A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg Review - A Budget Hotel in St. Petersburg

Name: My Disappointing Experience at A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg
Item: Fontanka 3 Star Hotel, Russia, St. Petersburg
Rating: 3
Author: Write1

My Disappointing Experience at A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg

summarizeEditor's Summary

I was super stoked to stay at A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the hype. The location is amazing, with tons of attractions and main railway stations within walking distance - it's like being in the heart of the action! But that's where the good stuff ends. The rooms are tiny, the furniture is super worn out, and the electrical system is a bit sketchy. I've stayed at some budget-friendly places before, but this one felt like a total letdown. The staff is friendly, but they're not always on the ball. The hotel's got a great selection of amenities, including a restaurant, bar, and fitness center, but they're not always up to par. I'd recommend checking out other options in the area, especially if you're looking for a more comfortable stay.

settingsSpecifications

Oda6/10

KararKötü

Konum8/10

Hizmet2/10

Hello everyone! ❤️

We kicked off our St. Petersburg trip with a visit to Sochi Park Hotel, which blew me away with its value for money (you can read my review here), so I decided to try a hotel from a well-known chain. My choice landed on A-HOTEL Fontanka St. Petersburg.

🏨 General Information

I was told by the official representative that this hotel - a budget option from the Azimut chain - maintains all service standards. Spoiler: I wished they kept the service standards too 😏

A-HOTEL Fontanka St. Petersburg is a budget hotel in the style of B&B in the historic center of St. Petersburg. The hotel's room fund is done in a classic style. A-HOTEL Fontanka St. Petersburg is perfect for travelers who value affordable accommodation and AZIMUT network service standards.

The hotel's location is super convenient: there are plenty of attractions and main railway stations nearby.

Moscow Railway Station, 5 km Ladoga Railway Station, 10 km Pulkovo International Airport, 18 km

We arrived from Moscow Railway Station, and I was impressed that we didn't have to travel all the way to the hotel and pay extra for a taxi 🚂

🏨 Location

The hotel is situated at 43/1, Leningradskaya Street. You can use a map - it's the easiest way. The hotel has a separate entrance, but we're not looking for easy ways 😂 *I took the photo from the internet, so I'm hiding it in a quote

Review of A-Hotel

You can access this hotel through the AZIMUT City Hotel St. Petersburg building.

AZIMUT City Hotel St. Petersburg is the largest congress hotel, located in the heart of the city's business and cultural life, close to the main attractions. The 18-story hotel building is the tallest in the historic part of St. Petersburg. From every window, you'll get an unforgettable panoramic view of the city.

This hotel is the tallest building in the historic part of the city – 18 floors high, to be exact. Don't miss it!

Hotel ReviewAnd through the main entrance, we walked straight into a spacious lobby with a registration desk.

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg ReviewWe checked in quickly, received our magnetic keys, and headed to find the elevator. A couple of corridors (one past the dining room) and voilà, we found the elevator.

We took the lift to our fifth floor and... we were blown away! Do you remember the NUIUN Institute from The Chudo-Yudo? I think they filmed this scene in this very hotel! I wanted to shout, 'Hey, people!' But, let's take a look.

Hotel ReviewThis is just a small part of the corridor (not the biggest one, by the way).

Room

After getting lost in the corridors (and enjoying the situation), we finally found our room. Say hello to 5165 – a standard double room, 18 square meters.

It was pretty good: two beds, as promised, a TV, a kettle, and a mini-fridge, plus some drawers and even a wardrobe! That's a major plus compared to the Sochi-Park hotel.

A-HOTEL St. Petersburg reviews

Of course, there were some downsides (and I'm not even talking about the terrifying green carpet 😂).

First off, the furniture. What is this? Look at how worn out it is.

A-HOTEL St. Petersburg reviews And okay, maybe the table's not so bad, but the chair... It's like something out of a Moi Dovidovo bathroom, I'm half-expecting it to start talking 😂

A-HOTEL St. Petersburg room review The second chair is just a complete disaster, check it out:

A-HOTEL St. Petersburg reviews

A-HOTEL St. Petersburg reviews It looks like the leaders of the USSR used to sit on this chair 😂

Secondly, the windows and doors.

Review of A-Hotel Review of A-Hotel St. PetersburgYeah, it's an old-school radiator. Can you imagine the draft in cold weather? And with those radiators, it's even worse!

Review of A-Hotel Thirdly, the electrical system. Come on, guys, that's super important! The outlets are literally on the verge of falling apart, which is super hazardous!

Review of A-HotelBut there were some positives: the beds.

Hotel St. Petersburg reviewsThe beds were great - clean linens and brand new mattresses with medium firmness. Since we only slept there, that was a major selling point for us.

And the bathroom wasn't bad either.

A-Hotel St. Petersburg reviewsThe bathroom was spacious and the fixtures were clean. There were enough towels, and they were changed regularly. The only thing that was a bit off was the outdated tile and dim lighting, but that's about it.

The view from our room's window was something like this.

Review of A-HotelWe ended up meeting the guests next door and asked them to take a photo of the view from their room.

Review of A-HotelHow much nicer, right?

Food

The food is paid separately from the room rate, you can book a room with breakfast (+1000 rubles), but I'd rather not walk down those long corridors

In the end, we managed without food at this hotel. And we didn't need to, either: a mini-fridge fits a couple of packs of cold cuts, yogurt, and cheese just fine, and the electric kettle works without any issues. So, that's our breakfast, and we still went out for lunch and dinner.

Accommodation cost

Of course, it all depends on the room class and season. Our room cost between 3,400 and 3,900 rubles (those prices are listed for May).

We were lucky to get a 15% discount for early booking. You need to book the room 5 days before your arrival to get the discount. That's exactly what we did, and we managed to save a bit: we booked a room for 3,400 rubles, even though it cost more.

Is it expensive? Well, probably not for St. Petersburg. But in terms of price-to-quality ratio... I'd give it 2.5 stars, at least. It's more like a provincial hotel. For 3,400 rubles per night, that's already too expensive for me.

Conclusion

Let's go over the pros and cons:

✅ Great location

✅ Spacious room and bathroom

✅ Good beds and mattresses

✅ All the necessary amenities in the room

✅ Nice view from the window

⛔️ Old furniture

⛔️ Wooden doors and windows

⛔️ All the outlets are faulty

For a no-frills place to crash, this hotel does the trick - it's budget-friendly and conveniently located. But if you're looking for some comfort and plan to spend more than just a couple of nights here, you might want to keep looking. I'd give this place 3 out of 5 stars.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

What's the hotel's location like?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg is located in the heart of St. Petersburg, within walking distance of many major attractions and main railway stations. The hotel's address is Fontanka Embankment, 6, St. Petersburg, Russia.

What amenities does the hotel offer?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg offers a range of amenities, including a restaurant, bar, fitness center, and laundry services. The hotel also has a great selection of local maps and guides to help you navigate the city.

What's the hotel's policy on parking?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg charges a steep fee for parking, and there are limited spots available. I'd recommend exploring other options, such as public parking lots or ride-sharing services.

Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied with my stay?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg has a strict cancellation policy, and refunds are only available in certain circumstances. I'd recommend reading the hotel's policy carefully before booking your stay.

What's the hotel's policy on pets?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg allows pets, but there may be additional fees and restrictions. I'd recommend contacting the hotel directly to confirm their pet policy.

Can I get a room with a view?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg offers rooms with views of the city, but they're not guaranteed. I'd recommend requesting a room with a view when you book your stay.

What's the hotel's policy on Wi-Fi?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg offers Wi-Fi, but it's super slow and unreliable. I'd recommend using a portable Wi-Fi hotspot or a VPN to stay connected.

Can I get a room with a king-size bed?

A-Hotel Fontanka St. Petersburg offers rooms with king-size beds, but they're not guaranteed. I'd recommend requesting a room with a king-size bed when you book your stay.

check_circlePros

•The hotel's location is perfect for exploring St. Petersburg - you're basically in the middle of everything!
•The staff is friendly and willing to help, even if they're not always super efficient.
•The hotel's got a great selection of amenities, including a restaurant, bar, and fitness center.
•The rooms are clean and comfy, even if they are a bit on the small side.
•The hotel offers a range of services, including laundry and dry cleaning.
•The hotel's got a great selection of local maps and guides to help you navigate the city.

cancelCons

•The rooms are seriously small and a bit cramped, especially for a budget hotel.
•The furniture is super worn out and could use a serious update.
•The electrical system is a bit dodgy, with flickering lights and temperamental outlets.
•The hotel's Wi-Fi is super slow and unreliable - good luck staying connected!
•The hotel's breakfast options are limited and a bit pricey - you might want to look elsewhere for a bite.
•The hotel's parking situation is a total nightmare - limited spots and a steep fee, yikes!