It's clearly a long-established hotel, renovated and fully equipped. Located in the city center, it's easy to find. All the necessary amenities are there, even two ATMs. Even the single rooms are spacious, with great heating and views.
I didn't understand why it had such low ratings before, but after staying there, I understand. First, even at reception, very few staff speak English. The female staff member mentioned in the comments was a rare exception—she spoke English and was kind and proactive. Almost everyone else was indifferent.
This hotel has the attitude of a state-owned enterprise from the last century—indifferent and unresponsive. I saw a family of tourists from other countries greet the staff in the hallway, but they ignored them as they walked by (this is the first time I've seen such poor service; it's practically rude). Logically, hotel staff should be welcoming and at least say hi to guests, but none of that happened during my stay. Even hotel staff in Moscow, if they don't speak, at least smile. Once, I helped a female staff member press the elevator button, and she didn't even say thank you, acting as if it was her duty. Perhaps this job has nothing to do with KPIs; it's a take-it-or-leave-it situation. What's even more ridiculous is that they have a display of photos of outstanding employees on the first floor, and all the staff in the photos are smiling (how ironic). Whether this involves racial discrimination is hard to confirm, as I've also seen them ignore other English-speaking tourists. The only time they seem enthusiastic is when tourists meet each other.
As some people downstairs have mentioned, water and toiletries are only provided on the first day of check-in. Regardless of the length of stay, there are no further updates (based on my experience). From what I've observed, the hotel primarily caters to local tour groups, senior citizen groups, and some independent travelers from Southeast Asia. If you have a choice, choose the one with the higher rating. If you're in a rush, the facilities are still quite good, but please significantly lower your expectations for the hotel's service; treat it as a self-service experience.
- Anonymous User
This hotel appears to have undergone renovations. The rooms are quite nice and modern, the breakfast is decent, and it's within walking distance of a supermarket. Taxis are also readily available. Overall, it's considered one of the better hotels in Murmansk.
- Anonymous User