Hestia Hotel Europa

The hotel itself is decent. Clean, yet the bathroom seemed a little worn (broken tiles and table around the sink looked dirty). Bed was terribly hard. Corridors could have had better lighting (it was really dim). Breakfast was decent. I had messaged the hotel beforehand to ask about the chance of getting some gluten free bread or müesli on breakfast. I never got an answer. I asked the same question of a woman standing behind the counter checking our room number when going to the breakfast. She just seemed really rude and said "Just go look over there" and pointed to the breakfast room. So I went and found nothing. Not a single sign indicating anything about allergens. That was the biggest problem for me as a coeliac. No separate serving for gluten/dairy free or for vegans. However I thought I try my luck with one of the waiters and asked if there was any gluten free bread, and she said there was! So, I got some bread (not any non-contaminated butter though) but otherwise one just has to pick stuff that are most likely safe to eat. There were cold cuts, cheese, vegetables, also yoghurt and canned fruits, so I got my stomach full anyway. The location is very good if one arrives on a cruise ship. However there's a lot of building work going on in the harbour area, so walking around wasn't always easy. Short distance to the old town as well as to the Rotermanni area.

Pluses: Morning sauna, very good breakfast buffet, large standard rooms, with wood theme + you don't need to have the hotel card or other card to activate the electricity in the room = you can charge electronics when away. And the bed mattress is firm and good, almost better than the one I have at my home. The minibar fridge is empty, but cold, so you can cool your own drinks w/o taking out stuff. Minuses (not very substantial): No posters or pictures on the walls of the room, which gives a bit of a cold feeling. The Samsung hotel TV doesn't have a chromecast/miracast option, so you are stuck to linear TV, unless you bring a HDMI cable. Also the apps on the TV seem outmoded since BBC news didn't work, and Plex couldn't reach my server, enven though I could log in.

I stayed in this hotel for two nights. The location is very good Close to the Ferry terminal and the Nautica shopping mall. The hotel is also Close to Rotermanni and city centre. The room is quite spacious and bright. The beds are very Hard and not so comfortable, I woke up at the same time both nights. The bath room is not very good, so worn out and in bad shape. The floor tiles in the bath room looks dangerous, can be slippery when wet. The breakfast was Good and plentiful. The hotel staff is not very service minded, but still helpful.

Came to Riga by bus, and the hotel was only a 6-7 min walk from the bus station. And literally only some minutes from the hotel to the center of the city. Clean rooms, very friendly staff. Had 2 superior twin rooms, with comfy armchairs and plenty of space - perfect if you want to sit together in the evening with 4 friends in your room. Very good breakfast. Used the delayed check-out - a handy option as our departure was at 4 p.m.

Its not normal how they just take the money before talk with the client! Booked that hotel with gift card what was for my bithday! And the manual says that if you book it, then you must give this number and thats all! I did it when i booked and also the secons time when i did check Out i gave them that number for be sured that all is paid! They took it and sayd everythig okei! But after when i saw my bank acount, they took full money anyway. So i called them and they said that they cant use it in that terms! But manual said that it is used like this!! Also were this giftcard came , they say that is just simple - i give the this number and they give me money back!! Its all nonsens and i am very very dissapointed !!!!!

I have just concluded a 12-day stay here. First of all, let me say that the reviews of this hotel were spot on, both the good and the bad. The good: the location is excellent, just a few minutes walk from the ferry terminals, and a 10 minute walk from the Old Town. The negative: the hotel refuses to turn the air conditioning on, and the room is hot and stuffy. And the reception plays the exact game others mentioned. When I complained that my room was hot, the agent asked me if I had worked the climate control on the wall. I told him, “of course; there’s nothing happening; it’s dead.” Rather than be truthful with me, he acted surprised, and told me he’d have maintenance check it the next day. Of course, no one came from maintenance - it’s all a little game reception plays with the guests. They are fully aware that the A/C has been centrally turned off. The temperature was 27-30c for an entire week, and the room was hot. Reception did give me a small fan, but the room was still too warm. The hotel allows their guests to be uncomfortable, intentionally, in the interest of saving money. This hotel could be 5 star. But choosing to allow guests to suffer, is not a 5-star attitude. If you have no intention of using A/C, then let guests know this, and have reception inform guests of this policy, rather than act shocked when the guest informs you that the room is hot. The breakfast buffet is extensive and very good. Directly next to the hotel is the shopping center, and the ground floor has a RIMI supermarket, which has everything you could possibly need. The WIFI was excellent- no issues whatsoever. Overall, the hotel staff I found to be quite unfriendly; no one smiles, anywhere. I must, however, thank German at the front desk, who helped me tremendously with a matter. Overall, the hotel is good, but could be so much better, with proper staff training - why is everyone so palpably unhappy? - and by allowing guests to utilize the air conditioning.