Arriving into Russia

The flight out of Heathrow was actually on premium economy - world traveller plus, with BA - and I saw that for a bit extra, you get a comfy seat, food service where you pick from a menu:

And you get off the plane before cattle class. The flight was very good, with BA being decidedly better than I remember them to be. The flight was fine, and the food was excellent. I had the Fresh seasonal fruit, and the fillet steak with scrambled eggs and veggies. Sorry, no pictures, but it was VERY good! The fillet steak was tender and succulent, and the fruit was refreshing.

I arrived at Moscow Domodedovo - where I was to spend the night at the Airhotel - on the 13th of Feb, 2014. After a fairly short flight from Heathrow, Passport control getting into Moscow broke a number of stereotypes for me, with the border control guards actually smiling at me and welcoming me into the country. That was the first of many stereotypes to be broken on this trip!

Don't do like I did after you arrive and miss the signs for the free shuttle bus to the Airhotel. I had to make my way out of the airport, and thinking I knew best - who needs a manual? - I used what I knew from google maps to try to make my way to the airhotel on foot, a short half a kilometer away. 

Slush, rain and miserable luggage meant if I didn't find it soon, I was going to come back to the airport and ask for directions. As you make your way out the front of Domodedovo airport, you'll be surrounded by taxi drivers wanting your business. They want you to haggle here in Russia on the price before you get in the car! Well, I didn't want any of that, so I'd direct my gaze away and just say "No" to each of them. But as soon as you say no to one, another who should have heard or seen you reject the previous taxi would try to be your next one! Don't they learn?

Domodedovo is a modern airport, with a beautiful glass facade.

I walked out and crossed the picket line of drivers, and out across the large traffic concourse to what was a rather odd looking hotel, if that was it. It basically had 20 loading bays in a sunken court yard - probably not it! Looks a bit officey. 

I continued on to some buildings that looked a bit soviet! They too didn't look like the aerial shot I saw. So I turned around to head back to the airport, and in my loudest, slowest english, I said to a guy with a broom "Air - Hotel?" He repeated it back - sounded like "Airport", and he point back at Domodedovo. Not really that useful, I gave up and headed back inside, where I spotted an official ooking girl doing nothing. I tried the slow/loud routine again (I'm exaggerating), and she pointed at the huge revolving doors I'd come out earlier. And sitting right in the middle of the door was a 5 foot tall sticker - "Airhotel Free Shuttle".

I eventually found the tiny post with a sign at the top where the bus is met. For anyone who may come here and want to know in advance where to go fr the shuttle, it's out of Entrance 3 (Exit 3), down the ramp in front of you to a small area where busses and taxis sit, and you wait on the edge of a round area by a sign in the middle. The bus is actually pretty good, although don't expect friendly service! Put your bags in the back, and get on, without anyone saying a word.

At the airhotel, the receptionist spoke good english and the food in the restaurant was wholesome - I had "Soup with Chickens" (plural) - twice in one sitting. 

I've not really got a lot to say about the Airhotel. It was plain, functional, and clean. They use mattress protectors, which made me very happy to see. I stayed here because it saved me £600 on my flight, so if you too are looking for a way to reduce the cost of your flight, I recommend it entirely!

My flight to Sochi was next morning, so I had to not be up too early. I was in Moscow! I couldn't believe it... and I can fly on to Sochi knowing full well that it's a domestic flight, so no hurry to get there 2 or three hours before.