Villa Delenda, Yerevan

Villa Delenda is a compact and traditional-style Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Yerevan, which features stone walls and basic, neutral decoration mixed with antique furniture and traditional Armenian rugs to present a warm and homely feel to the guests.  Located at 22 Yeznik Koghbatsi, it is merely a brief 4-minute walk from Republic Square; a 2-minute walk from Yerevan’s main avenue, Mashtots Avenue; and a 5-minute walk from the History Museum of Armenia.  Therefore, this Bed and Breakfast is ideally placed for exploring the capital city during your trip to Armenia.

Villa Delenda, Yerevan

Arrival Information

Check in is from 2pm and checkout is until 12 noon.  However, please be aware that this Bed and Breakfast does not accept any credit or debit cards – it is strictly cash only.  Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to room type, so ensure you check the policy that applies when you are booking.

Services and Amenities

This Bed and Breakfast offers a range of services and amenities, including: free Wi-Fi; a seating area; a 24-hour front desk; express check in and checkout, free public parking, at a nearby location; packed lunches; car hire; shuttle service, for a surcharge; airport shuttle, for a surcharge; a tour desk; luggage storage; a laundry and ironing service; meeting and banquet facilities; fax and photocopying services; and a shared kitchen with a dining area, where Armenian cuisine is served to guests (with special diet menus upon request).

Guest Rooms

Villa Delenda Bed and Breakfast has eight non-smoking rooms with one room rate: Double or Twin Room.  A Double or Twin room at will start at a reasonable 24,899 AMD for one person per night and rise to an equally reasonable 35,274 AMD for two people per night (as of March 2014).  All children under 2 years of age stay free, if using existing beds.  For an extra bed, you will be charged 10,000 AMD per night and you can only have one extra bed per room, which must be confirmed by management upon booking.  Supplements will have to be paid for separately from the total costs.  Pets are not allowed.  Facilities and services in rooms include: a wardrobe, a flat-screen television with cable channels, a telephone, free Wi-Fi, safety deposit box, heating and air conditioning.

Trip Advisor Rating and Testimonials                                       

Overall, this hotel has been awarded 4.5 stars out of 5 on the Trip Adviser website (written by independent visitors to the hotel).  When broken down, the hotel received a remarkable: 4.5 stars for service, value, cleanliness and location; and 4 stars for sleep quality and rooms.  Some of the guests said the following:

‘Perfect!’

‘Charming B&B in central Yerevan.’

‘Exactly what I was looking for.’

‘Very good hotel – excellent location – very helpful personnel.’

If you want to stay in an affordable Bed and Breakfast, whilst experiencing traditional Armenian food and excellent service, you may want to consider the Villa Delenda.

Mher Avanesyan - Paralympic Skier - Sochi 2014

Mher Avanesyan

The 2014 Winter Paralympic games are to be held in Sochi, Russia between 7- 16 March 2014 and Mher Avanesyan will be competing for Armenia in both the Slalom, standing and the Giant slalom, standing events.

Paralympic Games
Armenia has a recent history of participation in the Paralympic games having made their debut at the 1996 Summer Games, held in Atlanta. At those games, Armenia had two entries with Gagik Gasparian competing in the power lifting and a 4 man team competing in the sailing event. Two years later and Armenia took part in its first Winter Paralympics Games and had an impressive 8 athletes competing in the many Alpine skiing events. Since its Paralympic debut Armenia has participated in each and every Summer and Winter Paralympic games. However, as is to be expected from such a small country, the Armenian Paralympic teams have been small and they are not amongst the favourites. 

Mher Avanesyan
Whilst no Armenian has yet won a Paralympic medal they do have the distinction of having Mher Avanesyan compete in both the Winter and Summer Paralympic games, few athletes have managed this impressive feat. He competed in the Alpine Skiing event in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 whilst in the Summer Games in 2000 he competed in the Sailing event.

Record
Mher Avanesyan was born in Artsakh, Armenia and is a double – arm amputee who competes in the Alpine Ski event and is also a competitive sailor. Avanesyan was not born without arms but at the age of seven touched a high – voltage wire at a power station and lost both arms in the accident. He holds the distinction of being one of the few athletes to compete at a Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and in Sochi, Russia during the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games he will have competed at 5 winter games.

Experience
Despite Armenia not winning a medal at a previous Paralympic Games, in Mher Avanesyan Armenia have a very talented and capable alpine skier whose Winter Olympic experience is second to none and will serve him well as he takes on the might of the world’s alpine skiers in Sochi, Russia.

Anahit Stepanyan’s Bed and Breakfast, Yerevan

If you would like an alternative ‘homestay’ Bed and Breakfast in Yerevan, then may be that you would consider Anahit Stepanyan’s Bed and Breakfast.  Anahit has worked in the tourist industry all of her life – as a tourist guide – and is passionate about ensuring that every person who visits Armenia has the best experience possible.  If you choose to stay in her hospitable family home, which she has been welcoming guests in to for the last nine years, you will be made to feel very welcome, indeed.  Located in Sayat-Nova Avenue, in the very heart of Armenia’s capital, this Bed and Breakfast faces the Opera House and is within a short walking distance of all the major attractions and places of interest.  With rave reviews on Trip Advisor, the communal feel of this establishment is definitely worth considering.

Anahit Stepanyan’s Bed and Breakfast, Yerevan

Arrival Information

Check in and checkout times, plus methods of payment are not available.  Therefore, it is recommended that you contact Anahit on 0037410527589, 0037410568134 or 0037491502071 to find out these details prior to booking.  Alternatively, if you go to her website, you can check if she’s available to Skype.

Services and Amenities

This Bed and Breakfast offers a range of services and amenities, including: a selection of art, by Armenian artists; a sitting room, where you can use the free satellite television, take in a movie, read a book from the extensive English language selection, or surf the Internet via the super-fast free WiFi; cleaning services; 24-hour hot showers; a common room; a terrace for those sunny days; free use of the refrigerator; free breakfast, consisting of a fresh pastry served with coffee or tea; luggage storage; guided tour booking; free use of guide books and maps; expert trip advice; and an airport pick-up service.

Guest Rooms

Anahit Stepanyan’s Bed and Breakfast has 3 different room rates available, which vary between high season (April – September) and low season (October – March): Dorm Room, Loft or Private Double Room.  In the low season, prices start at an extremely reasonable 5,000 AMD per person per night and rise to an equally reasonable 10,000 AMD per person per night (as of March 2014).  In the high season, prices start at an extremely reasonable 6,000 AMD per person per night and rise to an equally reasonable 15,000 AMD per person per night (as of March 2014).  Facilities and services in rooms include: linen, duvets and towels upon request.

Trip Advisor Rating and Testimonials                                       

Overall, this hotel has been awarded 5 stars out of 5 on the Trip Adviser website (written by independent visitors to the hotel).  When broken down, the hotel received a remarkable: 5 stars for service, value and location; and 4.5 stars for sleep quality, rooms and cleanliness.  Some of the guests said the following:

‘Wonderfully helpful lady and a lovely apartment.’

‘Great location, good place to stay.’

‘A lovely stay in a homely place!’

‘Something special...’

If you are willing to try the alternative, then this lovely Bed and Breakfast offers a warm, friendly and fun experience.

Town Palace Hotel, Yerevan

Town Palace Hotel is a newly-renovated build, which is small, beautifully-appointed, quiet and offers 5 star service.  Located in central Yerevan, at Sharah Talian Street, if you choose to stay at this lovely Bed and Breakfast, you will be a mere two-minute walk from Circular Park; a 10-minute walk from Freedom Square, the Hanrapetutyan Hraparak Metro Station and the National Gallery of Armenia; with several restaurants and cafes to be found just a short distance away.  It also boasts rave reviews on Trip Adviser and Booking.com and there is a wide selection of gallery photographs available to view on the latter.

Town Palace Hotel, Yerevan

Arrival Information

You can check in from 1pm and check out until 12 noon.  Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to the room type, so ensure you check the room conditions when booking.  The hotel accepts payment by American Express, Maestro, Mastercard or Visa.

Services and Amenities

This Bed and Breakfast offers a range of services and amenities, including: free public parking, on site; 24 hour front desk, with express check in and checkout; baggage storage; room service; airport shuttle; laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services; faxing and photocopying service; and free Wi-Fi in all areas.  Pets are allowed, upon request.

Guest Rooms

Town Palace Hotel has 2 different room rates available, which are cheaper if you book them as non-refundable: Double or Twin Room or Triple Room.  Prices start at an extremely reasonable 22,251 AMD per night (non-refundable) and rise to an equally reasonable 31,789 AMD (refundable) (as of March 2014).  One child under 5 can stay free of charge when using existing beds; an older child is charged 4000 AMD per night when using existing beds; you can only have extra bed or cot per room and they must be requested at the time of booking and confirmed by management; additional fees will have to be paid for separately.  Facilities and services in rooms include: safe, soundproofing, minibar, a flat screen television, a private bathroom with a shower, heating and air conditioning.

Trip Advisor Rating and Testimonials                                       

Overall, this hotel has been awarded 5 stars out of 5 on the Trip Adviser website (written by independent visitors to the hotel).  When broken down, the hotel received an remarkable: 5 stars for cleanliness, service, sleep quality, value, rooms and location (almost unheard of).  Some of the guests said the following:

‘Amazing service...’

‘Recommended new, friendly and relaxing hotel.’

‘Wonderful time in Yerevan.’

‘Super!’

It seems that if you want a super-efficient Bed and Breakfast in Yerevan, this is one that will be hard to beat!

Armenian Diaspora - Armenian's Across the Globe

Armenian Diaspora

Armenians have reached and settled in every corner of the world and enriched each and every community they have joined. The Armenia Diaspora refers to the dispersion of Armenian people living outside the borders of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenian Genocide
Despite establishing communities across the globe since ancient times it was in more recent history that the world wide dispersion of Armenian citizens became so prominent, when he Armenian Genocide occurred in 1915. During this period (click here to read more about the Armenian Genocide) Armenians were forced from their traditional homeland in what is now eastern Turkey (but was referred to as Western Armenia by Armenians) and were steadily decimated by Turkish forces in a direct attempt to eradicate a whole race of people, under direct orders from Istanbul.

Global Dispersion
The population of Armenia is approximately 3 million, however, the worldwide population of people who can claim direct Armenian heritage is estimated to be 7 million with the largest populations found in Russia, the United States, France, Argentina, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Canada, Ukraine, Greece, and Australia.

Reduction in Population
It is strange to think that less than half of the world’s Armenian population lives in the Armenian homeland. On the other hand, prior to the First World War (and subsequently the Armenian Genocide) the population of the country was six times larger than it is now. However, it is worth noting that prior to the First World War Armenian citizens lived in a much larger country that included the eastern regions of Turkey, northern parts of Iran, southern parts of Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and the Nakhichevan regions of Azerbaijan.

Russian Armenian's
The vast majority of Armenians living outside of the Republic of Armenia reside in Russia and the United States of America. Russian Armenians represent one of the largest ethnic minorities in Russia and the largest community of Armenians living outside of Armenia. Whilst the official figures from Russia indicate the Armenian population to be 1, 182,388 Armenians living within their borders, unofficial estimates push that number to nearer 2 Million. The Armenian community in Russia is not confined to a specific area or city as Russian Armenians have integrated very well and can now be found in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai and as far East as Vladivostok. Armenians are so well thought of by the Russian people that the Russian government are actively encouraging Armenians to settle in the country and are offering resettlement grants to help people immigrate to the country.

American Armenian's
Armenians living in the United States of America are the second largest community of Armenians living outside the Republic of Armenia, second only to those living in Russia. The American Armenian community began to establish when Armenians fled the Hamidian Massacres in the late nineteenth century and later the Armenian Genocide after World War One. However, in more recent years Armenians from Middle Eastern countries have migrated and settled in North America. Additionally, since independence and uncertainty after the collapse of the Soviet Union many more Armenians moved to the US permanently. Interestingly, the American Armenian community is the most politically active (and influential) of the Armenian Diaspora.

Popularity
With so many Armenians living outside of the homeland the culture and heritage of the Armenian people can be found in every quarter of the globe. Their hospitality and kindness is world renowned which no doubt contributes to the popularity of Armenia and the Armenian people, the world over.

Europe Hotel, Yerevan

If you prefer a more intimate stay in the nation’s capital, then, opened in 2003, Europe Hotel in Yerevan is known, internationally, as Armenia’s first boutique hotel and it may be exactly what you are looking for.  With its charming Parisian architecture, 44 restful rooms, 3 luxurious suites and amiable, multilingual staff offering a personalised service, this hotel is a real home away from home.  Located on Hanrapetutyan Street, a ten minute drive from the Zvarnots International Airport, you are wonderfully placed to explore all the city has to offer, including tourist attractions such as Republic Square (only a few steps away). 

Europe Hotel, Yerevan

Arrival Information

No check in or check out information is given, so it is recommended that you contact the hotel before booking.  The hotel accepts payment by Maestro, Mastercard or Visa.

Services and Amenities

Despite being a boutique hotel, it offers a wide-range of services and amenities, including: 24 hour housekeeping and room service, 24 hour lobby lounge, complimentary breakfast, laundry and dry cleaning, wireless Internet access in lobby lounge, airport transportation service, excursion booking, opera and concert reservation service, meeting room facilities, smoking/non-smoking rooms, secretarial service, health and beauty care services, babysitting service, free hotel parking and free WiFi Internet.

Guest Rooms

Europe Hotel has 5 different room rates available: Standard Single, Standard Double, Standard Twin, Junior Suite and Executive Suite.  Room rates differ between off-season, shoulder season and high season.  During off-season (November to mid-March), they start at a reasonable 31,000 AMD and finish at 69,000 AMD per night (as of February of 2014); in shoulder season (mid-March to the end of August) they start at a reasonable 46,000 AMD and rise to 103,000 AMD; whereas, in high season (September to October) they start at 58,000 AMD and finish at 103,000 AMD.  Children under 5, accompanied by an adult, stay free of charge; there is 50% discount for children aged between 5 and 12.  Each room features: free Wi-Fi Internet, cable television, a mini-bar, two direct access telephone lines, hairdryer, fire detectors, air-conditioning and heating.

Trip Advisor Rating and Testimonials                                       

Overall, this hotel has been awarded 4 stars out of 5 on the Trip Adviser website (written by independent visitors to the hotel).  When broken down, the hotel received: 5 stars for location; 4.5 stars for cleanliness and service; and 4 stars for sleep quality, rooms and location.  Some of the guests said the following:

‘Great place with a few quirks.’

‘Honest business hotel.’

‘Efficient staff, excellent location.’

‘Good accommodation, well located.’

This may be the place for you, whilst staying in Yerevan, if you  want a comfortable boutique hotel experience in the centre of the city.

SD Hotel, Yerevan

Are you looking for a small, yet comfortable and classic hotel with extremely reasonable rates?  Then, you may want to consider the SD Hotel in Yerevan that was founded in 2012, which offers 15 rooms.  Located on Sasuntsi Davit, although it is a 17 minute drive from the Zvarnots International Airport and is 3km away from Republic Square, part of the hotel’s beauty is that it is situated in a quiet part of the city – away from heavy traffic and any associated noise.  However, due to its close proximity to Yerevan Train Station, it does offer you the chance to travel around the city very easily and quickly.  Great for sightseers!

SD Hotel, Yerevan

Arrival Information

You can check in from 2pm and check out until 12 noon.  Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to the room type, so ensure you check the room conditions when booking.  The hotel accepts payment by American Express, Maestro, Mastercard or Visa.

Services and Amenities

This hotel offers a wide-range of services and amenities, including: free public parking, close by; 24 hour front desk, with express check in and checkout; luggage storage; room service; airport shuttle; laundry and ironing services; currency exchange; tour desk; faxing and photocopying service; non-smoking rooms; family rooms; safety deposit box; heating; supermarket in hotel; air conditioning; designated smoking area; free Wi-Fi; bar; and newspapers.  No pets are allowed!

Guest Rooms

SD Hotel has 5 different room rates available: Standard Double or Twin Room, Standard Triple Room, Junior Suite, Suite and Family Room.  Prices start at an extremely reasonable 19,000 AMD per person per night and rise to and equally reasonable  43,000 AMD for the whole Family Room.  Children under 5, when using existing beds, stay free of charge; children under 2 requiring a cot are 5,000 AMD per night; it is 7,000 AMD per night for an extra bed; you can only have 2 extra beds/cots per room and they must be requested at the time of booking; supplements will have to be paid for separately.  Facilities and services in rooms include: mountain view or city view, telephone, satellite channels, flat screen television, safe, air conditioning, iron, desk, sitting area, extra long beds (6.5’), heating, sofa, wardrobe, shower, hairdryer, bathrobe, free toiletries, slippers, minibar, refrigerator and electric kettle.

Trip Advisor Rating and Testimonials                                       

Overall, this hotel has been awarded 4.5 stars out of 5 on the Trip Adviser website (written by independent visitors to the hotel).  When broken down, the hotel received: 4.5 stars for cleanliness, service, sleep quality and value; and 4 stars for rooms and location.  Some of the guests said the following:

‘Good if you don’t mind using the metro to get to the city centre.’

‘Very good for the price.’

‘Very clean, good value hotel.’

‘Good experience!’

If you want a small, comfortable hotel set in a quiet and peaceful location then look no further!

The Pan-Armenian Games

The Pan-Armenian Games

Held annually in Yerevan, Armenia the Pan-Armenian Games consists of individual and team sports in various competitions and events for competitors from across the country. The games are open to all Armenian citizens and those who hold an Armenian passport, irrespective of current residence, as well as citizens of other countries who can claim Armenian descent. Interestingly, the married partners of those with Armenian descent are also eligible to compete in the games.

Surprising Origins
It is surprising to learn of the origins of the Pan-Armenian Games because it was a Soviet diplomat who suggested the first games. Ashot Melik-Shahnazaryan was attending a business trip to the Republic of Congo in 1965 when the country was in the midst of preparing for the Pan-African Games and he made a note of the idea to suggest to Moscow upon his return. However, because Armenia was a Soviet republic and any notion of national games was seen as nationalistic by the soviet rulers Armenia (and Melik-Shahnazaryan) had to wait until independence was granted in 1991 to be able to see its first national games.

Unity through Sport
However, despite independence being granted in 1991 it was not until 1995 that Melik-Shahnazaryan was able to publically announce his intentions to create a Pan –Armenia Games. The idea quickly gained support from Armenia and those passport holding Armenia communities around the world as they would be allowed to compete as well. The games soon became synonymous with the wide spread use of the motto “Unity through Sport".

World Committee
The World Committee of Pan-Armenian Games (WCPAG) was created on April 30th, 1997 in Yerevan. Armenian communities from around the world were represented at this historic event including Iran, Argentina, Turkey, Australia, Germany, Canada, Cyprus and France. In honour of his work establishing the games Ashot Melik-Shahnazaryan was elected the first president of WCPAG and became synonymous with the games for many years.

First Games
The first games took place between August 28th 1999 and September 5th 1999. Competitors from 23 countries arrived to take part in the games, representing 62 cities from across the globe. The games were scheduled to take place every 2 years and in 2001 the second Pan-Armenian Games took place. However, after the third games in 2003 it was decided to transform the games into a four year cycle in a similar fashion to the Olympic Games. Subsequently, the next games took place in 2007 but the decision was reversed and the games returned to a two year cycle.

Events
Unusually, the athletes represent the cities in which they come from rather than the countries as in most other pan-games. The sports contested during the games are football, basketball, volleyball, swimming, badminton, tennis, table tennis, chess and athletics.

International Olympic Committee (IOC)
The Pan- Armenia Games collaborates in full with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and so success in the Pan- Armenia Games can lead to possible inclusion in the Armenia Olympic teams.

National Committee of Physical Education and Sports

Investment in Armenian Sport

The Armenian Government has invested a great deal in recent years to develop the nation’s sportsmen and woman of the future. The National Committee of Physical Education and Sports are currently allocated approximately $2.8millon annually by the government to disperse amongst the sports they deem most likely to produce world class athletes.

Modernization
In recent years, Armenia has not been hugely successful on the international sports front and consequently the National Committee of Physical Education and Sports has rebuilt a number of pre-independence sports schools built during the Soviet occupation. They have modernized the facilities and furnished the buildings with new equipment for a cost of $1.9 million.

Investment
The National Committee of Physical Education and Sports hope the improvements to the sports infrastructure will help to produce elite sportsmen and women to allow Armenia to compete on the world stage. In fact, in an attempt to improve their competitiveness at the Winter Olympics (after dismal recent performances) $9.3 million has been invested in the winter resort town of Tsaghkadzor. Everything from the more traditional Armenia winter sports of Alpine skiing to snowboarding, bobsleigh, speed skating and curling are being invested in to fund future sporting success. Likewise, for the summer games, a cycling centre was recently opened in Yeravan and it is hoped that it will be able to produce elite Armenia cyclists in time for the 2016 Summer Games. Furthermore, the Armenian Government have also taken the unprecedented step of offering a $700,000 cash reward to any Armenian who wins a Gold Medal at the Summer or Winter Olympics.

Chess Success
On the other hand, Armenia has been very successful is chess and the current world number 2 is Armenian national Levon Aronian and their men’s chess team are currently the world champions. Consequently, to reinforce the Armenian success with Chess the sport was made compulsory in all state schools and much investment was made to train their elite chess players.

Future
So, with such investment in a country with only a modest 3 Million people can Armenia be competitive on the worlds sporting stage? Well, in previous post we have discussed Armenian success in the summer games (having won a number of bronze medals for Weightlifting) and investment can only be a good thing. Conversely, they have not been particularly successful in the Winter Olympic Games but with nearly ten million invested in winter sports at Tsaghkadzor we could be seeing Armenian sports men and woman on the medal rostrums in Korea 2018.