In Finland there are about 900 hotels and 300 bed & breakfast family guesthouses. And also numerous tourist bases, campsites, cottage villages, recreation centers, youth hostels and rural farms – simply overwhelming!
Large cities boast fashionable hotels located near the main attractions. In addition to international chain hotels, many cities also have family, historical, and design hotels – a new trend, but in terms of the number of hotels with exclusive designer design, Finland is among the top five European leaders.
Our tourists have long appreciated the benefits of staying in cottages. Demand has led to supply – cozy houses can be rented both near cities and amid pristine nature.
The country also has a wide network of campsites. Moreover, many of them operate year-round, and some even beyond the Arctic Circle.
URBAN HOLIDAYS AND SHOPPING
For those who love good service, come to the country for a short time, and want to be in the heart of things, a hotel stay is the most suitable option. Indeed, if you want to explore the cultural life of the city, go shopping, and relax in comfort in the evening, a hotel is the most convenient choice. You won't have to worry about organizing meals, cleaning, or how to get to the nearest city. The level of service in Finnish hotels is quite high. Moreover, there are pleasant surprises: the room rate almost always includes breakfast and a morning sauna – perhaps with the exception of only top-category hotels. Hotel breakfasts are a buffet with a wide variety of dishes.
The large chain hotels that have appeared in recent years are forced to compete for customers, so they offer economy options, each more attractive than the other. For example, discounts on services on certain days or specially designed programs. Hotels are also accessible to travelers with middle incomes. In some hotels, the price of accommodation includes a free family ticket to visit a water park or SPA. An indisputable advantage of chain hotels is a single booking phone number, a clear rate, and quality standards across the entire country (or worldwide, if it is a global chain, such as Hilton).
It is worth noting that there is no official “star rating” for hotels and cottages in Finland, so their classification in tour operator catalogs is conditional and is used solely for the convenience of customers. Often the owner himself decides how many stars his establishment corresponds to. It happens that a hotel with excellent service does not assign itself any. And small design hotels generally reject the star system – they consider it more important to have their own “face”. Perhaps such a classification did not catch on because service in Finland is quite high everywhere?
Small private hotels have their own advantages: a cozy atmosphere, quietness, and often the opportunity to experience life in the Finnish provinces. Such hotels are distinguished by an individuality that chain hotels so lack. And another advantage: there are no large tourist groups here. If you are planning a romantic trip for two, choose exactly this kind of hotel.
In Finland there are also hotels without service staff. Clients who book a room receive a code that allows them to enter the hotel. The layout of the room can be viewed online. Guests arrange their own meals: each room has a refrigerator and a microwave oven. Of course, if necessary, staff can be contacted, but their absence in the hotel itself makes it possible to maintain truly democratic prices.
By the way, Finland is one of the few countries where hotel room prices drop significantly on weekends: discounts sometimes reach 40%! The weekend begins in the afternoon on Friday and ends on Monday morning.
Options
A new hotel in the city center will undoubtedly be appreciated by lovers of original style. This modern hotel has already received recognition from the world's leading designers. Every detail has been thought through here, and the interiors of the rooms are designed in line with fashion trends. There is also its own SPA center. //www.klauskhotel.com
The town of Kemi has become popular among tourists in recent years thanks to exotic entertainment – an icebreaker cruise and winter safaris. But not only that: the Ice City is the real highlight of these places! A children's castle made of ice, an ice church for weddings and, of course, the Mammut ice hotel, where guests sleep on reindeer or sheep skins in rooms decorated in Lapland motifs. //www.lumilinna.net
In Imatra there is a unique hotel belonging to the international network of concept hotels – Imatran Valtionhotelli. Built in 1903, the hotel is distinguished by its luxury and grandeur. A castle stylized as medieval is located on the Vuoksi River, near the famous rapids. //www.rantasipi.fi
Omena hotels, where you will not find service staff, appeared in Finland relatively recently. However, affordable prices and excellent living conditions have made these hotels extremely popular. Today Omena hotels are open in Tampere, Kuusamo, Turku, and Vaasa. At Omena hotels (about 40 across the country), all rooms cost the same – €55 – and accommodate up to four people. //www.omena.com
Tips
Should you leave tips? It is usually said that tipping is not customary in Finland, but this is not entirely true. It is customary to leave about €1 for a doorman, cloakroom attendant, and club porter. Waiters do not count on tips – their service is already included in the bill, but they will be happy to receive €1-2 if, in your opinion, the service was excellent.
Be sure to keep receipts for accommodation payment or written confirmation of your hotel room booking. These documents will help you when obtaining your next Finnish visa.
ACTIVE HOLIDAYS
Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts can stay in a hotel or cottage near ski resorts. Hotels of every level are available at each ski center. Large ski resorts (such as Ruka, Pyh? or Himos) have cottage villages – these are what most holidaymakers prefer.
The website www.ski.fi lists all ski resorts in Finland, with detailed information on location, slopes and services, as well as links to booking sites for cottages and hotels. Simply write to the resort address saying which cottage you are interested in and for what period, and you will be sent payment details and information on the basic rules.
The cottage descriptions specify the number of places in each house, sometimes the number of stars. For example, a capacity of 4+4 means that the cottage has four sleeping places and four additional ones – for instance, on a sofa and an internal loggia. Typically, the house has everything needed – from a microwave and dishwasher to a sauna and parking. Amenities such as a fireplace, full electric heating and a clothes dryer, plus additional conditions (short distance to a shop, bus stop, restaurant, lake, ski track, slalom run) are listed in the cottage description. In short, everything in the cottages is arranged so that after a day on the ski track or the slopes, guests can fully relax.
For Finns, ski holidays are perhaps the most popular travel time, so accommodation should be booked no later than 14 days before departure, and preferably 28 days in advance. (Residents of Suomi carefully plan their holidays six months ahead, so a month before the intended vacation, the most attractive options may already be taken.) A cottage can be rented for a week, a weekend, or even a single day, but keep in mind that check-in time is 16:00 and check-out time is 12:00. Aside from that, the check-in procedure is the same as in a hotel.
Options
The Saaga hotel, decorated in Lapland style, is located at the Yll?s ski resort. The hotel windows offer stunning views. In addition to standard rooms, there are chalets and cottages. After a busy day, you can take a hydromassage bath and swim in the pool. It is the largest hotel in northern Finland, and the range of services is correspondingly broad. Saaga's restaurants offer a rich selection of Lapland dishes. //www.yllassaaga.com
The Saariselk? resort has something to be proud of – the Kakslauttanen hotel, which has the world's largest smoke sauna and an igloo village. The igloos (small hemisphere-shaped houses) are made of snow and glass to allow viewing of the northern lights. An interesting program awaits guests, including safaris on dog and reindeer sleds. A winter fishing center is open. //www.kakslauttanen.fi
Renting a cottage at the Himos resort is easy through the website www.himoslomat.fi or www.himosmajoitus.fi. A large number of cottages are at your disposal to suit every taste. In Himos, in addition to the usual winter sports, snowmobile safaris are very popular. And if you are not ready to devote a whole day to such an adventure, the cottage owner will be happy to rent you a snowmobile for an hour or two.
YOUTH HOLIDAYS
An economical alternative to hotels for young people and middle-income tourists is hostels. You can choose a youth hostel or a family-type hostel. Be prepared: it will be fun and noisy, and the company will be international – hostels are patronized by students from various European countries traveling during vacations. It is easy to find new friends or a travel companion here! Hostel prices range from €10 (for a bed in a shared room – dormitory) to €50 (for a separate double room). A membership card of the international hostel association helps secure a significant discount – it can be purchased on site or at municipal tourist offices. The annual card costs €17, and the discount is 10%. Hostel service is minimal, and bed linen and breakfast incur an extra charge. Hostels can be found in all large cities and many small towns, but in rural areas they are rarer, giving way to campsites.
Options
In Helsinki, near the Silja and Viking Line terminals, is the popular Eurohostel – the number one hostel in Finland. All city attractions are at hand, and services include laundry, telephone and Internet, saunas, a self-catering kitchen and the Katajanmarja restaurant. //www.eurohostel.fi
In the center of the ancient city of Turku, there is another cozy hostel. It has rooms for two to eight people and all standard amenities: refrigerator, common rooms, laundry, etc. //www.turku.fi/hostel
WINTER FISHING
Do you like winter fishing? Then a campsite is the right choice. Campsites are more suitable for those who travel in their own vehicle and value freedom of movement. Finland has more than 350 campsites, with the most popular open year-round. In addition, there are about 35,000 places for overnight camping (if you have a motorhome or a tent). The campsite network (unlike hotels) uses a 'star' system: a one-star campsite offers only basic services. The most 'starred' campsites, in addition to basic services (hot shower and fully equipped kitchen), have a shelter and firewood for the grill, a billiard room, a bar, and even rental of outdoor activity equipment.
A campsite pitch will cost from €10 to 20 per day. The price may include entry to the site, a parking space for the car, rental of a shelter or tent, use of an electrical outlet, and basic services (shower, toilet, sauna, etc.). If you don't want to sleep in a tent, almost all campsites rent out cottages. Price – from €30.
Options
Rastila Camping is a campsite on the outskirts of the capital with all amenities, from a sauna to cozy common rooms. It is one of the few campsites that is easy to reach from the city center. By the way, ice swimming is very popular here!
Nokia Camping Viinikanniemi is located 18 km from Tampere and 4 km from the town of Nokia (where the large SPA water park Eden is located). The campsite is among the most comfortable. //www.viinikanniemi.com
Lomakyl? Santalahti is a campsite on the island of Mussalo, 5 km from the center of Kotka. It is the only top-category campsite in Southern Finland with a wide range of services. //www.santalahti.fi
The fishing center on the Kemijoki River in Lapland has everything a fisherman needs. You can buy a license, rent a boat, hire an instructor. Accommodation is in a cozy hotel. //www.fishingcenter.net
Tips
When you find yourself in Finland for the first time, you will be surprised by the cleanliness and preservation of nature. This is the result of the Finns' reverent attitude towards their land, and a tourist should learn a few rules. The country has so-called Everyman's Rights, according to which any person, regardless of nationality, can freely move in nature, provided they do not damage it.
For example, you can set up camp even on someone else's plot, but if you are close to housing, you need the owner's permission, and a fire can only be lit in places marked with special signs. You are even allowed to fish for free (in summer with a float rod and bottom line, in winter ice fishing).
A TRIP FOR HEALTH
If you want to improve your health, head to a spa hotel and water park – there are more than thirty of them in the land of Suomi.
Water and wellness centers can be roughly divided into two groups. The first includes complexes that provide entertainment for children, such as Serena water park. The second group brings together centers where the main focus is on wellness treatments for adults. Of course, it is also useful for adults to take a break from work and spend a day at a water park. But for those who care about their health, there are special resorts.
Most spas have many wellness options, from acupuncture and lymphotherapy to shiatsu and mud wraps. A doctor will help you choose what you need. Therapeutic treatments can be combined with hydromassage, visits to Roman and Turkish baths, and sessions with a cosmetologist. Spa complexes offer various service packages, with free access to pools and hydromassage tubs included in the accommodation price, while only medical and cosmetic treatments are paid additionally.
Guests have at their disposal a gym, rental of active recreation equipment, fitness programs, and in the evenings, of course, dancing. You can rent skates, skis, or Finnish sleds.
In spa centers, accommodation options vary from budget hostels (for example, in the Rauhalahti spa complex) to apartments. For families with children, there is a water park and spa "two in one": while adults enjoy treatments, children frolic on slides and water rides.
Options
Not far from Helsinki are the luxurious Haikko Manor and the Haikko spa complex. Adults prefer to relax there – the emphasis is on wellness. //www.haikko.fi
In the Karibia water park in the center of Turku, there are several slides for children, such as "Black Hole" and "Rapid River", and about 50 different treatments for adults. Next to the pool is a pirate-style restaurant. //www.caribia.fi
The Rauhalahti spa center in Kuopio offers a wide variety of accommodation options – you can stay in a spa hotel, apartments, or a hostel. In addition to water activities, specially designed wellness programs for men and women are offered. //www.rauhalahti.com
The Naantalin kylpyl? spa complex in Naantali is one of the most luxurious in the country. To restore strength and health, visit the Aqua Therapies department. Accommodation is available both in hotel rooms and on the luxury liner Sunborn Yacht. //www.naantalispa.fi
FAMILY VACATION
Farms. Not many people know that there are about 250 farms in Suomi. Tourists can stay in a guesthouse, separate cottages, or together with the hosts under one roof – it all depends on the size of the estate. A Finnish farm is clean and well-groomed, with peace and tranquility. In addition, guests are treated to country breakfasts, and if requested, a traditional lunch or dinner can be prepared.
For those who want to learn about rural life, they will be shown how to handle livestock or simply given a tour of the grounds. Well, if you are interested in outdoor activities, go fishing on local lakes or take a walk along snowy trails, on skis or a snowmobile.
Cottages. The favorite vacation of our tourists is in cottages (and there are more than 10,000 of them in Finland!). Cottage areas are usually located on the shore of a lake, near a forest, and are rented out all year round. A weekly rental will cost tourists from €220 to 800. There are, of course, real estates, the prices of which are significantly higher.
Finnish cottages are divided into club and single. Club cottages usually have their own restaurant, mini-market, and service center, and offer excellent opportunities for outdoor activities. Guests are offered a choice of bed & breakfast on weekends or with full board (for a week or more). Single cottages stand amid pristine nature. Each has one or two bedrooms, a living room with a TV, a sauna, a kitchen with everything you need – built-in appliances, dishes, and even some food. You should take care of food in advance: upon arrival, put the products in the refrigerator – and relax to your health!
You can rent a cottage through a travel agency, specifying all requirements in advance. And independent travelers can find a suitable option on the website www.lomarengas.fi
If your main holiday activity is fishing, let them know in advance, because in the catalogs of most firms, fishing cottages are listed on a separate line. The rental price includes fishing tackle and special boats, and a fishing permit can be bought right on the spot.
Options
Not far from Tampere are the Luomajarvi stables, where the atmosphere of a Finnish peasant farm has been preserved for decades. For guests: sauna, safari, horse riding. //www.hevoskievari.com
60 km from Helsinki, on the river bank, is the Myllyniemi estate. There is even its own mill and museum! The farm breeds sheep, chickens and sheepdogs. At your service are several separate guest cottages. //www.myllyniemi.fi
If you want to book a cottage yourself, use the services of the cottage booking center Lomarengas. //www.lomarengas.fi
Tips
When booking, indicate the exact number of guests. And if you want to bring pets, let them know in advance. Before leaving the cottage, clean it or pay for cleaning. The cost of this service is €70-80. The owner has the right to take a deposit from guests upon arrival, which he returns at the end of the stay immediately after cleaning the cottage.