Does anyone have recommendations for hotels, restaurants and how to buy amber in Kaliningrad?

Try this - http://www.inyourpocket.com/russia/kaliningrad/en/<BR><BR>In Your Pocket is a well regarded series of guides to the Baltic. <BR><BR>Would be interested to hear how you are getting to Kaliningrad.

Paula, I hope you realize there are two Kaliningrads in the Russian Federation. One is the area and city that was Koeningsburg (spelling?) when under german control. The other is a city near Moscow, to the north as I recall.

Only not to stay in Hotel Kaliningrad! Don't know about buying amber...

Kaliningrad by Baltic Sea is definitly famous for it's amber as well as lost Amber Room... Not sure where exactly you would get Amber in Kaliningrad - but i would start from Amber Museum - and ask questions there - also outside of museum there is a little market where people sell amber very cheap. As for places to stay - Try Chaika hotel (small hotel in old part of the city in nice oldfasion villa or Komandor in New private villa area - with it's own swiming pool (doubles and singles are rather small - but bit extra apt. are good deal and good size)<BR>stay away from Deima Hotel which is bit scary and full of ladies of the night.<BR>for more info check:<BR>http://www.inyourpocket.com/russia/kaliningrad/en/<BR>which is probably the only good source for Kaliningrad Info in English...

Also a quick Yahoo search on amber kaliningrad - turned so many hits including those:<BR>http://www.sbp.org.pl/english/D1/The%20Crisis.htm<BR>http://guide.kaliningrad.net/region.php3<BR>http://www.balticfair.com/amber/history.php<BR>http://www.tdctrade.com/mne/time/020102.htm<BR>http://www.kaliningrad-cci.ru/English/Amber.htm<BR>