Russia - SVO Layover Advice!!

So I'm sitting here at SVO after my first ever SU experience from HKG enroute to AMS, and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. I booked the ticket for something like $650 and it was a lot less than the other options and is the only reason I did so. However, the return leg has a long long layover - something like 12 hours. I didn't think it would be worth it to get a visa before arriving at SVO but now that I see the awfulness of this airport, I can't imagine spending half a day here.

I see there are tons of threads for visas and such, and how to navigate without a visa. My main question is what is the best way to do it: To splurge for a visa and go into the city for the night, or to take a night at the Novotel (which i've read takes non-visa guests)? I'm also going to be traveling with a Chinese citizen so the visa might be a bit more of a problem.

Thanks!

You don't need an invitation for a transit visa anyhow so I would say just go for it. There is a lot to see in Moscow, the Aeroexpress takes you straight to Belorosskaya station. From there you catch the metro to the red square and other sights. The metro in Moscow is marked in Russian only so make sure you take a map with both latin and cyrillic characters, but it is easy to use. The cost of it is now 28 RUB, no matter how far you go and with free transfer as long as you are within the system. The stations are very nicely decorated and are sights themselves! I don't know about luggage storage since I did not need it, but since you are considering a hotel that may not be a problem.

Btw what kind of citizenship do you hold? If you are American the cost is 140 USD no matter the visa I think. If you hold an EU passport the cost is 35 euros.