The port city is forced to change: you can find a luxury hotel at a relatively modest price

Many representatives of the Klaipėda-based accommodation establishment say they cannot raise prices: their compatriots are unwilling to spend too much.

Gintarė Selenytė, the Light House project manager, who invites Klaipėda guests who combine work and entertainment to settle in the cooperative space, says that guests staying with them can swallow both the capsules and the rooms. It is true that they are few, but the building has a common space, established workplaces, kitchen, yoga and meditation room.

“People who come for a longer period of time reserve rooms because it is more convenient. For one or two nights, you often choose sleeping capsules. There are lockers, guests have access to a kitchenette, where there is always coffee and tea free, and kitchen facilities. There’s also a cafeteria and gym in the building. There’s a convenient CityBee parking lot next to the building so you can always find transportation, and it’s also close to the sea, “says G. Selenytė .

According to the interlocutor, accommodation prices vary according to duration; guests who stay longer receive discounts. The minimum cost here is 20 euros per day, which is the rental price of a sleeping capsule. The three largest rooms are much more expensive, but according to G. Selenytė, the occupancy is really high.

Guests wishing to stay in hotels in the heart of Klaipeda can find accommodation for around 30 euros. If you want a view of the lagoon, you will have to add another 40 or even 100 euros. And if you want luxury, you will have to pay more than 200 euros. Admittedly, almost with the help of the art of bargaining, the price can be lowered because the longer waiting guest service providers are flexible.

Jonas Petkevičius, the manager of the National Hotel, says there is a great shortage of foreign tourists. Some Lithuanians are also booking more luxurious apartments, however, there were no guests at the hotel during the quarantine period, so this year’s result is already clear.

“We work according to all the recommendations established by the state, we keep our distance, we have a partition in the reception, we inform people where to go if there is a suspicion of illness.” So far, thank God, I haven’t had to do that. We opened about a month ago. Generally, in Klaipeda, the season, different from Palanga or Neringa, lasts half a year. So the result of the year is already clear: we will not be profitable this year. Our main clients were foreign, American, Norwegian, German tourists. Now they are almost non-existent “, J. Petkevičius does not hide, adding that if another wave arises, many companies will have to seriously consider whether they are going to resist it.

Pogos Kazarian, marketing and sales manager for the Ararat Hotel and Restaurant, says the quarantine has dictated its address, and branded meals are offered to take people home during the quarantine.

“We are different from the big hotels. The hotel was closed during quarantine and the restaurant was not closed. June at the restaurant this year was the same as last year. In the hotel we really feel that there were not so many foreigners. We and the five rooms available are already abundant. We will see how it continues. So far, we do not count the losses, although it is clear that there will be, “says Mr. Kazarian.

Tourists: coffees are not cheap

Different Lithuanians, who can rent premises for around 10-30 euros per day, often also use the services of small hotels and apartments. The couple of tourists who met in Klaipeda say that it is important for them to cook their own food, since they have a limited budget.

“A lot of people probably have to worry more about how much vacations will cost after quarantine.” Plans to travel abroad have been postponed for the time being, maybe we will go to Latvia or Poland in the summer, but we are looking for an apartment everywhere, because when we can prepare our own food, there is more for entertainment. Cafes aren’t really cheap, plus you don’t want to be where a lot of people gather. Our entertainment is moving and seeing as much as possible. Our Lithuania is beautiful, we are not entirely angry because the plans to go abroad have failed, ”opens Asta, based in Kaunas.

“We wanted to visit friends in London, at first we only temporarily postponed the trip, then we postponed it until someday. We will have to wait, we will travel through Lithuania by the sea. By the way, I know this country, my father from Gargždai,” says Ignas.

Aušra, who came to the beach with him, says his trips could be split in half: half of the vacation was spent in Lithuania, half abroad. Now he only adapts to the current situation and is in no rush to run anywhere.

The slowdown in adjusted prices

President of the Lithuanian Association of Hotels and Restaurants. Evalda Šiškauskienė says that the trial of the hotels during the quarantine period is far from over. The recession adjusted prices and customer needs.

“The coastal hotels do not radiate optimism. There was a meeting with representatives, the forecasts are disappointing, we will try to ask for state aid. If there is another wave of this type, most of them will not survive. The largest are forced to reduce prices, so now it is possible to find a five-star hotel for the price of three or two stars. Lithuanians prefer the most luxurious, so the smallest suffer. However, for a hotel to survive, there must be a minimum occupancy 40 percent. Also, I had to not work at all for several months, as there are no more foreign tourists staying in hotels, which is a big problem for them, “opens E. Šiškauskienė.

Romena Savickienė, director of the Klaipeda Culture and Tourism Information Center, says there is a real shortage of guests from abroad, but the Lithuanians are moving more actively.

“We are still receiving tourists from Estonia, Poland and Latvia, little by little they come from Germany, of course, not in such quantities. And the Lithuanians have become more active, they want to travel, they are interested in everything: bicycles, canoes, oars, many families come, so they are interested in everything for the children. This year, people travel through Lithuania and only on weekends, so they are looking for something to do. I think we will get even more people during the Sea Festival, we are already asking what the program will be like, however, this year the Festival del Mar will be different: events and concerts will be distributed, so the joy of the discoveries awaits, many short presentations. It is like a festive orientation game around the city, because the program, whose event will take place in a matter of hours, will not be announced. There will be a fair and a tourist street. Tourism centers throughout Lithuania will present what can be done so much the rest of the summer like the rest of the year ”, says R. Savickienė.

According to R. Savickienė, even some cognitive excursions are specially adapted for compatriots, and it is definitely not always expensive to visit and get to know their country.