I went there with my husband in March 2008, and have stayed there twice before 2008.

It's a very nice hotel, the rooms are comfy and good standard. It'll get cleaned everyday and it had a small fridge/minibar, comfy bed,small yet refurbished bathroom with a tub.
But it's allowed to smoke in there, so it was a bit annoying for us as non smokers to have the smell from the other rooms coming through the vent to our room.

Breakfast was really nice with a lot to choose between, and almost every morning when we ate there, a guy sat by the piano and play some tunes. Really nice!

The location is around 150 - 200 meters from the main street where everything is, and a 30 minute walk to the marketplace where you buy fake dvd's,watches and real fur coats and hats for a small fee. Worth visiting!

The staff speaks english, and if you need help with anything, like getting a taxi for you, they'll order one that is real. (beware! many pirate taxi that will rip you off )

May 2009 actually-We stayed on the economy floor, so the room was clean and adequate. The tub was a bit unusual, with two levels, and a bit challenging to get in and out of. However, the Russian experience was what we were there for. We were able to arrange taxis often very inexpensively, since it sits on a high hill with many steps down to the bus lines, as is much of Murmansk. It is safe and the gift shop was nice. The ability to email or make copies in the business center was handled very professionally. English speaking staff and very friendly. Enjoyed our stay!

The staff in the hotel was very friendly and helpful. There was a nice terrace in front of the hotel. Breakfast was good.
The room was big and the shower nice. We stayed here in the middle of summer and the curtains were dark, so we had a good night rest although the sun didn’t set at all.
The room didn’t have air condition and was pretty hot. We could open the windows, but there was quite some noise from outside. There was no safe in the room.
Hotel has a very colorful and modern interior. Wifi was available in the whole hotel.
Poor value for money for hotels in this part of the country.

Not far from the main street, shops, supermarket, yet located 150 metres up a hill away from this, the Polinarie Zori is a great hotel in a seemingly drab, but none the less interesting Murmansk with pleasant local people.
On the third floor everything seemed renovated during the last 1-2 years, and good hotels in Scandinavia and the UK have something to learn from the tasteful, modern result. The rooms are equipped down to your own kettle, reading spotlight and a sleepinducing mattress.
The remainder of the hotel is not as modern, but well and pleasantly equipped with sauna, nice bars and spacious, comfortable night club in which well dressed locals are polite and chivalrous in a way people were before further west.
Access to food in large and small quantities is easy at almost any time.
Didn't try the breakfast. Not hungry at that time and not on my list of hotel priorities.
I had the good fortune of stepping into a lift occupied by a nervous bride, who appreciated my handshake.