Amaks Safar — Hotel in Kazan

Well, let's start with check-in. The staff told us we couldn't check in yet, put our bags in storage and then called us back from across the lobby to tell us we could check in after all. The administrator then informed us about the Internet. It's free, she said, and there's no password, but I'll tell you right away it's not working.||||When we asked them for a city map they said we'd have to pay. We decided we could go without.||||The hotel was teeming with teenagers, which is not their fault. What IS their fault is that there is 0 soundproofing so we could hear every single time the teenagers decided to do their best impression of a wolf howling. We called the reception desk to tranquilize the wild teens, who had moved on to practicing their dance routine in front of our door, but the staff, apparently fearing the adolescents themselves, decided that no action was the best action.||||The room itself was also a wonder to behold. The refrigerator, which they pass off as a minibar and charge extra to use was dirty and disgusting (see photo). The bathroom was not visibly dirty if you don't count the mold. The bathroom gave off an interesting combined scent of the aforementioned mold mixed with sewage. There is plenty of hot water which is not a given for a Russian hotel. ||||You have to ask to receive house slippers. They might charge you for them; we didn't want to find out. ||||The radiators in our room worked, kind of. My friend slept under two blankets at night and whenever we were in the room we both wore 2 sweaters to stay warm. We called for a space heater, which a hotel employee brought. When he arrived, he breezed past the non-working outlet directly to the functioning one. He then proceeded to feel the weakly functioning batteries with his hands. When we drew his attention to the window from which the most cold air was blowing, he proceeded to tuck the curtain around it (see photo). Done! That, my friends, is professionalism.||||In the course of 2 days no one changed our towels or picked up in the room.||||Breakfast was mediocre and unvaried. The location is not great. The 'city view' I was supposed to have from my window is half of one of the minarets of the Kremlin mosque - the others are blocked by giant apartment buildings. ||||If I had payed 2000 roubles maximum per night I wouldn't be so upset. But I payed 3000. The joke is on me. But I kid you not - this hotel is bad for any money, and I would not stay here again or recommend that...

Well, let's start with check-in. The staff told us we couldn't check in yet, put our bags in storage and then called us back from across the lobby to tell us we could check in after all. The administrator then informed us about the Internet. It's free, she said, and there's no password, but I'll tell you right away it's not working.||||When we asked them for a city map they said we'd have to pay. We decided we could go without.||||The hotel was teeming with teenagers, which is not their fault. What IS their fault is that there is 0 soundproofing so we could hear every single time the teenagers decided to do their best impression of a wolf howling. We called the reception desk to tranquilize the wild teens, who had moved on to practicing their dance routine in front of our door, but the staff, apparently fearing the adolescents themselves, decided that no action was the best action.||||The room itself was also a wonder to behold. The refrigerator, which they pass off as a minibar and charge extra to use was dirty and disgusting (see photo). The bathroom was not visibly dirty if you don't count the mold. The bathroom gave off an interesting combined scent of the aforementioned mold mixed with sewage. There is plenty of hot water which is not a given for a Russian hotel. ||||You have to ask to receive house slippers. They might charge you for them; we didn't want to find out. ||||The radiators in our room worked, kind of. My friend slept under two blankets at night and whenever we were in the room we both wore 2 sweaters to stay warm. We called for a space heater, which a hotel employee brought. When he arrived, he breezed past the non-working outlet directly to the functioning one. He then proceeded to feel the weakly functioning batteries with his hands. When we drew his attention to the window from which the most cold air was blowing, he proceeded to tuck the curtain around it (see photo). Done! That, my friends, is professionalism.||||In the course of 2 days no one changed our towels or picked up in the room.||||Breakfast was mediocre and unvaried. The location is not great. The 'city view' I was supposed to have from my window is half of one of the minarets of the Kremlin mosque - the others are blocked by giant apartment buildings. ||||If I had payed 2000 roubles maximum per night I wouldn't be so upset. But I payed 3000. The joke is on me. But I kid you not - this hotel is bad for any money, and I would not stay here again or recommend that...

This was a very basic facility. The bedroom had only the flimsiest of nylon curtain. It was like a concrete box, painted some time back, and decorated only with a mirror. There were three single beds, all uncomfortable. The carpet was stained. The bathroom had a bidet but was old and rough. I appreciated the fact that small portions of shampoo were provided as I had missed these in previous Russian hotels. The reception staff were friendly. We had laundry done and service was excellent. Food at lunch was pleasant but strange atmosphere in almost empty restaurant. This place came alive at breakfast time however, when a very generous spread was on offer. The |Lobby bar was hidden away but we were so happy that we found it. Two young girls were working behind the bar and did a super job keeping everyone happy. Toilets in public area pretty good. It had a lift. Business corner of lobby excellent. English keyboard fir the computer was much appreciated and there was a heater right there. One thing I was disappointed about - when we came home in subway and out into the street we could see what we thought looked like our hotel building to walk towards, but how much more reassuring it would have been for hotel to be clearly labelled with its name visible from all directions. An experience. Not a warm place emotionally but in a couple of days one still built up a certain loyalty to it. Our guide was super proud of...