When the cream of the crop of the footballing world come together, you expect their accommodation to be the best of the best, too. After all, when you think about international football players, you often associate them with luxury lifestyles! So, it may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that the teams convening for the 2018 World Cup are mostly living in remarkably affordable surroundings for the duration of the tournament.
Many of the teams, Russia included, have made their team base camps at purpose built training facilities. While certainly comfortable, these facilities are unlikely to be as lavish as the top hotels. Other teams, who are in hotels, are staying at surprisingly affordable accommodation. After all, their priority is to be close to their training grounds, not to lap up round the clock room service and facilities! But, which of the World Cup team base camp hotels offer the best value for money? Let’s find out.
The best value World Cup 2018 Team base camps
Morocco Team Base Camp: Voronezh Marriott Hotel
Image courtesy of marriott.co.uk
The Morocco national team are staying in the Voronezh Marriott Hotel for the duration of the 2018 World Cup. With a basic room costing around £50 a night and even the best rooms in the hotel coming in at £85 per night, this 5* hotel is remarkably cheap for the quality of the accommodation. Marriott hotels are renowned for their high standards. Clean, modern design and excellent locations are among their many attractive qualities.
Part of the excellent value for money undoubtedly comes from Voronezh being a little off the tourist track. A 6 hour drive from Moscow, Voronezh’s main attractions are a bronze statue of Peter I, and the regional art museum. The latter, housed in a stunning baroque building, is home to collections of Ancient Egyptian art and centuries of Russian paintings. There’s also a ship museum, Goto Predestination, which recreates 18th-century naval life, and a number of picturesque parks.
Peru team base camp: Sheraton Moscow Sheremetyevo
Image courtesy of sheratonmoscowairport.com
For a great value way to explore Moscow, you can’t go far wrong with Peru’s team base camp, the Sheraton at Sheremetyevo airport. With a stay at this 5* hotel costing around £90 per night, it’s not exactly cheap, but compared to other hotels closer to the city centre, it’s great value for money. The Sheraton Sheremetyevo is about an hour and a half’s journey from all the main tourist attractions. But when you arrive in the city, Red Square, the Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral are all within an easy walk of one another. The hotel itself features an indoor pool, hammam and sauna, and a fitness centre – more facilities than some of the pricier hotels have to offer. Its proximity to the international airport, from which you can fly direct to London in a little over 3 hours, is also a definite plus point.
England team base camp: forRestMix Club Sport&Relax
At around £105-£110 a night, the England team’s base camp hotel is a little more expensive than some others. Online reviews of the hotel are a little mixed, with some feeling it’s overpriced, but we think that compared to other team base camps, it’s a fantastic destination and good value for money. As well as good quality accommodation it also offers full sports and spa facilities, including medical spa treatments. The hotel offers cycle hire and, during winter months, skiing facilities. As its name suggests, it’s located close to a forest making it ideal for outdoorsy types. Plus, it’s proximity to Saint Petersburg makes it an ideal base to explore the city and retreat to the calm of the resort when you need to.
Which teams have the most expensive team base camps at the World Cup?
At the other end of the scale, a few teams are staying in extremely expensive accommodation. Saudi Arabia’s opulent base at the Belmond Grand Hotel in Saint Petersburg costs over £220 a night on average! The Art Nouveau building exudes luxury from the entrance. Guest rooms are spacious and plush, while suites have marble bathrooms and the Presidential suite comes with its own grand piano and sauna! They’re not in the same room, of course…
Image courtesy of belmond.com
Brazil have made their home for the tournament at the equally decadent but more contemporary Swissotel Resort in Sochi. Rooms all have spacious terraces and balconies overlooking the Black Sea or the park adjacent to the hotel. Rainforest showers and plenty of natural light also serve to bring the outdoors in. A stay here would set you back around £250 a night.
The most expensive of the World Cup team base camps, though, is Poland’s temporary home at the Hyatt Regency Sochi. You can get a room here for just under £300 a night, but it’s more likely to cost you around £400. However, this hotel, unlike others, has a private beach and the cost of your stay includes beach services and facilities. So, no having to stump up for your umbrella!
Do these hotels tempt you to explore Russia? Find out about more places you can visit for a cheap city break here.
