Excellent stay at Pullman Riga Old Town

Finally I was able to try this rather new Pullman that opened in Riga year and a half ago. I stayed there for three nights after the new year. This wasn’t only my first stay at this hotel but in a Pullman hotel in general and to be honest I didn’t know what to expect. But I was very satisfied with the stay. I wonder if other Pullman hotels are as good.

Prior to arrival, I received an odd email offering room upgrade (now 85 euros, normally 100 euros), welcome drink (3 euros) and access to spa (0 euros) among other things.

I opted for airport transportation (now 49 euros, normally 56 euros). At the airport, driver was waiting for us with a sign, shook hands and welcomed to Latvia. Despite the fact that I had booked just an ordinary car, the ride was upgraded and it was done in a shiny Mercedes-Benz E class.

Upon check-in we were warmly welcomed, thanked for the loyalty and proactively given all the necessary benefits. For once Accor’s slogan, Feel welcome, meant something.

Early check-in around 11am wasn’t problem and the superior room I had booked was upgraded to a premium deluxe. That was a three level upgrade. The next category would had been a presidential suite which was booked so it seemed that they gave us the best room that was available.

Breakfast times, spa details and facilities were explained. All this was highly appreciated.

Our premium deluxe room on the second floor felt spacious albeit it only had 31 square meters. Perhaps it was the high ceiling and the three large windows facing Jekaba Park that made the room feel bigger than it actually was.

A wooden floor kept nice creaking sound. (It’s an old refurbished building.)

In addition to a comfortable king size bed, the room had a lounging area with armchair and couch. Amenities included for example capsule coffee machine, kettle, and safe. Minibar was stocked with premium brands such as big bottles of Hennessy cognac and Belvedere vodka with not too expensive prices.

The bathroom had only one switch for all lights so it was either very dark or super bright. Toilet seat was placed oddly in a separate space without sink and one needed to walk through the room to get to the bathroom to wash hands.

Shower was flooding both in the room and the spa so the property seemed having some issues with the sewer. There was only two hooks where one could hang all towels and bathrobes. Bath amenities were C. O. Bigelow.

No turndown service.

The staff was service minded, friendly, helpful and clearly eager to please. Always when we approached or passed the front desk, employees were smiling and greeting us.

A handwritten welcome card from general manager, three handmade chocolates and four bottles of water (two Badoit and two Evian) were waiting for us in the room when we returned to hotel in the afternoon.

There was also a bottle of local mineral water placed on both bedside tables and they were restocked daily and so was the bath amenities even though we hadn’t finished the previous ones.

A front desk supervisor started to investigate troubles I had with the Places application after Accor customer care, Le Club team on Facebook and Accor concierge here on FlyerTalk weren’t able to help me.

When I requested chamomile tea in one evening, it was brought with cookies and a handwritten card. When we were leaving, many rushed to help us and asked if we needed taxi or help with the luggage.

We only ate breakfast at the hotel. It was good: savory, nutritious, and extensive enough. If I missed something, more fruits perhaps. Nothing was really wrong but it wasn't amazing either. Rather typical European hotel breakfast with made to order eggs, including Eggs Benedict and its variations. However, coffee was bland liquid from a self-service machine.

Before going out for dinner we used the two drink vouchers that were handed at check-in. I used it for a gin and tonic, my partner chose a very tasty berry flavored mocktail.

The hotel had a cozy tapaseria.

The spa on the 7th floor was empty most of the time which was relaxing. Facilities included dry sauna, swimming pool and resting area with views to old town over roof tops.

The pool was long but shallow and narrow. It was surrounded by birch trees and smelled dirty. Maybe the idea was to create a feeling that one is swimming in the river Daugava.

The shower room only had body cleansing gel so if one wanted to clean properly it was necessary to bring own shampoo and conditioner.

One day, the spa was closed for maintenance and this was communicated only last minutes. Then another day the sauna was closed again, now due to cleaning later that day. We were sitting in a cold sauna. No information was given, not even when entering in the spa, before we asked about it.

Massage was reasonable priced for a hotel (90 euros for full body scrap and back massage, 35 euros for foot massage). And while in Sofitel Munich it was strictly prohibited to use swimwear in sauna, here it was vice versa (thank god).

Couldn’t have been better. Located in the old town, the hotel was in a walking distance to everywhere in center. Being a compact city, restaurants, shops and sights were 5–15 minutes walk away.

Excellent stay and excellent hotel for which I would give four stars. I see a clear gap between Pullman and Sofitel. But I will certainly return next time my travels brings me back to Riga and I’m happy to try also other Pullman hotels.