Frequently
Asked Questions
Can I book just
the Activities?
Yes
of course! You don't need to book accommodation through us to book
the activities. You do however need to pay us a deposit to secure
the reservation of your chosen activity. Don't forget you can make
substantial savings by booking accommodation and activities together.
Is our money safe?
As laid
down by European Union guidelines we hold all monies paid to us
in a trust account. We only take this money after the holiday has
finished. This ensures that in the very unlikely event of our insolvency
you will not lose out financially and all money paid to us by you
will be returned in full.
How do you make
your money?
We make
our money by reselling accommodation and activities to you. Because
we have excellent relations with our suppliers and buy in bulk we
can pass on these great prices to our customers. In most cases these
prices are lower than if you booked the hotels and activities suppliers
yourselves.
Why don't you
offer flight inclusive packages?
In order
for us to sell you airline tickets we would first need to obtain
an expensive ATOL license. This cost would then only have to be
passed on to you.
With the arrival of budget airlines to the Baltics it makes sense
to book the flights yourselves directly with the airline. Some travel
agencies will resell airline tickets with a mark up of 20% or more.
We really don't believe in wasting money unnecessarily.
When is the best
time to go?
Every
season has it's advantages. In summer there is the possibility to
enjoy the ubiquitous outdoor bars and cafes as well as the activities
only available in the warm months. However the winter offers a pulsating
nightlife agenda as the populations of the cities grow with the
return of their inhabitants from holidays and also the return of
the students! Both are eager for somewhere warm to party hard and
very very long into the night. The winter activities are just as
good if not better than those in summer as it's possible to experience
real bobsleighing, skiing and ice-fishing - all hard (almost impossible)
to find in warmer countries.
Do I need a Visa?
You
do NOT need a visa to visit Latvia if you are a citizen of an E.U.
country, Norway, Switzerland, Canada or the USA. Don't forget that
passports need to be valid for at least another 6 months from the
arrival date. We've had at least 2 people either not getting on
the plane or spending the night in the cells in Riga Airport before
being put on the first plane home because of this - You've been
warned!
What's
the weather like?
Unlike
North Western Europe the seasons of the year are very distinct here.
April to September are warm and similar to the rest of central and
northern Europe. Temperatures in July and August can reach 35C/95F.
December can be very cold but January to March is freezing! However
these colder months bring with them clear blue skies and bright
sunshine - Cold doesn't mean it's not bright and beautiful.
What
language do they speak?
The
Latvian language represent an almighty challenge to master in a
couple of years let alone a few days! You'll be pleased to know
that English is widely understood and spoken and you'll have no
problems in bars, restaurants or shops especially in the Old Town.
What's good shopping
wise?
Things to buy here which are less
available at home are amber products and soviet relics. You know
that Lenin bust will look great on the mantelpiece!
What
about local currency?
There's
an abundance of ATM's all over the Riga and you'll never have to
look far to find one. It's
probably better to either change cash at the airport when you get
here or withdraw from an ATM as buying Latvian (Lats) currency in
your home country will mean you'll get a very unfavourable exchange
rate. In fact we strongly advise against buying Latvian currency
anywhere apart from in Latvia!
What
about getting around?
Getting around is easy. The Soviet
system's legacy is an excellent network of trams and trolleybuses
which cost a pittance to ride. Taxi's
are also extremely cheap compared to Western Europe and are plentiful.
Is
the internet available?
There are many internet cafes and
wireless hotspots around the city centres.
What about mobile
phones?
You can avoid expensive roaming costs
by buying a local SIM card.
The cost of a single text message back home will be just 0.02 EUR
and calls are charged at 0.25 EUR per minute.
|
