Rating
"Fab Hotel with Spa in a perfect location" I just returned from a weekend in Helsinki and a wonderful stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. This hotel was newly refurbished in 2005 and is very modern and well-appointed. My room was on the 6th floor, overlooking the city and the nearby lake. I booked a single room, but the room was quite roomy, with a double bed and a spacious bathroom. Very nicely decorated in a modern, minimalistic fashion with a plasma TV, high speed internet connection and a very comfortable bed. The shower had a good pressure and I was thankful for the tips from the other travellers about the 'green button' to activate the hot water. The highlight of this hotel is the health club and spa on the lower level. Both mornings I spent time using these facilities. One morning I paid 12 euros to use the gym facilities (full blown health club with classes, high-tech equipment, etc.) and then booked a 1 hr massage. The massage was great and the spa adds a special touch by giving you juice and a fresh fruit plate after your massage at no extra fee. Then, I used the sauna and swimming pool, which are free to hotel guests. Both are very clean and spacious, with separate saunas for men and women. The other morning, I ran around the small lake across the street for 45 min (about 3x around the lake) and then used the free sauna and swimming pool. The run or walk around the lake is ideal if the weather is pleasant and avoids paying the 12 euro fee for gym use. As far as food goes, I did not pay the 19 euros for breakfast and opted to purchase some fruit and museli bars for my room. You can also find cheaper breakfasts elsewhere in the city. I ate lunch (a sandwich) once in the restaurant, Macu, which was very reasonably priced and tasty. The restaurant, bar and gastro pub are all very nicely decorated as well and seem like popular places for both guests and local Finns. As far as the location, I didn't mind the walk into the city centre. It took about 10 min to get to the Kampii shopping centre or train station by foot. Along the way, you can walk alongside the lake or alongside the various museums, concert halls, etc. so there is plenty to see on the walk. Then it's another ten minutes to the Fish Market and waterfront. You can also take the tram, but again the walk is really easy and very pleasant (assuming the weather complies). Overall, I was very pleased with my hotel choice, the price, the location and quality. I would go back there in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to anyone going to Helsinki!

Rating
"Good value for money" We stayed at the hotel with our two kids, age 15, for two nights. The kids had something to do after a busy day of shopping since there is a swimming pool with a sauna and a gym in the basement. We stayed in an executive suite, big enough for four with a double bed and a foldable sofa. Everything is clean and pleasant in style. You feel like being taken good care of. And we paid only 150 euros a night for the whole family, which was very affordable. More centrally located hotels as a rule don't have family rooms big enough for four. So walking a mile from the train station was worth it.

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