Gauja National Park Tours and Activities

The hotel's location is its biggest advantage. It's a good choice for a short city break, as you get what you pay for. The train station and most of the main tourist attractions are within a 15-20 minute walk. However, the hotel is in desperate need of renovation. The rooms and the overall atmosphere feel like stepping back 30 years. The bed was a little squeaky, but it didn't affect my sleep. I appreciated that the room included all the basic amenities, such as toiletries, a shoe brush and shoehorn, a shower cap, a comb, soap, as well as clean towels and fresh bed linen. Overall, I wouldn't rate this hotel higher than 3 out of 5 stars. The excellent location makes up for many of its shortcomings, but if you're looking for modern facilities and comfort, this may not be the best choice.

5-Star Hotel? Only the Price Deserves 5 Stars Calling this hotel “5-star” is almost comical. The only thing that truly felt 5-star was the price. There was no bell service and no assistance with our luggage. Apparently, guests are expected to handle their own bags at this “luxury” property. Then came the real luxury experience: the air conditioning didn’t work during warm, humid weather. Our room became unbearably muggy, uncomfortable, and the air felt difficult to breathe. When we reported it, instead of apologizing or offering a solution, the front desk employee actually suggested that we cancel our reservation and find another hotel. Seriously? No room change. No upgrade. No discount. No attempt to make things right. Just: “Go somewhere else.” Quite an impressive definition of 5-star hospitality. The bathroom was another “luxury” surprise: rotting wood at the door frame, a cracked tile, and visible mold in the shower grout. Nothing says 5-star quite like mold and decay. The location is excellent—that was the main reason we chose this hotel. Unfortunately, a great location cannot compensate for poor service, neglected maintenance, and an unacceptable attitude toward guests. Broken air conditioning, no luggage assistance, mold, rotting wood, cracked tile, and a front desk telling us to leave. That is NOT 5-star hospitality. Save your money. The location may be 5-star, but the experience certainly isn’t.