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 Elizabetes iela, Riga by FletteMette
I recommend the red taxis from Rigas Taksometru Parks. I've never had any problems with taxis belonging to this company (knock on wood!;o). Their taxis are always red (but not *all* red taxis are from this company), usually Renault Megane Scenic - and the company name + phone number is printed on the side of the car. (Phone number 800 1313)
Always make sure the meter is actually running. If the driver refuses to put the meter on, or refuses to let you see the number display, or if the meter's running way too quickly, I'd just get out and find another taxi.
I've found it to be a good idea to learn how to say a few phrases, including the address you're going to, in Latvian - the driver will of course be able to tell you're not a local, but he might think you've been in Latvia for a while & that you know how to *not* be fooled by taxi drivers... :o)
A taxi ride to / from the airport and central Riga should not cost more than 10 Ls, usually ca 8-9 Ls. Taxi from the train / bus station to the Old Town (or any trip inside the city centre) should not cost more than ca 2 Ls. Leave a Comment
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 Postcard of Riga by HORSCHECKLeave a Comment
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 View from Radison hotel,
taking lift. by Raimix
>>> Another bank of river Daugava, opposite to old town, you can walk through Vansu bridge (Vansu tilts). From another bank you see mostly old town, church spires, castle.
>>> Reval hotel. It is in Brivibas street, just not so much walking from Freedom monument. Reval hotel offers you great views if you go up by lift and spend some time in the highest floor, where bar is.
>>> St. Peter's church. You can go up to the tower of church in old town (entrance is 2,17 euro). From where the view of inside's old town and other districts. Leave a Comment
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 by Raimix
Overally this is a nice bridge in the park, surrounding old town. Leave a Comment
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Hi,
Let's start with the beginning. When you arrive at the Riga's airport(RIX), most likely, you will be surrounded by peoples offering you a taxi ride. My friendly advice is to avoid them ... this is now, a very common phishing method for foreign tourists and most likely you will be overcharged.If your baggage is not to big and you have enough time try to use the buss. It is number 22 and it will take you to Central Station (Stockmann - supermarket); it costs 0.30 Ls but for a big suitcase you will have to pay a small tax (I don't know the amount because I don't like to carry big suitcases :)). Anyway once you are in the buss be aware of pick-pocketer s and please, try to avoid route of trolleybus 15! in the morning is extremely crowded and it is the best way to loose your money and your passport :( .
I almost forgot! On various websites they will tell you that the 22 buss is on airport station every 30 minutes this is the listed schedule but...It is not true! If your flight arrives in Riga around 17:00 local time be patient because the buss will arrive in station once at one hour or much late because between this hours 08:00-10:00 and 15:00 - 17:00 Riga is full of traffic jams! .Keep in mind that they're local currency is equal with one pound so much more then one euro or dollar so if you will buy something that you think is cheap make the calculations again it is possible to cost you a lot more.Coffee shops: I recommend you "Double Coffe" it is a mark very prevalent in all town but the price is a little high 2.50 Ls for a cappuccino...but they have a great music inside.Overall they will say about Riga that is the most beautiful town from Baltic Sea ...it may be true... I really do not share same opinion. In maximum a week you will have all the fun you can get in Riga and you will see almost everything.
Practically their piece of resistance is the old town ... it is OK for a walk on a sunny day or two but after that, you will see about everything and another walk...hmm...will definitely be very boring.(Imagine that I have to stay in Riga about a year and a half ....:))) I recomend you a trip to Jurmala this town is very close to Riga 25Km and it is on sea side ...here ,if you arrive in summer, life is quite beautiful ! While you are in Riga try to find the shooting gallery ... that if you want a bit of adrenaline in your blood.It is a old Russian bunker where you can shot fire arms with live ammo and amazed or not.. is legal !
In conclusion I would like to say that Latvian people are not the most friendly and hospitable people ... they deny with all their power the Russian language but everybody speaks it ... they try to forget their comunist past but also they try to sell it to us like a turist attraction ; they even have a museum in the central market. Museum of occupation. And they say that Latvia is the Switzerland of Baltic's ... I'm still trying to find why...
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The biggest thievs in all of Riga. We (I and my wife) came to Riga by boat from Stokcholm and outside the terminal there were only white taxis (red taxis is more honest).
So we took the withe one, the driver turned on the meter, starting cost at 1,5 Lat. So it say on the window. We went to the Freedom Statue, taxi driver stops and says 8,5 Lat and so it is on the meter, so I asume that the taxidriver drowe with high speed meter all the time. My first rip of and I havent even started sightseeing.
WELCOME TO LATVIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Allways tell the driver to put on the meter. Or deal with him about a fix price. Look at the meter all the time if it starts to go fast tell the driver.
A trip from the ship terminal to Freedom Statue should cost MAX 5 LATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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 Currency shark logo by nancyread
Some of my British and American friends have told me horror stories of the rip-off rates charged by Chequepoint when changing money into Euros. It seems to be a problem with this particular dealer - other VT members in Hungary and Hong Kong have reported the same kind of fraud.
My advice is not to use Chequepoint under any circumstances. Click on the logo so you can steer well clear of these sharks.
In any event, you will get much more competitive rates drawing local currency on your Visa or Visa Electron card (preferably use a cash dispenser in a bank during opening hours and check the card slot shows no evidence of being fiddled with (a favourite trick is to slip a thin additional reader in). Shield the keypad with your hand as you tap the numbers in (in another scam, a concealed webcam films your PIN number). Leave a Comment
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You meet a girl or two somewhere, he asks you to go to a cool place called whatever. You go there, buy the girl couple of drinks, and then have to pay a huge amount of money.
1) Ask for a price list always. Words are nothing when you are going to the police later.
2) If you are cheated in such kind of a place (there are several of them: Groks, Pink Panter, Mary, Mademoiselle, Nobu, etc), don't pay! These are relationships between customer and service provider, which, here in Latvia, are regulated by civil law. And the only thing that service provider can do - go to civil court, which will never be done by the owners of these places.
3) Call the police. Be sure to ask for Central Police Station. These people know about the place, and know what to do.
4) Be calm, security monkeys can beat you, and you won't be able to do anything because you're probably leaving in couple of days.(Weeks are needed to process the place)
5) Never ever give your card to the staff. Better say, you don't have it at all. Check the amounts they are charging you. Ask for the receipt. Cancel the card as soon as you are out of the place. More money can be charged later.
6) If you are let to go for the money to the hotel and one of the monkeys is following you - stay at the hotel reception, and call the police from there.
7) If you friend is held in the bar, and you should go and bring the money to pay - call the police ASAP, and together with the police go for your friend.
Any other place, where prices (when checked) are suitable for you. Leave a Comment
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Groks bar near the square: I wish I had known about this place before I went to Riga. On our last night my friend and I said we'd pop in here for a drink as it didn't look like a lap-dancing bar or strip joint. We ordered a pint of beer each and then approached by 2 studenty-type of girls who seemed pleasant enough, my friend and I felt a bit sorry for them as they told us all about the economic situation in Latvia etc. They then invited us to join them in the Disco bar in the back part of the bar. We offered to buy them a drink and even asked the waitress how much it was and she said 'thirteen eight' which I took to mean 13 lats 18 santimas which would be about 20 euro but when my friend tried to pay for it she pointed to the menu and lo and behold it was 138 lats (something got lost in translation i think) I went ballistic and wanted to fight my way out but my friend got nervous and pleaded with me to calm down as we'd end up in jail (apparently the cops are in on the hustle) in the end we paid so let this be a warning to anyone going to Riga (which I wouldn't recommend anyway) to stay away from this hole called Groks and don't feel sorry for any of the Latvian women who all seem to be part-time hookers out to fleece the tourists!!!!!
Definitely don't buy anyone a drink no matter how genuine they seem to be!!!
Go to an Irish pub Leave a Comment
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I was not one of the conned but did hear that particularly in the nightclub area, people were overcharged by enormous amounts at the end of the evening, once requesting their bill. Take care also when using taxi's and request the price of a journey before taking the trip. Leave a Comment
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