FAQ How To Tours Packages Video Slide Show Photos Airport Info Ferry Info
Search Back Issues Issue 1015 - 10 September 2006 Riga Inside
lots of inside information  --  known only to those in the know!
 
Current recommendations
What's happening
Riga this week
 
  Tours:
 
Low cost day trip out of Riga
Check out new Self Directed - Self Guided tours to places in and around the greater Riga area. Great way to see more of the countryside. more info
 
Riga restaurants:

 
New low in customer service - Salt & Pepper Cafe
TGI Fridays is only 3 blocks away and the service is FAR superior and the burger almost as tasty though slightly higher in price. TGIF will be my choice from now on. 
 
Ham-Cheese Fast Food Sandwich shop  - its a great choice!

Armenian restaurant Akhtamar  

Iguana - Elizabetes 87 (Bergs Bazaar)

Dome Steak House - Smilsu 2

more information  < - eating ...

-
-
New Riga Business Directory

www.infoRiga.com
-
Taxi complaints

www.rigataxi.info
New Video  click to play
Riga's Icons
Photo montage of interesting and notable scenes in the Art Nouveau capital of the world.
Summer's over !
 
Patricia Tourist Office has lots of information about Riga hotels and great low rates. more info
 

Most asked questions
  1. Money exchange more info
  2. Airport taxi - OK  more info
  3. Airport bus - #22 www.rigabus.info
 
Latest NEWS ITEMS
How to tackle Riga's cheating taxis 

The taxi service in Riga is of poor quality of the drivers are cheating, behaving rudely towards their passengers. Measures must be taken to improve the situation. The directors of taxi companies have agreed to equip all cabs with counters showing all information on the length and cost of the route. They are also thinking about painting all taxis in one colour. 


Biznes & Baltija, 06.09.2006

Quality of Latvian taxi drivers under question

The Latvian Association of Hotels and Restaurants, the organization Inspiration Riga and the Association of Latvian Travel Agents are worried about the situation and quality of services provided by Latvian taxi drivers. They note that recent negative references have been made in foreign newspapers. There will probably soon be an anonymous phone line for complaints about bad or overcharging taxi drivers. 

Biznes & Baltija, 05.09.2006
English translation and articles from http://www.standbynews.info
 

Taxi complaints

www.rigataxi.info
 

 
 

Important events and activities for Riga and Riga Region this week and next.

www.rigaevents.info
 
-
Use Tram when visiting LIDO Center   photos & info

Don't use the Number 17 bus when visiting the LIDO Center on Krasta Boulevard. Instead, take number 7 or 9 Tram going South from the Opera House (11 stops) or Central Market (10 stops) then walk one block to the right (West) and enter through the back parking lot. click for Schedule Information

We found the number 17E bus to be overcrowded, hot, and with a grouchy driver on our recent trip. 

Beware of taxis on the street in front of the LIDO center. They are famous for overcharging even locals. If possible take a red colored Renault taxi stopped inside the LIDO property near the security gate. If no taxis available, dial 800-1313 (payphone inside main building next to ATM) and tell the dispatcher you are at LIDO Krasta.  more info

-
Be delighted - adventure outside of Riga City 

Take a train or bus or rent a car and visit the Sigulda area just one hour East of Riga. We especially recommend:

  1. Krimulda church
  2. Krimulda village
  3. Ragana Witch Cafe (wonderful for all ages)
  4. Turaida Castle grounds
  5. Cat House Cafe half block North of Hotel Sigulda

Need assistance visiting Sigulda, contact the friendly, helpful staff at Patricia Tourist Office. 371-728-4868  map
 
Tourist Visitor Advisory Riga & Latvia
 Alerts Riga Latvia

  1. Watch the street crime. Pickpockets and lookouts with mobile phone communication will spot you at the Stockmann store or using one of the ATM machines located around the city. They will surprise you later on the street.

  2. Jurmala is having some trouble with bad restaurants, bad service and bad food. The beaches are not as clean as normal. One car with luggage was reported stolen in front of their hotel.
  3. Watch out for the crowds in late November as the NATO members invade Riga. Hotels will for sure be booked solid and complete areas of the city closed. Plan ahead.
  4. Be careful of taxi overcharging. Trips originating at the central bus station, Riga Hotel, LIDO Krasta or street hailed cabs to the airport are especially huge problem. click more information 
  5. Warning food poisoning due to hot weather more info

more information - is Riga Safe?
 
-
How about a mobile phone and or Latvia SIMM chip? 

contact Patricia Tourist Office. Daily, weekly rentals phones and SIMM chips available at low rental rates  - more information
What is this site ?
 
Background
 
 
If you have questions, feel free to POST them on one of our sites:

Riga Expat  or  Visit Latvia  or   

use our SEARCH  feature
-
 Background - what is our purpose ?
 
This is a new Riga Inside site was created 13 July 2006 to provide lots of inside information known only to those in the know; which, we hope to be the staff of our tourist office.

Riga is an exciting place to visit but not free of controversy, intrigue, ordinary street crime and surprises everywhere.

Some have encouraged us to create a Riga nightlife site; but, we are resisting as we believe there is much more to see and do in Riga and the Riga Region (about 1.5 hour radius). For the most part, one can explore the nightlife aspects of Riga on their own.

Keep coming back and back as we promise to update this site weekly at least!

Also you may subscribe to the Riga Tourist office RSS News Feed and see the latest information as soon we post it.

 
Coming soon - no, it here now !
 
a paid advertising site called www.rigadirectory.info. This site accepts advertising from various Riga and Latvia companies, service organizations, restaurants, tourist attractions and shops, cafes and more. There will be a searchable index directory of where to find those goods and services you are looking for.  more info
 
new information on "hop on and hop off" bus tours of Riga. Patricia tourist office is now your one stop location for all tours of Riga and the greater Riga region of Latvia.
 
 
That's all now... but much more to come ... check back again! 

Best regards, Mike Johnson, General Manager,
... your friend in the Baltics !      who?

Here is a drawing of       "The essential Riga Latvia"
Home First Christmas Tree was Riga Latvia year 1510 History of Riga Latvia Freedom Monument and places of Interest Riga Latvia Churches Riga Museum in Riga Lots to do and see in Riga Art Nouveau buildings Riga
Home First Christmas Tree Riga History Places of interest Riga's Churches so many museums! Special Riga What about  Art Nouveau?
click text for link
 
we support the 
ASTA Code of Ethics
Tourist Office Riga
... your friend in the Baltics !
 

mail webmaster at:   patricialtd@aol.com     to report problems,  broken or bad links
Copyright (c) 2000 - 2006 Patricia LTD  - -  Revised  10 September   2006 - 20:53

 

Back Issues
   
13 July 2006 Introduction, Travel warning NATO conference in November
16 July 2006 Visit Jurmala recommend west of Majori
19 July 2006 Restaurant recommendations
21 July 2006 Announcing new Riga Events site
26 July 2006 Restaurant prices increased, Blue flag back Jurmala, Take Tram 7 to LIDO Krasta, Beware of Taxi overcharging
28 July 2006 Food poisoning in hot weather,
03 August 2006 Money exchange Riga Airport, Riga airport bus, Riga airport taxi
09 August 2006 Riga Hotels availability and prices, news about new airlines Riga airport, News about declaring cash money on arrival in Latvia
10 August 2006 Bad customer service Salt & Pepper Restaurant Palasta Street
13 August 2006 Added info Riga Festival 17 to 19 August
16 August 2006 Added info Low Cost Day trips Self Directed Tours; announcement of new Business directory www.inforiga.com
19 August 2006 Food poisoning again in Riga restaurant
22 August 2006 How to charge Riga Stockholm ferry tickets to a credit card Declare cash over 10,000 Euros on arrival
1 September 2006 New Video slide show Riga's Icons; New German Baltics Guide; Jurmala tourist visitors up; Riga hotel prices rolled back
10 September 2006