If you are traveling from Sheremetyevo airport - this hotel cannot be beaten - it is a very short walking distance across the Belorussian train station square from the Airport Express train. Granted, the walk itself is an adventure (as you exit the Airport Express offices - walk clockwise to the opposite side, where the white church is - and you will be right at the Lesnaya st. then turn left and one long block later you will see the hotel), the surfaces are not the best for your wheeled luggage.
The lobby is always crowded beyond belief, as there are dozens of people waiting for someone else, arriving, and just hanging for the free internet. The internet is slow, better options are ridiculously priced - USD30 for 512kbps for 24 hrs, or USD 40 for 1024kbps.
Security considerations made navigating this hotel a nightmare - your card allows you to travel only to the floor where you live, so forget about visiting friends or going to the executive lounge. Keep that in mind.
The executive lounge itself is nice, but spartan, coffee machine/water/fruit. Breakfast at the hotel is another overpriced commodity - USD30 for a full breakfast?? Fortunately, there is a nice Le Pain Quotidien one block away (closer to the train station), as well as organic food store, Starbucks coffee and so on. There is also a big 24hr Supermarket Azbuka Vkusa - overpriced but very very good choices. For basic things and liquor you can walk to the corner of the Tverskaya St and find a 24hr bodega that sells cigarettes, snacks and alcohol, right next door to the Currency Exchange.
The proximity of Tversaya St. makes it very easy to get anywhere at any time of day/night.
Back to the hotel - the furniture/bedding is good, the curtains do not close all the way for some reason. Bathroom and toiletries are very good. The windows are soundproof, so it is very quiet inside the room.
It is a very good choice for Moscow, especially for the location. Other than that, hotel is priced on par with other similar properties.
All staff members speak English and are very eager to help. Smiles are rare, but their earnestness is what they are told to radiate. Make them smile and they will come alive. You do need to ask them yourself - they are too busy to remind you of anything themselves. Ask for a registration card - all visitors are supposed to have one and carry it with a copy of your passport at all times. When ordering room service (ice, utensils, etc.) you may have to call two or three times as they "forget" :)
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
15 December 2011
Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking the time to submit a review regarding your stay at the Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya. We appreciate your comments that help us to measure the level of service and quality of facilities.
Looking forward to welcoming you back.
Kind regards
Konstantin Goriainov
General Manager
Holiday Inn Moscow Lesnaya
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC