What tourists like / dislike in Latvia

TVNET/LETA reports:

The Tourism Development agency of Latvia as well as Latvian University recently did a survey asking foreign tourists what they are afraid in Latvia at most. Agency's PR manager Normunds Kietis reported there were 3 most notable factors: dangerous car driving on streets, low customers service level in restaurants, and notable discrepancy between prices and the quality of goods and service overall.

Agency's director Uldis Vitolinsh added: "Since more than a half of our guests are traveling by car, bike or motorbike, they all were experienced a real situation on our streets. Most of them definitely will think is it worth to travel here in the future after all."

Guests were mentioning positive factors as well: rich culture events, architecture, nature, clean cities, the local kitchen's dishes and low prices outside Riga.

These statistics were collected during August - December of 2007. There was about 1000 participants from 37 countries, and still, most of them were up to visit Latvia again.

Don't drive if you don't know how.

For those who drive by car I would like to mention sometimes very bad conditions of latvian roads, specially if you go outside from Riga (to Latgale, for example). It's very sad our government is not taking any global actions regarding this subject.

Anyway I'm curious to hear others opinions what they like / dislike when visiting Latvia at most... spread your impressions here. Be honest!

When it comes to questions like this, I can only answer... I like latvian girls!

Besides of it I didn't notice something remarkable. I.e. such things as museums or architecture are not only Riga... visit Athens for example. Or Rome. These are much impressive cities. Riga is calm comparing to them. Thus there are very many old soviet buildings which are at deconstrution stage (see below).

However some of architecture buildings are still impressive. Attached are pictures of some of them I've done.

Here is some "nice" examples to check:

And finally there are another shoots from my archive:

Latvia can not the best country, but it class. I in it live since the birth, certainly the government at us not clever, but to live in it well. In capital, and it is Riga very interestingly, it is possible to visit night clubs (feature Essential) and others, old Riga is very interesting, it beautiful, small in it many beautiful girls))), good restaurants. Much beautiful girls can be met in parks, shopping centers and in the center of Riga. Riga-drunk. There is even such song in Russian. At us it is interesting and if you will be friendly, and to you will well concerns. We cannot brag, that than America, England can, but at us it is possible to have a rest well)) At us very interestingly, клево and is cheerful, it is necessary немножк to get used. Come!!!!
P.S.-public transport at us good, except for trolley buses, but the bus good)

vio
Thank you for your attempts of invitation you definitely need to learn more English. For me personally it was a bit difficult to drive in what do you mean. Maybe it's kind of auto-translated text?

Answering your position in regards to 'not clever' government - trust me, in each and every country its inhabitants are saying the same. But this doesn't affect the tourist question a lot, because almost every European government is carrying about tourists.

But you are right about beautiful girls, what else could I say

I dislike hotel prices.

After hockey championship, they were boosted up. But they weren't lowered after. Latvia doesn't deserve such accommodation prices comparing to other EU countries. If I choose between Latvia and the other country for 80 EUR per room, I choose other country. Shame.

The same for me... Recently I have checked the prices for the hotels and also find it unjustified.

I wish to visit Latvia soon.Can some one help me out how i can get a cheap hotel and nice places to visit. Your contribution will be highly appreciated.

It very depends on how much money you are ready to spend, and for what kind of services in the hotel... also regarding places to visit, the same... it's up on your taste It would take really long time to list all places.

They are trying to compensate the downturn they suffered from a poor summer. According to a Latvian hotelier i know, they will come more in line with countries such as Poland for hotel prices by next year. Apart from the old town of course!! I blame my fellow countrymen in the UK for many indulgent stag weekend!

Ok
This is true, but don't justify with "all depend how much money can/want spend" that the prices are higher. It’s cheaper to stay in Amsterdam in a great hotel for 1 week then 3 days in Riga.

The Lats is over price, its not possible that in Latvia cost more a "normal" meal then in Amsterdam or in Munich.

the value of the money of each country depend of the strong of the economy, but real one and last years all the economy of the baltics are all most dead, but the lats, still strong???

Some thing is wrong in general with the cost/price of the things there.