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

This new exquisite restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine is really a part of heaven located on the shore of the lake not far from Olsztyn. Except delicacies the guests can find a lot to relax – futuristic yacht trips, romantic boat trips on the lake, travelling by mountain bicycles and fishing. The restaurant is possible to accommodate events for up to 190 guests.