After my trip to my first Baltic state which is Lithuania, I headed on a 4-hour bus ride to my 97th country which is Latvia. One of the best things I love about Europe is that you can go from one country to another without having to spend so much time in transit.

Upon arriving in Riga, the capital of Latvia, I headed straight to my hotel which is Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel Latvia where I was greeted by the Hotel General Manager and Mr. Artjoms (who arranged my stay). When I arrived in my suite, I was surprised by a bottle of wine, one plate full of fruits and desserts, I am traveling solo, so it’s all for me! Ha!

I think Jonathan would love this place but since I’m my own, I have to look for the best spot for solo traveler. I’ve always been a solo traveler until I met Jonathan so I’m kind of used to it (I actually enjoy it most of the time). You notice little things that you don’t often see when you’re with someone. On my first night, I went out to eat and drink cider at Folksclub Ala Pagrab and I had fun! But sometimes, it’s really nice to have someone to keep you company– good thing that on the next day I met Mevina and Alona, they are locals who showed me around town. We went up the tower of St. Peter’s Church, Opera house (I was initially planning to watch a show but the ticket was sold out), and of course, the Christmas Market ♡

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AT RADISSON BLU DAUGAVA

Radisson Blu is a promising name. The name itself carries the promise of excellent service, beautiful rooms, superb location, and delectable cuisine. But here are some things I noticed which would make you want to book this hotel in Riga, Latvia.

1) It’s only 1 kilometer from the Old Town- It is adjacent to Riga’s Old Town where guests can visit key historical sites such as the Blackheads House, Riga Dome Cathedral, Art Museum “Riga Bourse” and Presidential Castle. Though it’s located across the bridge, it’s still a 5 minute drive (without traffic) to the City centre. But worry not, the hotel provides complimentary taxi!

2) It is strategically located- It is only 15-minutes from the airport and within a walking distance from embassies and key business destinations. Perfect for business travelers and tourists alike!

3) It has a picturesque riverside setting- The hotel lies on the banks of the beautiful Daugava River with a view of the Old Town so make sure to get you have enough memory in your phone! :p

4) The breakfast buffet is excellent- I’m not sure, but I think Radisson Blu offers their signature Super Buffet Breakfast in each of their hotels. Love the smoked salmon! It’s the perfect way to start your day!

THE ROOMS AT RADISSON BLU DAUGAVA

The hotel features 354 rooms and suites featuring cozy Scandinavian design and thoughtful amenities. As one of the largest accommodations in the city, they have 97 Standard Rooms, 171 Superior Rooms, 47 Business Class Rooms, 14 Family Rooms, 7 Junior Suites, 13 One Bedroom Suites, 4 Two-Bedroom Suites and a Presidential Suite.

I have all the things I need in my room– aircon, bathroom, flat screen tv with cable, toilet complete with toiletries, blower, and towels, heater, telephone, minibar, electric kettle, closet, free wifi connection and a plate of yummy desserts! The room is spacious, and the windows are big enough to let natural light illuminate the place and to give a complete view of the Old Town. My room was on the 9th floor, and the view is even more stunning at night!

THE FOOD

Radisson Blu’s Super Breakfast Buffet is beyond excellent– you’ll know from every bite that it is made only from the freshest and high-quality ingredients, so I’m sure everything else they serve in this hotel is!

Panorama Restaurant- This restaurant offers a unique view over the Old Town and Daugava River. Enjoy your the Super Buffet Breakfast while watching the sun rising over the rooftops of Old Riga. For lunch and dinner, they have an international a la carte menu which incorporates local products and flavors. All of this is complemented by the restaurant’s special promotions, business lunch menu as well as special offers for lunch and dinner.

Panorama Restaurant is also the best place in Riga to watch the fireworks during the city’s festivals and celebrations. Complimentary parking during the visit to Panorama Restaurant is also provided to the guests.

Lobby Bar- This is the perfect spot to meet with friends or colleagues over a cup of fresh coffee. You can order a pastry or choose from a variety of light dishes. They have cozy seating areas and televisions where you can watch your favorite show too.

THE FACILITIES

Health and Fitness Centre- Traveling is not a reason to slack off with your workout. With their top-of-the-class equipment, you’ll be motivated to lose that extra pound! They have a 24-meter indoor swimming pool and a sauna– perfect way to end your workout.

Beauty Shop Aleksandra- Pamper yourself with their detoxifying body wraps, manicure, pedicure, and a variety of other treatments. They only use the high-end Sothys and Biologique Recherche products, so you look and feel your best.

Onsite Parking- Finding a parking slot in Riga can be challenging. Good thing the Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel offers on-site parking for its guests on the east side of the hotel building for a reasonable fee. There’s an electronic gate and camera surveillance system, so rest assured that your car is safe. It has 114 spaces for cars and 5 for buses.

Meeting Rooms- There are 13 meeting rooms which can be combined and partitioned to suit a variety of events. The largest space can accommodate up to 320 guests, and pre-function areas feature floor-to-ceiling windows which give each and everyone a view of the eye-catching vistas of the Old City and Daugava River. Translation services, music, and special lighting may also be requested.

AREA GUIDE – OLD TOWN RIGA

Staying here is such a relief for a traveler like me as public transport is very accessible– The Riga Passenger Terminal which serves passenger traffic by sea and the Central Train Station are located 2.9 km. from the hotel. The Central Bus Station, on the other hand, is only 2.5 km. Away.

National Library of Latvia– For book lovers out there, this haven is only 500 meters away from the hotel! It contains a great collection of national literature which embraces all branches of science.

Riga Russian Theatre– Established in 1883, this is the oldest Russian theater in the world outside Russia, putting on Russian, Latvian and world classics, as well as young playwright’s works.

Art Nouveau District- Riga is the Art Nouveau capital of Europe and this architecturally astonishing district is one of the reasons that downtown Riga is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Riga Old Town– The historical center of Riga and city’s most popular area. Walk around, and you’ll see beautiful churches and architecture including the Town Hall Square, Victory Park, House of Blackheads, St. Peter’s Church, Riga Castle, Freedom Monument, Latvian Academy of Sciences and Observation Deck, and the Riga Dome Square & Cathedral. (All of this is less than 2.2 kilometers away! Wow!)

Riga Central Market- When Riga was opened in 1930, it was Europe’s largest market and bazaar. It still stands to be one of the most notable structures from 20th century in Latvia. Get local goodies from here and you’ll never go wrong! Joining a guided tour could also be a good way to spend your day 🙂

FAQ: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RADISSON BLU DAUGAVA

1. How much is the room rates at Radisson Blu Daugava?

Check the latest room rates at the Hotel’s Website, Agoda, Booking.com, Tripadvisor, Expedia, Hotelscombined, and Hotels.com.

2. What is the check-in and check-out time?

Check-in time is 3:00 PM and check-out time is 12:00 PM.

3. Is there Wi-Fi?

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available– and it’s super fast!

4. Is smoking allowed?

No.

5. Are pets allowed?

Pets are allowed but subject to additional charges.

6 Are children free of charge?

One child under 12 y/o stays free of charge when they use existing beds. One child under 3 y/o also stays free of charge when they are in a crib. Any other extra pax not mentioned is charged EUR 40/person/night in an extra bed. Be it noted that you can only have 1 extra bed/cot/crib in a room. This is available upon request and needs confirmation from the management.

7. Is parking space available?

Yes for a very minimal fee of EUR 24/night.

8. How much is the fee for breakfast?

More or less EUR 15/person.

NOTE: My stay at Radisson Blu Daugava was sponsored but rest assured that my opinion cannot be bought and are all based on my honest personal experience 🙂

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