Ritz Carlton
What's so special
This is one hotel that earns its price tag in location terms alone. This beautiful building is situated quite literally a stone's throw from Red Square.
How they rate it
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This hotel is "as central as you can get", says The Daily Telegraph. "If you snore too loudly you might wake up Lenin in his nearby Red Square tomb." The downside to this is the "horrendous Moscow traffic". However, once you are safely inside, you won't be able to hear it. The hotel is "extremely stylish and elegant", but be warned there isn't much traditional character. If that's what you want, there are instead plenty of "unique, not to mention cheaper, hotels in the suburbs". The point about the Ritz is its location the hotel suites "have some of the best views in Moscow, and are close enough to the Kremlin you can almost peer in the windows".
The menu
The Caviarterra restaurant serves "top-quality Russian and Georgian food" with dishes such as sturgeon shashlik with pomegranate sauce.
The cost
Rooms start at £327 per night. For more information visit www.ritzcarlton.com or call 020-3027 2893.
The Radisson Royal
What's so special
Formerly the Hotel Ukraina, this hotel is one of Stalin's Seven Sisters'. These are the seven Moscow skyscrapers that were built between 1947 and 1953 to glorify Soviet power. This one sits on a magnificent spot on the banks of the Moscow river. The giant model of 1970s Moscow in the lobby bar is a tourist destination in its own right.
How they rate it
With its "wide staircases and chandeliers", the hotel "preserves a 1950s feel", says the Lonely Planet magazine. The hotel offers "panoramic views across the river to Russia's own White House government building and the eclectic skyline beyond", says Cond Nast Traveller. The magazine has put the hotel on its destinations hot list for 2011. The interiors will "delight anyone looking for luxury or, indeed, a sense of history". The bedrooms are "understated" and spacious and everyone "has at least one original Soviet- era painting". When booking, ask for one of the higher floors to ensure you get the best possible view.
The menu
Food lovers shouldn't be disappointed with a stay here. There are Iranian, Russian, Italian and Japanese restaurants to choose from, and all are "top-flight".
The cost
Rooms cost from £230. Find out more at www.radisson.ru or call 00 7 495 221 5555.
What the travel writers are saying
How many times just before a holiday have you found yourself sitting on a bulging suitcase, desperately trying to get it to shut? Thanks to the experts at Lonely Planet, this should no longer be a problem thanks to their definitive guide to packing. Here is a summary of its tips.
First of all, make a personal packing list. "The goal is a single list, not different ones for different trips." So it should allow for all the places you may go, "whether it's the beach, city or mountains".
Once you have your list, add "nothing to your bag that isn't on it", so that you cut out any last-minute impulse items. There is an example list at www.onebag.com/checklist.html. When you are picking the clothing you want to take, in particular, make sure you coordinate it all, so that every item you pack goes with every other one. That way you'll get the maximum use from your selection. Next, use the bundle-wrapping' packing technique. There are two goals here; firstly you want to eliminate folding as it creates creases, and secondly you want to stop items sliding against one another creating space-consuming wrinkles. The way to avoid this is to create "a core object, such as a small pillow or flat pouch filled with socks and underwear, and wrap clothes around it".
Finally, avoid packing liquids as they are "heavy, prone to leakage and suspicious to security". Most of the liquids you are likely to take "come in smaller, non-liquid forms" including shampoo and sun tan lotion. Consider buying the cheaper and bulkier ones when you arrive.
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