Best Eastern Belarus - Minsk, Minsk

This is an old shabby hotel. Our dirty carpet was heavily patched and the shower curtain badly needed changing. The 'ladies' in the reception area made it feel tacky. The views from the panoramic restaurant were lovely and the staff helpful and efficient . The food is basic and cheap but we found the French red wine undrinkable. I felt cheated by the fact that they charged us more for drinks than the 5star Crowne Plaza . The staff in the pool were very rude compared to others in the hotel. I would not stay here again.

The hotel was very clean and located in a very nice part of the city. Close to few parks and also close enough to the main centre. It has all the amenities like gym and swimming pool and etc. The rooms need more attention as far as decoration and things like modernisation. But for the price it is a very good value.

To say that this hotel is the pits is an insult to the pits! I was unlucky enough to be based here on tours whilst a tour bus driver. I went so many times that I was godfather to the cockroaches that infested the rooms, and on many nights I slept on the tour bus to avoid itches scratches and the likes of other infestations. I was awoken on numerous occasions by ladies of the night, who had been given my room number by the floor ladies trying to make an extra buck supplying the details of single males who may be interested in their services. The restaurant was staffed at the time by a pregnant female whose face would ahve curdeld milk, and when you did try to get some sleep you were woken at all hours by the incessant noise from the nightclub which blurted out music at an unneccessary rate of decibels. On leaving in a morning you were greeted by the local mafia who hung around and couldn't park a vehicle on a football field sized car park in order to let a bus get past when they were the only two vehicles there.! This was probably just to show their "muscle". It's a shame really as the many Belarussian people who I have had the pleasure to meet were kind, responsive and friendly. Mind you, those were the three pre requisites that stopped them from working in this fleapit of a hotel!

My first visit to this hotel, the toilet exploded. My second visit, I got stuck in the elevator. They overcharge americans, and charge less if you are russian. For instance the price of 46 dollars, is for russians, Americans pay 190 a day, for the same room. I'm not sure what they charge other forigners. Beds are hard, chairs are hard, food isn't that great. TV is in all russian...no english channels here. The coffee shop has great espresso. Dine in the city for better food. It is near river and downtown, and a good enough place to lay your head. I always felt safe. My daughter went with me one time and she enjoyed the pool and water slide.

I've stayed in this hotel several times over the past four years, and recommend it for people who are happy to stay in less than luxurious circumstances. The hotel is located in a very large and pleasant city park. There are beautifully maintained flower gardens in this park and some art, such as a monument to A.S.Pushkin. In the center of the park there is a reservoir that is very attractive with a walkway that surrounds it. I couldn't give a completely positive review ot the location, because it is a bit of a walk to the Metro and the city centre. For the typical American, it would be practically impossible to conceive of walking all the way to the Metro or to the adjacent Stari Gorod (old town). They are probably about 750 metres to one kilometer away. The rooms are always clean. There is a very retro "decor". Very nice Russian style windows that can be opened as appropriate for fresh air. Funcitional and quite old and inexpensive, but satisfactory for all but the most snobbish or demanding. As with any part of Russia (I include Belarus in this term) it helps a lot to speak Russian. The dezhyrniye (floor supervisors) are always friendly and helpful to me. Of course, they don't speak English--they would have better jobs, if they could speak English. So, if you don't speak Russian, don't expect to communicate very effectively. But even the most rudimentary Russian will be understood. The rooms come with a free breakfast. It is not elaborate, but is adequate. The food is always fresh, but the selection is limited. The view from the restaurant is great. It's on the 21st floor and there are windows on all three sides of the triangular building that enable you to see all of Minsk. Bexause the hotel stands alone in the center of the surrounding park, it is quite a view. I have uniformly found the front desk staff to be efficient, but not that friendly. Ignore the reveiwer from Ohio who asserts that this hotel is a "dogpatch". People like that reviewer give Americans a bad name. I happen to be an American, so I'm sensitive to this. Any reasonable person will be satisfied with the price to value relationship at Hotel Belarus.

I visited hotel belarus in the summer of 2006. it is not the best hotel i have been to but certianly the best compared to other hotels i have been to in belarus! they have rooms which are cleaned everyday, spectacular views of minsk and a lake from the windows! food is dreadful, i would recomment Mcdonalds 30 minutes away from the hotel! english speaking staff are helpful but others just dont care! i woul definately recommend hotel belarus, as it is the best for value compared to the other hotels in belarus!

Dont stay in this dog patch! Its horrible! There is no service. The food is awful. The staff could care if you have needs or wants. Go Home Yankee is their moto.

I have traveled to Belarus every year since 2001 and always stay in Hotel Belarus before I travel on down to Bobruisk and GOmel. I love the views from every side of the hotel. I also like that right down from the front is a beautiful lake to walk around. I always do this everytime I go to Belarus and I always look forward to it. They are always accomodating to me there. The rooms were great and always clean. I would highly recommend Hotel Belarus if you are looking for a good hotel on your trip to Belarus.