Baltic Design Apartments — Hotel in Riga

I stayed at the Baltic Design Apartments at Brīvibas 148 in Rīga, Latvija for one week and had an average good time.||||It’s an apartment hotel in the middle of the city, near to “Centrs”, but basically in “Grīziņkalns” district. You basically get an access code for the front door and then an additional key code for a code box where the real keys are located in the corridors.||||The room/apartment is fully equipped and has everything You need with cutlery, refrigerator, stove, towels, etc.||||I really liked the very central location and the high quality of the property. ||||Unfortunately, the elevator was out of service and it’s a slight smell of mold in the corridor, however the rooms/apartment is fully equipped with all amenities.||||It’s unfortunately not very good clean and there is a lot of grease and pebbles stones on the duvet and bed lining for example.||||Unfortunately it’s very difficult to have a good night sleep in here because the close proximity and outlook to the main street in Rīga and also without any proper window blinds or fully closed curtains. ||||There is also a 24/7 light store right across the street from the premises that blinks irritably the whole night through .||||Unfortunately I have to say that there is both a lot of drunk people.addicts/smokers among the guests, (despite the explicit with multiple sign posting, that chain smokes the whole day through. ||||Also there was an ongoing renovation at the time of my stay, and it was both very loud and the builders smelled from both alcohol and some kind of aerosol from as early as 9 in the morning. ||||This seems to be a place mainly caring for Ukrainian people as I both heard that language and there was a lot of that kind of TV channels on the TV.||||I am very sorry to say, but this is not a very good place to stay, in fact I left it three days before I was supposed to because it’s basically a dump and the smell of mold is everywhere and the towels also smell like mold. Plus all the kitchen amenities were greasy and unclean and the surfaces of the kitchen bench, writing desk and the window were all very greasy and filthy.||||I am very sorry but I cannot in good conscience recommend this place and would actually go as far as to recommend people to avoid it.||||Liked the location, but for this money it’s definitely not worth it and the unsanitary conditions make it even more unattractive. ||||The elevator’s broken and there is a constant smell of mold ever present. It’s like the other “tenants” are allowed to do whatever they please despite the rules. ||||Also very weak WiFi and very noisy. Do not definitely recommend this place and would advise anyone to stay...

Dear Norwegian,||||Please see below. I urge you to stop doing business with Baltic Design Apartments in Riga, LV.||||The reviews on sites like Tripadvisor suggests that similar things happens all the time.||||Fortunately, your relocation team was able to assist, but it cost me twice as much as I originally paid, and you lost money too.||||The process to find and book an alternative took 1 hour 55 minutes, until Midnight on the night before the day we prepared to travel for 10 hours! Not how we wanted to start our vacation. Kudos however to your representative Leo who was very kind, patient, serviceminded and did a great job in finding accomodation for us!||||Thank you,||||Seriously Not Happy||||Den onsdag, juli 10, 2019, 9:36 em, skrev Toms Steinbergs :||||Dear, Getting Irritated Now! ||||We are really sorry and we have to apologize to You, but we have to cancel Your reservation, because of serious technical problems in our apartments. ||We will transfer Your money back tomorrow ! ||Are You using PayPal? ||Sorry ! ||We hope You will find good place to stay. ||||||With best regards, ||Tom||+371 26120027||||On 8 Jul 2019, at 20:58, Getting Irritated Now wrote:||||Hi,||||I called at +371 2 2379806 which is the number I got from Norwegian. I accept the extra charge. ||||Thanks,||||Getting Irritated Now||||Den måndag, juli 8, 2019, 7:14 em, skrev Toms Steinbergs :||||Hello! ||That’s strange, we didn’t revive calls :( ||But for late check in don’t worry, manager will additionally wait for your arrival.. as our check in is till 8pm and we will charge extra 15€ for that service, ok? ||||||Jauku dienu vēlot ||Toms ||+371 26120027||||On 8 Jul 2019, at 20:03, Me Not Happy wrote:||||Hi,||||I have a reservation for Thursday July 11. We will travel by air from Stockholm and arrive at the Riga airport at 20:20. Should be at the hotel by 22:00.||||I need you to please confirm that we can have a late check-in. Tried calling you several times but nobody answers your phone.||||The reservation was made through Norwegian, booking # xx.||||Please respond....

Well firstly there is nothing wrong with the apartments. Mine was clean and fresh and the location was fine, a short walk from trams and buses. The bed was comfortable and the shower was excellent. The standard of workmanship was brilliant, and there was even a corkscrew! So why only three stars?

The main problem was the organisation. On arrival I spent over two hours trying to contact the manager. His phone was not contactable even by other Latvians (who are extremely helpful in general). Eventually an email and another aborted phone call and yet more help from the locals brought the manager to the building, (which is incredibly difficult to find, there being not even the smallest notice to tell you have arrived at the right place..). He had no record of my reservation, which have been made through Ryanair Rooms. It was confirmed and paid for.

On producing the piece of paper there was a short discussion while I sat and waited, having been kindly been given a glass of water by the manager's wife. Then he agreed that I could have the apartment, since I had paid for it, but then told me the booking was for two nights. Actually I'd paid for three. I was made to feel a bit as though I'd done him a disservice. This sort of thing is not what you need when you arrive in a strange city. Time wasted was between 9 AM and 1.30 PM... I loved Riga however, and apart from losing most of the first day trying to get into my apartment it was eventually fine.

Overall a fairly average experience but only due to lack of organisation. A bit more attention to detail and this will be a great addition to the Riga...