Lithuania Travel Answers

Hi, I'm afraid i can't really advise about hostels [I usually stay with friends], just take a look at www.litinterp.com. I would recommend booking as soon as possible. If you are staying in Vilnius, you can easily make a day trip to Kaunas by bus, it will take about an hour and a half to get there. For Trakai a whole day will be too long [it's quite a small town], maybe just go for an afternoon only. You can take the bus there as well. Have fun! Jake.

To me it seems that hotels in Vilnius are a bit pricey compared to other prices in Lithuania. Is is because there's shortage of them ? Do people run B&Bs or just hotels and hostels ? --w

Hotels are more expensive in Vilnius because there is a greater demand for high quality accomodation there than in other parts of Lithuania. However, at any one time it would seem that a large proportion of hotel rooms in Vilnius are unoccupied. B+Bs do exist but are more common outside of Vilnius.

Still, I think that hotel costs in Vilnius seem unreasonably high for this part of Europe. Especially when you take into account the cost of living, Lithuanian salaries etc. Seems bad for Lithuanian tourism :-(

I think that this problem is visible in Poland as well. When I travelled recently to Gdansk and Warsaw I couldn't believe that the prices were so exaggerated but the service and the quality was still reminescent of the communist era. Therefore, Lithuania is not a single case.

Well, this not always has to be the case in Central and Eastern Europe. If you go to e.g. Hungary, there's plentitude of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses of all sorts and prices. I wonder how many people in Lithuania can really afford the hotels in Vilnus (with average monthly salaries of about 1200 LTL gros). Or are they targeted at foreign toutists ?

Not many Lithuanians would stay in hotels when visiting Vilnius; they would prbably stay with friends or family.

Unfortunately, I dont' have any friends in Vilnius to stay with. However, the prices for accomodation in Poland or Lithuania are a bit exaggerated. I guess people in the New Member Countries have to learn to rules of free market to make their services more attractive for visitors as they are still using their Soviet tactics to milk the Western tourists from their hard currencies. Anyway,if I'm lucky, I will sleep in a tent with my Litvak friends!

I don't think they are Soviet tactics! The prices offered in Vilnius are the same as those throughout the rest of Europe...one pays the same for the same level of service and facilities. Maybe you might like to stay with a host family or something? That way you could experience the real Lithuanian way of life.

It would be a very interesting experience to stay with a Lithuanian family as I can claim a Lithuanian heritage in my family! Do you have any suggestions? As for services, I can tell you about my experience in Gdansk where I stayed in Novotel in July 2002 and I didn't really get the service for the price I paid, not to mention the food that was overcooked and gave me cramps in the stomach. I can tell you other stories about buying airline tickets in Poland or making phone calls that are a way overpriced compared to what you get in Western Europe or North America. I don't know what it's like in Lithuania, but the customer service in Poland is non-existent and you are shocked by the rudeness of clerks in supermarkets, restaurants, offices, a well-known feature from the communist era that is still present in the eastern part of E.U. Anyway, I know that eventually they will learn as they are now a part of the Common Market, otherwise they won't survive in the global reality.

Oh come one, you must be Canadian ? ;-) But seriously, have you looked at http://www.hospitalityclub.org/ ? There're plenty of folks from Lithuania there, and this would be way more educational than staying in yet another hotel ...

I'm not Canadian but Polish like yourself. The sad thing in Poland is that there is lots of anger and disrespect for those who are Poles. I had once an experience in Cracow where I was looking for accomodation and when I spoke in Polish, there was of course nothing available. Then I decided to switch to English and to my surprise, there was a room for me. That's a Polish reality. Anyway, thanks for your hint on that website. I will certainly give it a try!

Ronald, look at the bright side ... ;-) Even in rude Poland a friendly smile can make wonders. As to this "hospitalityclub" site, I can only recommend it. I'm a member there myself, even if not very active. --w

there are few hostels and BnB in Vilnius , close to Old Town , Prices are reasonable and reasonably comfortable, the people are great , i wouldnt mind a great company, hehe beware or snorers ,hehehe , they come in packs sometimes ;) you will get used to it as time goes by :) the last time i stay in a BnB , the name is Vilnius Old Town Hostel , close to Ausros Vartu (Gates of Dawn) entrance to Old Town. 34Litas per day . , comfy place, enjoy , hehe

I checked these hostels online. They don't have their own websites but you can send them an e-mail. Thanks, Spooker! Hehehe!

lithuanianhostels.org/vilniu... there you go the girl incharge , her name is dovile i think , hmm good luck , hehe

Thank you Spooker! Hehehe!

anytime my friend ;) if u planned to stayed there ;) just mention anand from malaysia says hie :)