Great Baltic Tour

News

Winners of the project Great Baltic Travel 2011 are found out

2011-10-10

From 5th May till 15th September project „ Great Baltic Travel 2011” has occurred for the fifth time. The Project was organised by Latvian Tourism Development Agency (TAVA) in collaboration with Estonian Tourism Board Enterprise Estonia and Lithuanian Tourism Department of Ministry of Economy. On Monday, 19th September, project’s winners from all the Baltic States were raffled.

Great Baltic Travel 2011 has happened for the fifth time in order to promote and make more interesting travelling to Baltic States, to discover and get to know the most significant tourism objects both at home, and in neighbouring countries. The project’s participants had opportunity to visit 30 tourism objects in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, 10 objects in each country: both historical places, and exciting and attractive objects, where both big and little travellers could participate. People participated in photo hunt, because they had to take photo in the particular objects and upload the photos on the project’s webpage www.greatbaltic.eu.

„We would like to thank all who participated in the Project and especially those, who are getting to know the Baltic tourism objects for the fifth year. We are sure that this project is opportunity for inhabitants of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to look at our countries from other point of view, getting to know not only tourism objects, but also neighbours’ culture and traditions. Surely, all travellers also get sophistication, that they had this wonderful opportunity to know something new, spend time with family and friends, spreading their horizon. Hopefully, we will be able to find new and interesting objects also next years,” comments Latvian Tourism Development Agency Armands Slokenbergs.

On 15th September, webpage www.greatbaltic.eu was visited by 72600 people not only from the Baltic States, but laso from Russia, Germany and Sweden. In general, the campaign’s webpage was visited by people from 115 countries. This year, 940 participants were registered, 22 of whom have visited all 30 tourism objects.

Those participants, who have visited all 30 objects, have driven more than 3200 km and seen much interesting from the Baltic cultural heritage.

Project’ s participants has chance to travel across the Baltic States, getting to know their tourism offer, but also get valuable presents, for example, trip to one of the Baltic capitals with family on Lux Express bus, cruise trip for family on Tallink ferry on route Riga-Stokholm-Riga and accommodation in Tallink Hotls, as well as special gift from Jurmala, companies Gandrs, Baltic Travel Group, Skrivanek Baltic, Laisvalaikiodovanos.lt and hotels Radisson Blu Hotel and Panorama Hotel, flights, which were organised by airBaltic, and special project’ s „ Great Baltic Travel 2011” backpacks.

On Monday, 19th September, a lottery was organised, when the winners of the project were found out. In the raffle of the main presents, all persons, who visited at least 5 objects in each country, participated. But persons, who visited at least 3 objects in each country, participated in raffle of other presents.

The main prize – flight for 2 persons to one of 80 airBaltic destinations – was obtained by Uldis Zarins from Latvia, but three Baltic States’ prizes were won by Evald Kasekamp (Estonia), Raivis Aire (Latvia) and Vaidotas Višinskas (Lithuania). These three winners will go to one of three Baltic States and will have accommodation in „Radisson Blu” hotel.

Jānis Vanags, airBaltic corporate communication vice president: "Great Baltic Travel i san opportunity for our people to get to know our region and become of its „ambassadors”, who are inviting friends from Europe, Scandinavia, Russia/CIS to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.”

Prize from Tallink – cruise Riga- Stockholm-Riga and accommodation in „Tallink Hotels” in Riga was obtained by Raimundas Matulevičius (Estonia), Līva Ķirsone (Latvia) and Raimondas Zeblys (Lithuania).

Some participants of „Great Baltic Travel 2011” won trips from company LUX Express to one of the Baltic States.
Winners and prizes:
•         The main prize - Return airline tickets for two persons to one of 80 airBaltic destinations and accommodation – 2 nights for 2 persons in double or twin room in 4* hotel with breakfast - Uldis Zariņš
•         Flight to one of Baltic States capitals for 2 persons – airplane tickets and accommodation in hotel „Radisson Blu” - Evald Kasekamp (Estonia), Raivis Aire (Latvia), Vaidotas Višinskas (Lithuania)
•         Cruise for 4 persons with „Tallink” to Stockholm and accommodation in „Tallink Hotels” - Raimundas Matulevičius (Estonia), Līva Ķirsone (Latvia) and Raimondas Zeblys (Lithuania)
•         Trip for two persons by „Lux Express” bus to one of the Baltic States and accommodation in 4* hotel from company „Baltic Travel Group”   - Andris Ambainis
•         Trip for 4 persons by company „Lux Express” bus to one of the Baltic States and relaxation in Tartu Aquapark - Inga Dumpe
•         Trip for 2 persons by company „Lux Express” bus to one of the Baltic States, accommodation in 5* hotel „RAMADA Hotel & Suites” – Linas Juozulynas
•         Trip for 2 persons by company „Lux Express” bus to one of the Baltic States and accommodation in „Mikotel Group hotel and active leusure from gifts service „Laisvalaikiodovanos.lt” - Irina Kiblik
•         Trip for 2 persons by company „Lux Express” bus to one of the Baltic States and relaxation for 4 persons in Līvu aquapark – Kadri Klettenberg – Paas
•         Active leisure for 4 persons in Tartu – accommodation in a hotel, visiting Science Centre AHHAA and aquapark– Karin Eesmaa
•         Language courses in “Skrivanek Baltic” - Juris Zvirgzdiņš
•         Tent from Gandrs – Ivo Bernhards

Project "The Great Baltic Tour 2011" takes place the fifth year and lasts till 15th September, during which time the project’s participants can visit 30 tourism objects in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as win travel related prizes. It is possible to get discounts on entrance tickets, showing brochure of the campaign, which can be obtained in tourism information centres in all three Baltic States, in the tourism objects or by downloading it on the webpage www.greatbaltic.eu.

The project is being implemented with support of European Regional Development Fund.

The end of the project and raffle of the winners

2011-09-16

Thank you all for participating in our Project and travelling around the Baltic States! I’d like to inform that we will raffle our lucky winners on Monday, 19th September, but results will be announced on 21st September on our webpage!

“The Great Baltic Travel 2011” campaign becomes more and more popular

2011-07-18

It is already the third month since “The Great Baltic Travel 2011” tourism campaign started up, organised by the Estonian Tourist Board Enterprise Estonia in cooperation with theLatvian Tourism Development Agency and the Lithuanian Tourist Department under the Ministry of the Economy. Within two months of the campaign’s launch, large numbers of travellers had already managed to visit more than twenty of the tourism attractions that are included in the project.

This year the campaign which is organised by the three Baltic States takes place between 5 May to 15 September. During the summer period travellers show a greater interest to get out and about, and residents of our country visit not only the local tourism attractions, but also travel to Estonia and Lithuania too. To date, the campaign web site at www.greatbaltic.eu has been visited by more than 20,000 people, mainly from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and Germany. In total the campaign web site has been viewed from 101 countries around the world. Currently almost a thousand participants have registered for the campaign, of which twenty campaign members have visited eighteen tourism sites, while four of them have already managed to visit all thirty destinations. Everyone who visits at least six destinations in each country will qualify for the Grand Prize raffle - an airBaltic flight for two people to one of eighty destinations.

This year, The Great Baltic Travel is taking place for what is already its fifth year, promoting the idea that travelling around the Baltic States is interesting, and encouraging participants to discover and get to know the most significant local attractions, as well as neighbouring tourism attractions. Any participants who visit all thirty tourism attractions in the project will have travelled more than 3,200 kilometres and will have uncovered many new and interesting facts about the cultural heritage of the Baltics. The participants of the campaign are also offered special entrance prices for these tourism destinations, mainly consisting of a 50% discount on the price of an entrance ticket.

In Estonia the most popular attraction is the AHHAA Science Centre which was opened in May. With its exciting and educational attractions it has proved highly interesting for visitors of all ages and interests. Rakvere Castle ruins, with a medieval theme park that offers activities for the entire family, has also become widely popular. The third most-visited tourism attraction is the Estonian Maritime Museum, which is located in the capital city, Tallinn, and is situated in an old artillery tower which was formerly part of the city’s Old Town defensive walls. Inside the museum visitors are introduced to the history of Estonian seafaring and fishing.

Currently the most popular tourism destinations for travellers in Latvia are located in Zemgale: at Minizoo Dobuli near Iecava and the Bauska Branch of Riga Motor Museum, as well as the Black Alder Swamp Walk in Kemeri National Park. Minizoo Dobuli attracts its visitors with its miniature animals from habitats outside of Latvia. The collection of these delightful creatures is a very rich one that will definitely delight little visitors. The Bauska Branch of Riga Motor Museum has on display a vast variety of old vehicles. One exhibition hall features motor vehicles used by townsfolk for recreational trips during the thirties and the post-war period. The second hall features a rural atmosphere which plays host to tractors built by Fordson and Lanz Bulldog, along with a real thresher and other examples of agricultural machinery from the twenties and thirties. The Black Alder Swamp Walk in Kemeri National Park is a 600 metre-long trail along which visitors are able to spot forest flora and fauna which is very characteristic of the weather conditions prevalent in Latvia, as well giving you the chance to spot almost all the species of woodpecker that live in Latvia.

In Lithuania the most visited locations are the Memorial Museum at Druskininkai which is dedicated to musician and painter M K Ciurlionis, as well as the Horse Museum in Aniksci, and the Clock Museum in Klaipeda. The Horse Museum reflects the horse breeding history of Lithuania and is the only museum of its kind in the Baltic States, but the rest of the museum’s exhibits resembles the Open Air Museum in Riga. There you can acquaint yourself with the culture historical heritage of Lithuania, discover the ancient crafts, and even take part in baking bread. At the Clock Museum visitors can explore more than ten methods of counting time, taken from the most ancient times up to the modern age. Anyone who applies in advance can have the opportunity to make their own clock.

Up until 15 September, participants in the “The Great Baltic Travel 2011” have the opportunity not only to travel around the Baltic States, discovering the many tourism opportunities on offer, but also to acquire valuable prizes, such as a family trip to any of the three Baltic States on a Lux Express coach, a family cruise voyage with the Tallink ferry company on the Riga-Stockholm-Riga route, and a stay at one of the Tallink Hotels, as well as special prizes from Jūrmala City. The companies Gandrs, Baltic Travel Group, Skrivanek, Laisvalaikiodovanos.lt and the hotels Radisson Blu Hotel and Panorama Hotel are also participating in prize-giving, and flights are being provided by airBaltic, while special “The Great Baltic Travel 2011” backpacks are also available.

At the various attractions, travellers through the Baltic States can also request their very own “The Great Baltic Travel 2011” badges that are offered free of charge in three Baltic States languages.

Gifts for travellers

2011-06-13

A month has passed since the tourism project „Great Baltic Travel 2011” was started, when each inhabitant of the Baltic States can visit interesting tourism objects in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In order to make this campaign even more adventurous, on each month’s 5th date its organizers have planned to raffle useful gifts for travelling, which are provided by the campaign’s supporters.

The first raffle took place on Monday, 6th June, when a backpack with the project’s visual design, useful for travelling, was raffled. This time the organizers have raffled one participant from each country which were active commentators both on the project’s webpage www.greatbaltic.eu and in social media profiles. The backpacks were obtained by Kristīna Freimane no Latvia, Aušra Aušrine from Lithuania and Ivar Merilo from Estonia. Congratulations to the lucky winners!
Since the Baltic travellers are active in communication, we have decided to raffle additional gifts in June among webpage www.greatbaltic.eu commentators who are active visitors of the project’s tourism objects and give useful advices to other travellers.

Since 1st June, on the project’s webpage there is novelty – all participants who are registered get additional points not only for uploading photos, but also for commenting, evaluating the objects and uploading additional photos. During next raffle, which is planned on 5th July, additional prizes will be raffled among those who will be in TOP15 by obtained points.

The webpage’s registered users will get additional points:
1)    for each visited object – 10 points for each object;
2)    if all objects are visited in a country, the participant gets 20 points (once);
3)    for each comment participants get 4 points, but not more than 20 points in total;
4)    for each object’s evaluation, participants get 2 points, but not more than 20 points in total;
5)    for additional photo album (with at least 3 photos) creation – 5 points, but not more than 20 points in total.

The Project „Great Baltic Travel” participants are able not only to travel through the Baltic States, getting to know their tourism offers, but also obtain useful gifts, for example, trip to one of the Baltic States for whole family by Lux Express bus, cruise voyage for a family by Tallink ferry on route Rīga –Stokholma – Rīga and accommodation in hotel Tallink Hotels, as well as special gifts from Jurmala, companies Gandrs, Baltic Travel Group, Skrivanek, Laisvalaikiodovanos.lt , Skrivanek and hotels Radisson Blu Hotel and Panorama Hotel, flights by company airBaltic and special backpacks with the project „Great Baltic Travel 2011” visual design.

Travellers can ask for priceless special badges of the Project „Great Baltic Travel 2011”, which are available in all three languages of the Baltic States.
Follow our activities; give useful comments not only in social media www.facebook.com, but also http://twitter.com/#!/greatbaltic, http://www.flickr.com/photos/greatbaltic/, https://foursquare.com/greatbaltic.

Project "The Great Baltic Tour 2011" takes place the fifth year and lasts till 15th September, during which time the project’s participants can visit 30 tourism objects in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as win travel related prizes. It is possible to get discounts on entrance tickets, showing brochure of the campaign, which can be obtained in tourism information centres in all three Baltic States, in the tourism objects or by downloading it on the webpage www.greatbaltic.eu.
The project is being implemented with support of European Regional Development Fund.

Enjoy Riga or Tallinn and explore exiting countryside in a brand new VW Golf 6! Only €1 per 3 days! *

2011-06-10

*Offer is valid from June 15-20 for 3 days only. You can pick-up the car not earlier than June 15, 5 p.m. and drop-off not later than June 20, 10 a.m. The number of vehicles is limited - the earlier You apply, the higher chances You have. Available only if You are at least 20 years old, have a two year-long driving experience and valid, internationally recognized driving license, as well as credit card (only VISA or MasterCard, American Express are valid).

Pick-up place:
Vilnius; Sixt office in Vilnius airport or Smolensko g. 6-320, Vilnius

Drop off place (choose one):
- Riga Airport
- Tallinn Airport or Sixt Office Tornimäe 5, Tallinn
Price:
Includes – VAT (21%), car rental, third party liability insurance, CDW and TP (renter's liability - 70 EUR), 24-hour roadside assistance in Baltic States, 24-hour toll-free help line +370 52395636.

Payments:
Payments and deposit by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, American Express).
Client must present a passport or ID document and valid driving license when receiving a vehicle. At the time of the vehicle usage the money reservation from the client credit card is made in the amount of 70 EUR (only VISA or MasterCard, American Express are valid), the money is returned in 2 weeks time from the end of the rental period.

Reservations:
Reservation should be done at least 24 hours prior to start of car rental. To make reservation call +370 52395636 or write This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The number of vehicles is limited.

Driving licence:
A car may only be driven by a person, who reached 20 years of age. A driver must possess at least two year-long driving experience and valid, internationally recognized driving license.

Car rental period:
Sixt special offer is valid from June 15, 17:00 p.m.till June 20, 10:00a.m. If the car is returned 30 minutes later than specified time, client shall pay for the next rental day. The charge for the next rental day commensurate with the Sixt public charges.

Territory of usage, receiving, handing over:
The car can be used only on the territory of Baltic States.
Place of receiving of the vehicle Vilnius airport or Smolensko g. 6-320, Vilnius.
Place of handing over of the vehicle in Latvia: Riga Airport.
Place of handing over of the vehicle in Estonia: Tornimäe 5, Tallinn, or Tallinn airport.

Renter's liability:
On occurrence of insurance event, the fixed limit of liability shall be applied - 70 EUR.
The number of vehicles is limited. Offer is valid from 15th till 20th of June.