Park Inn by Radisson Riga Valdemara — Hotel in Riga

I travel to Riga frequently and stayed at many hotels before. This was my first and likely last stay at Park Inn. There isn't something terrible here but many inconveniences are not worth $20 savings vs a better hotel downtown.

The positives. Appreciate some fruit and water in the room for Radisson club members. There are several transport stops nearby and it's easy to get anywhere. This hotel is also closer to airport and bus 22 stop right next to it. The hotel is clean and staff is polite. Good amenities in the room: all toiletries, including lotion, slippers, and bathrobe.

The negatives. There is nothing to do nearby, no nice restaurants or stores. The area around is rather run down. Even though it's safer than looks, walking is not very pleasant. Noisy mini-fridge in the room, lots of traffic noise outside if you open a window. Temperature was comfortable during my stay but a very warm blanket in summer is too hot. Would love to have an option to get just a plain sheet or thinner blanket. Only 2 pillows for King bed. Not a problem as I was alone but otherwise would have to ask for more. Bathroom floods all the time because shower is not closed. It's the problem in other hotels too but at this one, the puddle is right next to the door and drain is on the opposite side. There is no place to hang the towels to dry and no good place to put a hand towel next to the sink. No shelf in the shower for your own products. The shower tap is the weirdest one I've seen and the water pressure was low on the top floor. The hotel seems to use "green housekeeping" without asking. Not a problem, but it said trash would still be taken out daily and towels replaced if on the floor. But there was no service at all in my room for the entire stay. The worse breakfast of all the hotels in Riga. Horrible coffee, the US gas station level, I'm kidding you not. No regular coffee cups, just large mugs and tiny espresso cups. Every day the same exact food. Hot food barely warm by 9 am, no one rotates it. Stale bread. The same mediocre stale pastries. Pancakes that taste like baking powder. Some food was not labeled. I was eating alone and when I stepped away to get a drink, completely full plates were cleaned from the table. Not a huge deal but it was at the end of breakfast time and I picked best fruit pieces available. And it happened twice during my stay, even though there were plenty of clean...

The Minimal Hotel

The hotel is quite okay, and it would have deserved a 4-5 star rating if it was 2-3 star hotel. However, it is a four (4) star hotel, bidding on premium class. The hotel is very far from premium, among bottom 20% of the other four star hotels where I stayed, room amenities are long overdue for renovation.

Wifi speed fluctuates between 2 and 20 mbit. Is it okay? Definitely is. Is it premium? No way.

What kind of USB charging ports does it have? USB-A (year 2005 technology)? USB-C (year 2015 technology)? No. It has a USB-nothing and it's year 2025! Bring your own chargers, while staying in 4 star.

Mini-fridge was turned off when I moved in. Unless I've noticed it, I'd spoil my food over the first night. However, if I turn it on, the light stays permanently on. So, you have a choice of sleeping in darkness or storing some food in a fridge, but not both at the same time.

Electricity is controlled by a room key, like if it was a cheap all-inclusive in Turkey in 2000s. Which is OK if you are alone in your room, so you can just stick your second room key in there, but probably inacceptable for two guests in the same room. (Only charge your devices while you are present. Whoops-whoops).

The room coffee is instant coffee. Another cheap hotel attribute, definitely subpar for premium class.

The thermostat is not working, it's pre-set for 24.5C for the entire building. Whether you like it warm or you like it cool, you'll have to like 24.5C.

It feels as if hotel owners discussed: hey, what is the absolute minimum of stuff we can get by with in order to wear 4-star badge? Let's do exactly that. The "minimal 4-star...

We had a pleasant stay at the hotel. Their rooms are spacious. It’s a quiet area and somehow safe to walk around the hotel. There is a large parking lot where you can park your car and ask the reception to register your car plate number so you won’t get a ticket. There is a nice Italian restaurant in the hotel.. didn’t have the chance to try the hotel Breakfast, but it is for around 15 € per person. The cleaning ladies are hardworking and kind.

We had unpleasant incident with the fridge in our room, wasn’t working properly. We contacted the reception to send someone on day one but nobody came, at night we heard loud noises coming from the fridge and informed them again! Still nothing the next day I showed the reception the video and they said they will send someone to check it out ! came back to my room and still nothing! On The third day I asked about it, they said they went yesterday and couldn’t fix it!!! and didn’t bothered to inform me.. nonetheless I left the next day but this incident disappointed me. Another thing happened that we registered our car upon checking in however on day 3 we received a ticket for illegal parking!!! and the one checked us in wrote it on paper not on the system!! I got the sense that the hotel reception don’t take their jobs seriously! or don’t really care!!! weird how those small things can ruin...