Prezident-Otel' — Hotel in Minsk

First off, this is Minsk and there isn't exactly a large supply of hotels, so my review keeps that in mind to be fair. ||||President Hotel is basically your large Soviet-style "grand" hotel. Everything is very big, big, big but that does not always equate to functional or comfortable. It is probably 95% conference/business guests, so they have enough staff who can converse in English. As you'd imagine, there is slow check-in and check-out and do not expect service above and beyond because it is just not part of the culture. ||||That being said, my Junior Suite was extremely large and while not at the cutting edge of design, it was comfortable enough and for around $150USD, in what major city will I get a 70sqm suite? Water pressure/heat was fine...expect average bedding and towels. I can sleep just fine on a simple bed but for those expecting a bed designed for modern sleep comfort, this is not it. It was not hot when I stayed here but if it is when you stay, the cooling is not very powerful. Wi-fi worked fine. I was on the 5th floor and had beautiful views over the city. ||||The pool/sauna area is Olympic-sized! Even breakfast is served in a huge ballroom...speaking of which, they have a ton of options like crepes, porridge, local omelettes, cakes, fruit, and so on, but as others mentioned, a lot of preserved food like the sausages that are not so pleasant. Hotel has an ATM and money exchange office on premises. ||||The location is right smack in the city center. Probably within 20 minutes on foot you can see everything from the Red Church to the Upper City without needing the Metro or a taxi. ||||If this was another city, I would not rate it so highly, but where are you really going to stay in...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Hotel President in Minsk and I must say it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The attention to detail, impeccable service, and luxurious amenities truly set this hotel apart.From the moment I stepped into the lobby, I was greeted with warmth and professionalism by the staff. Check-in was seamless. My room has exceeded all expectations, was not only tastefully decorated but also spotlessly clean, with every comfort thoughtfully provided for.Throughout my stay, the staff went above and beyond to ensure that I was well taken care of. Whether it was arranging transportation or fulfilling any other request I had, their dedication to customer satisfaction was evident.The breakfast option at the hotel were equally impressive. I had the pleasure of sampling ldifrent dishes and each meal was a culinary delight. The quality of the food, paired with the elegant ambiance, made for a truly memorable dining experience.Additionally, the hotel's facilities, including the fitness center and spa, were top-notch. I appreciated having access to such well-maintained amenities during my stay.Overall, my experience at Hotel President was nothing short of excellent. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a luxurious and memorable stay. I look forward to returning...

This was one of the most bizarre stays we've had so far.||||We stayed there for only one night. As other people mentioned in the reviews, the hotel is empty, dark, and grim. We were offered a room that smelled awful and when we asked to move us to another room, we were told that a sick person'd stayed there, so it must be a smell of their meds (I am still puzzled of why were we even offered this room in the first place if the hotel occupancy seemed to be 15% at the very most?). Anyhow, moved to another room - stayed there for literally 15 minutes until our neighbors' guests started smoking. Had to move again.||||While we've been moving around and walking through different hallways, I noticed some presence of cigarette smell on other floors as well.||||As about the room service, it was quite poor too. There was no table to eat in the room, not enough chairs to seat three people. The hotel staff lined up all dishes (6-7 plates) on the TV stand along the wall as they didn't fit the desk. Needless to say, it was not the most convenient arrangement.||||One of the ladies from the front desk and the maid were somewhat helpful but most employees looked lost, very inexperienced, and not welcoming. Again, overall experience was waaaaaaaay below any expectations we've had for a...