Avent Inn Nevsky — Hotel in округ Лиговка-Ямская

Before we visited, I noticed there weren't many reviews of the Avent Inn on TripAdvisor. I still think of TripAdvisor as a proper independent site, where impartial travellers post genuine reviews. And therefore, I am very keen to recommend the Avent Inn. The location for us was second to none - we wanted to be near the Moskovsky train station, because we were taking the train from St Petersburg back to Tallinn - and gosh, we were near! As in less than 50 metres. We were also very close to the Ploschad Vosstaniya metro, and the Galeria Shopping Centre. So...the location is ideal. ||||But in addition, we were pleasantly surprised by the standard of this hotel. We paid €211 for five nights' bed and breakfast - and for that money, we had a lovely room, and the bathroom had a bath (okay, it wasn't a gigantic bath...but it was a perfectly adequate bath, and the flow of hot water was excellent, and for that price, we reckon we certainly got value for money). I had read some reviews that said the hotel was fine if you just want a base, because you're off out exploring the city, and that the breakfast was basic...so I half expected a room one wouldn't want to hang about in, and simply coffee and a bread roll for breakfast. But the room was great (look, you won't be expecting a suite for that price, right?). We loved the fact that there was an empty little fridge - it meant we could store groceries we bought. We stayed for five nights, and our towels were changed daily (and there was a good amount of towels...better than in some so-called 'premium hotels'), and the bed linen was changed after 3 nights. Basic toiletries were provided. The bathroom was a little quirky - there was a boiler, and a notice requesting that we didn't interfere with the settings - but that was no trouble. Staying in this hotel felt like staying in a relative's home. Quite lovely. ||||Another review mentioned that the 'laneway' up to the door started to smell of alcohol and urine after a few days - well, thankfully, I can report that we had no such experience. And the 'laneway' is in fact, only a couple of metres. The place feels safe and secure. Sure, there's no fancy lobby, and you have to go up a small flight of stairs to the reception, but really, the value for money is excellent, and I'd feel happy recommending this hotel to anyone.||||The breakfast wasn't as basic as I expected...there's a very small dining room, but it's adequate, and there were fresh croissants and pancakes, and 'scrambed egg' (more like an omelette), and continental sausages, and cucumber and tomato, and various types of bread for toasting. And a couple of types of cereal, and yoghurt, and apples, and really good coffee from a proper coffee-making machine, and a good selection of teas - and teapots. You serve yourself, and if you're feeling generous, you can bring your used dishes into the little kitchenette. There's a microwave - so you can reheat any cooked items that may be less hot than you'd like. ||||Drinking water from coolers is provided on every floor, and we were advised that we could make coffee for ourselves if we wished - this was because we told the receptionist that we'd be leaving around 5.30 a.m. on our final day, and breakfast starts at 7. In actual fact, they put out some breakfast items for us - and all in all, this contributed to us feeling that we hadn't been staying in some impersonal hotel, but a place that felt like home. ||||If, like us, you like value for money, and you're wondering whether to book the Avent Inn, my advice is - yes, go ahead, you...

There are hotels that give you the feeling of being spoilt and indulged, hotels where you feel that the staff clearly haven't realised you aren't royalty and shouldn't be allowed to stay in their grand establishment and then there are hotels like Avent Inn in St. Petersburg...the sort of hotel that feels like a home away from home. It's comfortable, it's clean, the staff are friendly, and speak good English and are helpful. Unless you stuck the hotel in the actual train station, perhaps on the tracks, I doubt you could place it in a better location than it actually is! The train station is literally so close that you could probably count your travel time to the station in seconds! Their is an underground (metro/tube) station literally within spitting distance of the hotel. There is a plentiful supply of all kinds of restaurants close by and you are in one of the main squares of the city! I don't think we had to walk more than 10 minutes to get to a decent restaurant for dinner! The breakfast in the morning is, like most European hotels of this nature, a buffet style set up! There are fruits and vegetables and cold meats and cereals and croissants/pastries! There is coffee (really good!) and tea and juice etc. Oh and the rare occasion that you happen to travel to St. Petersburg when it's sunny and hot...the room has air con! And the beds are really comfortable. If you are looking for something amazing and take-your-breath-away fantastic this isn't the hotel for you. If you are looking for comfy, affordable, secure, clean and a decent and centrally located place to rest your head after a busy day running around the city - this is it! Oh and a top tip - there is a little shop on the street outside the main entrance to the hotel (leave the hotel and turn left and walk for 2 minutes and it's on your right that you will see some steps leading down to the shop) - we stopped off there to stock up on supplies of food and drink before embarking on our next mammoth train journey - which in Russia is basically every train...

There are hotels that give you the feeling of being spoilt and indulged, hotels where you feel that the staff clearly haven't realised you aren't royalty and shouldn't be allowed to stay in their grand establishment and then there are hotels like Avent Inn in St. Petersburg...the sort of hotel that feels like a home away from home. It's comfortable, it's clean, the staff are friendly, and speak good English and are helpful. Unless you stuck the hotel in the actual train station, perhaps on the tracks, I doubt you could place it in a better location than it actually is! The train station is literally so close that you could probably count your travel time to the station in seconds! Their is an underground (metro/tube) station literally within spitting distance of the hotel. There is a plentiful supply of all kinds of restaurants close by and you are in one of the main squares of the city! I don't think we had to walk more than 10 minutes to get to a decent restaurant for dinner! The breakfast in the morning is, like most European hotels of this nature, a buffet style set up! There are fruits and vegetables and cold meats and cereals and croissants/pastries! There is coffee (really good!) and tea and juice etc. Oh and the rare occasion that you happen to travel to St. Petersburg when it's sunny and hot...the room has air con! And the beds are really comfortable. If you are looking for something amazing and take-your-breath-away fantastic this isn't the hotel for you. If you are looking for comfy, affordable, secure, clean and a decent and centrally located place to rest your head after a busy day running around the city - this is it! Oh and a top tip - there is a little shop on the street outside the main entrance to the hotel (leave the hotel and turn left and walk for 2 minutes and it's on your right that you will see some steps leading down to the shop) - we stopped off there to stock up on supplies of food and drink before embarking on our next mammoth train journey - which in Russia is basically every train...