AirBaltic on airlinetrends.com Top 10

Latvian-based low cost airline AirBaltic on “Top 10 most popular trends and innovation stories on airlinetrends.com in 2010” is number 6.

Why? Because AirBaltic in recent years has made a transformation from a point-to-point low-cost carrier to a hybrid network. Besides rapidly growing its network, airBaltic also established its own taxi company - BalticTAXI, and BalticBike - a bike sharing service. The airline has turned its Riga hub into a connecting point for travelers from Nordic and Northwestern Europe to the rapidly growing markets of the former Soviet Union and the Middle East. AirBaltic offers transfer its passengers (60% of customers) at Riga through ticketing and check-in, as well as 25-minute connection times, and other hybrid LCC features include a 2-class cabin, airport lounge, and a frequent flyer program.

 

Full Top 10:

1. KLM surprises passengers with little acts of kindness

2. Monocle creates the perfect airline: Nippon Nordic Air

3. Finnair goes on an upcycling spree  

4. Premium economy gains further ground on long-haul flights

5. Qantas unveils ‘next generation’ check-in for its frequent flyers

6. Entrepreneurial airBaltic extends brand to taxi and bike sharing services

7. Airlines go local with their inflight drinks

8. Airlines create innovative guarantees to ease passengers’ booking worries

9. Schiphol Airport teams up with Philips to develop ‘ambient gate’

10. Emirates, Cathay, Air NZ latest airlines to ‘crowdsource’ new products

Web: http://www.airlinetrends.com/2010/12/23/top-10-most-popular-stories-2010/

Discovery – Riga Old City Boutique Hotel

Just have discovered this cosy place – what an atmosphere there!!! And history!!! And such a beautiful view to the Old Town from there!!! And interior!!! And retro pictures on the walls!!! I have no idea how it is to live there (haven’t done it), but as a guest I felt there really good. Nice serving, smiling people... and interior... Such a nice interior...

Check out the history: the origins of the building at Teatra 10 date back to the 17th century when the successful merchant Johann Reitern built it as warehouse that quickly became known as the Elephant because of its volume and form. The entrance to the warehouse was designed as a sculptural portal with a decorative relief depicting an elephant with palm trees, rosettes and acanthus leaves. In 1909, the building was converted into a cinema called the Moulin Rouge. In the Soviet period the rooms were used as a sports complex until, in early 1990s, the building fell in. From December 2009, the fully reconstructed building began a new life as the Old City Boutique Hotel.

Pictures: Old City boutique hotel.

Web: http://www.oldcityhotel.lv/en_US/home

By the way, just heard on the radio: for New Years celebration all hotels of Riga are full.

Latvian Christmas Traditions

For Latvians Christmas is the time when all family comes together. And December 24th is peacefull Christmas Eve when families go to the church and afterwards have Cristmas meal together. Many of the Christian traditions in Latvia are intertwined with earlier pagan traditions. Christmas Eve is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, but in many families it is also a celebration of the Winter Solstice, the time  when days become longer and the nights become shorter again. We just celebrate Christmas in both ways – pagan and christian – as they both are about the light coming into life. Also on morning of the 25th of December families goes to the church. Well, usually people choose – 24th or 25th (or 26th). 

What happens with Christmas gifts? In many resources on the internet I found this: „Latvians believe that Father Christmas brings presents on each of the 12 days of Christmas starting on Christmas Eve.” I don’t know where are these strange Latvians who believe in it. I don’t know any family which does it. And actually I red it for the first time today on the internet... We receive gifts just once – 24th on evening or 25th on morning. Usually in some special moment (for example, when the family goes to the church) when nobody sees it – gifts are left under the Christmas tree. But it’s not so easy to get them: in order to get a present you have to recite a short poem while standing next to the Christmas tree! So kids before Christmas are really learning by heart a lot of poems. Well, you can also sing, play some music instrument or even dance to get your gift.

Christmas meal: by christian traditions on Christmas Eve it’s not allowed to eat meat, but Latvians are real meat lovers. So there is Christmas Eve when there have to be 9 different dishes (by pagan tradition) which do not include meat (by christian tradition). These traditions perfectly live together. You definitely have to eat boiled grey peas – if you do it, you wont have to cry the next year.

Traditional food for Christmas is grey peas with bacon, gingerbread, bacon rolls, and pork – all head of a pork on the table. Of course, we drink hot wine – German „gluhwine” is all around the world.

Other pagan traditions you will probably meet in Latvia on Christmas time involves a wooden block that is rolled around the house to drive away any evil spirits from the home. You will see it even in the Riga Old Town and for example Etnographical Open-Air museum. By the way, I think that the Etnographical Open-Air museum in Riga is the best place to get to know Latvian traditions. In the countryside people often go masquerading from one home to the next while singing and playing different games – they also do it in open-air museum. In this masquerade will also definitely come The Death. Don’t be afraid – if you are a friend of Death and especially if you dance with Death during Winter Solstice – you are not going to die the next year. 

Happy Christmas – Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus! 

Pictures:  1) Celebration at Open-Air museum with traditional head of a pork 2-3) Taditional food: bacon rolls and grey peas with bacon 4) Winter Solstice masquerade

Welcome To The Birthplace of Christmas Tree

Christmas miracle, lights and trees...

It’s just some doorsteps away from Christmas and my city is totally crazy with Christmas trees, so I just have to write here about what happened 500 years ago... The first Christmas tree was a combination of many different facts, legends and customs, but the legend tells that the city of Christmas tree is Riga. The first documented use of a tree in this celebration was in several locations in Northern Europe. The most popular of them are Latvia and Estonia. 

All the associations and organizations (and there are a lot of them!) of Christmas trees have admitted that the first Christmas tree really comes from Riga, except our neighbours in Estonia. Well, it is possible that it happened at the same time in both countries as the two Black’s Fraternities were related. Anyway, we don’t know, but there is no closest place to the first Christmas tree as Baltics and officially the first tree in Christmas was decorated in Riga in 1510. 500 years have passed and this tradition has spread all around the world!

Top 10 Hostels in Europe

Here are two tops of 10 best hostels in Europe - subjective tops made by travellers. After the top you will also find the link. I’m glad Riga is in these tops with Frendly Fun Frenks hostel. We start from 10th and go up...

 

10 ) Cardiff Backpackers Hostel - Cardiff
9 ) Flying Pig Hostel - Amsterdam

8 ) The Kabul Hostel - Barcelona

7) Ducks Hostel, Paris

6) Balmer's Herberge - Interlaken Switzerland

5) Kismet Dao Brasov - Romania

4) St. Christophers Inn - London
3) The Pink Palace - Corfu Island

2) Friendly Fun Frank’s Hostel – Riga, Latvia
1) Kadirs Tree Houses - Olympos, Turkey

 

And here it comes: Riga with Friendly Fun FranksHostel  is number 2! Author’s comments about Frenadly Fun Franks Hostel: „It is located in Riga, Latvia. People looking for an all rounder vacation, should definitely go to Latvia.  The place includes reduced prices, fantastic location and amazing social tours. One can truly enjoy themselves here. A fun fact, about this hostel, is that the hostel only employs winners of the Miss Latvia beauty pageant. The beds in the hostel are also not too expensive. The beds, in the hostel, are for about 9 Euros.”

Material from http://www.traveltowork.net/2010/12/top-10-best-european-hostels/

Another top 10 tells:

10. Foresteria Valdese – Venice, Italy

9. Cardiff Backpacker’s Hostel – Cardiff, Wales
8. Flying Pig Hostel – Amsterdam, Netherlands

7. Kabul Hostel - Barcelona, Spain

6. 3 Ducks Hostel – Paris, France

5. Balmer’s Herberge – Interlaken, Switzerland

4. Kismet Dao – Brasov, Romania

3. St. Christopher’s Inn - London, United Kingdom

2. The Pink Palace - Corfu, Greece

1) Friendly Fun Frank’s Hostel – Riga, Latvia

Author's comment: „If I was ever going to open a hostel somewhere in the world I would want to make it just like Friendly Fun Frank’s. This place has everything: great location, cheap prices, excellent local knowledge, social tours that drag you from one great nightclub to the next every night, and all in a place that is set into the walls of Old Riga’s medieval castle. Maybe it’s the 9 Euro dorm beds or maybe it’s the fact that Frank (an Australian ex-pat) only seems to employ ex-winners of the Miss Latvia beauty pageant but Frank’s is easily the best hostel in one of the best cities of the world.”

Material from http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/top-10-lists/the-top-10-hostels-in-europe/

Friendly Fun Franks Hostel voted and awarded by Hostel Customers: Number 1 for the Year 2005 + Number 6 for the Year 2006 + Top Ten Monthly Award 30 times. Picture: Friedly Fun Franks Hostel, Riga.

To Eat Or Not To Eat...

Check this out: I found some rules on the internet under the title „Professional Travel Health Advice”:

·         Don’t use unpasteurised milk, non bottled drinks , and uncooked food etc.

·         Use bottled or boiled water for cleaning your teeth and don't open your mouth and drink water in the shower.

·         Dishes containing raw or undercooked eggs, such as home-made mayonnaise, some sauces (e.g. hollandaise) and some desserts (e.g. mousses), are not a good idea.

·         Ice-cream that doesn't have a recognisable international brand name, and could be made locally, is often contaminated and could be a danger.

·         When confronted with cooked food, the holidaymaker should ensure that it has been thoroughly and freshly cooked.

·          Ice should be avoided unless made from safe water.

So, better don’t eat! Don’t wash! Don’t try any traditional food! And dangerous ice-cream... Well, I was always thinking that it’s a part of travelling...

I’m not a doctor and I can’t tell what’s better for you. My rules for travel healh would be: 1) If you know what kind of food you can’t eat, don’t eat it. 2) If you go to some exotic countries, check before – maybe you need some vaccine. 3) Keep with you some simple first aid things: a plaster, tissue-paper etc. 4) Sleep well 5) Try traditional food, but don’t get too excited by eating it, it can end up with vomiting even if you don’t feel it at the beginning, even if the food is extremally delicious (unfortunately). I had this experience with grape-leaves...6) In case of some unexpected health problems – please, look for a doctor. I mean, alternative medicine is very cool thing, but if you understand what is happening. Well, if you think your leg is broken better to go to a doctor.

There was also one very nice „professional” advice:

·         Drinks such as wine or beer, hot tea or coffee, and carbonated soft drinks or fruit juices that are bottled or otherwise packaged are usually safe to drink.

As long as you are able to see, smell, taste and understand – everything is ok with you. Enjoy!

Pictures: 1) Ice-cream - my favorite one from my childhood – made in Latvia. 2) Riga Black Balsam – made in Latvia and only in Latvia – pretty strong herbal liquer what makes it to be the best medicine in winter if you add it to your tee/coffee/hot balckcurrant juice... 3) „Green Spoon” – this symbol on food is the sign –qualitative food made in Latvia from high-quality staples.

Next time I’ll tell you some special traditional things Latvians do to keep themselves healty... Alternative methods you have to try here...

Time To Travel With Children

Long trip in a car: „Are we there yet mum? How long? When? Mum! Are we there yet mum?" Yes, it drives you mad... It might help to explain to them how long the whole trip will take by dividing the trip into sections. If you know the way you are going, add in that you are 20 minutes away from stopping at that place with the ducks and donkeys!

Choose the time for travel when they could sleep in the car. You can try leaving before sunrise and get several hours of quiet driving time before they wake up and want entertainment.

And now they want it! So, try classic car journey activity – singing!!! Maybe you can find a CD of music that everyone will enjoy! You can also try radio-productions, taped books – a wonderful way to pass the time together in the car and enjoy a book together as a family. You don’t need to buy them: borrow from your friends or a local library!

If I was a child I would really love this advice: a goodie bag for each child filled with simple cheap toys that you think can keep them amused. No, it won’t cost from you millions if you search at the cheaper isle of the toy store. It could keep them quiet and happy. Don’t give it before the trip, wait when they start: „Are we there yet mum?” You can also include there coloring books,  crosswords, sticker books, crayons etc. I guess you know better what would your children like.

Just some planning and creativeness and you can make you car ride enjoyable for the whole family. Oh, and children need variety – don’t forget it.

If you come to Riga with your children, visit LIDO recreation centre – while you will enjoy absolutely tasty Latvia food, elegant wooden interior and live Latvian music, your kids will find for them a lot of attractions, in winter there is also skating-rink. You can visit Mezhapark (Mežaparks – Forest park) with the Zoo (and animal feeding shows), kid’s railroad and modern playground. There is also the lake, so after a nice, hot summer day in the Zoo you can go to swim, before getting back to the centre of Riga. You can also enjoy white sand beach in Jurmala. Favourite indoor places to which kids usually pull their parents are Livu Aquapark in Jurmala and Go Planet complex in Riga. Actually, with kids I would advice you to go out of the city: hiking, palaces, skiing, flying in the vertical wind tunnel in Sigulda, forest with characters from fairytales in Tērvete, besides, you can book theme excursions (for example, to the airport or chocolate factory).

Pictures from Latvia: 1) Giraffes at the Riga Zoo; 2-3)Tērvete Nature Park; 4-5) LIDO recreation centre

Easy To Go, Hard To Leave

In this post you see 5 pictures – actually 5 posters from the campaign for advertising Riga in other countries last year. Ok, we see there hearts, Christmas tree, joyfull people, buildings – Opera house, Blackhead’s house... The title tells: „Easy to go, hard to leave”. And that’s all about Riga...

The Christmas tree: yes, the first Christmas tree was decorated in Riga 500 years ago. We are not claiming to be the Country of Christmas, not at all. We just put the first candles to dacorate a tree... These joyfull people in other picture, of course, are enjoying the variety of the night life in Riga. Opera house... As I wrote before – Latvians are singers and our white opera house is the place where a lot of Latvian opera singers made their first steps before singing on all famous stages... Our opera singers are highly valuated in the world, the same I could say about our choirs. What else you don’t see in these pictures – Art Noveau architecture. In spite of wars and the prints of shots in the walls of the buildings, Riga has the biggest collection of Art Noveau buildings in the world. Because of this wealth some streets are included in UNESCO world heritage.

And what is that heart??? This is the heart of the traveller... When travellers leave Riga, their hearts still stay in Riga – in their nice memories... Oh, yes, you can see here hundreds of hearts walking on the streets without owners, people just cant get them back to the train or plane... I guess, that’s the reason why so many people are returning in Riga again and again!

Basic information:

• Founded in 1201 by German bishop Albert
• The Capital of North
• The biggest city in Baltics
• Art Noveau and Medieval architecture
• The River of Destiny – Daugava
• The City of Inspiration
• Inhabitants (2008): 717 371
• And more...

Slowly, slowly... it’s not good to tell everything at once...

Searching For The Hotel... Cheap...

There is a newspaper called „Baltic Stand By” for tourism professionals. In the last one I saw this: „Guests will always search per rate and not per discount” And this is true. Sometimes you don’t see any discount offered even on the home pages of the hotels, so when booking a hotel room, make sure you ask about discounts that may be available. And there are also hotels which has the same „Special Offer!” for years...

Try shopping early for your hotel room, especially if you're planning to travel during peak season, always call in advance, rates tend to get higher as the season approaches.

Sometimes hotels will reserve a block of lower-priced rooms, available on a first come, first serve basis. Getting the best lodging deal is often based on timing and planning ahead. Don’t try to guess! Talk with them! Ask!

If it’s possible, plan your vacations on off seasons: hotel rates,  airline tickets and car rental rates are lower during this time due to lower demand, you can get as much as a 50% discount if you book a room during off season.

Some hotels give discounts to certain people like students, military contingents, senior citizens, honeymooners etc. Some hotels and even car rental companies, give "free days" if you use their services for more than a week! And sometimes, hotels provide free airport pick-up. Use it, if you have a chance! Ask your confirmation number as soo as you reserve a room.

And thanks to the biggest encyclopedia in this world called Internet you can check out photos of the property, rooms, the surrounding area and of course reviews of those who have stayed at the same hotel before you. There is nothing better than reviews!!! Of course, there are different travellers with different needs – that makes reading them interesting. But even if you don’t have any special needs and you really need just a place to sleep, check the area where you are staying – or it may cost for you more than you are planning to spend.

On October 15th 2010, the Riga Tourism Development Office spokeswoman Guna Caune informed that Riga – the capital of Latvia has been recognized as the world’s cheapest travel destination, quoting the latest study by the world’s leading hotel reservations site Hotels.com, aimed to determine the world’s five most and least expensive travel destinations.

According to the Hotels.com study, Riga’s hotels offer rooms for an average of 52 pound sterling per night. Meanwhile, the Swiss city of Geneva ranks as the world’s most expensive travel destination, as the average room rate in Geneva’s hotels is 155 pound sterling per night.

Pictures: Hotels & hostels in Riga.

Shopping Around For Your Holidays

Everybody hates „shoppers”. Again someone is just checking the prices... No chance to sell something for a shopper... And that’s good for you! It doesn’t matter what are you shopping around for – plane ticket, hotel, excursion – if the one you are talking to knows that his/her/their offer is not the best, you will feel their attitude to you. Just tell them: „I am shopping around.”

And if you are looking for the cheapest option don’t be shy to TELL THEM THE CHEAPEST PRICE YOU HAVE FOUND. It can help you to get what you want cheaper. But don’t try to lie. Usually they know what’s the approximate price – with taxes and WITHOUT TAXES. Make shure your „greatest deal ever” includes all taxes and applicable fees and is still available. Also don’t forget that every price depends on – availability, season, goverment and other authorities imposed taxes, region, quality, and being flexible with your travelling dates can really help you to find the best deals.

Don’t be afraid to USE TRAVEL AGENTS! Why? Because – they really can get for you good deals: 1) some of them can offer to you the price you can’t get anywhere else, just because of private contracts, 2) some of them will give you totally the same cheapest price you found before checking directly from the airline/hotel etc., if you trust the agent/agency – buy from them – you will also help them to earn their daily bread with getting commissions and without putting a mark-up on you, 3) they will really try to find what you want, 4) they know the secrets you don’ t know.

When you are in a trouble? Well... If you get into the hands of sales master... That’s the point where I can’ t help you and have no advice: don’t even try to cry over the phone or scream at them. There are different tactics shoppers are using and sales people know them and recognise easily – you can’t invent something new. The only one is being just nice and honest – not trying to be, not acting. Even people who are into sales have feelings. And when you get a good deal, not always there is a chance that you will get it also tomorrow. There is the guy in the movie „The Seelp of Science” who says: „Maybe yes, maybe no... Maybe rain, maybe snow...”

(If you are searching for the cheap ticket to Latvia - I hope you will get Ryanair, from other places also Lufthansa, Aeroflot, AirBaltic could be cheap).

These two pictures: Riga Central Market - the 2nd biggest market place in Europe.

Good luck!

The Land That Sings = Best Enjoyed Slowly

8 years the official logo of Latvia told that this is THE LAND THAT SINGS. And it’s totally true. Latvians really are good singers, maybe because of going to sauna or eating a lot of mushrooms, maybe it’s because of our Midsummer’s  night which is still kept full of rituals and magic, but singing is something we are proud of. We have song and dance festival once per 5 years where thousands of people are singing Latvian folk songs and the songs of Latvian composers in the same voice, where thousands of people are dancing in the same rythm. 

Now our official logo has changed and it says – BEST ENJOYED SLOWLY. No, it doesn’t mean that Latvians are slow. It’s just better for you to stay here longer and see more. For example, Riga is not only bars, pubs and clubs of the Old Town (Historical Centre), well it’s important part of Riga and I am shure you will find for yourself every kind of place to have a good entertainment specially for your taste. But you can also find here big amount of interesting museums, high quality concerts, nice churches, Art Noveau achitecture, parks, gardens... Ok, I guess you know it, I’ll try to inform you about special places here. And – it’s worth it to cross the borders of the capital city to meet wonderfull things you will find only in Latvia – blue cows, flying people... No, I am not joking.

There is a song of our most famous band „Brainstorm” – „Welcome to my country” – full of peace and harmony the countryside and small towns in Latvia can give to you. There is white sand beaches, castles, manors and palaces, but what I love the most (and I defenitely advice to try is) Latvian sauna. There is no better spa, massage or any other more enjoyable procedure for your health and beauty. Don’t miss going to Latvian Sauna in the countryside! It’s something great and there is nothing more I personally miss the most if I haven’t been in a countryside or even in my country for longer time. Relax, take all the flowers and leafs with you into the sauna to get powers from them, use honey and salt, jump into the pound, river or lake and get back to sauna again. You will never feel cleaner, lighter and more relaxed than after sauna. I guess Latvia is really best enjoyed slowly.

What about Riga? It’s THE CITY OF INSPIRATION! 

Who is your friend and why?

Hello, dear traveller!

I guess you have an interest about travelling or my home country -  Latvia! Maybe even both of them. You are totally right – I love the Capital of Latvia - Riga and I’ll be happy if one day you will visit it. I could talk and talk about toursim, culture, entertainment, nice places and my Riga. Most of the time you can meet me there. But I also love the countryside and small towns of Latvia.

Tourism and travelling is something great and all these agencies are doing really good job! They will give you your tickets, they will offer to you interesting excursions with professional guides, and you will get the best hotel with great view through your window. Every agency will try to convince you that they have what you need, they will give you perfectly planned route which hundreds of tourists have checked before you. But if you want to feel the country, to taste it and understand you need simple local people: they will show you not only the most beautiful places, but they will help you to find what you want. You will get individual attitude and honest story about the place.

This blog is about travelling, tourism, Latvia, Riga. Here you will find travel tips, interesting places to visit in my country, events in Riga, possibilities, opportunities and just the things me and my friends have discovered about the world of travelling etc.   You are welcome to contact me if you are planning to visit Riga or any other place in Latvia, I would also be glad to know your opinion if you have been here before and if you allow me to do it, I can publish it here. If you have questions, I can try to find the answers. If wont be able to find the answer you need, my friends will come to help.

It doesn’ t matter you are coming alone, with a bunch of friends or with your family, I’ll be glad to meet you here. Mostly you can find me in Riga and if you want me to be your personal Riga city guide when you are here, I will accept from you some bakshees, tee money or call it however you want and it’s only your choice – how much. This is not a business. You are welcome to torture me with questions on which I probobly even don’t have answers right now, you are also welcome to inform me about your interests and I’ll help you to find what you are searching for. And again, if I will not be able to do it on my own, my friends will come to help. If we will need another guide for your tour in Riga – we are the team who can help you. If you are a friend of German language it also wont be a problem. Just let me know what are you searching for!

I can’t promise that I’ll be available anytime you want, I am not a professional guide, I don’t have a huge knowledge of history. But if you want to come to my country, feel free to contact me. Maybe I’ll be able to help you. I love the place where I am. I will be glad to know – you are coming to Latvia. Or just enjoy this blog! 

Best wishes,
Your Friend in Riga
friendinriga@gmail.com

(Just in case if you want to know who am I (you can also skip this part): I am young and Latvian. I have been studying culture management and it’s just an accident that I got involved into the toursim business. I have been projects manager, director of some festivals, manger of the hotel, manager of the tourism internet portal, I have been „Personal Travel Agent”. I have seen how different travel agencies are working. Well, I have also played different roles of animals for children birthdays and I don’t mind to cut invitations, decorations and other papers for hours and hours. I have been street musician and who knows what I’ll do tomorrow... And doing long term voluntary work abroad helped me to see my country and opportunites Latvia gives with other eyes. I love Latvia. I love Riga.)