Hôtel Stalingrad

For a group of thirteen, this worked out really well. We booked four rooms, each with separate beds, and the price was really, really low. The place isn't especially clean or stylish, but the beds were fine, the wifi worked well, the desk was open all day and night, and the location was very good. I was happy with our choice.

The rooms were clean, though pretty bare, and the nearby restaurants and grocery stores were handy. It's also close to public transport. Just know there's no elevator, so getting to a room on the fourth floor means a workout.

You can walk from the train station in just a few blocks, and the city centre is about a mile straight down the street. The rates are fair and cheap, though the place itself is basic. There's no late checkout unless you pay for another night.

I'd say this is a one-night place, not somewhere to stay four nights like I did. In summer the room gets extremely hot, with no air conditioning or fan, only windows. Open them and you get the noise from the road and rail tracks. The room was small, with a wetroom instead of a bath, and no lift, so I had to use the stairs. The handrails looked like they might come loose. The area felt a bit sketchy too: I saw someone pickpocketing a phone when I went into the metro. The hotel is near the station and metro, but there aren't shops or restaurants nearby, just a sex shop. Bring earplugs and keep your things secure around there.