Upon arrival in our quarters we were greeted with a exquisitely presented fruit plate that bore a lush, ripe rose as its centerpiece. We also received a delectation of chocolates from the in-house chocolatier.
Suites at Grand Hotel Europe feature unique furniture inlaid with birch, and framed Russian prints decorate the walls. Stucco moldings and richly patterned upholstery fabrics inspired by a 19th-century book of design add to the sense of history. Double-paned windows shield guests from noise and Russian winters.
Modern features include a 32” flatscreen TV that carries several English-language stations including Bloomberg and CNN. There's also a DVD player. Since Grand Hotel Europe is a member of Orient-Express Hotels, it maintains a rental library of all Academy Award-winning DVD movies since the competition began; it's one of my favorite amenities.
Each room has a writing desk, and wi-fi is available for a fee.
Note: Couples who request two beds will get two twin beds, not two double beds.
Presidential Suites at Grand Hotel Europe
A stay in a Presidential suite ups the ante with perks, ranging from a pillow menu to a private elevator, butler service and a bidet. Luxe toiletries (guests can choose either the upscale Bulgari or Miss Primrose brands) made us feel as if we were in our own private warehouse. In addition to the standard shampoo and shower gel, there was complimentary Bulgari-scented deodorant and a small flaçon of Bulgari perfume, our favorite. Heaven!
The extremely large bathroom in the presidential suite contains twin sinks and a magnifying makeup mirror. But no shower. The freestanding bathtub only has a hand shower attachment. Other rooms do have in-bath showers with fixed shower heads.
