The Hotel: The Elizabete is one of three Reval Hotels in the Latvian capital city of Riga. This 200-plus room hotel is both the newest and most design-led of the three.
Check-In: Possibly the quickest check-in ever! The duty manager had room keys ready and waiting for our group and simply handed them out – no filling in or signing of forms, and no credit card details taken.
The Room: A modern, stylish room furnished in sleek reds, browns and blacks. Large windows meant plenty of daylight. A well-stocked mini-bar was sensibly priced, plus there was complimentary tea and coffee. A semi-open plan bathroom had a bath with good overhead shower, large sink, amenities and plenty of storage and hanging space. There was also air conditioning and complimentary internet access, but no iron/ironing board.
The Business: There's complimentary wifi internet access throughout the hotel, plus a computer 'podium' in reception for those without their own laptop. There are two meeting/conference rooms available which can host up to 60 delegates. Both are equipped with AV facilities.
The Facilities: The hotel's C.U.T bar and restaurant serves up good international cuisine in designer surroundings, plus there's a central outdoor terrace. The comprehensive hot and cold buffet breakfast is also served in the restaurant area. There's ice machines and shoe-shine stands on each floor, plus ironing rooms for guests not prepared to pay the small fee for the hotel's own laundry service.
The Verdict: A classy, well thought out business hotel in a convenient central location. Good customer service with staff speaking, on the whole, excellent English. Having visited Reval's other two properties in the city the Elizabete is, at least in my opinion, the best of the trio.
The Details: Reval has ten properties across the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, with a new hotel opening soon in St Petersburg, Russia. Rates start from
106 euros per night. www.revalhotels.com Andy Hoskins
