Nearing the end of 2008 we look at this year to see that Argonaut Hostel is the only hostel in Riga to win a Top Ten Hostel in the World award in 2008 from the largest hostel booking agent in the world. Argonaut has the best rated location at 98% satisfaction and our scond hostel - Barons City Central Hostel is the highest rated hostel in Riga for August and September 2008 and also so far in October it holds the highest rating for all hostels in Riga.
The Argonaut Travellers Bar is a good hang out to meet other travellers and get some romances started. Argonaut has managed to avoid attracting just guys as our female staff and our security continue make female travellers to feel welcome and secure. In the evening many guests head on a guided tour to bars in Riga. Departure 10pm.
The latest refugees are Rosemary and John from Adelaide Australia. Lost their wallet, cards and money on their travels and stumbled in to Argonaut. We have booked them in for 7 weeks at both Argonaut Old Town Hostel and our Liepaja Beach Hostel. A really nice couple so much so that we had them home for dinner.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Hotels in Riga Budget Options
When looking for a hotel in Riga the first challenge is that the first two pages of Google are taken up by hotel booking agents. Hostels in Riga provide a better option for travellers staying in Riga from the start as we are easy to find on Google. Argonaut hostel in Riga's Old Town is well located and some of the services are better than hotels in Riga.
Argonaut Hostel uses the Smart Key Card entry system, Double Bed Rooms as well as Twin, Triple and Quad bed rooms, Free Wifi and Internet Computer access.
On the ground floor Argonaut Hostel now has a Thai/Chinese restaurant that is far better than many hotels in Riga can offer.
A private room at Argonaut is priced as much as 1/4 to 1/2 the price of a hotel room in Riga. www.argonauthostel.com
Argonaut Hostel uses the Smart Key Card entry system, Double Bed Rooms as well as Twin, Triple and Quad bed rooms, Free Wifi and Internet Computer access.
On the ground floor Argonaut Hostel now has a Thai/Chinese restaurant that is far better than many hotels in Riga can offer.
A private room at Argonaut is priced as much as 1/4 to 1/2 the price of a hotel room in Riga. www.argonauthostel.com
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Hostels in Riga Latvia
What hostels are there in Riga Latvia? www.rigahostels.lv list the best hostels in Latvia. Two in Riga and one in Liepaja. There are many other hostels in Riga that provide a bit of a crap shoot to jag a decent experience. Nearly all hostels in Riga offer free internet.
What the best hostels offer are lockers for free, Late checkout, free bed linen with towel, Common Room with Movies, Bar, Kitchen, 24 Hr reception, Tours, Helpful staff, and free guide books.
So if you are not getting that above then you are not getting value for money. Of course Fire Safety, Security or Doors, Fun Atmosphere, Cleanliness, and a good location in the old town of Riga are most important and offered by only a few hostels.
The Lonely Planet guy that stayed in Riga a month checking out all hostels said that many hostels 'show you your bed and that's it' no trying to make you feel welcome or like you are at home. No hostel in Riga is all things for all people but some definitely have no things for all people :-)
What the best hostels offer are lockers for free, Late checkout, free bed linen with towel, Common Room with Movies, Bar, Kitchen, 24 Hr reception, Tours, Helpful staff, and free guide books.
So if you are not getting that above then you are not getting value for money. Of course Fire Safety, Security or Doors, Fun Atmosphere, Cleanliness, and a good location in the old town of Riga are most important and offered by only a few hostels.
The Lonely Planet guy that stayed in Riga a month checking out all hostels said that many hostels 'show you your bed and that's it' no trying to make you feel welcome or like you are at home. No hostel in Riga is all things for all people but some definitely have no things for all people :-)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Beach Party Liepaja Latvia
Today is the first day of this years massive Beach Party in Liepaja Latvia. Over 100,000 tickets have been sold to see over 30 bands performing on the beach. The Argonaut Beach Hostel www.beachhostel.lv has been reserved for foreign travellers and will be for every future Beach Party. We do this to enable travellers to attend the party and have accommodation as travellers are not as well informed as locals to book so far in advance. So if you missed out on the 2008 beach party then we hope to see you in Liepaja 2009.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Riga to Vilnius via Kaunas, Klaipeda, Nica, Curonian Spit, Palanga, Liepaja
Travelling between the capital cities in Lithuania and Latvia - Vilnius and Riga offers you the opportunity to get off the beaten track. Those folk in a hurry catch often the bus that travels on the freeway between the two capitals. There is no train between Vilnius and Riga. Those other folk with more interest and more time have a bonanza of places to see that will surprise and impress you.
The shortest way in to Lithuania from Poland is in to the city of Kaunas in Lithuania. Vilnius is actually out of the way to the East unless you specifically want to see it. In Kaunas you will be impressed. The Old Town is a marvel and the 1 km long mall that is attached to it is an oasis of modern trendy shops in the middle of nowhere. The place to stay is http://www.vilniushostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=9
To get to Klaipeda from Kaunas there are cycle tracks and in summer there are boats. The easiest way is by bus to Klaipeda. Klaipeda has a wealth of history and is a lovely quaint city
The shortest way in to Lithuania from Poland is in to the city of Kaunas in Lithuania. Vilnius is actually out of the way to the East unless you specifically want to see it. In Kaunas you will be impressed. The Old Town is a marvel and the 1 km long mall that is attached to it is an oasis of modern trendy shops in the middle of nowhere. The place to stay is http://www.vilniushostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=9
To get to Klaipeda from Kaunas there are cycle tracks and in summer there are boats. The easiest way is by bus to Klaipeda. Klaipeda has a wealth of history and is a lovely quaint city
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Travelling from or to Tallinn from or to Riga Latvia
Tallinn in Estonia is north of Riga in Latvia. To Get to Riga easy you need to take a bus. The Bus Station in Tallinn is located on the edge of the Old Town http://www.tallinnhostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=5 On the corner of Kai and Kuunari Streets. (North east on this map)
Here are some buses you can catch to Riga http://www.tallinnhostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=10
Trains to Riga from Tallinn are only just now operating and erratically. Better to wait till 2009 to consider using the train.
A Bus takes 5 hours to get to Riga. They take the route via Parnu . If you have time in Summer to stop at Parnu then it will be a smart ting to do. http://www.tallinnhostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=11 lists a good hostel in Parnu called Louna.
The alternate Route to Riga is via Tartu in Estonia and Aluksne in North East Latvia.
In Tartu you can stay at Teviseks Hostels http://www.tallinnhostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=12
Stop in at Voru as described on the webpage above and make your way to Riga. There is no border guard anymore so if you are in Estonia then you will get in to Latvia no problem.
Then find us usung the Riga Map http://www.argonauthostel.com/hostellocation.php
Cheers and good luck
Here are some buses you can catch to Riga http://www.tallinnhostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=10
Trains to Riga from Tallinn are only just now operating and erratically. Better to wait till 2009 to consider using the train.
A Bus takes 5 hours to get to Riga. They take the route via Parnu . If you have time in Summer to stop at Parnu then it will be a smart ting to do. http://www.tallinnhostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=11 lists a good hostel in Parnu called Louna.
The alternate Route to Riga is via Tartu in Estonia and Aluksne in North East Latvia.
In Tartu you can stay at Teviseks Hostels http://www.tallinnhostels.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=12
Stop in at Voru as described on the webpage above and make your way to Riga. There is no border guard anymore so if you are in Estonia then you will get in to Latvia no problem.
Then find us usung the Riga Map http://www.argonauthostel.com/hostellocation.php
Cheers and good luck
Monday, March 10, 2008
Beach Hostel in Liepaja Latvia
The Argonaut Beach hostel http://www.beachhostel.lv/ is the first beach hostel in Latvia. We opened the first hostel in Riga so it should be no surprise that we opened the first hostel in another city of Latvia. As with the Riga hostel - people say it is a big risk and they say that they believe there are not enough tourists to justify a hostel opening in Liepaja. Maybe they are correct but mostly the people that say negative things have never taken enough risks to see the full picture that eventually includes many positives. To run a business it is not only about the financial cost versus the income. There are other considerations in life.
The Beach Hostel in Liepaja enables us and many travellers to get to a Latvian city that has its natural charm intact. Discount airlines like Easy Jet and Ryanair have done a lot to improve tourism in Latvia. But the Latvians have not taken charge of how Latvia is represented internationally. The result is that tourism promotion for Latvia has been hijacked by Strip Clubs attracting weekenders out for a drinking spree that spoil a lot of Riga's ambiance.
Liepaja is too far to visit for most weekenders as it takes 3 hours journey in a bus from Riga. International flights do go to Liepaja http://www.airbaltic.com/ but not from cities full of roudy guys.
So Liepaja has its charm un spoiled, Liepaja has more entertainment than Riga and it has something happening everynight. The people of Liepaja have a more positive view of foreigners and tourists.
The beach in Liepaja in summer is fantastic. May 2007 in Liepaja the weather was really hot for the whole month. There were sun tanned people everywhere. We were working renovating the hostel and lots of people walked passed the hostel on their way to the beach. It was really difficult to keep working :-)
The Liepaja Beach Hostel is located in the Old Town of Liepaja between the city centre and the beach. About 500 mtrs from the city centre and 300 mtrs from the beach. You walk through parks from the hostel to get to the beach.
At the Beach Hostel we have a BBQ and other amenities that can not be made available in our two Riga hostels http://www.rigahostels.lv/
The Beach Hostel has 26 beds for guests so don't leave your booking till too late.
The Beach Hostel in Liepaja enables us and many travellers to get to a Latvian city that has its natural charm intact. Discount airlines like Easy Jet and Ryanair have done a lot to improve tourism in Latvia. But the Latvians have not taken charge of how Latvia is represented internationally. The result is that tourism promotion for Latvia has been hijacked by Strip Clubs attracting weekenders out for a drinking spree that spoil a lot of Riga's ambiance.
Liepaja is too far to visit for most weekenders as it takes 3 hours journey in a bus from Riga. International flights do go to Liepaja http://www.airbaltic.com/ but not from cities full of roudy guys.
So Liepaja has its charm un spoiled, Liepaja has more entertainment than Riga and it has something happening everynight. The people of Liepaja have a more positive view of foreigners and tourists.
The beach in Liepaja in summer is fantastic. May 2007 in Liepaja the weather was really hot for the whole month. There were sun tanned people everywhere. We were working renovating the hostel and lots of people walked passed the hostel on their way to the beach. It was really difficult to keep working :-)
The Liepaja Beach Hostel is located in the Old Town of Liepaja between the city centre and the beach. About 500 mtrs from the city centre and 300 mtrs from the beach. You walk through parks from the hostel to get to the beach.
At the Beach Hostel we have a BBQ and other amenities that can not be made available in our two Riga hostels http://www.rigahostels.lv/
The Beach Hostel has 26 beds for guests so don't leave your booking till too late.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Argonaut Hostel guest services in Riga
So what exactly does Argonaut Hostel do for guests?
We at Argonaut have a core base of standard services that cover what people mostly expect from a hostel and then we have the unexpected extras that provide our guests with a pleasant unexpected surprise. So for example of course you get a bed but our beds all have thick mattresses, are made of wood and made custom for us. The custom made part means that you can sit on the bottom bunk in a dorm room and not hit your head on the upper bunk. Thick legs means the upper bunk does not shake the whole bed when someone moves during the night. There is area under the bunk where your free locker for your whole backpack is located. As they are made of wood they are much more pleasing and homely.
We get positive comments about the beds but maybe not enough to justify not to replace them with metal beds when they fall apart.
What do you think?
Another service we provide with a bed is of course a room. All our room doors use Smart Card locks. We think this is another unexpected positive service from Argonaut for guests. These locks enable us to not bother every guest with a key deposit. Each key is electronic and cut each time for each guest and the duration of the stay. This provides added security in that there are no metal keys falling in to the wrong hands. Each key is printed on both sides with details that promotes our Beach Hostel www.beachhostel.lv in Liepaja Latvia. We want all keys returned when guests checkout but of course not all do get returned. So we spend around 1300 euros each year getting more keys made.
What do you think about our Smart Card Keys?
A surprise service:
In each room we have our own unique Argonaut Radio system. This system works so that you push a button in each room to turn it on or off and there is a dedicated volume control in each room. We are not aware of any other hostel in the world with a radio system like our Argonaut Radio.
Free of Charge services:
We opened the first hostel in Riga and set some standards that all hostels in Riga have to offer to be able to compete with us. Free Internet computers, Free WIFI, Free sheets and Towel. But most other hostels in Riga do not make each bed like we do. Very rarely does anyone say that a ready made dorm bed has value to them. We think that making the beds saves hassle for each guest and keeps each bed more hygenic.
What do you think about ready made beds - should we bother to continue breaking our staff backs making them?
Free Locker Locks
We provide locks free of charge for lockers. Again we hope this is another unexpected pleasant surprise for guests. Every other hostel I (owner) have stayed at has charged a free for renting or forcing guests to buy locks. We never receive any positive comments about free locks.
Do you think we should just charge for locks like every other hostel?
Hostel Showers:
All our showers have dedicated boilers so that there will always be a shower with hot water. Yes one shower may go cold if many guests use it in a short period of time but never have all showers gone cold. We have One shower for every 6 guests when the stated requirement in Latvia is for every 10 people. But we know that in Latvia some other hostels have one shower for up to 20 people. We have seen comments for other hostels in Riga from guests stating that they were pissed off about there being too few showers. So we know our many showers are a bonus for our guests.
I will have to write more later as this is taking a lot of typing to list the things we do for the Argonaut Hostel guest.
Please post your comments to provide us valuable feedback.
We at Argonaut have a core base of standard services that cover what people mostly expect from a hostel and then we have the unexpected extras that provide our guests with a pleasant unexpected surprise. So for example of course you get a bed but our beds all have thick mattresses, are made of wood and made custom for us. The custom made part means that you can sit on the bottom bunk in a dorm room and not hit your head on the upper bunk. Thick legs means the upper bunk does not shake the whole bed when someone moves during the night. There is area under the bunk where your free locker for your whole backpack is located. As they are made of wood they are much more pleasing and homely.
We get positive comments about the beds but maybe not enough to justify not to replace them with metal beds when they fall apart.
What do you think?
Another service we provide with a bed is of course a room. All our room doors use Smart Card locks. We think this is another unexpected positive service from Argonaut for guests. These locks enable us to not bother every guest with a key deposit. Each key is electronic and cut each time for each guest and the duration of the stay. This provides added security in that there are no metal keys falling in to the wrong hands. Each key is printed on both sides with details that promotes our Beach Hostel www.beachhostel.lv in Liepaja Latvia. We want all keys returned when guests checkout but of course not all do get returned. So we spend around 1300 euros each year getting more keys made.
What do you think about our Smart Card Keys?
A surprise service:
In each room we have our own unique Argonaut Radio system. This system works so that you push a button in each room to turn it on or off and there is a dedicated volume control in each room. We are not aware of any other hostel in the world with a radio system like our Argonaut Radio.
Free of Charge services:
We opened the first hostel in Riga and set some standards that all hostels in Riga have to offer to be able to compete with us. Free Internet computers, Free WIFI, Free sheets and Towel. But most other hostels in Riga do not make each bed like we do. Very rarely does anyone say that a ready made dorm bed has value to them. We think that making the beds saves hassle for each guest and keeps each bed more hygenic.
What do you think about ready made beds - should we bother to continue breaking our staff backs making them?
Free Locker Locks
We provide locks free of charge for lockers. Again we hope this is another unexpected pleasant surprise for guests. Every other hostel I (owner) have stayed at has charged a free for renting or forcing guests to buy locks. We never receive any positive comments about free locks.
Do you think we should just charge for locks like every other hostel?
Hostel Showers:
All our showers have dedicated boilers so that there will always be a shower with hot water. Yes one shower may go cold if many guests use it in a short period of time but never have all showers gone cold. We have One shower for every 6 guests when the stated requirement in Latvia is for every 10 people. But we know that in Latvia some other hostels have one shower for up to 20 people. We have seen comments for other hostels in Riga from guests stating that they were pissed off about there being too few showers. So we know our many showers are a bonus for our guests.
I will have to write more later as this is taking a lot of typing to list the things we do for the Argonaut Hostel guest.
Please post your comments to provide us valuable feedback.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Argonaut Hostel Riga Latvia Blog
Dudes thank the Argonaut Gods for Blogs. Without this blog we at Argonaut Hostel in Riga would only have each other to enlighten on what we learn and experience running a hostel in New Europe :-)
The first topic of discussion is to do with Customers. We call you all Guests because you are our guest. We all have Latvian heritage and are keen to enable you to see more of Latvia than the average Joe. Here at Argonaut we have internal and external customers. Staff are internal and guests are external. Some external guests get so close to internals that they almost become internals. But that is another story.
Obnoxious guests that agrivate our lovely staff end up crossing the line where internal customers become more important that external customers. Not so many guests do this but the fact that the Staff know they have rights enables them to provide a better service to the guests that we like the most.
It is a challenge to attract the guests we like. We certainly write on our website www.argonauthostel.com that stags are Not Welcome. Hens are Welcome. But then how do we attract the people we can have fun with? You know - genuine travellers. People that want to see more than just a pub when in Latvia. Getting married to a Latvian is something we will support but Strip Clubs we work on exterminating.
So what do you think of our philosophy so far?
The first topic of discussion is to do with Customers. We call you all Guests because you are our guest. We all have Latvian heritage and are keen to enable you to see more of Latvia than the average Joe. Here at Argonaut we have internal and external customers. Staff are internal and guests are external. Some external guests get so close to internals that they almost become internals. But that is another story.
Obnoxious guests that agrivate our lovely staff end up crossing the line where internal customers become more important that external customers. Not so many guests do this but the fact that the Staff know they have rights enables them to provide a better service to the guests that we like the most.
It is a challenge to attract the guests we like. We certainly write on our website www.argonauthostel.com that stags are Not Welcome. Hens are Welcome. But then how do we attract the people we can have fun with? You know - genuine travellers. People that want to see more than just a pub when in Latvia. Getting married to a Latvian is something we will support but Strip Clubs we work on exterminating.
So what do you think of our philosophy so far?
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