Management Training Center Hotel   J P  Phone: 7 (812) 465-2155

Rates: $75 to $110.

Location Rating: This hotel is in Pushkin, which is about 16 miles south of Saint Petersburg. It is on the outskirts of the 1400 acre Catherine Park, which is a beautiful place to explore during the warm weather. From the hotel, you will have to hike a bit to the park's main entrance. It might take 20 minutes.

Proximity To Metro: It's nowhere near the metro. You can pick up a bus at the Moskovskaya Metro Station to go to Pushkin. We paid just 15 rubles a piece for this ride (50 cents). The commute from the metro probably takes 30 minutes, depending upon traffic. You can also take the train to Saint Petersburg's Pushkinskaya Metro Station. If the idea of being inside a train car that is crammed full of people does not sound appealing, then I suggest you take the bus to Saint Petersburg. The train is not always crowded, but when it is, it is not a pleasant place to be stuck (pure hell).

Lobby Appearance: Security is strict. You have to pass through the guard house before you are allowed entry to the lobby. The lobby is a little old; the furniture looks a little old, but at first sight it appears that it might be a nice place.

Room Appearance: The rooms are old, but nice. And every guest room has a bathroom that looks brand new and is of nice quality. They also have apartments with kitchens. All together they have 80 guest rooms.

Useful Nearby Businesses: There's a nice, classy cafe in the basement of the building on the corner. Our guide Elena and I enjoyed a meal there for 300 rubles. The food was excellent. They also have two nice bar areas in separate rooms there.

Hotel Restaurants: They have a few large restaurant eating areas.

Other Amenities: Indoor winter garden to relax by, transportation services, copying, fax, email, video equipment rental, currency exchange.

Would I Stay Here? Yes, if I wanted to spend a couple days in Pushkin. Commuting to Saint Petersburg is a little too far in my opinion.

Staff Speaks English? Yes, a little. Not much though.

Comments: This is the nicest hotel facility in Pushkin. It is the former mansion of Duke V.P. Kochubey and was built between 1911 and 1914. It is surprising how big it is. Once inside the lobby, you walk up a large and very interesting spiral staircase. Then the adventure begins as the corridors twist and turn. Interesting art is displayed throughout the facility and the hotel has lots of interesting antique furniture. We saw a fair number of rooms and I was impressed that every room had a bathroom that looked brand new. Pushkin is a quiet place. It's nothing like Saint Petersburg.

Marine Plant Hotel   L P   Phone: 7 (812) 236-4780

Rates: 720 rubles ($24). They say they only have 10 good rooms, but would not allow us to see them because they were all being used by guests. I have strong doubts these really are good rooms.

Location Rating: Extremely Poor if you want to get to Saint Petersburg. This hotel is located in the small island city (50,000 people) of Kronshtadt. It is quite far from Saint Petersburg. It is an interesting town. Sort of like a mini Saint Petersburg.

Proximity To Metro: It probably takes at least 30 minutes by bus to get to Chernaya Rechka Metro Station. To get to this city you drive on top of a very, very long dam.

Lobby Appearance: Not good. It gives the impression that expectations should be lowered.

Room Appearance: The corridors and stairwell were old and dark.

Useful Nearby Businesses: A cafe.

Hotel Restaurants: None.

Other Amenities: None.

Would I Stay Here? No.

Staff Speaks English? No.

Comments: Our guide Elena visited the hotels in this town with me. Both of us didn't like this hotel, or the treatment we received.

Marshal Hotel  J&  Phone: 7 (812) 279-9955

Rates: Single 2205 rubles ($73.50); double 2940 rubles ($98) to 3255 rubles ($108.50); semi-luxury suite 3528 rubles ($117.60); luxury suite 4347 rubles ($144.90); extra bed 570 rubles ($19). Breakfast included.

Location Rating: Good.

Proximity To Metro: Good. Less than 15 minutes walking time to Chernyshevskaya Metro Station.

Lobby Appearance: Brand new and quite nice.

Room Appearance: Everything looks brand new. These rooms are great. Spacious.

Useful Nearby Businesses: Planet Fitness near by (expensive fitness club). If you walk for a few minutes, you'll find lots of shops and cafes.

Hotel Restaurants: They have a restaurant and bar.

Other Amenities: Sauna, gym, two conference halls for up to 20 or 60 people.

Would I Stay Here? Absolutely!

Staff Speaks English? Yes.

Comments: The Marshal Hotel was opened in March 2001. It's a classy place and everything is new. Smolney Cathedral is right down the road. It's location is a bit quiet and near a park. It is also close to the Hotel Mercury. I really like the Marshal Hotel and it's not far from the action. Only 18 rooms! If you want to stay here, I suggest you book early. (Their website link did not work.)

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