Riga.

Advantages: Cheap, friendly place to visit, interesting architecture.
Disadvantages: Might not last too long in its current state. Freezing cold in winter.

...Latvia is not somewhere that would immediately spring to mind when deciding on a city break, but when we researched a possible weekend away for between four and six people (all male) within our budget (£200), there was no clear cut winner. Riga, Berlin, Prague and Barcelona were all able to offer a flight/hotel combination for within that. Riga was decided on by vote, purely for the reason that it was only really opening up as a destination and had that 'kudos' factor that all new things seem to have. Most of our group flew out of Dublin with Ryanair, though there are other routes available from England and one of our party flew with Ryanair out of Stansted. Flights will obviously vary in price, depending on who you're flying with, when you're flying and how far in advance you book. Booking tickets with Ryanair at Christmas for an end...

TheDuke 10.03.2006 · Read review
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Review of Riga (Latvia)

Albert Hotel-a great place to be!

Advantages: Quiet area
Disadvantages: none

...We stayed here at the Albert for 3 nights at the end of Feb. We flew with Air Baltic for £41.70 each including tax! My daughter and I arrived late at night at the Albert ....they had granted my request for a high,non smoking, room with a view of Old Town! We could see all the tops of the steeples across Riga and the Art Nouveau style buildings. We were exceptionally pleased with our room. Alot of bright lighting available in the rooms but with low lights for night..very cosy. It was meticulously clean with very comfy beds and crisp sheets. They had fabulous under floor heating in the bathroom too. The shower was the best power shower I've ever used! The maid service was great....they even folded my daughters pyjamas and put under her pillow each day! Infact the cleaners were always cleaning the hotel foyer entrance...

Misshampshire 31.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Albert Hotel, Riga

The Scruffy Shoe Diaries EAGER FOR RIGA

Advantages: Architecture, history, market
Disadvantages: Technical University, too many bridges

.... Although for some reason you couldn't take photographs indoors. Go figure? One things for sure, there's plenty of good eating going on in Riga - whether your average Rigan could afford it though, I couldn't say. >> WELCOME TO THE HOTEL MAFIOSO The aged old crone sat at the desk eyed us quizzically as we entered the supposed accommodation block of the Technical University. She spoke no English. We gesticulated enthusiastically. She eyed us like we were morons. We felt like morons. There were no rooms. Not for us Lebanese scum any way. We left. "Where's the Tram, Ade? We're going back over the river." Some hours later, our final destination turned out to be Hotel Mafioso (real name: Hotel Kia). It featured copious guards who were dressed in black and carrying worryingly efficient and spectacularly deadly looking sidearms. They glowered...

Paiceyjohn 19.03.2001 (08.05.2002) · Read review
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Review of Riga (Latvia)

The Dogs of Riga- Wallander is back

Advantages: Good storyline and interesting facts about Latvia demonstrated
Disadvantages: Not much suspence or tension created compared to other works by Mankell

...The Dogs of Riga (Hundarna i Riga) is the second book out of nine in the Kurt Wallander detective series by Henning Mankell. This crime novel series follows investigations led by Inspector Kurt Wallander of the Ystad police department, which is a small town near Malmo in the southern area of Sweden, Skåne. *About the Author* Henning Mankell is a Swedish author, who was born in Stockholm in 1948. His works include another 8 books in the Kurt Wallander series, which are translated from the original language of Swedish into a total of 19 other languages including English. His previous jobs include acting and theatre directing. *About the Book* In this action packed sequel to the gripping "Faceless Killers", Kurt Wallander is back with yet another mystery to solve. The Ystad police department receive a phone call revealing...

emzipops86 02.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of The Dogs of Riga - Henning Mankell

Riga, the next best weekend retreat?

Advantages: The old town central to accomodation and airport.
Disadvantages: Bars a little too expensive and can be a little too laid back.

...Return flights from Gatwick to Riga = £135, but can be cheaper when bought at last minute. We decided to stay in Riga's old town for a few days before moving on to Russia. The Currency; very easy to deal with, Lats, which one Lat is about equal to the sum of one Pound, makes it easy to keep track of your money and there are also plenty of places to exchange currency. Prices; our accomodation was £7 per night, we stayed in the Dome Hostel, a reasonable, clean place to reside, with a selection of mixed, or single sex dorms, however no en suites. Free water is provided, free internet and free television. The accomodation is right next to the old square and on the main street for nightlife, which can be a little noisy but is bearable. Nightlife, bars, resturants; reasonable but by far not the cheapest, aim to pay about £3 per...

dinkydyke 07.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Riga (Latvia)

Hotel International

Advantages: Location, breakfasts
Disadvantages: Poor rooms

...I recently went on a cultural girlie trip with a friend to Paris. I was left to do all the booking. I was looking for a reasonable hotel, near a metro stop, which included breakfast. I came across the Hotel International on various travel sites and it seemed fairly highly rated so I booked us in for three nights. LOCATION: The hotel is located 6 Rue Auguste Barbier in the 11th Arrondissement. The nearest Metro stop is Garcourt which was a two minute walk away and it was a five minute walk to Republique which gives good links to other lines. It's not really central enough to avoid the Metro and walk to the attractions but it was located so close to a stop that it seemed ideal. PRICE: Prices vary depending on size of room and season. There are singles, doubles and triples available. We paid Euro254 for the whole time...

tartlette83 17.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hotel International, Paris

Norbreck Castle Hotel

Advantages: Out of the town
Disadvantages: Too many people!

...I'm glad that I did not get to read any of the reviews before I went to this hotel, or see the Holidays from Hell programme the night before! The hotel can be found along the seafront, about three miles from the main centre of Blackpool, heading out towards Fleetwood. It is now under the Britannia hotels group and it is easily accessible by tram and bus. We used the trams the whole time instead of me driving all the time. My husband, my two youngest children and myself went last week for a couple of nights, after finding an advert which gave a special price of £35 per person dinner bed and breakfast per night. The two children were included free of charge, including their meals. The advert did state that the hotel was ungoing a £7million pound upgrade, and that some services may not be available. This did not deter us as we...

sarah110 18.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool

hotel olsanka

Advantages: Cheap and cheerful
Disadvantages: Not so easy to access the town centre of prague.

...hotel olsanka prague Having been to prague recently and having stayed at this particular accomodation a few years ago, I was keen to give this place one final chance as I had had a really rubbish stay at this place. Similarly to my previous stay, I had notice that the Hotel seems to be advertised much cheaper on accomodation websites compared to near enough all other places to stay in prague. getting to the accomodation The details of getting to prague town centre are covered in my previous prague accomodation review, and whilst this accomodation is not as easy to get to location wise, a tram journey needed to get the accomodation from one of the central location's of prague town centre. booking process I booked this accomodation using a third party reservation booking website and paid around seventy euros...

costas1234 02.12.2008 (31.05.2009) · Read review
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Review of Hotel Olsanka, Prague

Great hotel

Advantages: lovely rooms, nice food and fab facilities
Disadvantages: none really

...I recently stayed overnight at the chine hotel in Bournemouth whilst in the area for a friends wedding. It is currently rated as a three star hotel, but I cannot for the life of me see why as I found it to be of at least four star standard. There are 86 rooms, all of which incorporate an en suite bathroom and are decorated to a decent standard. All rooms include a hair dryer, trouser press, direct dial telephone, satellite television (selected channels only) and the complementary tray of tea, coffee and biscuits. There are four types of rooms available in relation to the view they offer the guests. The basic room is an inland room, then there is a garden facing room and finally the sea views and sea views with balcony (the prices are slightly higher for these). The hotel has a fantastic restaurant which serves breakfast...

beanie8844 12.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Best Western Chine Hotel, Bournemouth

sachas hotel

Advantages: good price,great location
Disadvantages: no window

...****Sachas hotel- Manchester**** I booked this hotel last minute as i had a job interview in Manchester and needed somewhere quite cheap ,that was also near the centre. **Location/Getting there** This hotel is located in Tibb street which is a 2 minute walk from Piccadily Gardens or 10 minutes away from Chorlton street bus station.The Train station is a little bit further away say maybe a twenty minute walk but i don't think that this is that bad .You can also get a tram from Piccadily gardens and this goes to quite a few places.You could also get a taxi to the hotel but i am not sure what parking is like if you were to take your own car. **Reception/staff** Since i had never been to Manchester before i phoned and asked the staff for directions -they were very nice and helped me out.When i got there i think i got the same...

katie22008m 04.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Britannia Sachas Hotel, Manchester