Main - Helen's Homestay

The travellers who anchored at my place would all say the same thing. Their feet back on soil after equally tiring train or plane, refreshed by a blissful shower and a cup of fresh tea made by my caring Mother they would comment:
"What a difference it makes to sense a homely atmosphere again...Especially if you are travelling for months!"

Finding accommodation in Irkutsk can be almost painful for those who are on a small budget.Then please consider my place. No luxury, just an average middle-class family apartment (living-room, kitchen and two bed-rooms), where you will find not only a roof but hospitality. We let out one bedroom with a double bed, so we can only accommodate max 2 people at a time. Check up INTERIOR page.

If you are an explorer with inquisitive mind looking for a taste of real lifestyle of the Siberians, you may like to spend a few days at a family home. Such "first hand" experience is a perfect way to learn a lot about us Russians, our habits and beliefs! And while you are exploring, my "staff members": my Mother (in the picture) and my daughter will take care of your immediate needs to make your stay in Irkutsk enjoyable and trouble-free.

For your homely stay on the Lake Baikal we also help you book rooms in a friendly Dauria Family Hotel in Listvyanka village, please see Listvyanka page .

*Helen's Homestay in Irkutsk:*
Pick up	free	if you stay 2 nights+
Pick up	10 USD	for 1-night stay
Bed-room with a double-bed :
- for 1 person	25 USD /prs/night	breakfast included
- for a couple	40 USD/night	breakfast included
Authentic Siberian dinner	10-15 USD/prs	pls order in advance
Buying tickets for the Circumbaikal trip	10 USD/prs
Buying train tickets*	10 USD/prs
Assistance in visa registration**	free	for my guests only
Friendly advice and relaxing nights indoors	free -:)
*Listvyanka village on Lake Baikal:*
Accommodation in Listvyanka	frm 500 Rub/prs/night	pls see Listvyanka page
Transfer Irkutsk - Listvyanka by a private car	1500 Rub

* there is no ticket booking system at Irkutsk Railway station. Customers are supposed to come and buy the tickets. In fact one can make sort of booking but just for 2 days, and then it is necessary to come and buy the tickets or extend the booking for another 2 days (they charge you 240Rub for each 2-day booking). If you want to make sure you have your tickets, I'll buy them for you in advance. For that I will need the exact dates, preferred train numbers and e-copies of your passports.

** visa registration is only demanded if you stay at a particular place in Russia for MORE than 3 days (weekends don't count). Make sure you keep all your tickets till the last minute in Russia, they may ask you at the customs to provide evidence of your actual itinerary. If you stayed longer than 3 working days at any of the places you must show your registration stamp.

If you are NOT staying at a hotel which is supposed to provide registration, then you can register at ANY post office in Russia. You must go there with a local person at whom you are staying with his/her passport, your passports and immigration cards. You fill in the required forms there and post them to the immigration authority. The post-officer gives you a receipt which will be a sufficient proof of your registration. Post-office fee will be around 150Rub/prs, but the process can be time-consuming.

Location:

We are located in a sleeping area of Irkutsk which is 10 min drive by car from the airport / 20 min drive from the railway station/ 30 min from downtown.

For details and reservation please contact Helen at helen_pot@mail.ru or contact "Sibsparkle" on Skype.

Thank you for choosing my place. Helen