Some of you wonder how economical crisis affect the daily life in Latvia, has prices gone down or up etc. Although the crisis is a main topic in Latvia, consequences of it hasn’t been visible just yet. However, there are some changes. It’s easier to book a cheap place in hotel, because they are not overcrowded. Prices in restaurants and food places are the same, they hasn’t got down yet. The increase of VAT from 18% to 21% might not affect the prices as businesses might try to cut their income rather than rise the prices, because the market is low. But still, the VAT increase might affect the hotel prices, as the VAT there will increase from 5 to 21%. It means tourists will have to seek alternatives, such as renting flats from grannies for cash-in-hand. Clubs are also less crowded, a lot of young people try to get drunk at home or on the street before going to a dance club. There’s also some change in entertainment places. Andrejsala, once popular hang-out place, has been closed down. Now youngsters go to Spikeri near Central market or to Aptieka bar near Dome squere. Metakafe is still working, as well as Depo. There’s also a new place Leningrad bar on Kalēju street – it’s made in Soviet style with old furniture, TV set and portraits of Lenin. A nice place in the age of economical depression.
