Types of rural and small town accommodation
"Proper"
Hotels that are translated into Russian as "otel" are the most expensive sort founds where wealthy tourists flock to see attractions. Expect to pay western prices and be treated by personnel that has received some customer service training and thus makes an effort to hide "why don't you go elsewhere" facial expression.
Hotels that are designated as "gostinitsa" will include the entire range, from factory dormitories that will let a few off the street people in to 5-star establishments. Further, the look will not necessarily corelate with price. The Golden Ring Hotel in Vladimir, for instance, charged the same price for a room as a truck stop between Valday and Vyshny Volochek.
Warning: the above two types will often include a dance hall and casino that will be particularly noisy Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Yes, Sunday too.
Some hotels belong to institutions. Most cities will have a hotel, owned or controlled by the city hall, to receive their fellow travelling bureaucrats. These are quiet, conservative, and often somewhat overpriced, such as Zarya ("Dawn") in Tver. A factory hotel will be functional and cheap. Note hotels that belong to academic institutions. These are functional and quiet, and quite dignified in spite of theri cheapness. Most institutional hotels would not mind off-the-street people but a higher priority for them is to keep their target clientele happy, so their initial answer will often be NO, and it is up to you to convince them that you will not throw a party next door to a conference full of bearded nuclear scientists.
Budget
Camping. Look for the [tent] sign. Originally the concept was to provide the essential facilities and a pad where you put up your tent. Now there ar eno tents but these remain the cheapest of the cheap. Usually located far from major cities, where land is cheap.
Truck stops. These may be designated as "mostels" also have the [tent] sign but are identified by a lot of trucks. Cheap, good food, bathing facilities etc. The downside is that rooms will stink of cigarette smoke (but other than that truck drivers are nice and helpful guys) and there will be activity pretty much around the clock. Suitable for "soul tourism". The one between Valday and Vyshny Volochek had a notice "free shot of vodka if you buy over 150 roubles ($5) worth of food for breakfast". They are best recognized by lots neatly lined up trucks in one place. These places tend to have better availability on weekends. A good example of a truck stop on the Moscow to St. Petersburg road between Torzhok and Vyshny Volochek is "Motel Kolomno".
"Obshezhitiye" means "communal living" and means a dormitory, but some of them may, officially or otherwise, let you in. Obshezhitiye is cheap by definition. Facilities are shared, hot water may be off in the summer, but babushkas who run them are genuinely friendly and helpful. Recommended to "soul tourism" enthusiasts. An example is an obshezhitiye of the Horticulture College near [Dmitrov].
Vestiges of the Soviet era
"Baza otdykha" will often be abbreviated as "b.o."
"Turbaza", abbreviated as "t.b." Examples on this site: Sputnik between Klin and Tver
"Dom otdykha" ("d.o.")
"Sanatorium"
(See pictures from my stay in one of these in July 2005 at www.unclepasha.com/photos.htm)Young pioneer camps...
This sign designates the cheapest of the cheap. You can put up your tent but these days they will nearly always offer you the use of a cabin.
[tent sign]
Private accommodation
Peasant's huts
The technology of instantly making friends
On the street
To the best of my knowledge, it is NOT illegal to stay in bus shelters or camp at city parks. Sleeping at railroad stations is generally tolerated as you could plausibly be waiting for the train. Attics and basements of public buildings, if unlocked, are considered "public space" were you can stay, provided you don't mind the company and associated risks. See Free Accommodation page of my www.cheap-moscow.com
This sign will may indicate any type of accommodation but will usually point to something on the humbler side.
Don't mix "accommodation" with "hospital":
Not "turbaza" in Russian. Till recently "turbaza" meant "cheap". Now they are going upscale but will still not be fancy. When they do they'll call themselves something else, eg. "Country Club".
[photo of a "camp" sign]