Baltic Visitor

Yesterday morning I went to an event run by the Slovak tourist board, promoting the country as a spa break destination. This got me thinking about the various opportunities within the Baltics, and over the next few days I will be posting a series of short pieces on the subject.

The top spot for spa breaks in Latvia – and possibly in the whole of the Baltics – is Jurmala. This resort is the favourite summer escape from Riga, and it is easy to see why: attractive beaches and pine forests, plenty of pretty wooden summerhouses, and an active nightlife in summer. The area can be reached by a short train or bus ride from the capital. If you drive into Jurmala, be sure to buy a permit costing 1Ls per day from the roadside booth.

Jurmala is actually a whole string of villages and beaches, with the most popular stretch centred on Majori. This is where most of the hotels and restaurants are to be found, many of them on the pedestrianised Jomas iela. Accommodation is expensive compared to the rest of the country (Riga excepted) and there are few bargains to be found. That said, the hotels are mostly of a high standard and several have spa facilities.

At the extreme luxury end of things is the unfortunately-named TB Palace, with just four suites in an early 20th century building. Particularly popular with wealthy Russian visitors, TB Palace is seriously expensive (a 2 day, 1 night spa package costs €605) but the rooms are stunning – assuming that you aren’t of a minimalist frame of mind. The spa facilities are top-notch too, with Russian and Turkish saunas, a jacuzzi and plunge pool. A range of treatments are available, and the spa can be hired by non-guests at €90 for two and a half hours.

Moving to something more affordable, I already sang the praises of the Jurmala Spa a few days ago, so this time I’ll mention the Lielupe. Situated on the edge of one of the area’s most popular beaches, but a short drive from Majori and Jomas iela, the Lielupe is very much an old-fashioned resort hotel on the outside (and I don’t mean that as a compliment). Inside there is a large and bright reception, and while the rooms are nothing special the Lielupe does have one unusual feature – a tennis court in the basement. The spa facilities are functional rather than luxurious, but use of the pool and sauna are free if you have a business class room (€74 per night).

And finally, for now, the Vaivari. This is not a spa hotel, but rather a rehabilitation centre – in other words, it concentrates more on medical problems (although hotels such as the Jurmala Spa do also have medical staff). This reflects the history of the resort, which has long been a combination of a holiday resort and a place for recuperation. It is said that Jurmala first became popular when Russian soldiers arrived for some R&R in 1812. The Vaivari offers a whole range of treatments, and is promoted by the tourist board as being suitable for foreign visitors.

Medical tourism has been big news lately, and is certainly big business – at the Slovakia event which I attended yesterday, a market research expert from Mintel estimated that it is currently worth £60 million per year in the UK. It is a subject which I will explore a little in a future post.

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