Last year we took a
trip to Russia that included Estonia and Latvia with the latter
being huge hits. The countries were beautiful, the hotels were
fantastic and everything was very inexpensive. Sure, Russia was
great too but we're replacing Russia with Finland with this trip
and willl also add Lithuania to make this another epic Baltic
road trip!
We'll
start off with Finland where we will have 3-nights in Helsinki.
This trip will feature more of the great outdoors and beauty than
some of our other European trips. Finland has more forest per
square mile than any country in Europe, and the 11th most in the
world. The nation is 73 percent firs, birches and oaks. Finland
also has 188,000 lakes and 179,584 islands. So if you like water,
lots of sun and island hopping, you should enjoy Finland.
Summer
is also the best time to visit Finland. Because of the long, cold
winter Finns celebrate their summer very passionately. Some go
to music festivals, offering a choice of jazz, blues, rock, opera
and chamber music. Others are sailing among the coastal islands
or enjoying slow life at their summer cottages – swimming,
fishing and cooking dinner on the grill. For three brief –
but oh, so sweet! – months, the temperatures soar high and
the sun does not set at all. Finland’s short but sparkling
sunny season sees the country burst into life. Finns seem to want
to suck every last golden drop out of the summer in the hope that
it will sustain them through the long, dark winter months, and
there’s an explosion of good cheer and optimism. With surprisingly
high temperatures for these latitudes, summer is a time for music
festivals, art exhibitions, lake cruises and midnight sunshine
on convivial beer terraces.
Helsinki
is an electrifying urban space with world-renowned design and
music scenes. Embraced by the Baltic, it’s a spectacular
ensemble of modern and stately architecture, island restaurants
and stylish and quirky bars. And the ‘new Suomi’ epicurean
scene is flourishing, with locally foraged flavours to the fore.
Finland holds seven Unesco World Heritage sites of which six are
cultural and one is natural. Perhaps the most well-known is the
fortress island Suomenlinna
in Helsinki. Suomenlinna was added to the UNESCO World Heritage
List in 1991 as a unique monument of military architecture. Comprising
of seven car-free islands connected by bridges Suomenlinna is
full of old fortresses and dungeons. The Unesco World Heritage
site was originally built by the Swedes as Sveaborg in the mid-18th
century. Several museums, former bunkers and fortress walls, as
well as Finland's only remaining WWII submarine, are fascinating
to explore. From the main quay, a blue-signposted walking path
connects the key attractions. By the bridge that links Iso Mustasaari
and the main island, Susisaari, is Suomenlinna-Museo, a two-level
museum covering the history of the fortress.
Another
tour that we have in mind is to visit the town of Porvoo. Porvoo
forms a jewel of a town and makes a great day trip destination
just an hour from Helsinki. Founded nearly 800 years ago, Porvoo
is the second oldest city in Finland and evidence of its long
history can still be seen and felt as you walk its charming streets.
For centuries, the city has served as both a home and a source
of inspiration for many Finnish artists. We will travel from Helsinki
to Porvoo by steamboat. Even though Porvoo is not exactly a coastal
town, it is connected to the Gulf of Finland via the Porvoo River.
The river flows through the city, passing Porvoo's most well-known
landmarks: its red shore houses. Originally, the shore houses
were painted red in honour of the arrival of Gustav III, the king
of Sweden.
Besides
these 2 day half-day trips you might also enjoy a canal cruise,
kayaking bicycling, a boat tour or a guided trip to Nuuksio National
Park for canoeing and even fresh berry picking. Here's a website
with more on some of these outdoor activities:
Now
we will take a road trip to our next destination - Estonia, one
of the three Baltic States - three countries on the shores of
the Baltic Sea – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. All three
are united by their common history going back many centuries,
and the joint struggle for independence. We will have 4-nights
in the capital of Tallinn. Estonian history extends across a long
and winding road through time, telling the tales of many nations
from Vikings to the kings, queens and medieval merchants of German,
Swedish, Danish and Russian descent. Estonia's deeply rooted pagan
spirit and European mindset means that the country and its people
bear close ties with nature while being a proudly independent
EU and NATO member state with a growing reputation for innovation.
Estonia offers visitors to experience the spirit of the Medieval
Ages, omnipresent in the cobblestone streets and buildings of
Tallinn.
We
will soak up the history while exploring the medieval old city
but Estonia also features some wonderful natural 
resources.
With close to 1,500 lakes and along the shores of which are situation
Estonia's unique Russian village communities. In addition to its
lakes, Estonia also has over 200 natural spring-fed rivers. We
enjoyed some wonderful tours on our last trip to Estonia and Latvia.
Click
here to see what's in store!
Next
up is the small country of Latvia for the next 3-nights. Again,
we will enjoy a nice road trip with beautiful scenery in route
from Estonia to Latvia and enjoy some stops along the way. We
will be staying in the capital of Riga at a beautiful 4-star hotel
just steps from the Old Town. Latvia boasts they are amoung the
world's greenest countries. Thanks to its multiple extraordinarily
beautiful art nouveau buildings, it is considered the European
art nouveau metropolis. Latvians continue to observe the traditions
of their ancestors – culture embedded in Latvian folklore
that is best experienced during the Summer Solstice or "Jani"
holiday, and the massive 
Song
and Dance festivals, as well as through traditional crafts and
handiwork, events organised by museums, and a lot of other activities.
Those who enjoy music and performing arts will enjoy major opera
festivals in Riga and Sigulda, and a large number of various concerts
and festivals across the country.
One
of the tours that we all enjoyed on our last trip here was a very
unique off-road adventure where we were actually allowed to drive
the jeeps through mud and across rivers! It was so much fun. Check
out my video!
Lastly,
we will wrap up our trip with a stay in Vilnius, the capital of
Lithuania for 3 more nights. A land of wood and water.
Lithuania
(Lietuva) is fast being recognised as one of Europe's gems. Southernmost
of the Baltic States, it's a pocket-sized republic that's a nature-lover's
delight, yet lacks nothing in urban excitement. The country is
full of preserved natural landscapes, woods, lakes and rivers,
and has an unique sea side, with Curonian split, a sandy peninsula,
isolating the Curonian sea from the Baltic sea. Lonely coastal
wetlands lure migrating birds by the tens of thousands while inland,
lush forests watch over burnished lakes.
Lithuania’s
capital, Vilnius, regularly ranks as one of the cheapest city
breaks in Europe, with a pint likely to cost below €2.50.
Spend time wandering along the wonderfully atmospheric cobbled
streets of the largest medieval old town in central and eastern
Europe, Take in an architectural heritage that blends elements
of baroque, gothic, renaissance and Russian, and join young locals
in all-night party mode. Sites protected by Unesco are charming
historic centre of Vilnius; the Kernave Archaeological Site, which
boasts a testimony to some 10,000 years of human settlement; and
the Struve Geodetic Arc, a chain of markers linking 10 countries
across Europe.
We
will set up more outdoor adventure but also give you a free day
to enjoy a lovely stroll in this Unesco protected city.
And that will conclude this
2-week trip. We are going in prime-time summer months so I expect
the weather to be ideal.
DEPOSIT - $200
Includes:
-
Roundtrip
air
-
13-nights
hotel in 4 and 5--star hotels with daily breakfast
-
4-
half day city tours
- All
ground Transportation
Not
included:
·
Gratuities:
guides and bus driver are at your discretion.
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT: Only if you choose to have your
own room, otherwise we match you up with a roommate - $850
OUR AIR deduct
$1,500 with your own air
FROM LAX
Flight:Lufthansa
453 Departure: Los Angeles 24AUG/520P Arrival:Munich 25AUG/135P
Flight:Lufthansa 2464 Departure: Munich 25AUG/305P Arrival:Helsinki
25AUG/635P
Flight:Lufthansa 889 Departure: Vilnius 07SEP/610A Arrival:Frankfurt
07SEP/720A
Flight:Lufthansa 456 Departure: Frankfurt 07SEP/1030A Arrival:Los
Angeles 07SEP/115P
FOR JFK:
You will be better off purchasing your own air. Here is our suggested
itinerary which was running just $1,047 at press time:
Flight:Lufthansa 411
Departure: New York Kennedy 24AUG/530P Arrival:Munich 25AUG/740A
Flight: Lufthansa 2464 Departure:Munich 25AUG/305P Arrival:Helsinki
25AUG/635P **Traveling with LAX group**
Flight: Lufthansa 889 Departure:Vilnius 07SEP/610A Arrival:Frankfurt
07SEP/720A **Traveling with LAX group**
Flight: Lufthansa 400 Departure:Frankfurt 07SEP/1100A Arrival:New
York Kennedy 07SEP/140P
OUR HOTELS
Helsinki
Radisson
Blu Hotel Aleksanteri - 4-star
Website
- Reviews
All
of our rooms will be upgraded to the superior class category!
The Radisson Blu Aleksanteri Hotel is a dream hotel for guests
who love that feeling of being at home. As our guest, you can
be yourself, whether you wish to relax in peace and quiet or socialise.
Located in the very heart of Helsinki, in the midst of the elegant
Design District, the hotel combines the best parts of a home-like
boutique hotel and a major international chain. Inspiration is
offered by nearby design shops, galleries and parks for picnic.
The hotel is close to public transportation, less than 100 meters
from the closest tram stop and only minutes from the city center
and Helsinki’s top attractions. Experience a true Finnish
sauna and take advantage of our fitness area when staying at our
Helsinki hotel.
The
hotel’s location in the trendy Punavuori Design District
offers easy access to all nearby attractions by foot, bike or
tram. The grand Aleksanteri Theater, only two minutes away, is
very convenient for those visiting the Finnish capital to catch
a performance in the historic venue. Additionally, the Sinebrychoff
Art Museum, home to some of the most popular and valuable paintings
by the old European masters of art, can be found only minutes
from the hotel.
The
rooms design's are based on real Helsinki homes from around the
local area. In line with the period of the building, the rooms
are either light-coloured, streamlined and modern, or more classically
styled with tall windows and wide ledges, tile ovens and parquet
floors.
Amenities in all 151
of our non-smoking rooms include cable TV and Free high-speed,
wireless Internet, a mini bar, in-room safe, iron and our signature
Blu Dreams experience. Our different Business Class room themes
from romance to rock and roll spice your stay.
Estonia
HOTEL PALACE - 4-1/2 Star
WEBSITE
- TRIPADVISOR: #2
out of 82 hotels in Tallinn!
Hotel
Palace is located in the city centre of Tallinn next to the Freedom
Square, at Vabaduse väljak 3.
The Hotel, constructed
in 1937 and designed by Elmar Lohk, is one of the most exciting,
glamorous and spectacular buildings of its time; it has been a
true calling card for Estonia throughout the decades.
The Four Star Superior
Hotel Palace has during its 80 years of history earned certain
status in Tallinn – its location by the main square of the
city and the high quality of service have earned it the reputation
of the most legendary hotel in Tallinn for several decades running.
The Old Town of Tallinn,
a modern business quarter, shopping centres and multifaceted cultural
establishments are only a few minutes’ walk away.
Hotel Palace reopened
its doors after a total makeover on June 26th, 2014.
Latvia
HOTEL NEIBURGS- 4-1/2 Star
WEBSITE
- TRIPADVISOR: #2
out of 108 hotels in Riga!
In
a monument of Art Nouveau architecture at the very heart of Old
Riga, on a quiet, picturesque little street next to the Dome Cathedral
and within a five-minute walk of the Riga Opera House, several
concert halls and museums, Hotel NEIBURGS awaits you: an exquisite
combination of historical heritage and contemporary design, spacious
and light suites ideal for both work and rest, wonderful views
of the Old Town, comfort, hospitality and warm welcome, as well
as one of the city’s best-loved restaurants.
The building has won
significant Latvian architecture and building prizes: All of our
spacious suites are equipped with comfortable furniture, plenty
of light fixtures to allow you to adapt the lighting to suit your
mood, and well-appointed bathrooms, and have stunning views of
the rooftops and church spires of Old Riga, and, from the upper
storeys, even the Daugava and its bridges. The kitchenette and
separate living area or even living room in each suite allow our
guests to host their travelling companions or friends for dinner,
or treat their family to a breakfast made of fresh produce from
the Riga Central Market. Should you choose to eat out, our restaurant
offers wonderful meals, from sumptuous breakfast to sophisticated
dinner.
All suites are equipped
with television and DVD, a comfortable desk, both wired and wireless
broadband internet access, and an MP3 dock.
The hotel has a small
gym and both sauna and Turkish bath; massage services are also
available
Vilnius, Lithuania
Narutis Hotel - 5 Star
Website
- Reviews
The
Narutis hotel is located in the main street of Vilnius Old Town,
which connects Town Hall and Cathedral Square. The car is not
a necessity. Presidential Palace, Parliament, Ministries, Embassies
as well as historical Lithuanian jewels – Gediminas Castle,
the Hill of Three Crosses and other heritage sites as well as
most of the institutions can easily be reached on foot.
The
hotel building is an architectural treasure, built in 1581 and
declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The entrance of the
Hotel and most of the rooms overlook the St. Johns Church and
the central building of Vilnius University, which was established
in 1579. In total, 12 churches, built in XIV-XIX century and representing
charming Vilnius Baroque style are all located in 400 metres or
less. Take a walk by narrow Old Town streets and cozy courtyards
and You will in no time reach museums, galleries, Philharmonic,
theatres, banks, restaurants, „Boutique“ shops and night
clubs.
For those, who like to stay fit – the running trails in Bernardinai
Garden and bike trails in Old Town streets are just 300 meters
away from the hotel.
