5 days father and son trip to Lithuania and Latvia – or how to visit two countries for 72 USD pr. Country
If you think travelling is expensive check the below to see how we managed to fly from Denmark to Vilnius (and back), take the bus to Riga (and back), take local trains to see sights in Latvia, stay two nights in Vilnius and two nights in Riga in cozy apartments and end up spending just 144 USD pr. person including everything for our 5days/4nights two country trip.
We did so using SAS Star Alliance Bonus Points – using local trains and busses – eating oatmeal and McD – staying in super cheap (and central) apartments (4 nights – average price USD27 pr. night) and taking the super cheap Ecolines bus from Vilnius to Riga and back.
Ecolines offered (selected days, booked a month in advance) an adult single fare of just 5,6 Euro(!?) (Children half price) for the 300km, 4hours trip in a modern coach including: Free coffee and tea, free Wifi and free Hollywood movies on a personal screen. Many cafés in Copenhagen charge more than this for a single cup of coffee..
While the Baltic capitals may not be the most adventurous of destinations, they do offer great old towns – and autumn is an excellent time to see (and photograph) them. People are somewhat reserved and service is not fantastic. ”Please don’t be so polite – No one else here is” (…) – said a local at McDonalds to me after I had placed my order. There may still be a bit of an ex-soviet feel to it all – but also (of course) there are kind people. And like everywhere – people are just people.
Also check the pics from:
• Kemeri Nationalpark in Jurmala, Latvia
• The posh seaside town of Majori, Jurmala, Latvia
• Riga in autumn colours with local wedding
• Vilnius old town
• Jonas falling asleep standing in the rain in front of the house of the Blackheads after having walked 20 km the day before on the bog walk in the Kemeri swamps and the streets of Riga and Majori.
(PS added cost if not having Star Alliance bonus points is app USD 140 pr person)
