Petro Palace Hotel: Problems at Petro Palace Hotel
Satisfaction:
By virtualnick on May 18, 2007
The Petro Palace Hotel is located few hundred meters from the Hermitage. Except for this there are several bad points: - few people at the reception speak English - the breakfast is poor in quality and quantity - they cheat us for the transfer to the airport, we booked, paid and waited for a limousine, but an old dirty taxi brought us to the airport. They were lucky because we were late to get the flight in time, so we hadn't any time to argue with them.
Petro Palace Hotel: Stay at Saint Petersburg - Russia
Satisfaction:
By virtualnick on August 23, 2006
Positive aspects: 1) The hotel is situated in the historical center of Saint Petersburg
Negative aspects: 1) Only few people speak English 2) The breakfast is poor (quantity) and awful (quality) 3) The "swimming pool" is a bath 4) The Petro Palace Hotel Concierge Service cheat me for the taxi service to the airport: I booked and paid for a Passat Volkswagen Hotel Car, but, when I had to leave the hotel, the told me that this car wasn't available, so they ask me more money for a luxury car. I refused their "offer" and they assigned me an old and dirty Russian taxi!!!
I would have been able to a taxi to reach the airport, saving time and above all money!!! I suppose that they also cheated the taxi driver, because, when I've been sat in the car, the taximeter started; I have had to explain to the taxi driver that I had already paid to the Hotel Concierge Service!
This hotel was served up as a package through Travelocity. Booked alone, it may be a bit spendier. However, my booking did not include the breakfast which was worth it because the one time I had it (at $US25) it was hardly worth it.
Room was nice, bed was comfortable. On-site they had an espresso bar which also served drinks as well as "SkyBar", a 6th floor room which, if the weather had been nice, might have provided a nice view of the city.
I used the laundry service once and while shirts came back clean and pressed, they had broken the sleeve buttons on one of them.
I would recommend this hotel primarily because it is close to the primary attractions as well as Nevsky.
All front desk and concierge staff spoke excellent English.
Another new 4- star hotel in the center with 194 rooms. New, modern renovation in a beautiful old facade, but somehow not inviting to visit.
It is the closest to Palace Square, but others, the Astoria, Angleterre, Renaissance are only one block further and perhaps more pleasant.
The staff was non-engaging, we never got greeting coming or going and ended up going elsewhere after 5 minutes. Unless you get a super deal it would be more friendly in other 4-star hotels.
The Sky Bar has been touted as having the best view in St. Petersburg. The sky bar is a modern renovation, but the view is the ugly sides of unrenovated buildings. You can see the needle of the Admiralty over the top, but really it is not the best view. Try the Renaissance Hotel for better views from their terrace.
I stayed in October 2007. The hotel is in an excellent location, only a couple short blocks to Nevskiy Prospekt, the main street and within easy walking distance of the Hermitage. The rooms are nice and the front desk very friendly if you give them a chance.
The room had a safe and mini bar. My room had a good shower. The hotel has a swimming pool and other facilities. The area had a very safe feel. On the main street was a Wells Fargo Bank where you could change US $. The hotel also had a very good, friendly concierge who showed me how to ride the subway and made taxi arrangements for transportation to the train station. In the lobby they had nice, large umbrellas which you could borrow. The breakfast was good.
Directions: The hotel is a short distance from a big cathedral and the main street, which is a pleasant walk. Turn right out of the hotel 2 short blocks and turn right to Nevskiy Prospekt, the main street which is mostly to the right and close to the Hermitage.