Russia - best way to handle overnight transfer at DME? (2am -> 12:45pm)

I've read that the airport hotels near DME are pretty miserable. Any suggestions on how to handle my overnight transfer at DME? I'll be arriving around 2am and depart later that day at 12:45. I'd rather not just hang around the airport or go into central Moscow, but I also really dislike dingy hotels. I'm stumped on this one. Suggestions?

I've never stayed there, but the Hotel Milan is just inside the MKAD on the way to the Center from DME, but nowhere near the Center. It gets good reviews on Trip Advisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298484-d661896-Reviews-Milan_Hotel-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

I've noticed it because it looks like a good hotel and it's really far from the center. Every time I go to DME, I wonder why they decided to build the hotel there.

You could get there in 20 minutes from DME and shouldn't be a problem getting back, since you're not that far. In fact, the hotel website says they have a 10am shuttle that would get you to DME in plenty of time for your 12:45 flight:

http://en.hotelmilan.ru/additional_services/airport_suttle/

Reading some of the reviews, it seems like the airlines at DME use the hotel for irreg ops. Maybe that's the logic behind the location.

Hotel Milan is just inside the MKAD on the way to the Center from DME, but nowhere near the Center. You could get there in 20 minutes from DME and shouldn't be a problem getting back, since you're not that far. In fact, the hotel website says they have a 10am shuttle that would get you to DME in plenty of time for your 12:45 flight:

http://en.hotelmilan.ru/additional_services/airport_suttle/


Hote Milan is a great option - I stayed there many times. The advertised shuttle works perfectly fine, and rooms are clean and comfortable(3.5*), breakfast is also good, buffet with omelet station etc :). For good rates, book at http://booking.com. If you book directly at the hotel they'll just offer the rack rates (9.000 RUB or so).


To get there at 2 am you need to prearrange transportation - taxi on the spot can be expensive at that time because there are no public transport options in the night.

Another option - if you have access to the (airside) Lufthansa lounge in DME, you can camp out there. It is open 24h, they have showers but no beds ... but in the night it is usually empty and quiet. Might make sense just to kill a few hours.

Thanks for the replies, all. I'm going to investigate Hotel Milan - I didn't realize it was particularly close. 2am transportation options may be the tricky part. Thanks!

You can book an airport transfer here gotorussia.com (http://www.gotorussia.com/travel_services_transport_services_and_airport_tra nsfers.htm).

I had a look at the hotel website and it seems they upgraded it with a decent online booking option. Perhaps no need to go through booking.com.

Milan is not exactly nearby (15-20 miles from DME) so you need to make sure you can get some transportation at that hour. They mention shuttles to the airport at 8, 10 and 12 so the return should be covered.

Definitely Hotel Milan is great option - I stayed there 2 or 3 times. Use some expedia or booking.com to get better than rack rates. I would recommend to order taxi from the hotel to pick you from DME, unless you speak Russian enough to negotiate with the "sharks"-private cars offering to drive to the city. Last time I was there just before the last train at midnight they were even ready to go on the price of the train, just to come back to the city. But maybe I was just lucky...
From Milan use the shuttle from the hotel, just like previously mentioned.