Hotel Ontario
Way out of the centre – try 13km – the 22-room Ontario lets you wake with singing birds (in good weather) and the smell of cedar in rather modern, carpeted rooms. Some have refrigerators and fans.
Yakutsk hotels and hostels
Le Grand
Opened in 2006, this nice 12-room hotel earns its little ‘Le’ from its royal effect of wall mouldings, frumpy curtains and pleasant lobby sitting area.
Hotel Sterkh
Sparkling after a makeover in 2007, Sterkh’s 50 rooms offer a bit of style (billowy curtains, air-con, refrigerator) overlooking pl Ordzhonikidze. There’s a huge jump up in space and quality if you go with the lyux. Wi-fi access.
Polar Star Hotel
Yakutsk’s top choice for business and cash-happy travellers, the modern Polar Star has fine, air-con rooms reached by a glass elevator, wi-fi access, a pool (R350 per hr) and – vot eta da! – a two-lane bowling alley (R200 to R300 for 30 .
Hotel Parus
Staff can be snippy, but the Soviet-retro, compact rooms feel fresher than Lena’s (the all-new bathrooms and air-con units make the difference).
Hotel Tygyn Darkhan
Just steps from pl Lenina, TD’s regular rooms follow a standard set-up, but are freshly updated and have modern bathrooms; the similar-sized deluxes get air-con. All get use of the indoor pool and sauna.
Hotel Kolos
Behind the official-looking blue-and-white complex, the Kolos offers 28 basic rooms - all with private bath; cheaper ones come without TV.
Hotel Lena
Still pretty Soviet in a lot of the wrong ways, Lena’s rooms are a bit cramped, with ancient bathrooms and vinyl floors. Some get wi-fi access.