mold growth, dirt, whatever.

Walls, various places: Broken.

Ceilings, various places: Mold growth

"As an IHG® Rewards Club Platinum Elite member, were you offered a Welcome Amenity at check-in (e.g., points, drink or similar)" --- Nope.

Sorry to say, but bottom off all, not worth the...

Admittedly this was not a first choice hotel, as we were supposed to stay at the DoubleTree.||||Check in was painless and efficient. Our allocated king bed was on the third floor with a street view. The room itself was spacious enough with all amenities: ironing board, minibar (always convenient to store ones own drinks) , mini safe, bathrobe and slippers.||||The bathroom is spacious for sure but I am not a fan of taking a shower while standing in the bath. The usual mini bottles of shampoo etc were supplied. Towels not that fluffy. Water pressure fine.||||Bed hard enough. Feather pillow in wardrobe. Investing in better ( higher thread count) bed linen I would advise. Also duvet made of quite heavy material. For me it was a bit uncomfortable but still had good sleep.||||The property has lot to offer: Spa including nice size pool, sauna and all kinds of treatments. There is also a casino. I noticed Minsk loves their casinos as there are many. We did not use any F&B outlets.||||I want to mention the concierge Alena as she was very friendly and helpful.||||The hotel is located a 8 minute walk to the Central Station from where bus 300 E to airport departs. ||||We had an excellent breakfast at café Michel which is very near the hotel on Karl Marx street and I wonder if Mr Marx would have approved of this slightly decadent restaurant.||||All in all...