Nevsky Dvor hotel / Отель "Невский Двор" — Hotel in Владимирский округ

Nevsky Dvor hotel Location, location – only 5 minutes’ walk from Nevsky Prospect the main street in St. Petersburg. Originally, because the map showed proximity to a Metro Station, I’d planned to take the train from the airport: again the metro is a short distance away. In the end, I took a taxi - the correct decision. ||At the airport, the “official” taxis are designated (it reminded me a little of Mexico City!!). One is given a paper docket, given the price and directed to the point for taxis. Cost of the cab was 900 rubles (about $Aus27). Traffic is horrendous and the trip (20kms approx.) took an hour. As I found later when travelling by train, I couldn’t have managed luggage on the metro.||The hotel is comfortable enough. There is no lift. Staff, however, kindly moved me from the original second floor room (first night) to a first floor room for the rest of the stay. The hotel is small – only 17 rooms. Décor is brownish tones, the bed comfortable and the facilities all that were necessary for a few nights. The TV worked, including cable TV with instructions; Wi-Fi was free and reliable and the air-con worked. Coffee facilities were supplied: Hot water was available by walking along the hallway to an instant hot/cold water system – again adequate even it different. Still, one travels for different experiences! The hotel, in a side street, was quiet. My room had an ensuite and supplies.||Breakfast is limited and somewhat disappointing - about 4 choices, ordered in advance (daily in my case as I wanted variety, limited as it was). If you stay, there are definite pluses about this accommodation, but don’t be surprised if the ordered breakfast food has changed. After two nights, I contemplated skipping breakfast and going elsewhere, but I’d paid for the meal. It was at breakfast, I learned my first Russian language, limited as it still is.||Location again – banks, shops, cafes, restaurants, supermarket – so close, so convenient.||Reception staff seemed to change most days. One lady told me the operators had other hotels in St. Petersburg and staff rotated between them. I was given an English version map - very helpful. Booking taxis is no problem but suggestions of tourist sights was a definite problem. The English spoken by receptionists varied greatly but their English was profoundly greater than my Russian and we managed with the help of the map. Fortunately, I had done some research before coming but had made no bookings as I’d planned to do that on the cruise where the Wi-Fi was hopeless. One receptionist told me The Hermitage was out of the city and awkward to get to – totally incorrect. Walking down Nevsky Prospect to the first canal, a Hop On Hop Off cruise operator sold me a two day ticket: it was Russian language commentary but with the map supplied by the hotel, it was still great value for money. Using that cruise, I disembarked at the stop where The Hermitage was across the street.||The hotel was good value for money and if I return to St. Petersburg and there is availability here, I...

The best thing about this mini-hotel is its location - within 5 minutes walk from Nevsky Prospect (Avenue) and a metro station, but in a quiet yard. ||||Their weakest point is the cafe, which is situated not in the main building, so you have to cross this very yard in order to get breakfast. Not a problem in summer, of course, but somewhat inconvenient in colder seasons.||||The entrance procedure can be a bit tricky, because they have an electronic lock at the gate, so just pay attention to the instruction on the wall on your left. The hotel itself is very nice and cozily decorated - warm colours, drapery... The bed was a bit too soft for my liking, but it didn't interfere with the sleep quality, yet the air conditioner did (a little). Well, at least, I think it was the air conditioner that was making that soft clicking/whispering sound, which seemed rather loud during night hours. ||||The bathroom was very good and well-thought through - both the interior and "supplies".||||Free Wi-Fi and the possibility to rent a notebook is definitely a big plus.||||Another bonus was hot and cold drinkable water available in a cooler in the corridor. There were two cups, two glasses and a tea-bag in my single room, by the way. ||||I personally think there is one (well... two!) necessity lacking - a standard desk lamp and a lamp at the bed, which would be comfortable for reading. They do have one lamp installed over the bed and one over the desk, but both are uncomfortable for anything, but turning a dark room into a lit room. ||||The staff of the hotel is charming and helpful. A very pleasant experience in this regard. The staff of the cafe is a bit less friendly, but effective, nevertheless. Still be warned: it looks like when you are offered to choose the menu for your breakfast at the hotel reception upon checking-in, it doesn't mean you will get just what you have chosen - and no one will tell you about any 'kitchen problem' until you see a tray with different food in front of you. But to be fair: this occurred only once (out of two opportunities) and included only the hot part of the breakfast (because in all the ten menu options you get juice, tea or coffee, ham, cheese, marmalade, butter and a bread-roll). ||||The conclusion I have drawn for myself: I would stay there again - if I didn't find anything of the same price and in a...

Nice, quiet place located in just few hundred steps far from the very centre of the city - Nevskiy avenue, as well as the Mayakovskaya metro station. There's just 1-2 minutes needed to get from that cozy small hotel to a noisy and crowded urban artery...

I found it very nice to rent a room just coming from the airport without any booking or calling. Especially without any chance to use Pulkovo Wi-Fi, coming from abroad! The staff was friendly when I came in with my two big suitcases looking for a place to stay. And I was (very) lucky to visit the city in the middle of the 'low-season' (end of January) having such available option - find a free room, with a price of just 20$ a day! For sure, in the high- and summer season it's at least twice more.

As a real issue I can notice the lack of heating in the bathroom, it made me a little upset. The living room was pretty fine and warm with a temp outside -15 to -20 Celcius!

This type of a hotel isn't provide any food service like a breakfast, room service and/or snacks. But still there is a cafe nearby with good prices for breakfast and business...