Page 296 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

294  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

cost of extra services. Therefore,
it is advisable to check the exact
prices of meals, drinks, saunas,
guided tours, or any such addi-
tional services in advance, to
avoid any awkwardness at the
time of settling the bills.

Children
Children are amply catered for
in nearly all hotels and guest-
houses in all three countries. A
number of hotels have rooms
designed for families travelling
with children. If not, then most
hotels gladly provide extra beds
for children. Many rural guest-
houses offer special play areas
and activities for children and
most decent hotels can provide
cots for very young children,
while babysitting services are
Swimming pool at Vanagupe hotel at the beach resort of Palanga, Lithuania (see p307) becoming increasingly
common. Some larger hotels
Camp Sites Hidden Extras
offer special family rates that
Camping is an extremely Most decent hotels in cities include a number of family-
popular summer activity in throughout the three Baltic oriented excursions.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. States operate in a transparent
As a result, there are a number manner and will not add any Smoking
of camp sites scattered hidden extras to the bill.
throughout each of the Baltic However, it is worth checking In keeping with the ban on
countries. These are usually very the cost of drinks from the smoking in public places in
cheap and offer basic amenities minibar and calls made from the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,
such as communal showers and hotel room telephone, before all hotels prohibit smoking in
an on-site pub-style restaurant. using either of these services – their public areas. Smoking is
However, not all camps are the price is often exorbitant. In not allowed in lobbies and
equipped with washing smaller hotels, it is a good idea restaurants, although some
facilities and toilet blocks. to find out if breakfast is larger hotels provide special
National parks have official included in the room rate. smoking zones. These zones
camping spots, which are free Rural guesthouses tend to can be recognized by a green
of charge. Many commercial be peculiarly reticent about the smoking-allowed symbol.
camp sites also offer basic cabin
accommoda tion, sometimes
with kitchen facilities.
In general, there is a very
relaxed attitude towards
camping in the Baltic States
and people often camp
alongside beaches and lakes
and in forests at improvised
camp sites. Many guesthouses
allow campers to pitch a tent in
their grounds for a nominal fee.
For camping on private pro-
perty, however, it is imperative
to obtain permission from the
owner beforehand.
A full list of camp sites can
be found on national tourism
websites (see p365) and rural
tourism websites. In Estonia,
RMK is an efficient organization
that arranges camping. Well-appointed room at the Radisson Blu Astorija Hotel in Vilnius (see p305)

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