This is a beautiful modern hotel full of class, charm and warmth. A fabulous apartment hotel in a lovely part of St. Petersburg. I stayed three weeks and would love to come back. Not only the quality of Grand Canyon accommodations is superior to other hotels in the same category, the price I paid was unbeatable, a fraction of what it would cost to pay for other top hotels in St. Petersburg. I booked early and I received a 50% discount. No accommodation in St. Petersburg comes close to Grand Canyon Hotel in terms of ratio quality/price. Book well in advance and you will get a real bargain! However, you need to book directly with the hotel on their website or by contacting them in order to qualify for their big discounts, not through Booking.com or other sites. I have travelled across Russia and stayed in many hotels, this is by far the most comfortable and well serviced hotel I have ever stayed in. It’s located in the northern part of St. Petersburg, yet only a few subway stops to Nevsky Prospekt. The location couldn’t be more perfect. The hotel is a 10-minute walk to the metro station Prospekt Prosvescheniya, from which it’s easy to go anywhere in St. Petersburg.

The studio was immaculate and well maintained. Everything oozes quality, high standard of cleanness and attention to detail. The modern furniture was comfortable to relax in after a long day of sightseeing. The studio size is excellent for a single traveller and sufficient for a couple to feel comfortable. Having a kitchenette was a blessing and saved on meal costs during my stay. It’s perfect for cooking, and well stocked with high quality appliances and cookware. It had a decent sized fridge, not one of those silly tiny fridges that can barely fit one sandwich, this is always a major plus for me. All dishes, glasses, coffee cups and utensils were sparkling clean, as well as the countertop, stove, sink, refrigerator, microwave and kettle.

The studio was spacious, bright, airy and spotless; and the decor modern, fresh and tasteful. The bed was very comfortable, it had freshly laundered sheets without stains, plus it had the best pillow I have ever slept on. The unit had a wall mounted flat screen TV, a keypad depository safe which comes in handy, a free Wi-Fi and a nice balcony on which I enjoyed watching the city. The bathroom was modern, well-designed and spotlessly clean, it contained a hair dryer and plenty of clean towels. The shower was super powerful—a must have for me. There was an ironing board with an iron in the hallway for hotel guests on the same floor to use. A restaurant in the lobby area had a good selection of dishes at reasonable prices. This fabulous apartment hotel is the perfect choice for independent travellers seeking a home away from home in St. Petersburg. Indeed, the place really gave a cozy, warm and welcoming feel.

The hotel is a 2-minute walk to a huge supermarket called Lenta, open 24 hours, on ulitsa Simonova, 13. A very convenient supermarket with modern and sleek decor. It’s so spacious and everything is clean and neatly displayed. The selection is terrific and the prices are quite moderate. In the prepared food section, I tried the rotisserie chicken and it’s one of the best rotisserie chickens I have ever had in Russia—juicy and perfectly seasoned! A great option for a takeaway dinner when you’re short on time for cooking after a long day of sightseeing. The Grand Canyon Shopping Mall, one of the largest shopping centres in St. Petersburg, is a 5-minute walk from the hotel, on ulitsa Engelsa, 154. It hosts a mixture of shops including brand outlets, as well as cafes, restaurants, a supermarket named O'KEY, a food court and a cinema theatre. Close to the metro station Prospekt Prosvescheniya, there is another shopping centre, “Nord Shopping and Entertainment Complex”. It’s huge, but not as trendy as Grand Canyon Shopping Mall, more like a post-Soviet style cluster of retail shops spread along labyrinthic walkways, a must-see nevertheless. Last but not least, if you like freshly baked Tajik bread, there’s a hidden gem, an unassuming bakery on ulitsa Simonova, 10, a 2-minute walk from Grand Canyon Hotel, located just behind the restaurant Raiskiy Ugolok. This bakery had incredibly delicious hot tandoor-baked bread. It was my go-to bakery on my way back to the hotel, a real gem if you like tasty Tajik bread hot from the oven.

Indeed, the lively and bustling area around Grand Canyon Hotel with shopping centres, shops, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and easy subway access to the centre makes it a fantastic location. The metro Prospekt Prosvescheniya (line 2) is 7 stops away to Nevsky Prospekt station without interchange, where the Hermitage and major attractions are located. I had the best of both worlds, I really couldn’t have asked for more in terms of location.

What elevates this hotel even more above the rest is undoubtedly the staff—they are superb. The reception staff are beyond amazing. Valeria, Olya, Anya and Nastya were friendly, helpful, attentive and efficient. They went above and beyond to make my stay perfect. I cannot praise them highly enough. They provided first class service delivered with a delightful charming manner. Also, Viktoria, the hotel general manager, went out of her way to fulfill promptly my requests. The awesome staff are a great asset to the hotel.

To summarize, I highly recommend the hotel and cannot stress enough its excellent value: the lovely staff, the cleanness, the comfort, the building, the location… and of course the amazing bargain price. Thank you for the brilliant cultural experience in your stunning city and for the fabulous experience at your hotel.