Stayed there for Night Layover

Location:Outside ,Not really anything around

Rooms: Old Fashion Renaissance ,Nice Bed ,Old TV ,only 5 Programms ,A/C ,Minibar ,Bathrope Slippers

Specials :Swimmingpool ,Fitness ,Sauna all to be recommended .

Final Review: Typical Renaissance ,Excellent Staff,Old Rooms ,Lots of Moskitos but overall Good

I've spent 250+ nights at the Renaissance over an 18month period and the experience got better and better each time I arrived. Members of staff are first class, they will attend to your every need, provide you with local knowledge and help with any difficulties they may have.

The hotel has a responsible sized swimming pool and gym area, however, sunbathing comes in the form of a small block paved area within the car park surrounded by cheap wicker fencing which is somewhat disappointing.

In terms of restaurants, ‘In Alto’ provides you with the best outlook (Volga River), however, it’s very expensive for what you actually receive and does require upgrading. There is a private dining room, however, it’s not worth bothering with and from what I saw, it’s only the men who arrived every evening in 3 black G class Mercs who used it...a little strange to say the least. Room service is from a very limited menu and it’s the same menu as the Vienna Cafe which doesn’t have a great ambience about it. Within the ‘games’ area you can order grease food i.e. burgers, fries, onion rings...all deep fried and isn’t great...one of the major problems is that it’s closed due to staffing levels when the outdoor area is open for food serving. In 2008 the outdoor eating area was situated at the front of the hotel, making it very accessible when you arrive from the office etc, and also made the front of the hotel more attractive, however, in 2009 management decided that it would be better to erect the area within the car park and re-route anyone who wishes to eat outside through the basement levels of the hotel and greeting you at the exit/entrance to the car park is a make shift ramp...it’s very disappointing. I suggest that anyone staying at the hotel ask for a taxi to Frau Muller, a close by German styled restaurant, it’s extremely good food and very well priced, they also have an English menu, result! Never tip on your hotel bill, staff don’t receive any of it...cash is best and give it to the staff out of sight of peering eyes.

You’ll notice that staffing levels are very low; this is due to management deciding that firing people to save costs was a better option than ensuring the customers experience was of the highest standard... As an example, you now need to wait at the reception desk longer than necessary whilst phone calls are answered due to staff not being allowed to leave the phone ringing even when they are already dealing with someone.
Wifi is available, it works well but at a high cost, however, if you know what you’re doing you can piggy back onto other secured networks which I assume belongs to the houses behind the hotel, depending where you stay in the hotel depends on signal strengths...try the 7th floor in the Junior Suites, worked for me.

Limited channels are available on the TV and there isn’t a DVD player in your room thus make sure you take a player with you or have a decent enough laptop to run DVD’s.
I would recommend this hotel over the others available in Samara, mainly because there aren’t many hotels. I did stay at the Holiday Inn and what lets it down is its location, the surrounding buildings aren’t nice and thus ruin the view...

Although the Renaissance changed the General Manager in 2008, they are needing to do it again and this time bring in someone who has management experience, understands customers needs and listens to feedback given. The hotel has a lot to offer, however, it could offer so much more...

I had 2 nights in this hotel and enjoyed my stay. The ambience is well pitched and relaxed. The staff are excellent. Friendly, professional and honest. One member of staff was honest enough to say "don't bother tipping - it goes straight to the hotel."

My 2 complaints are that there is very little choice for dinner - it's either room service or the fine dining room. Why can they not offer the comfort food on the room service menu (hamburgers, club sandwich etc) in the main restaurant? AND there was a lot of noise on the first night - I presume from the conference room.

It would also be great if satellite TV in Russia offered some non-news English language channels.

All said, compared to the Holiday Inn across the city - I'll be staying in the HI in future. Almost entirely because the restaurant offering is better.

My stay in Samara was in May 2009 for four days and could really recommend the Renaissance Hotel. Large hotel lobby with an open bar concept, few shops, travel agency. The breakfast is served in one of the restaurants with a nice ambiance und enough space to grant a private atmosphere. The second restaurant has a great view (volga river!) especially during the sunrise. beergarden behind the hotel with a good choice of meals and drinks. rooms are friendly and modern equipped with a special bedding concept. I had a chance to view the largest meeting room at the hotel: Picture windows with a lot of day light, looks good!

The hotel is not directly directly located at the volga river but provides a bus shuttle service.