Three points:
1) the hotel itself (room and the building) is horrible: it looks like it hasn't seen any repairs for like 30 years. Rooms are clean, but look like they are not because of age. All equipment is severely out-dated. It's hot in the rooms.
2) The view from the river-side rooms of the hotel is simply gorgeous: I literally had a hard time falling asleep because I couldn't stop looking and admiring the beauty of St.-Petersburg. Windows are huge, location is perfect.
3) Service was good. We were checked-in really fast. The room was made-up every day.

In addition to that it seems that restaurant was renovated and breakfasts are good.

It looks like this hotel suffers mainly from age. It spoils the first impression completely, which can't be recovered completely by good service. But the view is so good

I stay in a lot of hotels around the world and while this certainly isn't the worst it is in the bottom 10%.

The major faults are:

-The rooms have vents for air conditioning but no controls in the room ,so I guess it is controlled centrally, but it is either broken or not switched on.
- The beds are very hard and uncomfortable
- My room was very noisy from what sounded like a diesel engine running 24/7
- The carpet in the corridor was filthy
- The staff range from surly to just bewildered when you ask for anything. Staff training is clearly not a priority here.
- There is no internet in the rooms
-There are no bath plugs, which may be just retro chic to the old Soviet era, but I would rather they were there!

In addition, there is just a general air of gloom about the place which just feels unloved. I would have been very upset if I had stayed here for a holiday.

On the plus side, the breakfast is OK.

It's a very big hotel and could be a real goldmine because of its location, but it is in serious need of professional management.

Walking distance from Finlandskiy railway station, reasonably priced.

I stayed there on two occasions (once in a room with the Aurora view and once on the opposite side), both rooms were clean and comfortable - simply standard for this price category and this city, if I may judge.

Definitely nothing as horrible as some of the reviews would suggest - those people should perhaps stay away from Russia in the first place: if one cannot afford luxury and decides to stay in this "economy" place, one should not complain about not getting 5* service. Visit hotel Krim in Sevastopol, Ukraine to get a true USSR experience - this is not it.

Having said that, the service at reception is indeed a bit "slow", to put it nicely. You better speak at least some Russian - it does help to break the ice and speed things up. However, nothing, I repeat nothing, will save you from having your passport "confiscated" for "registration". Don't panic, if this is your first check in in Russia :-)

Breakfast is included in the room price (at least it was in mine), but certainly nothing to write home about - most probably you will get a snack somewhere else shortly after leaving.

If you haven't been to St. Petersburg before, there is one not-so-obvious issue - the hotel seems to be on the "wrong side" of the river, so if you go dining/drinking/partying downtown, make sure you leave before midnight and return no sooner than 4 or 5 am. While the beautifully lit opening bridges across Neva may provide extremely romantic views, the practical implications need to be considered too.

The above also has an unexpected consequence: there is usually a bored bunch of "working girls" in the hotel lobby - they are simply stuck in the hotel over night. They will perhaps try to hint something (very decently) - however, if you speak Russian and make it clear this is not what you are after, you may strike one of the most interesting, honest, eye-opening and also funny conversations over a cup of coffee. You will learn more about real life in Russia in one hour than any of those people giving this hotel 0 points will ever find from their guide books.

Unless you want to experience the Soviet times as a student in a hostel. I came there to see the great wiev to the Neva river, Aurora cruiser. But met also the great disappointment. You can find much more convenient hostels in around.