Eastern
Europe is not renowned for hip hotels. Apart from grand hotels in
cities such as St Petersburg and Warsaw, the choice of luxury places to
stay has always been fairly limited. Until now. Ultra-modern hotels
have recently opened in Tallinn and Warsaw, and more are planned.
Hilton is launching Dubrovnik's first boutique hotel next spring. And
even the grand hotels have been given a makeover: witness Rocco Forte's
Hotel Astoria in St Petersburg.
But just because it's eastern
Europe, don't expect to bag yourself a bargain. Hotel prices are on a
par, or in some instances, higher than in western Europe
This
fashionable seaside resort, a 20-minute train ride from Gdansk, was
once a stamping ground for the rich and famous, who were drawn to its
casinos and nightlife. Today, it is increasingly popular with Germans
and Swedes, who have discovered its smart boutiques and lively bars.
Stay at the recently renovated art nouveau-style Grand Hotel, which
overlooks the Bay of Gdansk. Once favoured by President de Gaulle,
Giscard D'Estaing and the Shah of Iran, it is now a popular haunt for
Poland's nouveau riche.
What
this tranquil fishing village lacks in top hotels, it makes up for in
scenery. Nida is home to one of the largest sand dunes in Europe. Walk
through pine forests and spot wild boar and elk, or go fishing and
swimming in the sea in this conservation area. Accommodation is in
wooden family-run guesthouses. Best combined with a few nights in the
Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, where you can stay at the four-star Reval
Lietuve hotel. This has a casino and a skybar on the 22nd floor where
the capital's trendy crowd hang out.
Where to book: Lithuanian Holidays (0870 7579233, lithuanianholidays.com).
From £480pp for three nights in Vilnius and four nights in Nida.
Includes Gatwick flights, airport transfers and return private car
transfers to Nida.
Villa Dubrovnik, Croatia
Once
a favourite of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the four-star Villa
Dubrovnik still commands a loyal following. Today, former Labour Party
leader Michael Foot and former MP Martin Bell are regulars. Watch the
sun go down over the Adriatic from one of three vine and flower-covered
terraces, and take the water taxi over to the old town.
Where to book: Holiday Options (0870 0130450, holidayoptions.co.uk). Seven nights' half-board from £679pp including Gatwick flights and transfers.
Best for music
Frederic Chopin summer concerts in the park, Warsaw
Every
summer, the Polish capital pays tribute to its most famous composer by
staging weekend piano concerts in Lazienki Park. Have a champagne
brunch at the swanky Le Meridien Bristol on Sunday morning before the
noon performance, then head to the Blikle cafe on Nowy Swiat for coffee
and doughnuts. Stay at Warsaw's first boutique hotel, Hotel Rialto,
which opened its doors in June. The 45-room art deco themed building
has original art and furniture from the period and is within walking
distance of the city's entertainment and shopping district.
Where to book: Design Hotels (0800 1698817, designhotels.com). From €150 per room. British Airways (0870 8509850, ba.com) from £138.40 or try LOT (0845 6010949, lot.com).
Vilnius Jazz Festival, September 19-21, Lithuania
The
four-star Mabre Hotel, a former 13th-century Russian Orthodox monastery
in the heart of the old town, is within easy walking distance of many
of the free events at the 16th annual Vilnius Jazz Festival. Have a
swim and sauna before breakfast in the hotel's pretty courtyard. Step
out of the hotel and explore the chocolate-box baroque pink, blue and
yellow buildings of this vibrant capital.
Where to book: Lithuanian Holidays (0870 757 9233, lithuanianholidays.com).
Three-nights' B&B costs £330pp including Gatwick flights and
private transfers. Many of the jazz performances are free but the
company can also pre-book tickets for paid-for events. Festival info: vilniusjazz.lt.
Opera, Budapest
Combine
a night at the opera to see Don Carlo with a tour of the Royal Tokaji
vineyards at Eger on this four-night trip to Hungary between October 12
and 16. Budapest's stylish K+K Hotel is only 50 yards from the opera
house.
Where to book: Travel for the Arts (020-8799 8350, travelforthearts.com).
£990pp including flights, transfers, two lunches, three dinners, wine
tasting, opera ticket, sightseeing, accommodation in the K+K Opera
Hotel and at Hotel Park in Eger.
Best for spas
Hotel Novelazne, Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic
If
your idea of a spa holiday is having an aromatherapy massage and a
pedicure, then this hydrotherapy resort isn't for you. The locally
sourced Maria gas is used in carbonated baths, wraps and gas
injections. The treatments claim to aid circulation, kidney problems
and fertility. The comfortable four-star Novelazne is housed in the spa
town's former bathhouse.
Where to book: Body and Soul Holidays (020-7594 0290, bodyandsoulholidays.com).
From £810pp per week including Heathrow flights, transfers, full-board
accommodation and three or four prescribed treatments per day.
Hotel Sava, Rogaska Health Resort, Slovenia
It's
all about relaxation and energising at this spanking new spa and beauty
centre in the Rogaska Health Resort, a two and a half hour drive from
the capital Ljubljana. Treat yourself to a Chinese body massage, an
ayurvedic foot massage or try something a little more unusual, such as
colour therapy. This aims to rebalance the body by exposing the guest
to a particular colour that stimulates their "chakra".
Where to book: Thermalia Health and Wellbeing (020-7483 1898, thermalia.co.uk).
A seven-night stay starts from £572pp and includes flights from
Gatwick, private transfers, full use of fitness facilities and a
selection of treatments. No single room supplement.
Best for a night out
Tallinn, Estonia
It's
not hard to see why this medieval city has become a firm favourite for
stag parties. Drink and food is incredibly cheap. It's also a
manageable size, with most of the lively bars and cafes situated around
Town Hall Square. And what you save on going out, you can spend on a
flashy hotel: Domina Ilmarine is a boutique hotel created from the
shell of a former 19th-century machine works factory. The sleek
two-level suites overlook a glass atrium.
Where to book: Fregata (020-7375 3187, fregatatravel.co.uk). Three nights' B&B from £379pp, including Gatwick flights and transfers.
Berlin
Every
month, a new bar or disco opens in the city. There are no fixed closing
times, and some places don't open until midnight. Berlin has got its
fair share of hip places to stay, such as the Art'Otel, which has a
permanent exhibition of Andy Warhol's work and is located in
Kurfurstendamm. Each of the hotel's sleekly designed, minimalist rooms
also boast original artwork.
Where to book: Sovereign (08705 768373, sovereign.com). From £279pp including Birmingham flights, breakfast and guidebook.
Best for art
St Petersburg, Russia
It's
the perfect time to visit St Petersburg: Russia's cultural capital is
celebrating its 300th birthday with a series of special events. Don't
miss the exquisite objets d'art in the world-famous Hermitage Museum,
which gives a sense of the wealth and power of Tsarist Russia, and the
magnificent Yusupov Palace. Both are within walking distance of the
five-star Hotel Astoria. This grand dame of the city reopened its doors
in the spring after a contemporary overhaul by Rocco Forte's RF Hotels.
It has a beauty spa, fitness centre and a vodka and caviar bar.
Where to book: Kirker Holidays (020-7231 3333, kirkerholidays.com).
Three nights' B&B from £936pp including Heathrow flights, private
transfers, tourist entrance visa and a restaurant and sightseeing
guide. St Petersburg's 300th anniversary website: spb.ru (English
translation available).
Berlin
Not
strictly eastern Europe, but half of the city was under Soviet control
for almost half a century. The art is not confined to the numerous
galleries in Germany's capital; it's everywhere: from the graffiti on
what remains of the Berlin Wall to the small art exhibits in the city's
numerous arty hotels. The contemporary rooms in the stylish four-star
Inn Side Residence, once a silk factory in the former eastern side of
the city, even have arty headboards. Don't miss the Museum of
Decorative Arts, the New National Gallery in the Kulturforum area of
the city and the Warhols in Hamburger Bahnhof, a converted railway
station in Mitte.
Where to book: Cresta Holidays (0870 1610900, crestaholidays.co.uk) from £251pp for departures before October 31. This includes two nights' B&B and Heathrow flights.
Best for shopping
Riga, Latvia
Visit
the bustling Central Market in the old town for cut price Amber -
around 30% cheaper than in the UK - as well as jewellery, linen, wooden
toys and ceramics. CDs and cassettes are also cheap, but watch out for
pirate copies. The contemporary five-star Rolands Hotel in the old town
opened last year and has floor-to-ceiling windows in each room, posh
toiletries and bathrobes.
Where to book: Regent Holidays (0117 9211711, regent-holidays.co.uk). Two nights' B&B from £395pp including British Airways flights from Heathrow.
Berlin
The
German capital is so huge that it doesn't have one shopping area, it
has lots. For haute couture , head for posh Charlottenburg, while
multi-ethnic Kreuzberg is known for its eclectic second-hand shops. Or
try the world famous KaDeWe, Europe's largest department store, in the
western city centre. Berlin is also renowned for its Christmas markets.
Stay in sumptuous luxury at the five-star Adlon Kempinski Hotel, in the
east end.
Where to book: Moswin Tours (0116 2719922, moswin.com). Two nights' B&B from £475pp including Stansted flights.
