For travellers, the best thing about Latvia is that it is so compact. Its 500 km of sandy beaches are easily reached from historical towns, where medieval hanseatic foundations support baroque and art nouveau buildings, that become venues for cultural festivals during the summer. Families of storks happily give their seal of approval to the unspoilt nature, fresh air and clean water around them. In addition to Riga, its spectacular gateway, there are 6 other UNESCO world heritage listed sites. A

Russian banya At first glance, the Russian banya looks like an extreme sport. Friends and strangers beat each other with branches from birch trees in a devilishly hot atmosphere. When this is finished, they  run for the exit to jump into an icy-cold pool. If you're alone, you can always hire an attendant to give you a beating. It is not only a wondrous feeling (trust me), but unbelievably good for you. You get a special burst of energy after taking a steam in a Russian bathhouse, because all

This modern, luxury hotel is located on Tverskaya, the main street of Moscow, leading straight into the Kremlin. Contemporary design of Chekhonte Restaurant with open show kitchen offers modern variations on traditional Russian dishes. Elegant, air-conditioned rooms with dark woods and luxurious fabrics are offered at the Intercontinental Moscow Tverskaya. Modern comforts include iPod docking stations, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, and laptop safes. Well-arranged luxury suites include private terraces

State complex The National Congress Palace is located on the picturesque coast of the Gulf of Finland, in the green space of St.-Petersburg. It combines the functions of the state residence, historical and cultural reserve and the business centre. Konstantin Palace is the main structure of the complex. The Palace with its halls is opened for carrying out various actions: scientific and political forums, corporate meetings, exhibitions and presentations and provides totally more than 50 halls from