I decided to book into a 4 star hotel on my stay in Latvia, as it was my first time going and I though I could enjoy the hotel as well as the country.
The hotel itself isn't bad, although I would seriously question that it would get a four star rating in Europe.
The staff are abrupt and not at all helpful, the Latvian people seem to be, so it is not a cultural thing it is the general attitude of the staff.
The bedding in the room was not clean and although the general appearance of the room seemed to indicate that it had been cleaned. The bed was full of sand.
The resturant was noisey as they had parties going on every night and therefore it did not make a pleasant environment to eat in. Saying that the one positive was the resturant staff were pleasant.
Overall I would say avoid this hotel as I am positive you will find better places in Riga to stay.

We stayed here from Aug 5-8, 2005. Couple, standard room. The hotel is not located in the centre, but this is not a problem. Four tramlines bring you in 10 minutes there where you want to be for only 20 centimes, happily received by older ladies at the Trams. Staff is polite, rooms are far away, elevators are small and slow, causing traffic jams during rush hours: This is a hotel were busses load and unload daily. Apart from that:standard rooms have two singles with a table in the middle. Not very cosy:-(

Breakfast is just soso. The ladies in service are young and attractive, walk on high heels, but do not always offer proper service: First breakfast I had to wink for coffee. The beauty over there moulded her mouth: oh eeh? It was rather sexy indeed and remembered on The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Thomasz wants to order a cognac (oh-ah) with Thereza. But this is Europe 2005, and I want Thereza to come to me without asking.

On the other side: this hotel does pay your Taxi from and to the Airport if you ask for. And they recognised I had birthday with them.

I've stayed with collegues at this hotel in June 2003, and I wouldn't go there again. The location is bad, but more important, at least for me, the hotel itself. It is not beautiful, breakfast is poor. Sauna is bellow any expectations. In short, the price and the qualty are not in a balance. Best place to recommend in Riga is Gutenbergs Hotel.