Renting a flat - how do you choose?

[Nat]

Well, I wasn't sure where to post such topic, so I decided that "Odds and Ends" is the right place for it
I've read a lot of trip reports here and I noticed, that men prefer to rent flats during their trips to Ukraine.
It's a very clever choise, but there're so many different types of flats here: 5-storeу blocks with tiny flats and low celings, 5-storey blocks with big appartments and high celings, which are old and have beautiful architecture, 9-storey buildings with a lot of flats in one hall (and a lot of neighbours) and lifts, which usually don't work and modern newly-built blocks with very expencive flats inside
Having all this variety, how do you choose the flats to rent? What is important for you? What kind of flats would you never rent?
I'm asking just out of curiousity

[shakespear]

Having all this variety, how do you choose the flats to rent? What is important for you? What kind of flats would you never rent?

For me the most important consideration is location.  In Regional Center cities you don't want to be located more than 10 minutes walking distance from the city center.  In cities like Moscow or Peter, while the city center is preferred, you don't want to be located more than a few minutes walk from access to public transportation; a Metro stop. 

Generally I've found that apartments can be classified into two basic classes, Russian standard and Westernized.  Russian standard apartments are usually quite "soviet style", have few improvements and might be in a condition that is more than a bit shocking to your average western visitor.  Westernized apartments have been updated to be more comfortable to people of western standards; larger beds instead of small beds or sleeper sofas, updated shower and toilet fixtures in the bathroom, washer and dryer provided, air conditioning provided, cable or satellite TV with at least one English speaking news channel provided, appliances like a microwave and coffee maker in the kitchen.

If you are worried about big screen televisions and entertainment systems and DVD players, then you're probably spending too much time in the apartment and not enough time out enjoying and learning about the culture of the city you are visiting.

Price is a factor as well.  Western style one bedroom apartments in Regional Center cities like I described above should be easily available for rates of $50 per day.  In cities like Moscow or Peter, they should be available for between $100-$175 per day depending on the season.  Pay more than that and somebody is ripping you off.           

[Vaughn]

Shake, you've traded in Hugh Hefner for a Simpson moonman -good show! Have you ever
rented from Moscow Rick?

Nat - if you can nail down a specific city - you might get specific recommendations.

Yes, lifts that work - hit & miss. Personally I get tired of climbing eight stories but I dealt
with that in Nizhni Novgorod.

[shakespear]

Shake, you've traded in Hugh Hefner for a Simpson moonman -good show!

Kind of represents my outlook when participating on these forums nowadays.   

Have you ever rented from Moscow Rick? 

Only every time I have visited Moscow from 2000 to the present.  Absolutely the best apartment rental service available for Moscow in the industry - no exceptions. 

Nat - if you can nail down a specific city - you might get specific recommendations. 

We have a small 1-bedroom apartment we rent out in Volgograd for $50 per day. 
These pictures will give you an idea what value that price will provide:
http://www.anastasya.com/apv1.shtml

Yes, lifts that work - hit & miss. Personally I get tired of climbing eight stories but I dealt
with that in Nizhni Novgorod. 

Oops, yes forgot about that.  VERY important if more than 2 floors up. 

[Nat]

shakespear, Vaughn, thanks for sharing! Aha, so if I understand it correctly, it's not important for you, what size a flat is or what kind of hall (I mean entrance hall with stairs, which leads to your front door) it has - the most important is the stuff inside, right?
You know, 5 or 6 years ago my friend from western country visited me for 5 days, that time I didn't know about RWD and I was a complete dummy in all this international stuff, and so was he When he asked me where it was better to stay I even didn't think about renting a flat, because I thought that our halls can sometimes be shoking for western people (you know, not very modern, not very clean ). So he was staying in a hotel But now I think that we might have saved him some extra money if we had known about such option as renting a flat

We have a small 1-bedroom apartment we rent out in Volgograd for $50 per day.  
These pictures will give you an idea what value that price will provide:
http://www.anastasya.com/apv1.shtml

Thanks for the link - it's very informative Nice and clean (very soviet like design, except for the bathroom, which is very modern ). It's written there, that "Daily cleaning and laundry are included for no additional charge. An English speaking housekeeper will cook you a nice breakfast every morning at the desired time (Russian, European, American - any type of breakfast on your choice)." Then - WOW Service is like in a hotel, but for much less price

[boaterguy]

If you are going to meet a specific woman then by all means let her shop around for a flat for you. My wife rented us a very nice 3 room westernized flat within walking distance to the city center in Novosibirsk. The total cost for a month was $600.

We rented a very nice 2 room westernized apartment 1 block from the zoo in Moscow for $40 a day in Moscow which included transportation to and from the airport. This was through local acquaintances.

This was in 2003-4. I'm sure the prices have gone up since but at the time they were close to 1/2 the going rate.

[Jumper]

It's been awhile,
 I normally chose mostly by location. (then looked deeper into amenities)
a flat was much better than a hotel in so many ways.


i never really  minded the hall/stairway,or if the lift dint work..
kind of expected

[dogspot]

Generally I've found that apartments can be classified into two basic classes, Russian standard and Westernized.  Russian standard apartments are usually quite "soviet style", have few improvements and might be in a condition that is more than a bit shocking to your average western visitor.  Westernized apartments have been updated to be more comfortable to people of western standards; larger beds instead of small beds or sleeper sofas, updated shower and toilet fixtures in the bathroom, washer and dryer provided, air conditioning provided, cable or satellite TV with at least one English speaking news channel provided, appliances like a microwave and coffee maker in the kitchen.    

This is good to know. I often see apartments advertized with "Russian Standard" but never actually knew what it meant. It makes sense to me now after my last visit and staying in one of these apartments for one week and a Westernized apartment for a second week. The Westernized apartment was much more comfortable.