Vila Jelita

We had a great trip to Vila Jelita last month. The manager, Gintare, was really friendly and eager to ensure we had a good time. Our room was actually a self contained flat (bedroom and bathroom) in a large house. We had access to a beautifully maintained communal kitchen with our choice of using a dining room or adjoining outdoor deck. As we stayed for a few days, it was nice to have breakfast or lunch in the house and we never bumped into anyone else using the facilities. The house seemed like a typical Lithuanian one with interesting architecture, which seems unique to the region. The villa is also attached to quite a fine cafe (kavine Grill 7). The food was very nicely prepared, the service was good and the cost was reasonable. On the negative side, the bed linen was a little worn and there was a sign stating that we couldn't take towels to the beach. However, when we mentioned that we had no towels, the maid quickly produced one for our use. Hints - If you're in Lithuania during the summer, you shouldn't miss Nida. It may be a little tricky to get there, but it is worth the bother. We found that a mini-bus driver charged the same as the public bus from Smiltyne and arrived in half the time. Also, don't miss renting a bike in Nida (30 litas per day) and bicycling to the beautiful Baltic Sea. The hike toward Kalingrad through the dunes is also a must, but you should attempt it only at the beginning or end of day as it can get fairly hot.