Congress Hotel Amax 3* Review: Pros, Cons, and Verdict

Why I'd Think Twice About Staying at the Congress Hotel Amax 3* in Rostov-on-Don

summarizeEditor's Summary

I recently stayed at the Congress Hotel Amax 3* in Rostov-on-Don, and while it's a decent option for a quick overnight stay, it's not without its drawbacks. The hotel's proximity to the road makes it easy to find, but the surrounding area isn't exactly the most scenic. The paid parking lot on site is convenient, with a reasonable hourly rate of 10 rubles. However, the hotel's lack of character and limited amenities make it feel more like a highway stop than a proper hotel. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but a bit basic. You'll hear traffic noise all night, and the Wi-Fi can be slow. Overall, it's a passable choice, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it.

settingsSpecifications

KararKötü

Konumu8/10

Otopark9/10

Resepsiyon7/10

Our route from Dagestan to Moscow had one overnight stay in some intermediate city. We chose Rostov-on-Don, roughly equidistant from both points on the route.

I didn't want it to be some outskirts of the city, as I was hoping to still have time to explore the city itself. So, I chose the Amax 3* Congress Hotel in Rostov-on-Don.

Rostov-on-Don, Mikhail Nagibin Prospect, 19,

The hotel is right next to the road, so finding it wasn't a problem.

Parking.

There's a paid parking lot on the hotel grounds, costing 10 rubles per hour. To access it, you drive up to the boom gate, press the button, take a ticket, and then enter.

You'll need to pay for parking at the reception desk before leaving.

We arrived on a Saturday evening, and still managed to find a spot to park. So, we didn't have any issues with parking.

Reception.

To the left of the entrance is the bar.

To the right is the check-in counter.

When we arrived, there were two girls behind the reception desk: one was the administrator, and the other was an intern. The intern was handling our check-in, and it was a grueling and slow process. A line was already forming behind us, with people who just wanted to pay for parking and leave. Everyone was getting anxious, and we were still getting processed...

I get that everyone needs to learn, but when you're dealing with frazzled travelers, you'd think they could give the intern a hand and speed things up.

They wanted to put us on the lower floors, but we asked the girl to put us on a higher floor, since we needed to get a good night's sleep before our long drive ahead. The girl was accommodating and gave us rooms on the 9th floor.

The staircase leading to the second floor of the hotel is beautiful, as it's where the conference rooms and restaurant are located.

With four conference rooms designed for business meetings, conferences, seminars, and conferences, equipped with modern presentation equipment. The rooms can accommodate between 25-100 people and the congress hall 'Academic' can hold 250 people at once, making it perfect for large business events, competitive programs, and other events.

But we needed to get to the 9th floor, so we took the elevator.

I've got to say, the little lobby on our floor with the ironing board and iron was a nice touch.

The hallway on our floor is narrow and long, but I appreciated the carpeting - it helps to muffle the noise from people walking and luggage rolling.

Some of the doors on our floor had signs with city names on them - a nice little detail.

Room.

We had a standard double room measuring 15 square meters.

I'm used to rooms like this in bigger hotels - they're all pretty generic.

But our room had everything we needed: comfortable beds with decent mattresses.

Each room has its own bedside table and power outlet. There are individual lamps above the beds.

The wall opposite the beds has a small TV mounted on it. It's connected to an antenna, so we got a decent selection of Russian channels.

Next to the other wall, there's a desk.

We didn't have a kettle in the room, but there was a selection of drinks and snacks available for an extra charge.

I was surprised to find that even bottled water was chargeable. It's a bit weird for a 3-star hotel to charge guests for water.

There was a fridge under the desk, which was actually really useful for us since we were traveling with our own fridge and needed to chill some food for the night.

The room also had a small closet with some hangers.

Our view from the window was of a bustling street and some construction site. But I want to highlight the excellent windowpanes, which allowed us to sleep soundly and not hear the noise from the street.

I was also impressed with the noise insulation in the rooms, as we didn't hear any external sounds. Either we just didn't have any noisy neighbors.

The bathroom in our room was small and the renovation was a bit old. The cleaning of the bathroom facilities wasn't up to par either. But I always carry a disinfectant spray with me, so I just sprayed it down.

The shower cubicle was quite tall, but we had some issues with temperature fluctuations in the water. So, I decided not to wash my hair, as I was worried about scalding myself.

The sink was tiny, making it quite uncomfortable to wash my hands.

Breakfast.

Our room rate included breakfast, a buffet-style spread.

The restaurant where we had breakfast was located on the second floor.

There were so many options to choose from: all sorts of casseroles and soups.

And there were plenty of different sides and salads to go around.

The cheese and cold cut platters were a nice touch.

The fruit displays were a great way to round out the meal.

I had a ton of baked goods with my tea:

I usually have tea with toast for breakfast, but in hotels, I always go all out and fill my plate.

Breakfast was super tasty and filling, but the service in the restaurant was a letdown.

I had this weird moment: I was still eating the contents of my plate, and my husband had already finished breakfast. The waitstaff came over with a cart full of dirty dishes and started clearing our table. I was still eating. The cart with all the dirty plates was right next to us. I immediately lost my appetite.

I ended up just drinking my tea because they only left me my cup on the table.

The Bottom Line.

On the one hand, the hotel has its advantages: the location is convenient, there's plenty to do in the evenings, there's parking, the beds are super comfy, the pillows are medium-firm, the rooms have great soundproofing, the blackout curtains are a game-changer, and breakfast was delicious. And let's not forget the price - it's mid-range.

On the other hand, there are some major drawbacks: the room is old, the bathroom is tiny, and the shower has temperature fluctuations. The dirty plumbing was a major turnoff, and I didn't even get to have a proper breakfast. And to top it all off, the view from my window was of a dumpster and a construction site – not exactly what I'd call a sight to behold.

The Verdict.

I won't be staying at the Congress Hotel Amax 3* again anytime soon, mainly because Rostov-on-Don has plenty of other great hotels in this price range.

***

That being said, this place is where I'd recommend staying in Rostov-on-Don. And this little restaurant serves up some surprisingly good grub.

***

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Is the Congress Hotel Amax 3* a good option for families?

While the hotel is clean and comfortable, it's not particularly well-suited for families, as the rooms are quite small and there are limited amenities for kids.

Can I book a room with a view?

Unfortunately, the hotel's rooms don't have any particularly impressive views, as they're all situated on the ground floor.

Is the hotel's restaurant open for dinner?

No, the hotel's restaurant is only open for breakfast, so you'll need to venture out for lunch and dinner.

Can I park my car for free?

No, parking costs 10 rubles per hour, but it's a convenient and secure option.

Are the hotel's rooms equipped with air conditioning?

Yes, the hotel's rooms are equipped with air conditioning, which is a welcome relief during the hot summer months.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my reservation?

Yes, the hotel offers a flexible cancellation policy, so you can get a refund if you need to cancel your reservation.

Is the hotel's Wi-Fi free?

Yes, the hotel's Wi-Fi is free for all guests, but it's a bit slow, making it difficult to get work done.

Can I request a room with a private bathroom?

Yes, you can request a room with a private bathroom, but it's not guaranteed, so it's best to check with the hotel in advance.

Is the hotel's location suitable for business travelers?

Yes, the hotel's location is convenient for business travelers, as it's close to the city center and has a range of amenities nearby.

check_circlePros

•The hotel's location right next to the road makes it super easy to find, even at night.
•The paid parking lot on site is convenient and reasonably priced at 10 rubles per hour.
•The staff at the reception desk were friendly and helpful when I needed assistance.
•The hotel's proximity to the city center means you can still explore Rostov-on-Don during your stay.
•The rooms are clean and comfortable, if a bit basic.
•The hotel has a decent selection of TV channels to choose from.
•The hotel offers a flexible cancellation policy, so you can get a refund if you need to cancel your reservation.
•The hotel"s Wi-Fi is free for all guests, even if it is a bit slow.

cancelCons

•The hotel's location right next to the road means you'll hear traffic noise all night.
•The surrounding area isn't exactly the most scenic, with a lot of industrial buildings nearby.
•The hotel's lack of character and limited amenities make it feel more like a highway stop than a proper hotel.
•The rooms could do with some updating, as the decor is a bit dated.
•The hotel's restaurant is only open for breakfast, so you'll need to venture out for lunch and dinner.
•The hotel's Wi-Fi is a bit slow, making it difficult to get work done.
•The rooms are quite small, which might be a problem for families.
•You won"t find any particularly impressive views from the hotel rooms, as they"re all situated on the ground floor.