Backpacking in Russia: My Luxury Hostel – Home in KRD, Selezneva in Krasnodar

“We’re leaving together, but still it’s farewell
and maybe we’ll come back to earth, who can tell?” – Europe.

To ensure I got another Russia city swallowed into my backpack before my visa free stay ended, I headed to the southern city of Krasnodar, where I would stay until the final day of the Russian visa. I left Krasnodar on 31st December 2018. Again, many thanks to Russians for their visa deal for all football supporters who attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup – over 6 months visa free entry, I should really have used it to do the Trans-Siberian as it’s a tough visa to crack, as I learnt in the past.

The country organised the spectacle to perfection in my opinion and the people warmly welcomed fans from lands afar showing the true impression of Russian culture that the idiotic global media like to wrongly judge and stereotype. Well done Russia, superb job.

So having visited every former Soviet Union FIFA country, I decided to milk the visa free entry with two trips to Saint Petersburg and a final stop off in Krasnodar in the final two months of validity. I also wanted to visit Sochi and Rostov on Don, but I didn’t have time in the end. Krasnodar sounded cooler and more of an obscure place than the other two so it got the nod. I stayed in two different parts of this huge city – both times in hostels and both excellent hostels. The first night, I stayed here on Selezneva Street at the Home in KRD Hostel. An inspired choice and here are my reasons why…

1.State of the Art/Modern
I was tired and weary as I entered the reception here at the Home in KRD Hostel. And I gazed at how new, modern, state of the art it was. There were quirky pictures on the walls, everything was so fresh and clean. The toilets and shower were squeaky clean.

2.Quiet Neighbourhood
After a few nights on the rip in Saint Petersburg, I was ready to chill out and here, I found exactly that peace. The hostel is on a random street in a quiet neighbourhood. You can relax here, in a city of 1 million people, I was surprised at that. There is also a cosy balcony to relax in. I was here in December but this would also make a good summer drinking den.

3.Bars and Shops Nearby
Despite its location away from the city centre, there are bars, cafes and shops nearby – in fact there are two cosy little cafes/bars across the street. I was pretty tired so for once in life, I didn’t go into them, however I did enjoy drinking in some of the other bars in a different part of Krasnodar on the second night.

4.Welcoming Staff
I was welcomed by the lovely Paulina on reception. She showed me everything including a tour of the dorms and helped explain things about Krasnodar. The next morning I also enjoyed speaking to Oksana, who posed for the photo below.

5.Cosy Choice of Rooms
I lived in luxury for a change here. Having stayed in dorms on my recent trips to Russia and Poland, I had my own room. This was one of the cosiest nights sleep in my entire travels! I am not joking. I had a settee below my bed, a very cosy top bunk and I slept in total harmony here.

I got to see the other rooms too, here are a few more photos:

Overall if you want luxury and cosiness in the heart of Krasnodar neighbourhood life, this is the place to come! I also stayed in the Loft Hostel in Krasnodar which caters for budget backpackers in dorms on the other side of the city.

Here are the details for booking the Home in KRD Hostel in Krasnodar, Russia:
Хостел Селезнёва / Home in KRD Hostel
Seleznevа 4/10
Krasnodar
Russia
+7 (800) 700-94-40
info@homeinkrdru
Website – Home in KRD Hostel
Facebook – Home in KRD Hostel
VK – Home in KRD Hostel
Instagram – Hostel Selezneva
OK – Home in KRD Hostel

Here are some videos from my time in Krasnodar, Russia: