During Songkran, I, like many Thais, had a long holiday and was faced with the decision of where to go. Initially, I considered traveling within Thailand for Songkran next year, but the intense heat made me want to escape to a cooler climate. Russia came to mind as it doesn't require a visa. However, unfortunately, Thai Airways has canceled direct flights to Moscow since the end of March. As a result, I opted for Singapore Airlines instead, accepting the layover in Singapore, which extended my travel time to almost a day. I arrived in Moscow early in the morning. I will review the various attractions in Moscow in a separate post. For now, let me share my review of the two hotels I stayed at in Moscow:

1. Hotel Hilton Leningradskaya Moscow and

2. Hotel Mercure Moscow Paveletskaya

The initial selection of the Hotel Hilton Leningradskaya Moscow was driven by our travel itinerary, which followed the route Moscow > St. Petersburg > Moscow. Traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg necessitates taking a train from Komsomolskaya Station. (We opted for a high-speed train with a four-hour travel time.) With four daily departures, two in the morning and two in the evening, we selected the second morning departure at 7:00 AM. Consequently, we sought a hotel in close proximity to the station, leading us to the Hilton.

As we did not choose Aeroflot, Singapore Airlines will land at Domodedovo Airport (Домоде́дово). At this airport, we can take the Aeroexpress, a non-stop express train to Moscow city center, which takes approximately 50 minutes. We will arrive at the Pavaletskaya railway station. From there, we can take the brown line of the Moscow Metro, which runs in a circle and is one of the oldest in Moscow, to Komsomolskaya station, where the Hilton Hotel is located.

My journey into the city and my use of the subway will be covered when I discuss my Moscow tour.

Upon exiting the train station, the towering hotel building immediately catches the eye on the right-hand side. It is the tallest building in the area and one of the seven Stalinist Sisters skyscrapers constructed over six decades ago to rival New York City. These skyscrapers were symbolic of progress in communist Russia, a way to assert that communism could achieve prosperity on par with the West. In fact, Moscow boasts numerous skyscrapers.

Let's take a look inside the room. We were able to check in early even though it was a Saturday morning, and we were also upgraded to a better room.

The room I was assigned was a separate upgrade room with a sleeping area separated from the living room. However, even the standard rooms are larger than those in most hotels. The hotel retains its antique exterior and interior, reflecting its history as a hotel for several decades. Those who prefer modern or boutique hotels may not enjoy this hotel. Notably, the hotel is a large, standalone building in the Komsomolskaya area, which, although considered central Moscow, is closer to the suburbs. The area is still modern, with shopping malls, shops, and restaurants, but with a style reminiscent of the communist era. The department stores resemble those in the Tang Huat Seng area.

Location .... Although not in the city center, it is very convenient to get to the city. You can walk to the subway and go to various tourist attractions. Although the Komolomskaia area may seem a bit deserted, it is not very dangerous. At two or three o'clock in the morning, I looked down and the street was quiet, but it was not dangerous. I walked to the nearby supermarket under the big mall, which has a lot of things, and it was safe. But the most important thing is that the Hilton Hotel is like an oasis. No one outside this hotel speaks English. I have to go into the hotel.

The building's beauty and comfort are a testament to the successful renovation of the old Stalinist architecture. While Russians still perceive it as luxurious, resembling a contemporary New York hotel, those who prefer modern aesthetics might find it outdated and somewhat gloomy.

The room is spacious and comfortable, with modern and complete amenities. However, the building's antique style may appear somewhat dark and gloomy.

The bathroom may not be to everyone's liking, as it appears quite dated and lacks a bathtub. Given the size of the hotel, one might expect a rain shower, but it seems the shower is of an older style. The water pressure is not particularly strong, but it is not weak either. The hot and cold water controls work well, and the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold. The bathroom retains the spaciousness and luxury of an older style, and it is clean.

The price… the actual price is not that cheap, but because of the weakened ruble, the hotel price compared to the Thai baht has almost halved. With the Early Bird Rate and Hilton Card membership, the total price I saw was very good.

The service was excellent. Russians rarely smile, but when they do, they smile warmly and are very helpful.

Key Features

• Modern, close to the metro station and train to St. Petersburg.

• Highly flammable.

- Value for money

Weaknesses

- Located outside the city, there are no tourist attractions around the hotel. English is also a problem, even the staff at the nearby KFC can't speak English. However, for those who know French, it seems to be a more popular foreign language than English. Almost half of the Russians I met spoke French well, even the shop staff. Otherwise, sign language is the way to go.

- The room is a bit dark.

For more reviews, please visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thetravelbagstory/