2004 Moscow Reports

[NY Buttman]

Scam alert!

For those who are thinking about staying at Marriott, there is a small scam going on by hotel administration. I just got back from Moscow staying at Aurora. When you check out from hotel, they show you the bill in US$ which corresponds correctly to your reservation amount. However, they convert that $ amount to Ruble, saying it is Russian law that everyone has to be charged with Ruble. The catch is that they use bogus exchange rate that hasn't existed since probably 1990's. Conversion rate of 32:1 instead of market rate of 28:1. Bottom line, your $3500 hotel bill turns into $4400. Whopping difference when it shows up in your credit card bill. If you are planning to stay at Marriott, make sure you ask about the conversion rate they are using prior to signing your bill.

[Mohctep]

God bless you guys. Someone has to fuck ugly girls afterall.

[Opus Dog]

Great posts - ochyn chorasho - thanks for info. I remember a thread about "black saturdays" a few days ago - I can't seem to find it now- but I also remembered a great post about dating russian women (when to call, what the "rules" are, what kind of crap to give them, etc). It was really good post - does anyone else remember that one? Spaseeba. Maybe we should have a folder for "best of" or something.

[MichaelGage]

Howdy gents,
Good to read everything and keep up to date. You guys are real pro journalists. I'm landing in Moscow again for a few days mid-May. I'll be having a Corona and one of those blondes at the Boar House, I'm sure. Email me.

MG

[Doctor_Skank]

Ca_T,

You may be right... several of my Moscow contacts were on holiday too, either to St.Pete, the dacha, their home towns or cheap holiday places like Egypt and Turkey. Probably the best place to meet Russian girls in the first two weeks of May is in Turkey... there must be (w)hordes of them there.

Still I think Park Avenue Disco will likely always have the same general character as it did on the night I was there. It is quite far down my list. I'll hit other student places before going to PAD again...if ever. There are enough options in Moscow...

Here some places I tried recently:

Real McCoy (Barrikadnaya metro): This place is good on Wednesdays and Thursdays, on the weekend very good but packed. My recent excursion there after leaving Park Avenue didn't get me laid, but I did meet a very cute redheaded girl within 5 minutes of entering. Was fairly effortless. Kisses and phone number... so I left happy, albeit alone. She left with her girlfriend. Had I had a wingman, I think more might have been possible. I do like this club and have never been disappointed there. The drinks are large... I had two Long Island Ice Teas and was buzzing. Mild face control. Just don't show up drunk. Get drunk once inside... everybody else is.

Vision (Noviy Arbat): new cocktail bar in New Arbat with big glass windows, just above Shamrock bar. First genuinely good margarita I have had in Moscow. I was with a date so I didn't try chatting anybody up. Not a great place to meet a chick as there were mostly couples there, but a good place to take a date.

Garazh (Pushkin Square): As always, good place to go after hours or even when clubs close. Sometimes off duty pros there. Very mixed crowd, all ages with mild face control.

LaCantina (Tverskaya): Kind of a seedy place to go if you really are lazy and don't want to look for another place. It is ok, but probably more fun to just bring a date there and get her liquored up on tequila before going somewhere else. Live music, but too loud for my taste...conversation difficult. Food and drinks of average price and average quality. It is not high on my list, but it is well-located across from Kamergersky Pereulok and there always seem to be people there even on the "off days" like Monday and Tuesday. It isn't a romantic place though, so I think to enjoy it you should be in a group and not on a single date.

RogerMellie:
I agree with you... the eXile list is definitely outdated and your mileage will vary following their suggestions. They do add things sometimes, but the older listings are obsolete. Nonetheless, at least the list will give you a vague impression of what to expect when going there and will also provide you with an overview of what is available. Are certain places "supported" and other places not? I am sure they are.

One "problem" with Moscow is that there are so many places and some many great girls around that you will always feel like you are missing out on something or that someplace must be better. So I keep exploring... an absolute "favorite favorite" place I don't have, although Karma Bar and Real McCoy rank quite high. As I am often alone in Moscow on the prowl, the larger "mega discos" aren't as appealing as the cosier places.

[CA Traveler]

doc... I'm sure you are correct about PAD, but you've also got to remember that this last weekend was a little strange for a weekend because it is a four-day holiday here and everything was hit or miss. In addition, if in fact younger girls go there, more of them than normal would be with their parents in the country or on holiday!

Next weekend is also a three day weekend! One thing you can say about the Russkis... they love their holidays!

[Roger Mellie]

Skank

My visit there was pretty crap as well, even though I went with a bird. I recall looking forward to leaving as soon as I got in. It was definately nothing like the description in the eXile. But like I said, you really cant put any faith whatsoever in their reviews. They are influenced by other factors or out of date.

[Doctor_Skank]

Out of curiousity i went to Park Avenue disco on Saturday night, as I had heard the name mentioned a lot... even the tochka girls I've had seem to mention this as a place they go to relax.

My verdict: it sucks... there are much better places to go and certainly better places to pick up girls.

The location is fairly central, it is located on Taganskaya ulitsa 40-42, in a large building slightly off of the street, but it is easily found.

Inside it is somewhat claustrophobic... there are different dance floors that can be reached by walking through different corridors and up and down stairs. The bar with pool tables seems to be the best place to meet girls... and there were some cute ones.

The bad part is the crowd... I have never EVER been in a Russian disco with a worse guy-girl ratio... I would even go so far as to say that there were 3 guys for every girl. All guys were of the meathead type, with a few Georgians and Armenians mixed in for good measure. My first two attempts to chat up girls were halted when their boyfriends suddenly appeared, so after just a few minutes I cut my losses and left without even ordering a drink.

I am sure that it gets wild late, as drinks are cheap and there was plenty of drinking going on. It would likely be possible to get laid there, but considering the numerous better options that Moscow has, I think it is worth going somewhere else and forget this place. If you do go, I suggest taking a wingman, it would certainly increase your fun and provide some security. Also the crowd is very young, I was one of the very few on the other side of 30. It seemed less of a student place and more of a working class place.

I stayed less than 30 minutes and soon left for greener pastures and would not regret my decision.

[Rio Nut]

Hello,

I have heard that Russians are very disdainful and racist against Asians. I also read that the black students who study in Moscow are seen as some kind of monkeys and often beaten by the Russian youth.

Have you found this to be the case?

[Moscow Expat]

Good to see that this place is still rocking. Can't believe that still have the 2nd post in this place.

[Koshka]

Seekrus,

No, it was not far to the line up. It was off the main highway leading into Moscow when you come tothe first big blocks of flats. The main problem I seem to remember was the heavy traffic that afflicts that road, making some short journeys very slow.

[Seek Rus]

Thanks Koshka,

Hopefully taxi drivers are open mind about getting tochka's.

It was far where he drive you to pick her up?

[CA Traveler]

pp2... rm is pretty much right on, but IMHO if you're going to a tochka, you'd better not wait until 0130. I'd suggest moving your dinner at NF up an hour. You might as well eat when the girls are just arriving... then you can watch the show going/coming from the toilet. Then, you've got an extra hour to play with and it may make your tochka visit much more productive.

In addition, you should know that the tochka's near the MG are closed on Sunday and Monday... and possibly on Tuesday. Also remember that they tend to move around a little so you may have to search for them.

Let me know when you're coming and maybe we can hook up for a beer.

[Koshka]

For Seekrus

I have stayed for the day at the Hotel Sheremetyevo 2 right by the airport. It is OK for a day if you are between flights. just walk in and book a room. I have also used a taxi driver from the airport to get me a girl. he took me to a tochka on the outskirts of the city and fetched a girl back for a few hours - as long as I wanted. No problem with security. I had to let her go when I needed to check in for my flight and she was disappointed that she was not going to be there all night. I am talking about renting her in the early afternoon!

I can't remember what I paid though, I negotiate with the taxi dirver first.

[Shostakovich]

Roger,

You are right Exile is really not updated since years!

But on the other hand all informations you can find here and Exile is keeping our places free of tourist spam.

Because of those people the prices are rising or the hotels are changing the policy.

We are almost forced to find better places to keep Russia interesting for us.

Do you remember 8 Years ago.

Could cry!

Shostakovich