Korona Hotel 

We needed to stay for one night in Samara, on our way to another city. We had a lot of appointments in the city, so we wanted a central location, but didn't have a big budget. Korona was just what we needed--within walking distance of all our destinations, a view of the riverfront, and--most important--friendly and helpful staff. At least one of the staff members we met speaks fluent English and has a great sense of humor. We unexpectedly had a chance to be interviewed by a local journalist, and the most convenient location turned out to be the hotel's reception area. The staff accommodated us without blinking, though the space was small. There is a small canteen in the building, but we didn't use it. There's a travel agency in the same building. Low-speed Internet is free; broadband costs a small fee for a passcard. (The desk didn't want to take our money until they were sure we really needed the additional bandwidth!) I'd certainly use this place again.