» February 28, 2010

I have been traveling to Ukraine since 2003 and seldom am I surprised by the quality of the accommodations while there.  I usually prefer to stay in an apartment for a variety of reasons, one of which is that they are usually nicer than the hotels and much more comfortable.  Of course there are a few exceptions that I have found over the years, my old favorite being the hotel Ninel in Kherson, but usually it’s the same old thing, different town.  However, coming back from Kharkov to Poltava this past January, I found myself without an apartment on Christmas Eve.  My normal contacts were all busy with family and there was really no other choice.  So I found myself checking into the Hotel Palazzo in Poltava, Ukraine with my girlfriend Olga.  From the outside it looks very nice and the foot of snow on the ground from the ongoing blizzard made it even more attractive.  I thought that I would check in for the night and then move on to an apartment the next day.  However, much to my surprise the place was simply gorgeous.

From the moment that I walked into the lobby I knew that this was not your typical Ukrainian hotel.  The place was spotless, clean and downright attractive.  Everything looked brand new.  I was almost afraid to touch anything!  When I check in I expected a place like this to run more than $100 a night, as some of the nicer places do in cities like Odessa, Kiev, Kharkov, but that was not the case.  I got a business class room on the 3^rd floor for about $55.  The porter went outside into the snow to retrieve my bags and off we went to my room. 

The elevator was brand new, very large and spotless.  I looked and saw the familiar “Otis” logo and felt immediate relief.   I don’t think that I have ever seen such an elevator in all of Ukraine.  In fact it was one of the most attractively decorated elevators I had ever seen anywhere.  I thought, “If the lobby and elevator were this nice, what must the rooms look like?”  Upon entering my room, using the biggest, fanciest and heaviest brass keychain that I had ever seen, I was pleasantly shocked.  Not only was this the nicest hotel room that I had ever experienced in Ukraine, it was one of the nicest hotel rooms that I have ever stayed in… anywhere!  I have traveled around the world and I guess I am what you would call a “comfort junky.”  Palazzo was the place for me. 

The room was fabulously decorated (I don’t often use the word fabulous, for obvious reasons; I am a man after all) in a stylish new European style, not too old world, but not too contemporary either.  It was nice a spacious and obviously recently decorated, as there were no marks on anything and the linen was fresh and aromatic.  There was a stocked refrigerator, roomy armoire and a nice sized television.  There was also a large balcony that overlooked the shops across the street.  Of course it was a little too cold to sit out and watch the blizzard that was coming down, but nice just the same.  Now let’s get to the throne room.

Hands down the nicest bathroom that I have ever seen in a hotel room.  Roomy and with all the amenities including toothbrush, toothpaste, shoe polish and rag, sewing kit and I can’t remember what else.  If I had forgotten it, it was already in the room.  The whole thing was decorated very sheikly (is that a word?) I was simply amazed.  Extended tub with seat and high pressure shower with plenty of hot water.  For those of you that have never been to Ukraine, hot water is at a premium usually.  I had never seen this many extra details anywhere.  It goes without saying that I did not switch to an apartment the next day and spent the rest of my trip at Palazzo. 

Palazzo also features a great restaurant with tasty dishes including a full sushi menu.  And they will deliver everything on the menu to your room in full room service style.  I ordered the spaghetti Bolognese and Olga had the Sushi.  We both finished it off with a really tasty Tiramisu.  I am a Tiramisu snob and this was pretty good.  Not bad for a mid-sized Ukrainian town hotel.  Palazzo also has a nice Sauna and Cantina (not together though).  It is located very conveniently to the “Split” Casino, Restaurant and Disco and has free Wi-Fi all over the hotel.  There are very few hotels in Ukraine that I would say are a “must stay,” but I will forgo the apartment when next I am in Poltava and stay at the Palazzo.  Thanks Palazzo!  See you again in late April!

Chris – The Russian Bride Traveler