Park Hotel Latgola

The room was basic but clean, and the price is hard to beat. My room didn't face the car park, so nights were quiet, though there was some Saturday evening noise from the bar downstairs until 23:00. The hotel is right in the city center and within walking distance of the train station. Breakfast had plenty of options, served in a top-floor restaurant overlooking the city. Staff were polite, friendly and spoke good English.

The reception staff felt unfriendly and unwelcoming, especially toward guests who weren't local or Russian, which brought down the stay. At night, young people often gather in the large parking lot outside and use the road to race and show off their cars. I understand the social atmosphere, but the revving and speeding made it hard to sleep. Speed bumps might help. The breakfast was decent and the rooms clean, though the bread choices could be more interesting. The view from the breakfast restaurant, though, was beautiful and easily the highlight.

We picked this hotel for a visit to the city where I was born. It's the only purpose-built hotel here with several floors. The rooms are small and very simple but okay, with air conditioning. Our street-facing room was noisy, so we shut the windows and used the AC. The curtains didn't block all the light, and it came in early in the morning. The mattress was very soft and the pillows tiny. Reception staff were a mixed bag, some nice and some not. Breakfast was very basic but okay, and the dining room was freezing from the AC for several days. There's a shopping center next door with a supermarket and lots of shops.

The best thing going for this hotel is its location. If you're mostly out exploring and don't mind a dated place, it may work, but for comfort I'd look elsewhere. The decor and equipment feel 15-20 years behind, bathroom fittings seemed barely attached, and the beds have clearly seen many guests. The pillows were so small I wondered if they were just for show. My view was of a rooftop.