How to Find Luxury Hotels in Minsk, Belarus

Minsk is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Belarus. Located in the center of Europe on the Svislach and Niamiha rivers, Minsk is a city that has undergone many changes since Belarus gained independence from the Soviets. Read on to learn how to find luxury accommodations in Minsk, Belarus.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer With Internet Access
• Passport
• Visa

Know Your Transportation Options

1. Arrive by air at the Minsk International Airport from virtually anywhere. It's located about 30 miles from the city.
2. Get to the city. You have three options: bus, taxi or car. Information and rentals are available at the airport.
3. Take the railway to Minsk. Trains are available from nearly every major European capital.
4. Use the subway to get around in the city.
5. Take the bus around town. There are three inter-city stations, which link Minsk with neighboring cities and countries.

Research Activities

6. Take a Minsk city tour. See some of the city's amazing architecture and learn about its rich history.
7. Visit Strochitsy. This outdoor museum/village showcases various local structures, including houses, churches, mills and others.
8. Check out Mir Castle. This eye-popping architectural monument was constructed in 1540.
9. Take a trip to the town of Nesvizh to see its castle. This is one of Belarus' most popular excursions.
10. Enjoy the nature reserves of Belarus, and marvel at the amazing woods, lakes and rivers.

Find Luxury Accommodations

11. There are a number of luxury hotels in Minsk, although quality and prices vary. You can find casinos in some hotels, along with other standard amenities, such as restaurants. Contact the Belarus Tourism Information Portal by calling 011 ([phone] or by visiting the link below.
12. Stay where visiting foreign dignitaries do. Hotel Planeta features the following classes of rooms: economy, semi-suite and VIP apartment. Choose a class of accommodations that meets your needs for luxury. Another place to consider is the Hotel Minsk. See the Resources section below for a link to this property.
13. Go for the luxury of having your own apartment. Tourists generally find the price of apartment rentals in the area to be reasonable and many prefer the convenience and privacy.
14. Consider staying in a local chain hotel. Although not particularly luxurious by Western standards, chain hotels can offer decent rooms at reasonable prices.
15. Confirm all reservations, prices and amenities before arriving. Know that Russian standards of accommodations may vary from Western standards. Ask if there will be any extra charges to use any of the amenities.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to obtain a visa before traveling to Minsk. Plan ahead, as it generally takes the Belarusian embassy five days to issue a visa.
• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00."
• All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.