What happened to Bukinge and why did you switch to Ostrovok?

Bukinge shut down, and I switched to Ostrovok as a backup option. Unfortunately, my experience with Ostrovok has been a mixed bag.

What were your issues with Avito?

I had some issues with Avito, including cancellations and weird responses from the platform. It was frustrating, to say the least.

Can I trust the booking process on Ostrovok and Avito?

Honestly, I wouldn't say I trust either platform completely. There have been some issues with cancellations and availability.

Are there any good alternatives to Ostrovok and Avito?

I'm still considering other options, but so far, I haven't found anything that stands out as a clear winner.

What are some tips for booking accommodations on Ostrovok and Avito?

Be prepared for some headaches, and don't expect a hassle-free experience. Make sure to read the fine print and ask questions before booking.

Can I get a refund if my booking falls through?

It depends on the platform's cancellation policies. Some listings may offer refunds, but it's not always clear-cut.

How do I contact customer support on Ostrovok and Avito?

You can try reaching out to customer support, but be prepared for a slow response.

Are there any fees associated with booking on Ostrovok and Avito?

Yes, some listings may have additional fees. Make sure to check the fine print before booking.

What's the return policy like on Ostrovok and Avito?

It varies depending on the listing and the platform's policies. Make sure to check the fine print before booking.

Booking Website Review: Ostrovok, Avito, and Sutochno.ru

Name: My Cautionary Tale of Booking Websites: A Review of Ostrovok, Avito, and Sutochno.ru
Item: Sutochno
Rating: 4
Author: sophieW_

Hello everyone!

I used to book accommodations on Bukinge, but after it shut down, I switched to Ostrovok. And now, I'm even listing my own place on Avito and considering other options.

Ostrovok and Avito were a total waste of time.

In April, we were planning a trip to Kirovsk in the Murmansk region, where we'd hit the slopes at the Big Vud'yavr and Kukisvumchorr ski resorts. That's peak season, when the polar night is over, the sun shines bright, and it's relatively warm.

The Tirsas hotel with its spa was already booked out a month in advance.

Ostrovok had zero apartments available, despite us booking a place in Kirovsk through them in December. Okay, there were two one-bedroom apartments with cute decor, but they wanted 15-20 thousand rubles per night – an absolute absurdity, especially since we weren't just throwing money around.

Avito had some options at first, but then five people cancelled our bookings. I'd send them a message asking 'why?' and get weird, nonsensical responses like 'You booked it too, and they paid first', 'I couldn't change the calendar, so it looks like it's available', and so on. I've been listing my own place on Avito and never had any technical issues – dates get removed just fine in the calendar or automatically when the owner confirms the booking (within 12 hours). Maybe there's some benefit to doing it this way, but I just can't figure out what it is.

So, I ended up scouring Avito for a decent deal on a 5-night, 2-day trip from Apatievo to Kirovsk (25-45 minutes, 500 rubles per day on fuel, plus 5k rubles for accommodation each night). We ended up booking a cottage in Igore with an SPA instead, after weighing the costs and questionable value of the whole experience.

Feeling a bit disappointed by the young guy's review, I decided to keep an eye on the situation. Where else can you book a hotel or apartment besides Ostrovok and Avito?

That's when I stumbled upon the website "suточное". I thought it might be a scam - I'd never heard of it before, despite seeing some positive reviews and ads on the radio. I guess it flew under the radar.

I went to read reviews on Yandex.Review. The ratings were mostly 4-star, but when you read the comments, it seemed like a total rip-off. People were complaining about dirty apartments (worse than the photos), incorrect availability, and so on. It was all pretty standard, to be honest.

I still remember Booking.com – our experience on December 31st, 2018, in Minsk. We went to the address listed on the website, but were told over the phone that the apartment we booked was just a sample, and we'd actually be staying in another one. It was in a completely different neighborhood, on the first floor, with a strong smell of mold, no hot water for the first couple of days, and terrible decor. The admin at Booking.com suggested we cancel and get a refund, but the Belarusian 'real estate agent' told us he'd keep half the payment if we didn't show up, and the other half if we did, because New Year's was coming up and he couldn't find anyone else to rent to.

I'll never forget our trip to Prague in 2019, when I specifically booked a hotel in the Bukovina area with free parking (something that 90% of options didn't offer), only to find out upon arrival that they meant the paid city parking, which ended up costing more than the room itself – and it was in a terrible location.

Then there was the time we filmed on Ostrovok in Moscow in March 2024 – the apartment had a few neutral reviews and some nice photos. But in reality, it was a total mess: the floor was flooded because the cleaner had stuffed a massive duvet into the washing machine and hung it to dry in the middle of the tiny studio. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to make guests live with damp laundry on a clothes dryer?

It was around the same time that I found a great option in Moscow on Ostrovok, right next to the apartment we ended up booking. It had a fresh new renovation and was priced reasonably – it popped up out of nowhere. I was about to book it, as they sent me the payment details, but then a second message arrived: our account had been hacked, and they warned me not to send any money. I contacted customer support, and they cancelled the booking and confirmed that our account had been compromised. If I'd been a bit faster, I would've sent 50k down the drain.

So here's the takeaway: everywhere is great – whether it's Ostrovok, Booking, Avito, or any other service. You just can't get complacent and rush through the process.

Sutochno.ru – where to book an apartment, hotel, or hostelI have to say, the first time I used Sutochno.ru, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing. There were around 8 options in Kirovsk, but half of them were greyed out and wouldn't load – even when I opened the website on different devices. I tried a trick and it worked – I kept changing the sorting parameters, and when the list rearranged, I was able to see the apartment I eventually booked.

In reality, it turned out to be a cozy, warm, and incredibly clean place (a rare find). The host was a nice guy who kept in touch via WhatsApp from the moment I booked.

He sent me the check-in details around 14 hours in advance (we arrived at 22). The check-in was contactless. We signed and sent him the two agreements from the site in photo format in the apartment. We even paid the remaining amount via bank transfer after check-in, which was a first for us on Ostrovok.

I have to say, I was a bit worried after seeing a terrible review on Ostrovok in December. The apartment looked like a dump – a lumpy couch that was impossible to sleep on, stinky water with a weird smell, noisy neighbors, ugly renovation, and dust everywhere.

View from the slope:Parking in the yard:

I have to say, I was really pleased with the overall experience. It was so cozy that we spent most of our time in the apartment and at restaurants, rather than braving the cold slopes

Now, let's talk about the 'technical side' of the project.

It's super intuitive. When searching for answers, I never had to wonder where to click or what to look for.

You can book a place to stay not only in Russia, but also in friendly countries:I won't show the registration process, as I already have an account. It's pretty straightforward – just link your email and phone number.In a separate tab, you'll find the rewards that get added after your stay is complete:

I'm considering renting out my place (I've got it all booked up until the fall on Avito, though, and that's a whole different story):

You can check out bookings and reviews:

How to book a place to stay?

Let's say we're looking for options in Moscow from June 7-9, 2024.

Just enter the city and dates:

I'm not a fan of how the nightly price is front and center – it's the focus, while the total cost gets lost in the shuffle. I have to concentrate to get the whole picture.It's super convenient to browse options either by list or map view.

The flexible and varied settings for things like accommodation type and other parameters are a big plus:

As I zoom in or out on the map, I'm either narrowing down or expanding my options. I'm particularly interested in ZIL or DUBROVKA:

Opening up the options that caught my eye, I can take a closer look. I love that most of the property photos are high-quality – sometimes even professional. On Avito, you can sometimes come across some real horror stories...

Most people already have a formed opinion. For instance, this place has a pretty low rating, and we can see why:

The listing details the services and options available in the accommodation package:I learned this the hard way back in the Booking era. I always checked the low ratings first to get a realistic picture and understand how critical the drawbacks were for me. People's assessment criteria vary – what one person sees as a paradise due to lack of better options, another person might view as a dump.

Take this review for a seemingly great place with a 9.2 rating, for instance. It turns out the bathroom is shared with some neighbors because it's located outside the room. And that's not the only issue:

Booking was super easy, just a few clicks with the mouse.

I'm holding off for now, we're still just thinking about our trip. It's a bummer that the bonuses only get deducted as a percentage, not the full amount, but I guess that's better than nothing.

____________________

I'd still recommend the site, but keep all the warnings and potential scams in mind.