Being a former Soviet republic in the USSR held back Riga in development under the heavy hand of Russia, but now as an independent republic, Latvia is taking off in the world economy, and doing much better with it than its Baltic neighbors. New projects are constantly sprouting up and much of what plagued Riga's development has been eliminated, making it a highly desirable place to visit these days. This translates into new, modern, 21st century hotels with all the amenities that you're used to in Western Europe and the rest of the Western world. Staying in Old Riga is a trip back to a simpler time with narrow streets and plazas before the car was brought into existence, so if you stay in the area, everything is more or less within walking distance. Needless to say, your Baltic experience starts in Riga.
16 Marijas Iela, Apartment 58