Hostels in Russia are really something else from what you may be used to, so here is some piece of advice for when you plan your bookings:

1. Read the reviews carefully. We mostly used booking.com and hostelworld, but hostelbookers is good too.
2. Come with an open mind.
3. Most of the hostels are quite hidden, very rarely you’ll find any sign or indication of them, so make sure you have ALL the information about the address.
4. Be nice to the locals living in the hostel.
5. Check the hostel rules.

Point #1 & #2 seem pretty standard and need no clarification.

About point #3, here is why.

The Russian address system might get a bit confusing, as each address is often made up of a bunch of information, an inheritance of the Soviet mass construction of tall multi-apartment buildings. So, you’ll usually have a “dom” number, which refers to the whole complex; then, since many housing complexes in Russia are massive and contain multiple buildings, most of which are accessible from an inner courtyard, you’ll also have a “korpus” number referring to the specific building; the “stroenie” number is quite similar to the “korpus”, as it still refers to the specific building of a complex having a common entrance from the main street; then, you may have a “pod’ezd”, aka the actual entrance to an apartment located in a multi-storey building; and finally, the “kvartira”, referring to the specific apartment accessible from the specific “pod’ezd”, inside the specific “stroenie” or “korpus” of a certain “dom”.

And if after all this you feel like you haven’t understood anything, don’t worry, me neither! The important thing is, when you write down the address of your hostel, make sure you get the “korpus”/”stroenie” number and the “pod’ezd”/”kvartira” as well. For example, a full address could look like this: Ulitsa Lenina, dom 15, korpus А, pod’ezd 15 (kvartira 7). 

Again, not all addresses necessarily have all these specifications, it really depends on the type of building, but it’s better to check with your hostel. Most booking sites indeed only mention the number of the “dom”, which may cause you to get stuck wandering around a massive building for hours with no idea which entrance you should actually use. Trust me, been there, done that, not fun.

About point #4: most hostels in Russia are used by locals as permanent accommodation. It can be old widows or middle-aged workers or young boys, but these people do actually live in such hostels on a permanent basis, for reasons which may vary. Anyway, they may appear cranky at times and look at you like you’re invading their space, cause, hey, they were there first! In these cases, don’t stress about it, just smile and be nice to them even if they’re not, who knows maybe one of them will open up and tell you incredibly interesting anecdotes, you never know.

Point #5: Many hostels in Russia forbid to drink alcohol inside, so, before you get crazy ideas, check with the administration. It’s really not about you, it’s just that they know their horses, and Russians can get a little too out of control when they drink, so it is just easier that way.

Last but not least, not all hostels are the same, these are just tips for what the average Russian hostel looks like and what to expect, but you can find youthful, party hostels as well, especially in the most touristic cities (Moscow, St. Petes, Irkutsk, Ulan Ude). Most likely, these places will also be more expensive, while usually you can easily get a room for about 350 Rubles/night. Again, it really depends on what you’re looking for and on your budget.

Basic Expressions

Hello: Привет = privet (informal); or Здравствуйте = zdravstvuite (formal)
Thank you: Спасибо = spasibo
My name is _ : Меня зовут = menya zovut
How are you?: Как дела? = kak dela 
Good: Хорошо = khorosho
Please: Пожалуйста = pazhaluista 
Yes: Да = da
No: Нет = net
Excuse me/Sorry: Простите = prostite 
Goodbye: До свидания = do svidaniya 
I can’t speak Russian: Я не говорю по-русски = ya ne govoryu po-russki
Do you speak English?: Вы говорите по-английски? = vy govorite po-angliiski
I don’t understand: Я не понимаю = ya ne ponimayu
I don’t know: Я не знаю = ya ne zany

Problems

Help: Помогите = pomogite
I lost my bag: Я потерял свою сумку = ya poteryal svnyu sumku 
I lost my wallet: Я потерял свой бумажник = ya poteryal svoi bumazhnik 
I need a doctor: Мне нужен врач = men nuzhen vrach 
Can I use your phone?: Можно от вас позвонить? = mozhno pozvonit’
Police: Полиция = politsiya 
I got lost: Я потерялся = ya poteryalsya

Numbers

1: один = odin
2: два = dva
3: три = tri
4: четыре = chetyre
5: пять = pyat’
6: шесть = shest’
7: семь = sem’ 
8: восемь = vosem’ 
9: девять = devyat’ 
10: десять = desyat’ 
100: сто = sto
1000: тысяча = tysyacha 

Number:  номер = nomer
Half: половина = polovina
Less: меньше = men’she
More: больше = bol’she 

Transportation

How much is a ticket to _?: Сколько стоит билет в _? = skol’ko stoit bilet v _? 
One ticket to _: Один билет в _ = odin bilet v_ 
Where does this train/bus go?: Куда идёт этот поезд/автобус? = kudos idet etot poezd / avtobus? 
Where is the train/bus to _?: Где поезд/автобус до_? = gde poezd / avtobus do _?
Does this train/bus stop in _?: Этот поезд/автобус останавливается в _? = etot poezd / avtobus ostanavlivaetsya v _?
When does the train/bus for _ leave?: Когда отходит поезд/автобус в _ ? = kogda otkhodit poezd / avtobus v _? 
When will this train/bus arrive in _?: Во сколько этот поезд/автобус приходит в_? = vo skol’ko tot poezd / avtobus prikhodit v _?

Directions

How do I get to _?: Как добраться до_? = kak dobrat’sya do _?
… the train station: вокзала = vokzala
… the bus station: автовокзала = avtovokzala
… the airport: аэропорта = aeroporta
… the city center: центра = Tsentra
… hostel _: хостел _ = khostel

Restaurant

Do you have a menu in English?: У вас есть меню на английском? = u vas est’ menyu na angliskom?
What is the most typical dish?: Какое самое типичное блюдо? = kakoe samoe tipichnoe blyudo?
I am a vegetarian: Я вегетариaнец = ya vegetaryanets

Money

Currency exchange: Обмен валюты = Obmen valyuty
Money: денги = dengi