News Blog - Apartment in Minsk!

I’M either missing something, or all Minsk turned out to play a joke on me! When I planned to go to the capital of Belarus, I read it was the last dictatorship in Europe, and the only country on the Continent to still have the death penalty.

It was full of horrible, dull, Stalinist buildings; there was corruption everywhere and almost nothing to see or do, they warned. Well, I found the exact opposite! Friendly, happy people, clearly with money to spend in the many fashion stores, immaculate streets with not a sign of litter, and roads so free of potholes, they shame the UK. A pint of beer for a quid, a wonderful meal for two for £14 and beautiful buildings everywhere! Yes, it’s a nuisance having to arrange a visa before you go, and unless you stay at a hotel, you must report to a police station to get it all stamped and verified. But this is a beautiful, safe city and, unlike some places, you don’t walk a few miles to the outskirts and find miserable run-down tower blocks hidden away.

Belarus is not a very popular tourist destination, but those who come here never leave disappointed. The World Travel and Tourism council provided the data of the annual investigation according to which Belarus was included in the Top-10 countries with the fastest growing popularity in travel.

Every year about 6 million foreign guests visit the country for many reasons. Some are visiting friends; some are coming for city nightlife and entertainment; some come for historical sightseeing and also nature and beautiful local landscapes. Russian tourists actively visit reservations but unfortunately this pleasure is available only during warm months. Last years the rest on various farmsteads has become more and more popular, especially among guests from Russia. By the way, Russians form the greatest part of all visitors to Belarus – about 80%. It can be explained by lower prices and the proximity. Many Russians travel to Belarus to use the gambling industry.

There’s a lack of parking spaces in Minsk – everyone knows it. The city becomes bigger, the population grows either, but at the same time there’s less space. Such situation takes place in all bid European cities but at least in Minsk there’s still a possibility to park a car if try. In the center of the city it’s problematically to find a free space during the day but in the evening it’s usually so easy and free! But on the contrary in some sleeping areas outside city center in the evening it’s almost impossible to find a parking. Most people try to park accurately, saving space for others.

During some last years a real estate market in Minsk incessantly changes. Not so long ago a strong economic crisis took place that has greatly changed the balance in all fields not only in a finance one. It has also affected the real estate market. Speaking about Minsk real estate market, evidently the secondary one is the liveliest.

Its main trend during last months was increasing of transaction's number. It’s true for the whole country. In comparison with two previous years (2011-2012) the amount of deals on the secondary market of real estate has increased by 15%.

Sometimes the weather brings us very unexpected surprises. A very strong snowfall paralyzed life in Minsk and Belarus on the 15th of March 2013.  Today many major highways are blocked with traffic or blocked by the road police. Some people are spending in traffic over 12 hours! The airport Minsk MSQ is closed, subway stations are overcrowded. Many people had to walk home because of public transportation collapse.

Luckily the snowfall is over now, over several thousand people are cleaning the snow from the streets.

Since 2010 the hotel "Oktyabrskaya" (former name) was being at restoration and only some months ago, at the end of 2012, it opened its doors for guests. No one is able to say that this hotel has being situated there for more than 30 years because now it looks like a brand new one. Now it’s called President Hotel, has almost the most luxurious interior among other hotels in Minsk and rooms which cost begins at $300 per night.

The history of the Oktyabrskaya Hotel began in 1980 with Moscow Olympic Games, some parts of which were held in Minsk. Its location – on the crossing of Engels and Kirova streets - was chosen due to the nearby situated “Dinamo” stadium.

Coming to Belarus there’s no need to refuse from traveling by private vehicle. Car hire is a rather new but quickly developing service there; also it’s possible to hire a driver. But if you want to travel by your own car, there’s some information every foreign driver in Belarus has to know.

International driving license and original documents confirming the ownership of the vehicle give you a right to drive to Belarus. At the border crossing be ready to give information about the car into a customs declaration and to buy a vehicle insurance certificate. Also the international motor insurance certificate (Green card) is acceptable in Belarus.