4/5 Allen S. 1 year ago on Google
A
stay
in
a
luxury
hotel
can
be
a
brief
reprieve
from
the
harsh
reality
of
the
world.
A
distraction
with
fluffy
towels,
soft
linens,
minibar,
complimentary
toiletries,
the
recomforting
sensation
that
breakfast
is
waiting
for
you
downstairs
--
and
hopefully
a
late
checkout.
Perhaps
my
wanderings
go
beyond
the
scope
of
a
hotel
review
but
as
I
sit
at
the
work
desk
of
room
226
of
the
Pacai
Hotel
in
Vilnius
sipping
my
Nespresso
espresso
this
is
what
comes
to
mind.
The
baroque
Pacai
Mansion
was
established
in
1677
by
the
debonaire
Mykolas
Kazimieras
Pacas.
The
Mansion
still
possesses
the
joyful
energy
of
the
aristocrats
that
frolicked
in
its
insides
once
upon
a
time;
before
it
was
forsaken
by
half
a
century
of
Soviet
rule.
The
palace
that
once
hosted
Czars,
Kings,
and
Napoleon
himself,
has
been
reborn
with
the
young
vigor
that
characterizes
today's
Vilnius.
Its
contemporary
interior
has
vague
remnants
of
its
more
prestigious
past,
when
to
spend
the
night
here,
you
likely
had
to
be
of
noble
upbringing.
(Although
I
feel
like
the
decor
was
more
inspired
by
the
debaucherous
facet
of
the
upper
classes.
When
exploring
the
Pacai
in
the
evening
I
couldn't
get
rid
of
the
feeling
that
I
could
stumble
upon
an
Eyes
Wide
Shut
scenario
--
the
beautiful
blondes
carelessly
wandering
through
the
hallways
strengthen
this
impression.)
Pacai
manages
to
be
cozy,
welcoming,
and
warm,
but
at
the
same
time
mysterious.
As
if
the
night
presents
more
possibilities
than
a
tranquil
stay
at
a
small
city
hotel.
The
service
is
excellent.
The
young
gentlemen
at
the
front
desk
seem
to
have
been
bred
specially
for
this
job.
They
perform
their
duties
with
impeccable
precision.
They
even
give
off
an
air
of
superiority,
as
if
spending
long
hours
in
the
Pacai
inevitably
gave
them
permission
to
exhibit
such
sentiments
despite
the
menial
reality
of
their
job.
Stylistically
the
room
is
a
blend
of
modern
functionality,
with
a
moderate
addendum
of
sensuality,
while
preserving
the
building's
legacy.
It's
luxurious,
but
I
don't
feel
like
a
profligate
for
spending
the
night
there.
A
zest
for
life
develops
when
you
are
here.
Even
the
name
Pacai
evokes
something
sophisticated,
intimate,
and
posh,
but
adorned
with
a
je
ne
sais
quoi,
unlike
the
universally
recognizable
British
Monarchy
elegance.
This
is
something
else.
More
careless,
original,
and
indistinguishable,
like
Lithuania's
own
role
among
the
more
established
Western
European
culture
and
aesthetics.
Naive,
vibrant,
young...
and
since
it's
young
it's
more
prone
to
mistakes;
which
did
happen
during
our
stay.
They
sold
me
a
Valentine's
Day
special
for
"one
person"
and
charged
me
for
person
2
upon
arrival
--
what
hotel
offers
a
Valentine's
Day
package
for
one
person?
They
tried
to
justify
it
instead
of
accepting
it
was
a
mistake.
They
promised
us
an
empty
sauna/hammam
at
19h,
but
there
were
4
other
people
there.
Mistakes
that
are
excusable
due
to
over-eagerness
(or
just
inexperience).
Another
downside
is
that
the
Pacai
can
be
a
bit
cold,
unfamiliar,
like
a
distant
couple
after
a
bitter
quarrel.
I
got
the
impression
that
the
Pacai
Mansion
has
not
found
its
personality
yet,
like
someone
who
went
through
a
transformation
too
quickly
and
now
is
not
sure
who
he
is.
The
disharmony
makes
it
somber
at
times.
But
it's
also
hard
to
forget,
this
is
why
I
am
writing
a
583
word
hotel
review.
The
Pacai
Hotel
is
not
perfect,
but
sometimes
you
don't
need
to
be
perfect.
A
9
can
be
more
interesting
than
a
10.