Lielupe Hotel - Jurmala, Latvia 

We spent 9 nights here with an 8 year old and a 5 year old. We stayed in one of the business class rooms which was modern and clean although a bit small. We had a room with a double bed and a separate ‘living’ room with a sofa bed that pretty much filled it, plus a bathroom. There was a digital safe in the room that packed up halfway through our stay that was never fixed despite a couple of visits by the hotel handyman. There is an excellent indoor pool and a spa, breakfast was good if you’re happy with Swedish buffet and the staff were reserved but helpful. It’s in a great spot for the beach and maybe a 30 – 40 minute walk into the main resort centre although it’s easy to catch a train for next to nothing from the nearby (5 minute walk) station. There are also regular and cheap trains to Riga and beyond (we had a good day out to see the castles at Sigulda).

Stayed for seven nights in the Lielupe in August. The hotel facilities are OK but there seems to be a real problem with the staff. For example, there is a fantastic restaurant in the top floor (spectacular views and great food) but although the advertised closing time is 1.00am we were kicked out at 11pm, only to find it was open again, for Latvians and Russians, at 12! Other problems included rooms not being cleaned (eg sheets in the baby's cot not being changed despite having sick all over them), rude bar staff refusing to serve females and management who agree to rectify problems but then tell the staff something completely different (luckily conversation with manager recorded on mobile phone). It is a shame because the hotel is pretty good and in good location but the staff appear to have a big problem with people from the UK.