We had travelled on the overnight train from St Petersburg to Moscow and had a taxi transfer to the hotel Vega. First impressions were "OMG - is this a hotel"? It is one of several high rise blocks, that on arrival didn't look very nice. Once inside, however, the reception and lobby area are very shiny, modern and clean. As we had arrived early in the morning, we asked security (who spoke a little English and were very helpful) where we could store our bags for the day. They took us to the left baggage room, where we had a little fun trying to communicate with the old chap in the room about how many bags we were leaving and how much it was etc, when he spoke no English and we spoke no Russian! He wanted us to write something down on a piece of paper for him, but we had no idea what and he kept crossing it out and we kept trying again. We thought it was our names, but my husband wrote his down twice and it was crossed out. Eventually, I wrote mine down and he seemed happy with that! We then went off to explore the area, which actually wasn't too bad. There is a local market and a tourist market, the tourist market set in a fake church - very ornate and unusual. There are plenty of good restauants and bars and a shopping centre in the vicinity and also the Metro. We went back to the hotel cafe in the lobby and asked for tea. Admittedly, we speak no Russian and not surprisingly the lady serving spoke no English, but there was really no need for her to look at us as if she hated us! We had previously had fun with people trying to communicate by pointing and nodding and giving the occasional 'Da' and 'Nyat', but this lady was clearly fed up with it and made her feelings quite clear! When we went to check in we received the same frosty reception from the girl, indicating that we should speak to someone else. We managed to check in with another unsmiling receptionist and get our room cards. We had no information about when and where breakfast was, but guessed that info would be in the room, which it wasn't, so we asked at reception and they told us the time and location, from another receptionist, who was very good. ( I had already observed her dealing efficiently with another guest, so I deliberately went to her this time). Our room was fine. Nothing special, but clean. We were on 13th floor, from which there was a fantastic view. Our fridge had nothing in it, which was great as we stocked up cheaply at the supermarket! At breakfast the following morning we witnessed an awful scene from a member of staff with clearly no idea of customer service, when the couple in front of us tried to walk in and they were stopped by a very very frosty woman behind a desk, who asked them for something they clearly didn't understand. She actually tutted and raised her eyes to the heavens and yelled "Card, Card"! You had to show your room card to get in, but how were you supposed to know that, having received no information either verbally or in writing? Phew, luckily we realised what we had to do and didn't get the same! This was our first of many experiences in Moscow (not all at the hotel), that made us realise the customer is always WRONG. We tried the hotel bar one night, but even though we were seen walking in, were completely ignored and the bar lady disappeared! I ended up after about 10 minutes shouting through to the kitchen to ask someone to serve us. When we were ready for another drink, I shouted through again and she came in, poured half the drink from the tap and disappeared again. After about another 10 minutes, I ended up finishing pulling the pint myself! Two parties of people came into the bar, wated for 10 minutes or so and walked out again as nobody served them! It was a real shame, it was a beautiful little bar, made to look like the inside of a log cabin with a big fireplace. The bar lady seemed very friendly, but goodness knows where she kept going. There was a little smoking place for staff behind the bar and round the corner, where a few staff members kept gathering for a chat and a smoke. Sometimes she was there and sometimes she disappeared into thin air! The Service Desk was an example of excellent customer care. I encountered 3 members of staff, 2 of whom spoke very good English and one who spoke a little German and with my own limited German and a little sign language, we manged to communicate! Breakfast was very good. Lots of choice and some interesting items. A chef was on hand to cook pancakes whilst you waited and to fry eggs. There was even a lady playing the organ, which was actually quite weird at breakfast, as it was quite loud and she played some unusual tunes, such as Eurovision songs! She was very friendly though. As I said earlier, the hotel was very close to the Metro and it took about 15 minutes to get into Red Square. The trains seemed to run every 3 minutes and one trip, no matter how far you went was 18 roubles. (Less than 40p, so very cheap). The Metro felt a lot safer than the London Underground and some of the stations are a must see in themselves as they are so beautifully decorated. It was also very easy to work out where you were meant to get on and off, even without speaking any Russian. I was very happy with the location of the hotel, despite it being about 15 km (?) out of Moscow Centre. Even if you were in the centre, you would have to use the Metro to get round as it is such a huge city. I thought the area around the hotel was well enough equiped and the Metro close and safe enough to use. As for the hotel, yes, I would stay there again. It was adequate, 3* quality. Nothing to rave about, just adequate. I would love to see the few staff who had no customer service skills to be pulled up and trained correctly as I think they brought the hotel down. I do understand that this is maybe a cultural difference, but since the hotel had many international visitors, it would be in their interests to train them all to internationally expected standards. (After all, some of them were great, so it can be done). I don't think it is necessary for them all to be able to speak English. We found many times during our trip that the fact that we could not speak a common language, did not mean that with the use of sign language and calculators, to indicate costs, we could not have a bit of fun, sometimes successfully communicating and other times not! And after all, at the end of the day, we are in a foreign country and should really try to speak at least a little of the lingo and if we can't - accept the consequences, as we did!

Just back from a trip to moscow for the champions league final. we stayed in the Vega hotel, which is part if the "Izmailovo" grouping. I was very suprised at the lobby which was very stylish and recently refurbished. Check in was no problem as i had a printout of my booking, the receptionists did not really speak any english so it would have been difficult had i not brought this. the room itself was clean and recently refurbished as well. the beds were comfortable and the room had satellite tv, although the only english channels were news channels. Each floor has a water machine that provides both chilled drinking water and boiled water - no kettle in rooms. The entire complex is being renovated, my elevator did stop on a floor undergoing refurb and it looked like a building site so im sure in the future all rooms will be of the same quality. very few staff could speak english, except for at the service desk. room service spoke no english whatsoever which is disappointing as english menus were provided. in most occasions you have to point to order what you want and they will then hold up a calculator with the cost. but hey, its like a proper foreign country. the bar prices were ok for that part of moscow. there is a sauna and swimming pool apparently on the 30th floor although how that is reached i never found out. security is good in the building, metal detectors (you will see a few of them about moscow) were in operation at certain times during the day. security were at the lifts and people could only access them by showing there room key. then to get out of the lift lobby the room key needed to be swiped. safe deposit boxes are kept at reception, they were not too expensive but were very secure. transport is excellant as the metro stop is less than 5minutes away. when i first got off the metro at the stop there werehalf a dozen or so wild dogs fighting over raw meat in the street so i would be a bit careful of them. all in all i felt this was a good value hotel (even though the prices were shocking around may), although the lack of english speakers in the hotel proved to be very frustrating. most of the guests are russian speaking as well so you may want to learn some russian before travelling

Positive Reasonable value for Moscow which is increasingly expensive. Hotel room was clean and warm - it was March. Bed was comfortable insofar as Russian beds go. Good shower. Appeared to be one of the refurbished rooms and happened to be on the 28 floor. Security on the door and in elevator areas on ground floor. There were various restaurants and shops. Key card to access floor and room. CCTV. On Ismailovski Park Flea Market Door step. Negative. Some way out from centre. You need to get on the Metro to Partisanskaya. Hotel forms part of complex to the LEFT of the metro exit. The area can be suspect by day and night. Poor lighting and crowds for taxis and buses, hassle from people asking if you want a room. Caution - pickpockets. Paving to the hotel is in poor condition. Although secure room, was concerned that in the event of evacuation the exits seemed perilous - ladders from one balcony to the next at floor. Very few staff spoke English and customer service left a lot to be desired

We stayed here on our two overnight stays in Moscow this month. The hotel is on the East side of Moscow and is around 60 minutes from the airport by taxi. Check-in requires a one ruble fee per guest. Security is pretty good - guestcards are checked by security prior to reaching the lifts. On our first stay we were allocated a room on the 13th floor. The room was newly refurbished with IKEA like furniture and WAS air-conditioned! It even had an LCD satellite TV. The stay was very pleasant. The bed and soft furnishings were brand new. On our second stayed we were given a room on the 25th flr. This room was of the same size and seemed to fit the description of previous posters - ie no air conditioning and ageing furniture. Nevertheless, the room was clean and functional. Be careful if you are over 6ft! The beds seem to be on the short and narrow side! Ask for a room on a refurbished floor! :) The view from the rooms are not particular scenic as this hotel is part of a hotel complex. The hotel is 3 mins walk to the nearest Metro. The journey to Revolution Square on the blue line is around 30mins. Breakfast is very average but plentiful. Okay for short stays.