Sleep Cheap

St Petersburg has scores of new mini-hotels so why not a mini-hostel? Sleep Cheap, run by some savvy young Russians and occupying a cosy apartment facing a courtyard off a quiet residential street, fits the bill nicely. It offers a refreshingly modern and relaxed atmosphere for budget travellers to meet and mingle.

This very clean place has room for 18 people: 16 in two dorm rooms (both with bunk beds that combine a double bed on the base with a single on top) and two more squashed into a double bed in a cramped space built over the hallway. There's a well-equipped but slim-line kitchen where breakfast (included in the rates) is served and you can self-cater or do your washing. Space really is at a premium here (hence the extra charge if you want to store your luggage).