Working from Vacation:
How to Choose Accommodation with Good Internet in Moscow and St. Petersburg

Combining vacation time with remote work during the holidays is a reality for many professionals both in Russia and abroad. The main risk with this approach is that the connection speed is slower than advertised, making it impossible to work properly. Moscow and St. Petersburg have a high concentration of daily rental options, but stable high-speed access is far from universal. Read this article to find out what parameters to consider and what’s important.

Technical requirements: speed, stability, and backup internet

To fully work while on vacation, you need high-speed internet access of at least 50 Mbps: this is sufficient for video conferencing, file sharing, and access to corporate services. Connection stability depends on the provider chosen by your landlord: if your provider is unreliable, your only option is to move or pay extra for a coworking space.

For those choosing apartments, things are much simpler: aparthotels prefer a single standard and usually connect to a single operator with a specific plan, so guests can be provided with a technical description of the network. In rooms, you can often use both wired and wireless internet (Wi-Fi). Sometimes, a single channel is shared between multiple rooms — it’s best to check this in advance. However, this doesn’t significantly affect speed. Ensure a stable ping of below 40 or 50 ms for video calls to avoid desync.

The main advantage of the apartments is the availability of backup internet. You can always work in the coworking space or in the aparthotel lobby.

How to check connection quality before moving in

Use the following methods:

1. Review aggregator websites: They have keyword filters. Search for phrases like "call dropped," "Zoom froze," and "poor performance." These are more accurate than general reviews like "internet was ok."

2. Directly request speed information in the complex management chat. A popular option among experienced guests is to ask for the MAC address of your future apartment’s access point, then check it using the provider’s coverage service.

Important: Signal loss may occur on floors above the 15th in new buildings. If there’s only one access point on a floor and the room is located at the end of a hallway behind a wall, speed may drop threefold.

Organizing a Workspace: Ergonomics and Silence in an Apartment

Ergonomics

Check out photos of the workspace before booking. A typical Moscow and St. Petersburg apartment looks like this: a bar counter and stool, or simply a glass coffee table. Working on a laptop for more than an hour at these is impossible. Look for apartments with a proper workspace: a straight desk, a comfortable chair, good lighting, and electrical outlets near the desk — just like at home.

Space

A comfortable work area should be separate from the sleeping and kitchen areas. Even in a 25 sq m apartment, this is possible: check out the photos on the hotel’s official website to see the actual apartment layout.

When staying overnight or long-term at a hotel in Moscow , St. Petersburg, or another city, check the stability of your internet connection by checking your provider’s information, reading reviews, or requesting information about the speed and connection type when booking.