Key to symbols

Accommodation types

The red symbols show the 7 types of accommodations you will find in this website. Click on their titles next to symbols to read a description of each accommodation type.

	Country house
	Village house
	Self-catering cottage
	Guest house
	Hotel
	Castle, manor house
	Camping

Specialization

The blue symbols show specialisation of accommodations – the facilities to cater for special interests of guests. To be marked as specialised, accommodations comply with set criteria. Click on specialisation titles next to symbols to read descriptions.

	Skiing The venue is less than 5 km from a well-appointed downhill skiing or cross-country skiing facility.  There is information about nearby ski trails and the services which they offer.  There are partnerships with ski trails, including special discounts on leasing of equipment and use of the trails, etc.  There are special rooms to dry clothing and footwear and to store equipment.  There is a convenient car park during winter conditions.  There is a kitchen, or dining services are offered.
	Fishing There is a place where water tourists can spend time or spend the night on the banks of a river.  There is a pier where boats can be put into the water and then taken out of the water.  The venue offers boats and the necessary equipment, or there is a boat rental place nearby with information about the rental cost and the boats.  There is detailed information about boating routes, and services related to boats, equipment and passenger transport are offered.
	Seminars There is a separate room for seminars and coffee breaks or luncheons, or a seminar room in which there is room for a table to serve coffee.  There are appropriate furnishings, and the room is appropriate, as well, complete with the equipment that is needed for seminars.  There are breaks for meals or some coffee.
	Parties There is a room for celebrations with tables, chairs and benches for the necessary number of guests.  There is a kitchen to prepare and serve food, complete with dishes and silverware.  Dining is possible, and there is a car park for guests.  There is equipment to play music or to have live musical performances.  The venue has a partnership with event organisers.
	Horseback riding The farm has horses meant for horseback riding in a specific area or along a specific route, or such services are available in a radius of 5 km from the venue.  An instructor is available, along with information about services and prices.
	Wellness The venue offers at least one of the following: 1)  A sauna (with a specialist, with grass and/or branch switches, and with sauna procedures); 2)  SPA programmes (a document testifying to the service provider’s knowledge and skills); 3)  Education or activities related to a healthy lifestyle; 4)  Fitness and sports equipment; 5)  Locally produced, healthy and clean food for tastings or purchase; 6)  The sale of farm products such as herbal teas, healthy snacks, ecological cosmetics, etc.; 7)  Health improvement programmes.
	Weekends with children One or more cradles and chairs for children, a playground, and special offers for children if dining is offered.  Facilities meant for children’s activities are child-friendly.  There are special offers for kids such as games, attractions, creative workshops, rental of children’s sports equipment, etc.  The territory of the venue is safe for children.
	By the sea The venue is no less than 5 km from the sea, with information to show where the sea is located (the venue is on the seashore, the sea is across a road, etc.).  There are descriptions about the local seashore (sandy, rocky, grassy), about bathing locations and about how well-appointed the beach is.  There is information about leisure opportunities on the seashore – volleyball, trips in fishing boats, etc.  The venue may offer sunning chairs, sun umbrellas and beach towels.  The venue has a map or description as to how to get to the sea.
	Biking There are marked or tested bike routes in the area.  The venue offers maps of the routes, and it either offers bikes for rent or works with a company which does so, also making sure that the relevant equipment is available.  The venue offers precise information about the type and number of bicycles that are available, as well as about the rental cost.  There is a locked place to store bikes, and maintenance and repair services are available.  The venue offers a way of transporting the baggage of bike tourists, and it can provide breakfast and dinner.
	Boating There is a place where water tourists can spend time or spend the night on the banks of a river.  There is a pier where boats can be put into the water and then taken out of the water.  The venue offers boats and the necessary equipment, or there is a boat rental place nearby with information about the rental cost and the boats.  There is detailed information about boating routes, and services related to boats, equipment and passenger transport are offered.
	A farm This is an actual farm, fishing operation or crafts operation where people can learn about the county life, about farms and their operations (grain growing, plant growing, gardening, etc.).  Tours of the farm are available, and guests can take part in various tasks on the farm.  The venue can offer tastings and purchase of various foods such as cheese, honey, wine, etc.
	Bird watching The venue is close to places that are important for birds (migration routes, etc.).  There are bird watching towers, platforms or blinds at the venue or nearby, with informational materials about the birds and how they can best be spotted.  A guide to birds is available, along with telescopes or binoculars.  The owners are informed about bird watching and counting events in the nearby area, as well as about the activities of the Latvian Ornithological Association.  Transport is provided from the venue to the bird watching location, with an early breakfast and a packed lunch for participants.
	Mushroom hunting The territory around the venue is appropriate for mushroom hunting.  The venue offers information about edible and inedible mushrooms, along with a guide or handbook to mushrooms.  The owners can accompany the guests or provide a knowledgeable guide.  They are familiar with the surrounding area and can describe it so that guests do not get lost.  Guests can be provided with a map of the territory, and the venue has the necessary baskets or buckets to collect mushrooms.  The owners can recommend recipes or offer a chance to cook the mushrooms on site.
	Hiking The venue is in a rural and environmental territory that is appropriate for hiking, complete with nature, education or simple walking trails.  Hiking routes are marked.  The owner can serve as a guide.  If there are multi-day hikes, the venue must offer a guide who is familiar with the area, will take responsibility for the safety of guests, and is familiar with first aid.  The venue offers a way of transporting the baggage of bike tourists.

Services

The green symbols describe amenities, services and activity facilities available at each accommodation. 7 symbols for the most demanded services/facilities appear when you open an accommodation's site (provided, the respective services/facilities are available there). More symbols appear if you click on "Services".
${imp}

Nature protection type

Symbols describe nature protection level/type

${impNP}

Green Certificate

The "Green Certificate" eco-label marks those accommodations, complying with strict criteria of environmental and service quality. Click here for more details on eco-labelled accommodations.

Latvian Heritage cultural mark

Latvian Heritage cultural mark is awarded to those tourism  entrepreneurs who use and promote Latvian traditional heritage in tourism.

Natura 2000 territory

The site belongs to Natura2000 - the network of pretected nature areas of European importance.

Specially protected nature territories

Specially protected nature territories of national importance in Latvia.

Affiliation

Accommodations marked with this symbol are members of the Latvian Country Tourism Association "Lauku ceļotājs".

Quality grading

We at "Lauku celotajs" have visited all the accommodation sites presented in this website, therefore the information is reliable. To help you sort out the offer and find a holiday site that would suit you best, we have graded the country homes, guesthouses and self-catering cottages in Latvia into four categories of quality. A quality category is represented by 1 to 4 butterflies shown next to the title of each accommodation site.

Quality categories for country, village and guest houses

	Minimum facilities Basic facilities and amenities, electrical power, drainage. Rooms are not large, with simple furnishings and furniture – beds, chairs and coat hangers. Washing facilities in a bathhouse or in an outbuilding. Dry toilet in the house or in an outhouse.
	Modest In addition to guest bedrooms, some facilities in this category contain a living room for guests in shared use with the hosts and used also as a dining room and/or as a party room. Washing and WC facilities in the house, usually shared with the host family or with other guests. The rooms are larger and better furnished than in the previous category. There is an open area for recreation by the house.
	Good Living room can be shared with the hosts. Washing and WC facilities can be shared by all guests, or facilities for private use next to bedroom. Cosy interior. Surroundings well kept, with garden furniture, a picnic spot or similar. Good quality holiday activity facilities and equipment.
	Very good Separate entrance. All rooms – bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom – spacious and well appointed. En-suite bathroom and WC facilities. TV and audio equipment in bedrooms or in a living room. Facilities and amenities are in private use (e.g., sauna is not shared with other guests). Good choice and quality of activity facilities. Spacious and well kept open areas for recreation.

Quality categories for self-catering cottages

	Minimum facilities Basic facilities and amenities, electrical power, drainage. Rooms are not large, with simple furnishings and furniture – beds, chairs and coat hangers. A kitchen or kitchenette in the cottage or in another building, in shared use with other guests. Washing facilities in a bathhouse or in an outbuilding. Dry toilet in the house or in an outhouse.
	Modest The cottage contains bedrooms and washing facilities. A kitchen may be in the cottage, combined with a living room or in another building, in shared use with other guests. Kitchen equipment includes electric or gas cooker, a fridge, inventory for preparation and serving food. The rooms are larger and better furnished than in the previous category. There is an open area for recreation by the house.
	Good The cottage contains bedrooms, a living room with a TV and audio equipment. Kitchen furnishings and equipment are better than in the previous category. Rooms are spacious and convenient. Cozy interior. Surroundings well kept, with garden furniture, a picnic spot or similar. Good quality holiday activity facilities and equipment.
	Very good All rooms – bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom – spacious and well appointed. Good quality furniture and furnishings. En-suite bathroom and WC facilities. TV and audio equipment in bedrooms or in a living room. Good choice and quality of activity facilities and equipment. Spacious and well kept open areas for recreation.

We started to apply the new “butterfly” quality scheme in 2005, therefore all accommodation sites have not yet been graded under it. However, it does not mean that their quality standard is lower. We do not grade accommodation sites in Lithuania and Estonia.

Quality standards for hotels and castle/manor accommodations are set by the Hotel and Restaurant Association. They award 1-5 stars , where 5 stars stand for the highest standard. Camp sites in the Baltic countries are not graded.

The most attractive "Worth seeing" sites

		- attraction site of regional importance, worth stopping by while touring one of the regions of Latvia: Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale, Latgale.
		- one of the "Top" attraction sites in Latvia, a "must see" when touring the country.
		- one of the "Top" attraction sites in the Baltic countries a "must see" when touring the Baltic countries:  Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.