Riga Rooster

There are many new small hotels springing up all over Riga. Some are not perhaps in the most desirable locations.

As the old saying goes - Let the Buyer Beware !

One local newspaper just issued a strong statement on a new hotel South of the Central Market. A couple of days later a different newspaper issued a glowing report on the same hotel ... whimmm just wondering... yea ...

This Rooster is simply chicken when it feels the heat of the Sicilian BBQ ... so we have decided to change the wording of this POST to be as neutral as possible but still send a message of beware about of the location before you choose your hotel. 

Better to be safe than suffer the fate of the infamous DoDo bird.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo


During the day some of these locations may be quite safe and even large shopping centers are located closeby. However after sundown and with a few too many drinks in my tummy (not thinking too fast and clear) I might be a little more worried about some of the areas outside of the central city center. 

Riding public transport can risk having your pocket picked during daylight hours; but the riders of the trams at these later hours may not be the knd of people you would want to invite into your home. This worrys me some too. So a taxi is probably recommend over a late might Tram or bus ride and for sure I would not be walking in some of these locations by myself late at night. 

There are many possible hotels in this category and I won't name them as I don't believe it is my place to do so. So as a visitor, consider the location carefully and ask a lot of questions. 

So the 100 Ls question (US$200) is do you risk something happening to save 100 Ls on a 3 night stay? Subtract 30 Ls of potential taxi fares during your stay and you are down to a 70 Ls savings over walking to a central city center hotel at a higher price.  (30 Ls for taxis  is 10  trips at 3 Ls per trip - that's 3+ trips a day for 3 days)

Oh yea, almost forgot to mention, some hotel owners have made special arrangements with taxi companies for special fares from the hotel to popular locations around the city. There is just on simple problem with these relationships and that is the GREED on the part of those involved in calling for the taxi for the client. Sometimes a different taxi company is called than the one which should be and someimes the extra fare charged to the client is shared with the person that called the taxi. 

Oh yea, another issue is how do you get back to the hotel without paying the special much higher fare of the taxi driver hailed on the local street corner  .. it's know to happen around these parts.

... be careful is all we are saying

From StandBy News - 14 May 2007, www.standbynews.info


Prices at hotels and restaurants in Latvia up 42% since April 2004

According to the Latvian Central Statistical Bureau, the services of hotels and restaurants in April were 17.5% more expensive on average compared to April 2006. Since Latvia joined the European Union, the prices for catering and hotel services have climbed rapidly – compared to April 2004, prices have increased by 42%.

Dienas Bizness, 2007-05-11

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Annual inflation in April at 8.9% from: http://www.leta.lv

RIGA, May 10 (LETA) - Inflation in Latvia keeps rising: in April, compared to April 2006, consumer prices increased 8.9 percent, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's data.

Prices for goods grew 7.5 percent in April, and prices for services 12.7 percent.

Compared to this past March, average consumer price level in April rose 0.9 percent. Prices for both goods and services increased 0.9 percent.

Higher prices for vegetables, fuel and catering services, increased water supply tariffs had the greatest effect on consumer price changes in April.

As reported, last year consumer prices in Latvia grew 6.8 percent: prices for services increased 6.4 percent and prices for goods grew 7.9 percent. Inflation in 2005 totaled 7 percent.

Žanete Hāka LETA

more news: http://www.latviatravel.info/news/