HotelChatter

Tags: Odd Hotels / Baltic Hotels / Valentine's Day Hotels / → All Tags

This Baltic Beach Hotel Is For Real and In the Mood for Love

Where: 23/25 Juras Str, Majori, Jurmala , Latvia, 2015

All Latvians know that the place to have a seaside holiday is the resort town of Jurmala, stretching along the coast just half an hour away from the capital, Riga. Even Brezhnev and Khrushchev thought it was the place to be, back in the day.

Our pick for a cool place to stay on the Latvian coast is the architecturally challenging Baltic Beach Hotel, not least of all because it looks like it could topple over at any second. In fact, we weren't even quite sure if it was still open. Yet it's been standing long enough now that we feel pretty comfortable with the construction so perhaps we could be brave enough to request a room smack bang in the middle of that overhanging bit.

Recent guests to the Baltic Beach Hotel have a lot of mixed opinions on the place. Some name it a relaxing spa hotel, and one of the few in the Jurmala region to be right on the beach; others complain that there are barely any sea views, and that service is stuck back in the Soviet era.

We still think it's unique enough to deserve at least a short stay--perhaps the "Cupidon's Touch" package, with the Valentine's Day season starting up? For 99 Lats ($180), "Cupidon" gives you one night in a sea view room, breakfast, a spa program and best of all, a "Romantic date with surprise in Spa café Angels Garden." We're itching to know what the surprise is.

[Photo: liber]

Tags: Cubicle Dreamin' / Baltic Hotels / → All Tags

Cubicle Dreamin': Mulled Wine and Christmas Markets in Latvia

Where: Pils Iela 12, Riga, Latvia, 1050

Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.

In this episode, Hotel Maven Amanda K visits Latvia...in her mind. Enjoy.

In the Latvian capital of Riga, a very special Christmas market will run right through until December 27. Given my firm adoration of European Christmas markets, then a good choice will be a grand hotel situated right next to the markets, like the Grand Palace Hotel Riga.

As well as winning awards as Latvia's leading hotel from 2003 to 2007, the Grand Palace Hotel in Riga has just the right charm to make it a great Christmas destination. I quite like the sound of the Winter Saver Package they're currently offering which includes three nights' accommodation in a deluxe room, airport transfers, a three-course dinner in their restaurant, and for the perfect Christmas spirit, hot mulled wine from the Pils Bar--this package will cost US$630. Perhaps that'll be my Christmas present for myself.

Related Stories:
· Which Christmas Market Has Witches? [Jaunted]
· Hotels in Riga [HotelChatter]
· Travel Stories in Riga [HotelChatter]

Tags: Hotels / → All Tags

Goin' Baltic

Where: 83/85 Elizabetes Street, Riga, Latvia, LV-1050

Lately, it seems, we are on a quest to find the perfect Eastern European hotel. Well, if we are searching for destination hotels east of Berlin, it is time to throw Riga's Hotel Bergs in the mix.

Hotel Bergs is an apartment style hotel located in the cities hip cultural quarter. In this section you will find quaint little squares, patisseries, arthouse cinemas, bars, restaurants, and you know, everything that screams text book culture.

The property is two converted private houses with 38 apartment style suites, some of which are lofts and penthouses. As a matter of fact it might be "easy to mistake any of our and suites for a stylish apartment in New York City, London or Rome," oh god, no, we will not go down the road of Wynn hyperbole here.

In any event, the rooms are huge, recent visitors have raved about the breakfast, there is WiFi available, and this is one of the few design hotels in all of Latvia--what more do you want people?

Related Stories:
·   Hotel Bergs 2004 Hot List [Condé Nast Traveler]
·   Hotel Bergs Reviews [TripAdvisor]

Tags: Hotels / → All Tags

Latvian Prison For A Night Anyone?

Where: Invalidu Street 4, Karosta, Latvia, LV-3401

Are you looking for a deviant hotel?

The Latvian Prison, Karostas Cietums offers "extreme tourists" the opportunity to play the role of prisoner for the night.

It will cost you 5Ls for the night, and you need a group of at least 15 people, but once you fill these requirements your Latvian prison cell awaits.

According to the prison website:

It is good to know that there is only cold water in the Karosta prison and that the WC is made in a real Soviet prison toilet style.

Oh yeah, and there is a "special opportunity" for schoolkids, "an opportunity to stay overnight on real prisoners' benches and mattresses."

Related Stories:
·   Night In Prison [Karostas Cietums]
·   Take These Trips.  Not. [New Haven Register]