Vanaga Ligzda

We visited for the first and last time. Upon arrival, the place looked beautiful, but the parking lot was narrow. Okay, maybe there’s no way to expand it. There were no signs indicating where to go – whether to the restaurant or the hotel reception. We eventually found our way, but it was really inconvenient that, to reach the reception (located in the bar), we had to walk through the restaurant. After checking in and receiving our keys, we asked where to go. They told us that there would be signs outside. Of course, when we stepped out, there were no signs at all. Our room was in a different building. The stairs were quite steep, and there was no outdoor lighting, making it feel unsafe and scary at night. Next to the stairs, there was an unbearably loud humming noise, possibly from heating pipes. Upon entering the adjacent building, we had to go through three more doors and narrow staircases. The room itself was decent but could have been cleaner—fresh towels, an unbroken shower cabin, and no dust or cobwebs would have been nice. There was no soundproofing whatsoever; we could hear both our neighbors and the loud trucks passing by all day and night. After settling in, we headed to the restaurant, hoping the food would at least be good. The staff was uninformed and unfriendly—basically, we didn’t feel welcome. We sat at a table and got the menu quickly. However, after making our selections, we were told that neither Coke, nor our chosen cocktail, nor even the steak was available. Already a bit disappointed, we chose something else. The food turned out to be nothing special and not very enjoyable. The "hot chicken salad" was completely overpriced—just a few slices of chicken, cucumber, tomato, and bell pepper for €9–10. Sure, it’s a restaurant, but the food wasn’t tasty. Not too satisfied, we at least wanted to try the sauna and hot tub, but—surprise!—it cost as much as the apartment for two nights. €140 for accommodation, plus another €140 for three hours in the hot tub and sauna. Hotel guests get a 10% discount—perhaps just for peace of mind… That was even more frustrating. Plus, reservations had to be made five hours in advance. Okay, fair enough, they need time to clean and prepare. We booked it for the following evening. With nothing else to do, we went to bed. In the morning, we realized we had no desire to have breakfast at the restaurant, so we went on a trip to Sigulda instead and visited the restaurant "Gadalaiki." Highly recommended—excellent service, you feel welcome, and the food and interior are fantastic. Moreover, "Gadalaiki" is located at SPA Hotel Ezeri—I think we’ll go there for a getaway next time, as the staff was truly kind. In the evening, we went to the so-called "SPA" area. Again—no signs, total darkness, weird stairs, no lights, nothing. When we got into the hot tub, the water was dirty, murky, and filled with some disgusting floating films and hair. In short—a very unpleasant experience. This place is in Balteze