jessej

using my newly acquired "ambassador status",
I stayed at Crowne Plaza in Vilnius, Lithuania , 2 weekends ago
for a rate of 47 euros a night
i was given a large room, one king size bed
with sofa and 2 chairs

a great deal

Andrius

Did you have a park view?

Crowne Plaza in VNO is incredible because of the location.

Chris26WI

Is it really nice? Will have to go back to Vilnius several times this year, stayed at the Europa Imperial in the Old City up to now, because I thought the CP was too far outside of the city centre, and my Lithuanian colleagues told me, it's not a very nice hotel... (maybe used to be, in the old sowjet times..).

What about the Holiday Inn? It's around the same price level as the CP, but a little bit nearer to the centre.

Andrius

Europa Imperial is very good too, but I would not give CP a miss if I had a chance.

The original frame design does date back to Soviet years, but it's been thoroughly refurbished and upgraded. Superb views, a park just outside and peace and quiet. Ciurlionio Street is one of the poshest and nicest leafy alleys in Vilnius, US Embassy at one end, Japanese Embassy in the middle and CP at the park end.

Yes, you would not go there on foot from the Old Town, not after a few beers anyway, but it's 10 minutes by taxi maximum, and taxis are very cheap in Vilnius.

However, if you are into nightlife and want to go back to hotel on foot, Europa or Radisson are better choices.

Chris26WI

Thanks for the fast reply. They offer Executive Rooms too in the CP. Do you know if they have a Executive Lounge too, or is it just sort of upgraded rooms?

Andrius

I am not sure. They do have Executive Floors, so I suppose they may have a few nicer bits of furniture and call Executive Lounge, although their website does not mention it.

I am quite sure you will get a bigger room.

Full details are here, although they do not try too hard on that website, but I'm afraid it is common to many chains.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hd/vnoci

jessej

i wasnt in the room facing the park
i had to stick my head out thge window and turn left to see the park

i assume you could ask for a room with the park view

jessej

for exercise and picture taking, i did walk from the cp to old trown one afternoon
its doable
but to be honest, i did take a cab back to the hotel

and because of the hotel's location between and around the embassies
its extremely safe to walk

jessej

thats the floor i was given with my Ambassador Status
i also got a free coupon for a movie
but all the porn was on a free channel anyway

Andrius

Porn on free channel? In Vilnius? My country is apparently developing in leaps and bounds. Need to go back more often than twice a year to catch up

What was I doing staying at other hotels?

It must be the deal that you get with your Ambassador Status. Free channel adult flick in Vilnius is as likely as a free minibar, generally...

Chris26WI, do you still need convincing that you should stay at Crowne Plaza?

Chris26WI

No Andrius, I booked the CP now... but its really pricy for July... 130-180 Eur depending on room type. Booked an executive room, hoping for the best price guarantee as I found another site offering the ex room for 149 Euro a night.

Andrius

Good for you. I think you got a very decent price. July is not a cheap month, and with Vilnius as a new boozing destination (26 flights per week from London Gatwick alone!), hotels are selling out fast.

I will be in Vilnius myself second half of July, PM me if you want to catch a drink or something.

PUCCI GALORE

I recently stayed in the Holiday Inn in Vilnius. I found it excellent - we did not pay as they were Reward Nights as Him Indoors had scads of Platinum Amex points to use.

The hotel is excellent, brand spanking new, very efficient, and spotlessly clean. We were on the Executive Floor as HI is a Platinum as he trasferred tens of thousands of points. The room was spacious by European but not American standards. The bed was more than adequately spaced for all degrees of relationships! They gave us two towel dressing gowns. I could barely lift mine (and they think we are all going to walk off with them?). The room overlooked the old city and the river and was a splended view. There was no perceptible noise from the outside.

Porn was available on payment of 400 Litas. As I have never considered sex to be a spectator sport I stuck to BBC World and other Eurotripe channels (I always enjoy catching the news on RA1 and TV5 - CNN I can take or leave - sorry!).

The room was well ventilated and the pillows were soft and they had real feather ones which was a nice touch. There was a gym at the end of the corridor where some men wearing extraordinary garments pedalled furiously watching Kylie Minogue vidoes.(unless it was the same one on a loop). The couple next door had the Do Not Disturb notice up for the whole weekend.

Breakfast was a strange feast. Lots of warming dishes and everything stone cold. Some delicious fresh breads and one of the most delicious blackcurrant jams I have eaten in years. We did not eat any meals there nor have the welcome cocktail that we were given tickets for upon arrival. The restaurant had all the atmosphere of a VIP dining room in the Lubyanka. the staff were very sweet. Quite useless - but very sweet. That is somewhat unfair as it is obvious that they do not have a service culture as yet after years of Soviet occupation. Still - you can order eggs separately and they were piping hot Him Indoors told me as he nearly spat them out as they were so very hot (serves him right). The hotel takes scads of bus tours - lots of Germans, Poles, and lots of locals too I was pleased to see.

It took about ten minutes to walk to the beautiful old city and it is really worth it. As someone said, British Airways have flights daily and the 737-400 is packed as a rule. VNO is on the Serious Stag night route - and although not as riotous as Riga suffice to say that we left LGW at 8.20 and the crew told me that they had no beer for the return trip. There are some superb fares to be had - ours in Club cost about £145. I was very hungry on my way homw and I could not finish the Prawns and Penne that they offered (Lamb casserole was the other dish). The food in Vilnius was delicious. I had Boar with cranberry sauce one night, and Venison with mushrooms (which they adore there) the next. Him Indoors had Beaver Stew with Plums! It was excellent!

Sorry that this sounds more like a Trip Report and is totally off topic for the CP - but I assure you that the main Holiday Inn is first rate. Do go soon - I would go back in a heart beat.

Thanks for letting me join in.


Pucci Galore

Andrius

Pucci - what a delightful note. It's a shame you didn't mention you'd be in Vilnius beforehand or I could have given you some tips, in my capacity of FlyerTalk's Resident Lithuania Expert.

Are you sure porn was 400 litas? That's about $150. Must have been very good porn, then

Holiday Inn in Vilnius is unusually good for the brand. It is also quite highly priced for, er, moderate level of prestige that the name carries.

The useless, poorly trained but good-natured service personnel that you had is, unfortunately, becoming more and more typical. People's pay expectations are quite high and hotels and restaurants are hiring with a great degree of difficulty. It is not about to get better as the economy is growing really fast and many people who should be cleaning rooms in Vilnius are doing the same in London for marginally more money...

Anyway, I am pleased you liked Vilnius.

Speaking of stag nights, Ryanair is opening a daily route to Kaunas, a cheaper and edgier destination, in October. Kaunas is Lithuania's equivalent of Essex or New Jersey (I was born in Kaunas so I say this with impunity). Let me put it this way: unlike in Vilnius, a loud and obnoxious crowd of Mark's Chums on The Piss will not be observed with a dignified patience. It won't be very long before there is a 'what are YOU lookin' at' situation.

PUCCI GALORE

Thank you! and thanks for the warning about Kaunas. If this were the BA Forum I'd tell you about the Fairy on the plane home. Yes, I mean with a tuile frock wings and a wand - and what some very naughty Club passenger said to him!

However, we adored Vilnius and hope to return soon. I thin that I mean 40 Litas - for 400 I'd expect something more than a spectator sport! You are quite right there!


I have to be fair, I really did not witness any appaling behaviour or want to crawl under a chair and die with embarassment at the antics of Britdrunks. I saw some good humoured fun, a little loudness and I now know what a Scotsman does or does not wear under his kilt. Quite a few Scotsmen so they can't all be wrong. Yes, I was sober. No, I did not avert my gaze. And yes, once again I was amazed at the good humour of the locals and wondered why so much fuss was made over so little!