We had booked two rooms - my friend's room had been renovated - new faux parquet flooring and furniture, colourful carpet, fresh paint, and ample natural light. My room was half the size, dark, dank, with ancient, ripped indoor-outdoor carpeting - and reeked of urine.
I of course should have immediately insisted on a different room, or changed hotels, but I was tired, and it was quite late. The staff's response was to light an oil lamp to cover the smell and suggest it was because of the recent rain. (Further investigation suggested it may have been because the room's tiny window faced an alley popular with locals reliving themselves after drinking.)
It was impossible to sleep and in the middle of the night, I begged a different room to no avail. In the morning, I refused to pay the same exhorbitant price as my friend, and was granated a small discount.
Nizny is a charming and elegant city, but surely there are better places to stay than this.