Arena City

This time for breakfast there was only porrige, and through my stay (three days), one day internet did not work. Some tips for the visitors: if you need room cleaning, place the corresponding badge on your door, othervise nobody bothers. Also, if you get out of tea (tea pot and couple of tea bags are available in the room), phone 121 and ask for it. The same technology, I assume, should work for towels, tolettries, etc.

It is the second time I stayed in this hotel. It really has all the necessary facilities for few days stay. Big rooms (but some of them without windows - ask when checking in, and the price for these rooms is just a half of the ones with windows), comfortable beds, home-like breakfast. As everywhere in Grozny - no alcogol in the restaurant, consequently - no minibar in the room. The staff is friendly, and they try their best (also, not being confident themselves what is the best). I really advise the hotel for few days business stay. Smoking is permitted in all the rooms

There are now 2 hotels in Grozny: the brandnew highrise "Grozny City" and the ca. 3 year old "Arena City". The Arena City is much smaller, more cozy, in a residential neighbourhood. Some guests prefer it for security reasons (there was once a shooting in the bigger hotel). I have to correct the one-time poster below (why does he post here only one time? and then Grozny out of all places?): * Complaining that there is no money exchange in Grozny is like complaing that you can't change rubles to dollars in the Yellowstone lodge. In any case there is an ATM machine in the lobby, where you can get cash on any credit card. * Some waiters speak a little English. In all of Russia you have a hard time without speaking Russian. I don't speak it either unfortunately. * Service to me was extremely good for Russian standards. * For breakfast we had omelette, sunny side up eggs, a kind of müesli / porridge (forgot the name), sausage, marmelade, honey, ... No buffet. Again not too bad compared to other Russian hotels. * If the shower doesn't work, get it repaired or change the room. Referring to the foto of the shower, it may however be that lukewarm technical skills lead to cold water only ;-) In essence: anyone who traveled in Russia beyond Moscow and St. P will be happy that there are even TWO good hotels in a remote place like Grozny, whereas in most other Russian oblasts there is NO acceptable hotel within 1.000 km. I will chose the small Arena City to feel safe and cozy when travelling alone, but will book the Grozny City when taking professional guests along.

This hotel has been recommended to be the only one and the best.... Service: not existing, hardly anybody speaks english in this international hotel, no money exchange, do it at the airport, since this is your only choice! Internet: no internet connection possible during our stay Breakfast: one cup of coffee+bread+butter Rooms are big and nice, bathroom not very clean, shower did not work at all! You can do better!

I was surprised to find such a good hotel in Grozny, a city name that translates as "the terrible". I was also surprised to what levels the whole city has been rebuilt after the war. Very clean, modern and safe. The Arena City is the only international hotel in Grozny to my knowledge. It positions itself as 5 stars and I would say this is absolutely true for the rooms. The showers are of the multifunction-multijet-steam kind of type. There is a good gym. I can also highly recommend the restaurant. No alcohol, but fantastic local food and a modern oriental, cozy design. The hallways are a bit dark and the lobby is a bit basic. The highlight there is a foto of Roberto Cavalli. Together with Mike Tyson, these are the two foreign VIP-guests that stayed in the "new" Grozny so far.