5 things to see in Bratislava

Europe Trips & Tricks

So you have decided to visit Bratislava but you don’t have the time or the patience to google it all up? No problem, I have done it for you (you can thank me in a comment 😉 ). In this post you can find 5 things to see in Bratislava, and in this link you can catch up on other basic information about the city, such as when is the best time to visit, which hotel to book and other handy stuff.

1. Old town

This is so cliché, I know. But Bratislava old town is indeed something that has to be considered as a whole. I can’t even begin to describe how cute and easy going it is. Starting from the iconic St Michael’s gate, which leads to lively Michal street, minding your step not to stumble over Cumil (a worker statue sticking out of a manhole), say cheese to silver Schone Nazi guy, pass by Maximillian’s Fountain and the Primatial Palace all the way to the instafamous Blue church – a kitchy Art Nouveau style beauty – while enjoying the refreshing water mist spraying gently from steel constructions on your way. And don’t worry, you practically won’t need a map – there will be lots of interesting and photogenic buildings and squares waiting for you behind every corner. Just make sure you take your time for lunch or dinner – Bratislava is crowded with fantastic restaurants, offering both local and foreign cuisine. And all of them are yummy!

2. Bratislava castle

Bratislava castle is nestled on the hill overlooking the Danube and the New Bridge. It has a very nice viewing platform which you can enter for free and make some nice shots of the old town and the river. Dogs are not allowed in the castle, so if you are taking your hairy friend with you, keep that in mind. We weren’t too disappointed because the stroll up the hill and around the castle and the views were really nice. We spent around one hour there (bought a magnet from a hippie, yay) and walked back along the old city wall from where you can also catch a nice photo of the bridge.

3. Slavin

This memorial monument and military cemetery, dedicated to the fallen Soviet soldiers during the World War II is located on a hill above the castle and thus offers beautiful views of Bratislava. Slavin is also a very nice and quiet place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city – lots of people come up there jogging or just for a stroll to enjoy in the tranquility of the monument. You can reach the hill by car and easily park up there, or you can get the trolley bus Nr. 203 or 207 and get off Budkova stop – from there you will have to walk a bit but you’ll enjoy the views at the same time so that shouldn’t be too big of a headache.

 

4. Danube river walk with Eurovea

On the prime riverside, a few minutes’ walk from the historical center, lies Eurovea – Bratislava’s most popular shopping mall. Eurovea is not only popular for shopping but also for many nice bars and restaurants, nestled along the Danube, overlooking the river and two bridges. About one kilometer long green promenade is a fantastic opportunity for a nice romantic stroll – have a sit on the grass or on one of the benches and blend in with the locals.  Eurovea has become a commercial heart of the city and a popular social spot as a counterweight to Bratislava’s old town. This one is definitely my favorite place in town.

5. Kamzik TV tower and UFO

For more glamorous views you will want to visit either UFO or Kamzik TV tower. UFO is a viewing tower with a restaurant in a shape of flying saucer, located in the end of New Bridge, overlooking the Danube river, Bratislava castle and much more – from the platform you can enjoy 360 degrees views of the city. The lift to the top costs 6,50 € but if you decide to eat in the restaurant, this fee is deducted from the bill. The story is similar with Kamzik TV tower, but this one is located on the hill and is the second highest point of Bratislava. If you are lucky enough to have a good weather when being up there, you can actually see Austria, Hungary and Czech Republic. To enter the TV tower you will need a reservation for the bar or the restaurant, so do your homework.

Accommodation tips: If you want to book a hotel in Bratislava, check Booking.com and click here to get a 15€ off your next booking. You can read review of Lindner Gallery Central hotel here. If you are more comfortable being hosted by locals, you can try with Airbnb – through this link you will get a 30€ (or $36) travel credit if you sign up and book with Airbnb.

You can see the rest of my photos from Bratislava in my Facebook album. What are your favorite places there? Have I missed something out? Scroll down and write it down in a comment 😉

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Hotel review: Lindner Gallery Central (Bratislava, Slovak Republic)

Europe Hotel reviews

There are two things that are very important to me when I visit a city for the first time: planning the weather and choosing the right hotel. Being an experienced traveler, I have learned to manage both 😉 Bratislava was our second option for a short weekend escape (due to the bad weather our motorbike ride to Dolomites was off), and since we couldn’t find anyone to babysit our dog (august really sucks when it comes to finding a nanny), we had to find a pet friendly hotel as close to the city center as possible. After I had read that dogs are welcome in Bratislava public transport, I decided to book Lindner hotel Gallery Central, which is not directly in the center but has very good reviews and all the perks that I need: high floors and rooms with views, non-smoking rooms, pets allowed, wonderful breakfast, free wi-fi, good transport connections, restaurants and shops within the walking distance and parking garage. Yes, Lindner Gallery Central in Bratislava has it all!

Location

The hotel is situated literally on the roof of the shopping center “Central”, less than 10 minutes’ bus drive to the old town. The bus station Trnavske myto is just around the corner (I promise), and the connections are very good: you can take Tram nr. 2, 4, 8 or 9 and exit after 3 or 4 stops. Although the public transport is quite cheap (0,70€ per ride), we decided to take a walk back to the hotel one evening (to digest awesome food and wine in one of the restaurants in the center) and with lots of laughing and not minding the time too much, I believe it took us around 20 or 25 minutes. As I already mentioned, Lindner Gallery Central has a parking garage within the shopping center and this one is a bit tricky: you need to go all the way down to the 3rd floor (the lowest) and follow the hotel directions (well marked, though) to park as close to the hotel elevator as possible. The parking fee is 20€ per day, which is not cheap but it is a far better option than having no parking space at all (if you stay in the old town).

The rooms

We booked a business room in the highest floor (12th) and got a fantastic panoramic view of Bratislava castle. The photo which is included in this review shows that it is quite possible to take an awesome shot even with windows closed – they were impeccably clean. The room itself was not very big, but enough for what we needed. One thing I didn’t pay attention to when booking (yes, I am human too) was the carpeted floor which could be a problem for my allergies. Fortunately the room was very clean and I had no problems. A fun part was the bathroom – the glass doors are made to open one side and close the other, so I got a mini heart attack when I couldn’t find the toilett 😀 It was behind the doors which I thought was a glass wall. But don’t mind me, I am blonde and it was a good laugh. The rooms include a mini bar and complimentary tea/coffee, which is always a nice and helpful gesture.

Restaurants

Breakfast choice was absolutely fantastic. I am a healthy eater and I appreciate a variety of fruit and wholegrain choices, but this was more than I could wish for. Teas, fruits, yogurts, all kinds of healthy bread choices, muesli, as well as a rich choice of very good salami, cheese, dressings and vegetables – really high five to the hotel! The restaurant is very spacious and it has a terrace, but it is located on the 3rd floor so the views are not as fantastic as upstairs. But it doesn’t end here – you CAN enjoy your food or drink with a great view if you book a table at the restaurant on the top (13th floor). Panoramic view spreads even further than in the room, and the atmosphere is very cozy. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed up there, so we only enjoyed a quick drink while our beast was resting in the room.

The reception and staff

I loved the fact that they serve complimentary water in the lobby (and if you are lucky you can also get an apple 🙂 ), as it can get crowded during the peak hours. The reason for queue is usually the guests asking about this and that… and the staff really tries to do their best to indulge. Kindness takes time, what can you do 😉 The reception is very spacious and I saw that the hotel also offers meeting rooms, which is very convenient if you are traveling on business.

Anda’s rate: 9,5 from 10

Bottom line: There is absolutely nothing to hold against Lindner Gallery Central hotel, and I can recommend it to random tourists, business travelers and all who appreciate sustainability (the hotel operates with high efforts to act environmentally friendly). The -0,5 point goes to a quite high pet fee, but if you have a small dog, you can ask nicely when you make a reservation (like I did) and I am sure something can be arranged 😉

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5 places to visit in Latvia

Europe Trips & Tricks

After having seen so many wonderful places in Lithuania I was beginning to regret that we didn’t have more time for our Baltic road trip. But with some good research, careful planning and sticking to our travel priorities, I believe we somehow managed to make the most of it. The next on our list was Latvia, a country with a population of little less than 2 million people and capital Riga, which should definitely be on every traveler’s bucket list. If you like our travel style (seeing the capital, some coast, a few historical places and enjoy the local food), you might want to consider these 5 places to visit in Latvia.

 

1. Liepaja

Latvia has over 500 km of coast which means that tons of (mostly sandy) beaches are waiting for you. All of them are open to public, so you can literally choose from busy coastal towns like Liepaja and Jurmala, to having the beach to yourself – butt naked. We decided to go for Liepaja, which fitted better into our road trip schedule and it was a great decision to make. Set on the west coast, less than 100 km north from Lithuania’s charming Klaipeda (see 5 things to do in Lithuania here), Liepaja is a port city with an interesting mixture of art nouveau buildings, historic churches and remaining of Soviet military legacy. Besides enjoying Liepaja’s beautiful Blue Flag sandy beach and delicious local food, you can catch the annual Summer Sound festival (a weekend of pop music and parties on the beach) or spend a night in Karosta Prison hotel.

Travel tips: While in Liepaja, you should definitely taste Liepaja’s mencini, a popular local dish, prepared by using an old-fashioned country cooking recipe – potatoes, smoked cod and onions in a hot pot. Flush it with one of the refreshing local beers, yummy!

2. Kuldiga and Ventas Rumba

A cute little town where time seems to have stopped decades ago is an ideal destination for those who want to experience the tranquility among historic buildings, surrounded by green parks and Venta river. With a mixture of Baroque buildings, timber houses, a couple of really nice churches and atmospheric cobblestone streets, Kuldiga is a candidate for UNESCO world heritage listing. Crossing my fingers here for you girl! And just a few minutes’ walk from the old town center, across a charming 19th century brick bridge, you can find Ventas Rumba, the widest waterfall in Europe.

Travel tips: If you are fond of churches (at least in the architectural point of view like me), make sure to find St. Anna’s Evangelical Lutheran Church for some nice and quiet photosession. And for coffee lovers I suggest a really cozy place with delicious Lavazza coffee, free wi-fi and cool toilets, called Makkabi, located in the main square, not far from the City Hall.

3. Riga

About 2 hours’ drive east of Kuldiga lies the capital Riga, Baltic’s biggest metropolis. I fell in love with the city instantly! With over 800 Art Nouveau buildings, Gothic cathedrals and well-preserved old town, surrounded by cobblestone streets, Riga has been enjoying the status of UNESCO World Heritage for over 20 years. Our hotel was located just around the corner from Academy of sciences, which came as a total surprise. If you want to see Riga from above, you should definitely come here – the structure itself is quite impressive and totally different from most of Riga’s old buildings. It is a very nice example of Soviet architecture and due to its shape, they called it Stalin’s cake. I will soon be adding top “5 things to see in Riga”, so stay tuned and come back 😉

Travel tips: Of all the Baltic capitals we found Riga the most expensive (but still not as much as other European capitals). So if you are on a budget, try to grab a snack or coffee around the corner, not in the very center of the city. This tip usually works for all popular places. We found it very convenient to stay in the area near the Academy of sciences – nice for a morning and evening stroll to the Central Market and also a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Not to mention cheaper 😉

4. Sigulda with Turaida castle

If your travel style and bucket list is similar to mine, then visiting Turaida museum reserve is a must. Less than an hours’ drive from Riga, nestled in Sigulda municipality, surrounded by forest and pristine nature, this red brick castle with its intriguing museum is the best way to experience Latvia’s history and ancient traditions. From the towers you can see the meanders of Gauja river and landscapes of Gauja national park around it. If you are more adventurous type, Sigulda is known for several exciting activities like bungee jumping, bobsleigh, flying in a wind tunnel and other fun stuff.

Travel tips: You will have to leave your car in a large parking space in front of the museum, which will cost you 1,5€ (free of charge in the winter period). Entrance fee for adults during the summer is 6€, and half less during the winter.

5. Cesis

A little bit different, but still well worth the visit for history and architecture lovers is Cesis castle. Unlike Turaida castle, this grey stone beauty is located in the center of Cesis – a nice cozy town, covered with lots of green parks and cafes in the old town where you can rest and observe the people doing their daily routine. If you visit Cesis on summer weekends, there is a high chance you will see some wedding couples and musical or artistic events, going on in or around the castle. Similar to Cesis castle structure is also Bauska (Bauskas pilseta), which rises above the river and offers some really nice views from the bridge and river banks. If you are on a road trip, make sure not to miss this one as well – it is located in the south, very close to the border with Lithuania.

Travel tips: Latvia is full of castles and manors and some of them have been restored as hotels. The prices are quite reasonable, especially if you book in advance and after an exciting road trip it is really nice to treat yourself like a lord, even if only for a night.

Accommodation tips: If you want to book a hotel in Latvia, check Booking.com and click here to get a 15€ off your next booking. If you are more comfortable being hosted by locals, you can try with Airbnb – through this link you will get a 30€ (or $36) travel credit if you sign up and book with Airbnb.

You can see the rest of my photos from Latvia in my Facebook album. What are your favorite places in Latvia? Have I missed something out? Scroll down and write it down in a comment 😉

 

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Accommodation review: Monte das Faias, Grandola (Portugal)

Europe Hotel reviews

Whether you need a place to stay on your road trip from Lisbon to Algarve, or if you want to spend a few days in Alentejo, Portugal, Monte das Faias is the place to be. Charming “agriturismo” with a rich history, vast land and rural tranquility is perfect for those who want more intimacy with the touch of local tradition.

Location

Monte das Faias estate is located in Grandola, about one hour drive from Lisbon airport – don’t forget to turn on your GPS as it is quite difficult to find. Or maybe we were confused because it was late, and we were really tired from the trip. I called the reception that we will arrive around 2 am (the house rules say “check in ends at midnight”), and there was no problem at all. Keep in mind though that the location is quite remote from anything, so you will need your car to get anywhere. There are some supermarkets in vicinity, but none within the walking distance.

Rooms

Monte das Faias comprises 8 small “houses”, 5 suites and a few double rooms, all comfortably furnished in a rustic style. Honestly I don’t know which one we stayed in – it was huge and too much for one night stand: it even had a kitchenette and one extra room (or space) in the mezzanine floor. I really loved the decoration and rustic details in each room. Beds were comfortable and the only thing that bothered us were mosquitos – make sure you bring the repellant. Oh, and Wi-Fi works perfectly 😉

The estate

Dining room is fabulous, and luckily we were alone at breakfast, so we could enjoy the entire space for ourselves. Breakfast choice was quite rich, a variety of teas, coffee, juice, yogurts and good old classics – scrambled eggs, salami & cheese. With some delicious pastries to finish, of course.

Monte das Faias estate also offers 2 pools (outdoor and indoor) and a tennis court, which unfortunately we didn’t have a chance to see – we took off right after breakfast. So I guess that you can easily spend a few days here to relax and set your mind free. If you want to explore the nature, you can also rent a bike at the reception.

Anda’s rate: 9 from 10

Bottom line: Monte das Faias is a good choice for a stopover, but I don’t see my restless soul staying here for more than 3 days. On the other hand, if you have time to explore Alentejo (according to Google it looks just as fantastic as Algarve) and want to relax from everyday stress, I can highly recommend it. Saving tip: If you want to get 15€ off your next booking, check Monte das Faias on Booking.com – through this link.

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5 places to visit in Lithuania

Europe Trips & Tricks

If you are traveling to Baltics from the southern Europe, Lithuania will be the first on your way. It has a population of 2,8 million people with Vilnius being its capital and the biggest city. Lithuania used to be huge – during the 14th century it was called “the Grand Duchy of Lithuania” and it was actually the largest country in Europe, including the territory of present Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, as well as parts of Poland and Russia. Considering the fact that Lithuania was already inhabited 12.000 BC and with all its reach history of occupations, you can imagine that the country really has a lot to offer. As a nature and architecture lover I am picking up the following 5 places to visit in Lithuania.

1. Klaipeda

Our first and last stop in Lithuania during our Baltic road trip was magical Klaipeda which we fell in love with instantly. We didn’t plan to return as it was a bit off road on our way back, but we both agreed to rather shorten our visit to Kaunas and add another night in this wonderful port town. Klaipeda is actually Lithuania’s 3rd biggest city but since all the hustle and bustle is concentrated around its old town and harbor, it appears quite small and very cozy. Klaipeda becomes very busy in the summer time, with all its classical and light music festivals and concerts. Apart from strolling along the sea canal which is full of small sailing boats where you can also have a fancy dinner or just a cocktail, I strongly suggest you visit the Curonian peninsula. The so called Curonian Spit, known as the pearl of the Baltic Sea, is a long strip of wind-blown sand dunes surrounded from both sides by the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. The Curonian Spit national park is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and its southern part belongs to Russian enclave Kaliningrad. If you are considering visiting Kaliningrad, keep in mind you will need a visa and an invitation letter, and your rental car option probably won’t allow you to cross the border. Make sure you do a lot of research beforehand!

Travel tips: The ferry to Curonian peninsula costs only 1€ per person (return ticket) and it runs every 30 minutes. Grab a smoked fish “on the go” and make yourself a delicious picnic. Just 30 minutes north from Klaipeda you will find even more bustling coastal town Palanga, and if you are beach and party lover, you shouldn’t miss it. The definition of “busy” really gets a new perspective there 😊

2. Šiaulai and Hill of Crosses

Šiaulai is an unofficial capital of Northern Lithuania and just 15 minutes’ drive up north lies a hill full of crosses. Trust me, this is no ordinary hill and even if you are an atheist like me, you will be impressed by the number and shapes of crosses, statues and other Christian symbols. I read there were over 100.000 different crosses in the last counting, but since pilgrims and tourist from all over the world are “planting” new ones each day, my guess is that the number is much higher now. The Hill of Crosses growing popularity has with no doubt a lot to do with Pope John Paul 2nd’s visit in 1993.

Travel tips: The visit to the Hill of Crosses is free, however you will need to park your car in a designated parking area, which costs around 1 EUR or so… which is the least you can do to contribute to the community that takes care for this impressive place. There are some souvenir shops right along the parking space so if you believe you need to leave your footprints in the Hill od Crosses, you can buy your own and dig it in the ground wherever you feel appropriate.

3. Vilnius

A trip to Lithuania wouldn’t be perfect without visiting its capital. Vilnius is the largest city in the far north and eastern Europe, with just about the right touch of Western European cultural influences and impressive complex of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical buildings. I especially loved its old town which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and dotted with excellent restaurants, cafes and small boutiques. You will want to visit Gediminas Hill with really nice views of the entire city (if you climb only to the walls without entering the tower the view is actually free of charge) and see some famous landmarks such as Gates of Dawn, Town Hall, the Cathedral and the Palace of Grand Dukes.

Travel tips: If you want to see Vilnius from above, there are several other options, like climbing some church towers, including the most popular Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower – the tallest building in the Old town.

4. Kaunas

On the way from Klaipeda to Vilnius I suggest you stop in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second biggest city. Kaunas used to be a temporary capital of Lithuania and has since then become a cradle of the Lithuanian intelligentsia and culture. The city boasts with shops and restaurants in its charming old town, not to mention some impressive cathedrals and my favorite one – Kaunas castle in Gothic style which was originally built in the 14th century. The castle lies strategically on the banks of the Nemunas river and its red color reminds a lot of Trakai castle, which I am describing below.

Shopaholics will be pleased to hear that Kaunas hosts the biggest shopping mall in Baltics. Mega mall has recently been renewed and now more than 200 shops and aquarium with real sharks, along with a great food court (19 restaurants and cafes) are waiting for you to shop until you drop.

Travel tips: If you are going to visit Mega mall and if you are vegetarian, don’t miss the self-service restaurant with delicious soups and salads at really affordable prices. I loved the roman salad so much, I took 2 for the road with me 😊

5. Trakai castle

I saved my favorite Lithuanian landmark for the end. To be honest, Trakai castle was something that lead me to Lithuania in the first place. I have a huge crush on castles and ever since I coincidentally saw this beauty on Google maps, I knew I would visit it one day. Trakai castle was built in 14th century in Gothic style and what makes it really fascinating, besides its lively red color, is the fact that it lies on a small island on the lake. You can reach it through the bridge on foot, however you will see the most of it if you rent a boat and enjoy an hour ride around the island.

 

Travel tips: If you are traveling on a budget, you will be happy to hear that there is no entrance fee for visiting the island and you will be able to see the castle yard and its surroundings for free. The view of the castle from the nearby restaurants is on the other hand something that can hit your wallet big time. So be careful where you drink your coffee and ask for the price list before you stretch your legs on the table.

Accommodation saving tip: If you don’t have an account with Airbnb yet, you can get a 30€ (or $36) travel credit if you sign up and book with through this link .

You can see the rest of my photos from Lithuania in my Facebook album. Have you been to Lithuania and have your favorite spots there worth seeing? Want to ask for some other tips that I missed in this post? Scroll down and write it down in a comment 😉

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Baltic road trip

Destinations Europe

In the past couple of years we have been trying to avoid summer heat and crowds in popular tourist destinations, so a road trip to Baltic countries was something waiting to happen. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all a part of European Union, however they still sound a bit exotic to most of us (speaking from Slovenian point of view). Probably that has a lot to do with all three of them being a part of former Soviet Union and the fact that they are always being addressed as “Baltic”, putting them altogether in one basket. Which proved to be totally unfair. All three countries are fantastic, and each one of them has a lot to offer. Baltic road trip is a must for those who are seeking for something unconventional with a touch of Europe, Russia and Scandinavia.

Itinerary

We started our Baltic adventure in Poland because Slovenia offers direct flights to Warsaw at very reasonable prices. We rented a car there for 12 days and our Baltic itinerary was following:

Poland – Lithuania coast (Klaipeda, Palanga) – Latvia coast (Liepaja, Kuldiga, Riga) – Estonia (Parnu – Tallinn – Narva – Tartu) – back to Latvia (Bauska and Cesis) and Lithuania (Siaulai – Kaunas – Vilnius) – returning to Poland and spend the last day in Warsaw.

 

Quite a lot for 12 days, huh? 😊 But we are used to this kind of road tripping and except for all-inclusive resorts we cannot stay in one place for too long. In the end this itinerary proved to be quite doable, and we also had one day left to return to Klaipeda – our favorite spot. Of course, we could have stayed longer in Riga, which is fantastic, and we also didn’t see much of Tallinn and Vilnius, but on the other hand we checked 3 new countries from our bucket list and we pretty much got a quite good impression what Baltic is all about.

If I wanted to share with you everything we experienced during our Baltic road trip, I would need a couple of days to put it all together, and I am sure no one would read it, so I am just going to highlight five things to see and visit in each country plus some practical tips for everyone who is interested in Baltic vacation, following our itinerary.

Getting there and around

A lot of people from Europe take their RV and drive all the way to the north, but if you are limited with time, I suggest flying to one of the capitals instead (all three have good connections, unfortunately that doesn’t apply to Slovenia) and rent a car there. It is good to know that none of the countries have highways (with the exception of Kaunas – Vilnius road) and speed limit outside of the cities is 90 km/h. The roads are relatively nice and if you are not a speed junkie you should do just fine. The countryside in all three countries is really nice and calm, with a lot of green meadows and forests, and you will also see some storks which are quite photogenic.

Accommodation

There are plenty of choices in all the places we visited, and of course it all depends on your daily budget. Coastal towns are slightly more expensive, so it might be a good idea for you to book some rooms in advance. Since we didn’t know how our road trip would turn out (also because of the weather which could change our itinerary the other way around), we booked all our hotels on the road, practically a couple hours before arrival. No problems whatsoever. Average price for a decent 3-star hotel was around 70€ (2 person /w breakfast and parking space) and you will find the best values on Booking.com – click here to get a 15€ discount for your next booking (you are welcome). Or you can try with Airbnb, again you can get 30€ travel credit if you sign up and book with Airbnb through this link.

Food and shopping

Ah, Baltic food! I fell in love with their food the first day we arrived to Klaipeda. Smoked fish on every corner – you can buy it as a snack or you can eat it properly with some potatoes which is also very popular in Baltic cuisine. My second favorite was Soljanka soup – this is actually a Russian dish, but they prepare it in different styles. All of them include the “remainings of the day” like vegetables and pieces of different meat, plus they add a spoon of sour cream to make it even more yummy. Baltic beer is also fantastic, especially dark brands – I am not a beer lover but I had a bottle of one every day.

There are a lot of shops, from small groceries to big supermarkets on almost every corner, so no worries if you want to make your own meals or buy snacks for the road. I especially loved Kaunas mall with huge food corner and aquarium with sharks, which is quite impressive. It is also the biggest shopping mall in Baltics. The prices are similar to ones in Slovenia (by the way all three countries use EURO currency), so no worries in having to squeeze your wallet too much. But to be honest, it would be a sin not to eat outside because the food is really fantastic – after all you are on vacation and no one is counting the calories, right?

Baltic Sea and Weather

“Will I be able to swim in Baltic sea?” was my main concern. Well, I didn’t, because it was too cool for me. But don’t mind me, I am a pussy when it comes to cold. I need at least 24 °C water temperature to get wet. A lot of other tourists were swimming normally – if I can use this word at all. Because Baltic coastline is so shallow you can hardly get a decent swim. Unless you go to some wild places, which we didn’t. I’d say water was around 18 – 20 °C max, and since the outside temperature was never too hot (from 22 – 26°C , which is actually perfect for me!), I didn’t even have the need to “dive in” (I am still laughing by using this word when it comes to Baltic sea).

The fact that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are located in north continental area makes them quite cool throughout the year, so unless you don’t mind wearing warm clothes, I suggest you visit them during summer. The weather is really nice – it was supposed to be very rainy, but we somehow got lucky and didn’t witness even a drop throughout our entire vacation. I still suggest you to take an umbrella and some sweaters and socks for the cooler evenings.

What to see in Baltic countries

In short: really nice old towns, a lot of greens and lakes, loooong sandy beaches, beautiful castles, windmills and combination of different architecture – a mixture of medieval, Scandinavian, Soviet and modern styles. I believe that about sums up the tips from our Baltic adventure, and if you need to know anything else, feel free to scroll down and drop me a comment. You can read about 5 places to see in Lithuania here, and 5 places to see in Latvia here. I will post Estonia highlights soon as well. So stay tuned and follow my Facebook profile or Instagram profile for updates. 😉

 

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Hotel review: Ibis Geneve Centre Lac (Geneva, Switzerland)

Europe Hotel reviews

First of all you need to know that I hate Geneva. Every year that I am forced to come here, I hate it even more. But business is business (and a damn good one, may I add), so we practically don’t have a choice but to come here every year. I will probably write a short post about why I hate Geneva soon, but for now let’s focus on the accommodation. I booked Ibis Geneve Centre Lac almost 6 months before, because I knew things will get much worse prior to the exhibition. And even then was I not happy about having to pay almost 300€ per night for a basic room in a 3 star hotel. But, believe it or not, it was one of the cheapest!

 

Location

Once you figure out Geneva’s traffic, you realize it is best to stay close to the Gare Cornavin train station, from where you can get free bus to PalExpo. Or anywhere else for that matter. Ibis Centre Lac hotel is located in Pâquis neighborhood, less than 5 minutes’ walk from Gare de Cornavin. No need to say there are limitless choices of restaurants and bars around it, just don’t expect you will get a decent meal for a decent price in any of them. You are in Geneva. By the way you are also in some kind of red district. I got a room with a view of “8th heaven” or something. Not a sight for sore eyes though.

Rooms

What I like about Ibis is that you always know what to expect and you get exactly that. Basic but nice and comfortable rooms, small but clean bathroom and good location. Bed and pillows never disappoint, which is the most important for me. I did miss coffee/tea maker in the room though – all other Ibises I’ve stayed in offer that. But again, this is Geneva.

Breakfast and reception

You can hardly tell where one ends and the other one starts. Reception is nice, staff is unusually nice for Geneva, and everything was handled professionally. A few steps away from the reception you walk into some kind of bar, followed by tables and sitting area where they serve breakfast in the morning. Breakfast is nice, not as rich as for example in Barcelona or Dubai, but still very good for a 3 star hotel. The only thing I REALLY bothered me was the very narrow space around coffee machine. People were queueing around it like mad, and you really don’t want to be stuck waiting for your cup when you are in a hurry. Which is what you always are if you are rushing to PalExpo.

Anda’s rate: 8 from 10

Bottom line: With Ibis you always know what to expect and it is really not their fault that Geneva is totally overrated. They just follow the demand and would be stupid not to pick up the money lying in the street. Compared to other Ibis hotels, Ibis Geneve Centre Lac was the most basic, but still decent enough to recommend it further.

 

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