The coming winter dictates its mood, and we want comfort and warmth, magic and bright, sparkling like New Year’s garlands, impressions. LuxuryTravelBlog decided to share with the reader my impressions of a visit to two cities, two hotels, two spas that fully meet the desires of body and soul.
Let’s start with Kazan. Meet 5* Kazan Palace and 4* Neo Kazan Palace by TASIGO. The first hotel in the world to receive SUP Free (Single Use Plastic) certification. This is a certification and management system that excludes single-use plastic products from hotel activities. But this is only part of what I give Tasigo a solid five.
It’s stylish, tasty here (breakfasts are highly recommended at Kazan Palace – why not start the day with a glass of prosecco?), and you don’t feel like crawling out into the city, especially when the famous Kazan frosts are outside. There is no strength to get out of the SPA, it is impossible to leave the restaurants (there are several of them) without trying 1/2 of the menu, and the enjoyment of design does not let go without aesthetic stories that you endlessly shoot in the neo-interiors of the former city hospital, skillfully turned into a great hotel.
By the way, this story is preserved in the Kazan Palace Museum – a gallery connecting the two hotels, presents pictures of everyday life in Kazan, the history of the Shamov family and the hospital building they built, which again came to life as the Kazan Palace hotel.
The elements of the hotel concept are based on respect for traditions against the backdrop of dynamic development. Turkic leitmotifs, emphasizing the unity of the Turkish and Tatar peoples, are woven into the modern atmosphere. Oriental ornament is often found in the interior along with high-tech solutions. The four floors of the hotel are presented in different colors and symbolize the elements of nature: red is the color of fire, energy and strength, green is a symbol of growth and development, the airiness and depth of blue symbolizes sky and water, and yellow brings an adventurous spirit and an element of spontaneity to the atmosphere. “Equilibrium and balance is what NEO guests meet and find,” reads the text on the website. No objections.
I stayed at Neo Kazan Palace by TASIGO. In each hotel room (there are 5 categories: Neo comfort, comfort with a city view, central, grand suite and family grand suite), there is a unique art object above the head of the bed: three hand-embroidered canvases depicting family members. The family as the main value in Eastern culture is especially revered in the philosophy of the hotel. By the way, pets are also considered family members, and therefore the hotel is also pet-friendly.
Fans of gastronomic experiences will appreciate the heart of the hotel – the Atrium zone, which delights the eye of an aesthete with the warmth of a fireplace, a glass roof with a panoramic view, stylish red figures and combines several zones at once: the Topaz restaurant with its perfect breakfasts, the round-the-clock atmospheric Kazanda Lounge and the Palace Bar with its unforgettable cocktails. There is always a choice of famous dishes of international cuisine, coffee from a unique collection (from classic to traditional Turkish, served in porcelain dishes from the iconic Turkish designer Faruk Malhan). And one floor below is Sakura by TASIGO, the perfect meeting place for Pan-Asian and Middle Eastern culinary traditions.
Well, for gifts for the body – welcome to GO Spa & Fitness. An indoor swimming pool with crystal clear water, modern Technogym equipment, a traditional Turkish hammam and an extensive spa menu will not leave you indifferent.
Of course, the hotel has already prepared a New Year’s offer with an excellent musical program for New Year’s Eve. There is something to think about.
If you have the strength to resist the temptation of the Tasigo walls and get out into the city, then here’s another thing to do in Kazan:
Make wishes in the Kazan Kremlin near the Syuyuimbike tower, walk along the embankment in the evening and along the sand along the Volga in the morning, listen to street musicians on Bauman Street, leaf through books in a bookstore near the Black Lake, dine at Chiirem (there, by the way, the best echpochmaks in the city) , dine at Brunch with a view of the Black Lake and the Full Moon, make a pilgrimage to local temples. Kazan Cathedral, Kul-Sharif Mosque, Raifa Monastery, Holy Dormition Zilant Monastery, Temple of All Religions. And you can still go to Sviyazhsk and Bolgar. But that’s a completely different story.
In the meantime, we are transported to Moscow, more precisely, to the Odintsovo District of the Moscow Region, which, in addition to the most interesting sights, also attracts with its proximity to the city. All this inspired me to arrange a weekend full of impressions and a real spa retreat in the new PSB Patriot hotel from Cosmos group. But first things first.
In the morning, my sister and I walked around Meshchersky Park, stopped at the House of Creativity of Writers in Peredelkino to see a new exhibition and dine at the new Biblioteka restaurant, created by Studio APAA, inspired by the historical library of the House of Creativity, writing offices and architectural solutions of Mies van der Roe.
The menu of the restaurant is based on the study of the recipes of historical Russian cuisine of the 18th century. And also traditional tea parties in the spirit of country traditions. Four author’s literary blends were created for them: Mint Lion, Dostoevsky’s Dreams, Cherry Orchard and Russian Caravan.
Filled with impressions, I got behind the wheel and after 1.5 hours we were at the hotel. Our choice fell on the 145 square meter Ministerial Suite so that each of us had a separate bedroom. By the way, Patriot has 8 types of rooms, including cottages and 4 types of suites: simple, officer and general. By the way, all the rooms on the third floor are equipped with French balconies, and the rooms above have view loggias. The rooms delight with stylish furniture, elegant finishes made from natural materials, spacious bathrooms and thoughtful color schemes.
The Ministerial Suite (like other suites) also has a living room, a kitchen and an office for guests, which could not but rejoice – each of us had our own plans for this weekend, and the zoning of the room was inspiring. My sister stayed in the room to work, and I went to the ice palace to go skating and drink coffee in the panoramic cafe on the 2nd floor of the complex.
And, of course, after the ice rink, I wanted to warm up and explore all the benefits of the spa. It could not but inspire: a 25-meter swimming pool, a variety of baths from classical and hammam to herbal and salt saunas. Perhaps it is worth talking about them separately.
The walls of the steam room are decorated with real forest and meadow herbs. Dry steam heats them up and creates a special flavor that is beneficial to the body. Staying here allows you to relax and has a positive effect on the nervous system. Himalayan salt is used for finishing in the salt sauna. When heated, it creates a pleasant aroma that fills the air with substances that are beneficial for the respiratory tract and skin. Staying in the sauna allows you to relax and has a positive effect on the immune system, strengthening it and helping to resist viral and colds. 
There is also a snow room for cryo treatments and a unique shower, which allows you to take a meditative journey into the jungle under a tropical downpour, into a sea storm, or simply enjoy the rolls of thunder in a thunderstorm.
In the cottages, by the way, there are also baths: “Kedrovaya”, “Siberian” and “Altai”. And experienced bath attendants will help to carry out the rituals of soaring, prepare brooms from your favorite tree species and create a favorable phyto-atmosphere by adding essential oils.
For dinner, my sister and I met in the Bagration Chamber Lounge with a terrace overlooking the park. The menu includes author’s Mediterranean cuisine and exclusive desserts from the pastry chef. Everything is on the level. After dinner, we moved to the lobby bar for an evening cocktail and even looked at the exhibition, which at that moment was taking place in the hotel.
The next day we started with a workout in the gym and continued with breakfast at the Donskoy restaurant. It is here, by the way, that New Year’s Eve will take place, and the Patriot has already prepared a wonderful program.
Well, then adventure awaited us again. There are many more interesting things in the vicinity of the Odintsovo district.
First we went to the museum-reserve Bolshie Vyazemy, Zakharovo – the estate of Pushkin’s grandmother, Maria Gannibal, where the future poet spent a lot of time. And then we managed to visit the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, located in the village of Savvinskaya Sloboda, founded by the monk Savva, a disciple of Sergius of Radonezh. A kilometer from the monastery is the skete of St. Savva Storozhevsky, and a holy spring in which you can take a bath. And here you can also buy fresh bread and monastery kvass infused with raisins in the monastery refectory, have a delicious lunch and go down to the river under the walls of the monastery.
Two scenarios for creating a magical mood are received. I recommend doing both.
