While preparing for a trip to the Baltics, we were faced with a choice: should we stay in an apartment or in a hotel? We have opted for short term rental apartments. After reading the post, you will find out what the apartments looked like and what problems we encountered while living in them.
Why did we decide to rent apartments and not live in a hotel?
Price! The main reason why we decided to rent apartments in Riga and Tallinn was the price. In these two cities it is simply unrealistic to find a sane, cozy, clean hotel for less than 100 Euro per day. And, since we went to the Baltics for 2 weeks to unwind and escape from everyday life, then, you understand, the amount that we had to pay for hotel accommodation in these not richest European countries would easily exceed 1000 Euro! For this money, you can go from the Czech Republic to Spain for 10 days.
- In Riga 20-60 Euro.
- In Tallinn the cost of renting an apartment in the center at daily rent is about 40-70 Euro.
The second reason, according to which we decided to rent an apartment, is an opportunity to feel the spirit of the city in a different way. Indeed, in soulless hotels, the spirit of the city is difficult to understand.
Third reason Is food. We are so fed up with restaurants that recently we rarely go there and prefer to cook at home, and for convenient collecting recipes we even started a separate website Foodbuster.ru.
Well, now let's tell you what exactly we filmed and how much.
Rent an apartment in Riga
Before the trip to Riga, we rented a two-room apartment with good transport accessibility not far from the main railway station and 5 minutes walk from the historic center. Judging by the photos and reviews, this is a clean, bright apartment with a modern kitchen, where there was an oven and a refrigerator, with a good bathroom and flexible accommodation for 25 Euros per day. The apartment, as before, was booked on the Airbnb website, the amount for the accommodation was paid in full, the owner was immediately written off and everything was agreed. The apartment and the owner had positive reviews and we weren't worried.
Problems started! 1.5 days before the trip, we decided to check with the owner of the apartment if there is a hairdryer in the apartment, and how he will give us the keys, because we arrived late in the evening. We wait. 1 day before the trip, we see that the owner does not answer, and that the last 5 people could not move in, because the owner simply did not show up.
We immediately started writing in support of Airbnb asking why they didn’t follow the fact that at least 5 people could not move into this apartment. We were immediately called back by a Russian support girl and said that the owner's phone was not answering, and if after 30 minutes he did not show up, she would call us back and we would agree on something. It took 30 minutes, they call us back and say that the owner did not show up, and that our reservation was canceled. Since there were less than a day left before the trip, and Airbnb understands that there are not many apartments left in Riga (a concert of the Leningrad group is on the nose), we are given a bonus for renting an apartment in the amount of $ 125.
We frantically start looking for housing, but there are very few apartments for the same budget, and many of them are far from the center, or there are dirty apartments with Soviet renovation, carpets on the walls and grandma's sofa.
And then an announcement appears about the delivery of a new two-story apartment for 44 Euros per day. The landlady of the apartment, Linda, immediately answered, we agreed on everything and paid for the accommodation. The only problem new apartment- this is the distance from the center and the station - 15 minutes on foot. Everything else suited us: new furniture, the apartment was after renovation, Internet access available, a large table, a fully equipped kitchen, a double bed, a sofa in the living room.
How the settlement took place. We arrived in Riga at about 22:15. I had to wait for the luggage and sort out the transport, and eventually arrived at the house at 23:15. Linda's assistant gave us the keys, showed us the apartment, gave us the Internet password and left.
As you can see, we rented a two-story stylish loft after renovation in a powerful brick building. The first floor is a large living room combined with a kitchen and a toilet. A spiral staircase leads to the second floor.
The description of the apartment in the listing on Airbnb was fully consistent with reality. The complete set of the kitchen pleased: a normal oven, an induction hob, a coffee machine, a kettle, a refrigerator, all kitchen utensils and utensils are available.
The second floor consists of two rooms: one bedroom, a study and a large bathroom. The bed turned out to be too soft, but these are trifles. The bed linen was clean, we were given 5 towels: 2 towels each and one foot towels. Lovers of towels, of course, would be unhappy, because in hotels should give out 10 towels per person, but we had enough towels.
The bathroom was also pleasing: there was a shower room, a full bath, a toilet, two taps for washing and two large windows in the ceiling. All plumbing from the famous German brand Villeroy & Boch. Lovers of elite at the sight of all this would be indescribable delight, we calmly treat this plumbing, and in Europe it even stands at ordinary airports.
We liked the apartment: everything was stated in it. Slept in it perfectly, tk. it was quiet. The only negative is a slight distance from the center, but this was not critical for us. And, I forgot to add that the supermarket was close by, and it was not difficult to cook.
Now let's move on to the description of the apartment in Tallinn.
Rent an apartment in Tallinn
In preparation for the trip, we started surfing Airbnb in search of an apartment in Tallinn. It turned out that there are a great variety of accommodation options - from one-room small apartments to beautiful modern lofts with renovation and fashionable appliances. More than 500 housing options in total! There are very few hotels on the booking - there are only 70 hotels for the whole of Tallinn. Free apartments, like hotel rooms, leave very quickly. Before the trip we were very busy and had to choose from what was left. Initially, we wanted an apartment like this in a quiet brick building.
It turned out to rent such an apartment for 38 Euros next to the bus station and a supermarket nearby. V historic center such an apartment would cost about 2 times more, and there would be worse transport accessibility.
As stated, the apartment had everything you needed: good kitchen with a spacious refrigerator, hob, kettle, oven; a room with a sofa, bed, Russian TV, bathroom with shower and washing machine; clean linens. After booking the apartment, the owner immediately contacted and confirmed that the apartment was available for the required dates, and we made a reservation with payment of the entire amount.
At the appointed time, the owner of the apartment met us, gave us the keys and showed us the apartment. The apartment was well appointed and ready to move in. In fact, the check-in, as in the previous cases, happened as in the hotel. Checking out is also simple: usually the apartment is locked and the keys are left in the mailbox.
Of the minuses of the apartment, I can only note the house, which turned out to be an old socket with excellent audibility and drunken neighbors. Of course, there is little pleasant, but no excesses happened. In general, I noticed that there are a lot of drunks in Tallinn, so such a minus in the form of neighbors could be added anywhere, especially in the center, where there are a lot of screaming bukhariks in the evenings. Our neighbors were at least quiet drunks.
✈ Search for the cheapest flights without markups reliable agencies of official dealers of Aeroflot, S7, Ural Airlines and all famous airlines in the world.If you read my post about the apartment we rented in Tallinn, then you probably already know that I myself personally found myself a pretty average option during this trip (although not the worst, of course). I started looking for housing late enough. Therefore all best deals, of course, by that time they had already been successfully ground. However, okay. Learn from my mistakes and start looking for accommodation as early as possible - preferably 3-4 weeks before the trip. Tallinn is a rather expensive city. However, here too, if you wish, you can find many great offers.
Next, I will tell you how to find comfortable and the cheapest accommodation in the capital of Estonia, I will show you on which sites the most the best prices on hotels and hotels, and I will also share with you a couple of life hacks regarding how you can save an additional $ 20 on booking apartments.
Budget hotels in Old Town
The cost of simple hotels in the Estonian capital starts from 20-32 euros per room. For this money, you get a double room with a private bath or shower. Alternatively, for the same money, you can also rent a separate room in the hostel with one double or two single beds. In this case, you will most likely have a shower on the floor.
As for the location, it can, of course, be different. For example, I have personally only found a few cheap options close to Tallinn's Old Town. Below are links to these accommodation options.
Two stars. Located in the area of Tallinn's skyscrapers. The Viru Gate (marking the beginning of the Old Town) is a 5-10 minute walk. Price at the time of publication: € 26-32 for a double room. If you wish, you can also order breakfast at the hotel.
Three star hotel. One of the best on this list. At the time of publication, a small double room with 1 or 2 beds could be rented here for 30-35 euros. The hotel itself is located in the old town. Distance to market square- 600 meters.
Another cool hotel located right in the old town (next to St. Olaf's church). At the time of publication of the article, a small double room on the basement floor could be rented for a price of 30-35 euros. I think this is a very romantic option.
Private double room in the hostel. Distance to the center - 500 meters. The price at the time of publication is 20 euros (per promotion), the usual price is 30 euros.
Five minutes walk to the old town of Tallinn. Nearby is the famous (and very cool) Lennusadam Museum (Seaplane Harbor). Cost at the time of publication of the article: 30 euros per day (27 euros + site fees).
How to save money on renting apartments (on the AIRBNB website)
There are several different options here. The first and simplest of them is to register on the site using this link. Then you will immediately receive a small bonus on your first booking (€ 20). It does not stack with other bonuses. But it will work automatically. All you need to do is book accommodation with a total price of over 75 euros. If you go to Tallinn for at least 3 days, it will not be difficult (25 + 25 + 25 is already the right amount).
If you are traveling to the capital of Estonia for a long time or plan to rent a house for a more serious amount, you can repeat this trick with two accounts at once. In this case, you just need to book the same apartment twice (for example, for 3 days + 3 days). It is best to do this from the account of your companion or companion (roughly speaking, the person who is traveling with you). Then everything is the same as in the first case - only now each of you will receive a bonus on the first booking, and you can save twice as much. The main thing is that each booking is worth more than 75 euros (excluding fees).
One of the first tasks that a new immigrant has to solve is finding housing for himself and his family. This task can be daunting even in a familiar city. But with our article we will try to make it easier for you to find an apartment in Tallinn.
As a rule, the employer pays the moving employee for housing for the first time, so that you can slowly look for a suitable option. This will allow you to walk around all districts of Tallinn on your own and choose the one that you like best.
Tallinn districts
Tallinn is divided into 8 districts: Kesklinn, Kristiine, Pirita, Lasnamäe, Nõmme, Mustamäe, Haabersti and Põhja-Tallinn.
Kesklinn (Kesklinn, "city center") - as the name suggests, the central district of Tallinn. It includes the beloved by foreigners Old city, the nearby island of Aegna, a business center with several office skyscrapers and most of the institutions: government, ministries, port, museums, theaters, libraries. Tallinn University is also located there. Unfortunately, this cannot but affect the price of housing - Kesklinn is officially considered the most expensive area not only in Tallinn, but throughout Estonia.
The city center is the most colorful place in terms of architecture: even if you subtract the Old Town, there is still housing for every taste, from wooden houses with two or four apartments to fashionable glass skyscrapers. With new buildings, everything is more or less predictable, but in old houses, household variety, unfortunately, comes complete with external charm: for example, many of them still have stove heating.
Also, the city center means being in the center of events: any concerts, exhibitions, street festivals will be within walking distance for you. But peace and quiet can be problematic.
Kristiine (Kristiine) - another area of the same plan: it contains both small wooden and brick houses of different times, and new buildings. There is a big shopping center, many parks. The area owes its name to the Swedish queen Christina, under whose rule it was founded in the 17th century. Kristiine borders on central area and has good bus and tram connections.
Lasnamäe (Lasnamäe) - most large area Tallinn, traditionally considered “Russian-speaking”: 60% of the population, according to the 2013 census, identify themselves as Russians. This area is mainly composed of classic panel quarters of the early 80s. Lasnamäe is home to: Technopolis Ülemiste business center, where a large part of Tallinn's IT industry is concentrated, Ice Palace, Athletics Center. The area is very comfortable to live in, especially for families with children. Kindergartens, schools, clinics, circles and sports sections are all nearby.
Mustamäe(Mustamäe, "Black Mountain") is the second largest district of Tallinn, built up mainly with panel houses with a height of five and nine floors. In Mustamäe there are Tallinn University of Technology and other educational institutions, the Technopol Science and Technology Park, a medical town: North-Estonian Regional Hospital, Children's Hospital and Mustamäe Polyclinic. There is also the Tallinn Center for Interests "Kullo", which has about 50 hobby groups for children.
Haabersti (Haabersti, "oat farm" in German) is a rather green residential area in the west of Tallinn, built up mainly in the 1970s and retaining the architecture typical of that time. It houses the Tallinn Zoo, the large Saku Suurhall sports and concert center, the Estonian Ethnographic Museum, a year-round skating rink and the large Rocca al Mare shopping center. Also in the area is Lake Harku, beloved by fishermen.
Nõmme (Nõmme, "wasteland") - traditionally "Estonian" district of Tallinn, which until 1940 was a separate city. As of 2013, Estonians accounted for 84% of the area's population. Basically, Nõmme is built up with private and small apartment buildings among pine forest... There is also the castle and park of Baron von Glen, famous for the movie "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and a ski jump.
You can also get from Nõmme to the city by train.
Pirita(Pirita, the Estonian version of the name "Birgitta") is another area of predominantly private development, but if Nõmme is located quite far from the sea, then Pirita is located on the coast of the bay and along the banks of the Pirita River. One of the most prestigious districts of Tallinn. There are the main city beach, yacht club, TV tower and the ruins of the Birgitta monastery. Especially suitable for those who like long walks and active sports... However, while living in the area you need to stock up on time on your way to work. There are often traffic jams here.
Põhja-Tallinn (Põhja-Tallinn, "North Tallinn") is a fairly old seaside region with a very diverse population. On the one hand, it includes the trendy hipster district of Kalamaja and Telliskivi with youth cafes and shops, on the other, the marginal areas at the end of the Kopli Peninsula and the railway station area. There are also several museums, the popular Stromka and Pikakari beaches, and the Paljassaare bird sanctuary.
Most popular sites for finding housing- http://www.city24.ee and http://www.kv.ee, both have Russian versions. Most of the apartments on the websites are rented through brokers. Brokers, as a rule, also speak Russian.
Contract it is quite formal with the tenant, and if something goes wrong, you can contact the authorities for protection. Also, the owners, as a rule, do not object to the registration of the residence address by the tenant - thus, becoming a resident of Tallinn, you get access to free public transport and other benefits. You can register online.
Lease contract should contain the following items:
- description of the object (as accurate as possible);
- rent and the procedure for its payment;
- the procedure for calculating utility bills and their payment;
- term of the contract and the procedure for terminating the contract, including early termination;
- duties and rights of the lessee and the lessor;
- commitment to the safety of inventory (furniture, appliances) and its return.
A two-room apartment for rent in a pleasant area and decent condition will cost you € 350-400 per month - alas, the owner will have to pay the owner another amount of rent as a deposit for the last month. If the apartment is rented with the help of a broker, he will also ask for the cost of a monthly rent for his services. The rent does not include public Utilities which adds about € 50-70 in summer and € 100-150 in winter. Fortunately, in Estonia there is a practice of showing several apartment invoices in different time years at the time of the contract so that the tenant can estimate the scale of the costs.
The general rule is that the older the house, the more surprises it can hide. At first, many are tempted by romantic old houses in the center, or even in the Old Town itself. Unfortunately, living in such houses is either expensive or inconvenient: for example, to get rid of dampness, they use climate control systems (expensive) or preserved stoves and fireplaces (inconvenient and requires certain skills). Otherwise, you will get into a load of romance the ineradicable smell of damp plaster in rooms and wet clothes in closets, mold, creaky floors and warped furniture.
It's the same story with pretty attics. They are of two types: inexpensive loft apartments, pre-built as living quarters, and refurbished attics. If the first option is a matter of taste, then the second requires considerable efforts to insulate, and how lucky you are with this particular attic, you will only know when you settle in it yourself.
When choosing an apartment, pay attention to how it heated... Residents of big cities usually mean the presence of central heating in the apartment, but in Tallinn all kinds of options are widely presented, from gas to stove. The easiest option to use, of course, remains central heating - many houses have long been equipped with individual apartment meters and temperature controllers. New homes do not use the usual batteries on or in the walls, but pipes in the floor. The advantage of gas heating is that you can turn it on and off for your pleasure all year round, but you will have to trust the owners of the apartment in the prevention and maintenance of the gas boiler. The same applies to stove heating, if you are ready to heat the stove with your own hands, and heat pumps in private houses. “Electric heating” usually means that there is simply no heating and you have to use heaters. Don't underestimate Estonian winters! This option will provide you with a lot of electricity bills.
The same story with hot water: in addition to central water supply, boilers are very common. If your water bills look surprisingly low, take a closer look to see if there is a boiler hanging in the bathroom, and think about the mode in which you will wash: one hundred liters of hot water is enough for about two showers. Also, boilers are often installed in the attics of small apartments and private houses. The presence of a boiler, of course, will affect the electricity bill.
If you have a car, you should also find out the question in advance. parking... Most houses have parking spaces attached to apartments and do not welcome parking of other people's cars on their territory. As for parking on the streets, it is paid in Tallinn and runs the risk of ruining you pretty quickly. People who do not have a parking space in the yard usually buy long-term passes at the private parking lot closest to the house or rent a garage.
It is also important to find out if the house has apartment association... This is a kind of association of residents with an elected government. If it exists, it will be much easier for you to solve all everyday issues: the chairman of the apartment association, as a rule, knows what the technical condition of the house is, how long has it been renovated, the facade or roof has been insulated, what is the situation with the repair fund (monthly payments of residents for house maintenance) ... Also, the chairman of the partnership will be able to briefly tell you about potential neighbors. The chairman's phone number is usually searched for at home on the Internet.
Controversial issues between the landlord and the tenant, the rental commission helps to decide. To resolve controversial issues, you need to fill out a form on the Internet, sign with an ID-card and send to the specified address. In addition, the commission works well as a deterrent for both owners and tenants.
In general, the official contract, the presence of apartment associations and rental commissions make renting an apartment in Tallinn a rather simple and safe undertaking. So decide on the area of the city and look for ads on the portals. Good luck!
Tallinn is one of most popular places in Estonia for the purchase of apartments by foreigners. It is very easy for non-EU residents to buy an apartment or an apartment in Tallinn, since Estonian legislation does not restrict the purchase of real estate in any way: the country has rather liberal laws. Why is it worth buying an apartment in Tallinn? Here are some reasons:
- Developed infrastructure
- Availability international airports and ports
- Tallinn's beautiful Old Town - many attractions
- Safe purchase of apartments and flats
- Proximity to the Russian border
How much are flats and apartments in Tallinn?
The cost of apartments and apartments in Tallinn is low and averages € 1400-1450 per sq.m. The cheapest one-room apartments are sold in the depressed Kopli district - the cost can be up to € 10,000! In other districts of Tallinn, prices for one-room, two-room and three-room apartments can be very different. If a one-room apartment in the predominantly Russian-speaking district of Tallinn - Lasnamäe - can be bought for an average of € 1200 per sq.m, then in the city center the price is € 1900 per sq.m.
For those who prefer quieter areas and who need to bring their family on vacation, the Nõmme or Pirita area is more suitable. The cost of two-room and three-room apartments in the Nõmme and Pirita districts averages € 1364 and € 1508 per sq.m., respectively. A studio in Tallinn, in the beautiful city center, can cost from € 1850 per sq.m.
Buying an apartment in Tallinn is a safe business. All real estate transactions are carried out with the participation of a notary who checks the transparency and security of the purchase, which means that the risk of being cheated is close to zero.
Apartments and flats in new districts of Tallinn
Tallinn is in constant development and movement, new housing is being built, residential quarters and districts are being created. In the near future, no later than 2015, the stage-by-stage construction of the Perise residential quarter will begin, which will include 10 high-rise buildings, for the level of Estonia, with a height of 12-14 floors. Also, the entire area will include the necessary infrastructure: road traffic, own parking house for the area, kindergarten, landscaping, commercial buildings. Pre-sale apartments from the developer has already begun.
