Welcome to My Best Helsinki
- Hotels & Travel Services in Helsinki

Hotel KÄMP
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 29, Helsinki
Phone: 358)-(0)9 - 576111
Email: hotelkamp@hotelkamp.fi

Great, central location in a beautiful, restored historic building by the Esplanade Park. We like the handy location and we also like Kämp's rooms and roomy bathrooms.

The breakfast is served in their Yume Restaurant (a Japanese restaurant during other hours) on the ground floor. Breakfast consists of an all you can eat smörgåsbord for a flat rate of around 27 Euros with some lower priced choices, such as omelets or Continental breakfast, available. There is also room service breakfast available but it is even more expensive.

Kämp is sometimes called the Ritz-Carlton of Helsinki. While we like Kämp, it is no Ritz-Carlton. When we arrived at the hotel, no one came out to help us with our luggage. We had to schlep it to the reception ourselves. We repeatedly saw this happen to fellow guests.

Other guests confirmed this and also confirmed our experience that it often took 10-20 rings for the front desk to answer a call from the room.

There was no dedicated concierge; the reception desk clerks performed concierge duties, such as making restaurant recommendations and reservations.

Getting our bouquet of flowers out of their flower storage room took a painfully long time.

During our week long stay used glasses were many times not replaced when the room was cleaned. Neither was the shower gel that we ran out of on the second day. There were broken, wooden curtain poles, dust on some surfaces and more of it under the bed. There was no alarm clock in the room, and after asking for one, it took until the next day until the hotel was able to locate an "available one" for us.

Despite being a little ragged around the edges,

the executive room was spacious and comfortable, decorated in a Ritz-Carlton like design with an "olde Scandinavian" twist, with for example lighter colors and some Gustavian style seating in the room.

Some staff members were friendly and helpful, while others seemed not as helpful as one would expect from the staff of a 5-star hotel.

At times, we found ourselves missing the service (and the wonderful, free breakfast spread) at (the now closed) Palace Hotel. While "only" a 4-star hotel, Palace treated their guests to a strong 5-star service. Professional, efficient yet warm hospitality that made us want to return year after year.

But Palace is gone, so despite the defects and the broken points on each of Kämp's "5-stars" we would happily go back to Kämp.

Kämp has been on the Conde Nast Traveler's "Top European Hotels" - list for many years

Hotel HILTON STRAND
Address: John Stenbergin ranta 4, Helsinki
Phone: 358)-(0)9 - 39351
Email: helsinkistrand@hilton.com

24 h room service. Good services.

Located in Hakaniemi, a bit outside the center. Not convenient if you want to be a short walk from main shopping & restaurants, and want to explore the neighborhoods closest to the center by foot - which we recommend.

Hotel TORNI
Address: Yrjönkatu 26, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)20- 1234 604
Email: torni.helsinki@sokoshotels.fi
SECOND LINK to HOTEL TORNI

Central location.

The Tower Bar, with terrific views over Helsinki is a "must", even if you do not stay at the hotel.

Yup, you guessed it: Torni = Tower in Finnish

Hotel CROWNE PLAZA
Mannerheimintie 50, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 - 2521 0000
Fax: (358)-(0)9 - 2521 3999
E-mail: helsinki.cph@restel.fi

In Töölö, a few tram stops from the very center.

Big hotel. High floors have good views.

Close to the Opera, National Museum, Finlandia Hall.

Hotel GRAND MARINA
Address: Katajanokanlaituri 7, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 - 16661
Email: grandmarina@scandichotels.com

In historic Katajanokka seaside neighborhood,

A bit outside the center and "a couple of tram stops" from the the Market Square, in the pretty south Harbor & the Presidential Palace & the Dome.

Hotel LINNA
Address: Lönnrotinkatu 29, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)10 -3444 100
Email:linna@palacekamp.fi

In a gorgeous Art Nouveau (or Jugend-style), granite "castle".

The exterior & the interior design of the public spaces are bustling with national romantic motives, worth to take a look at even if you are not a guest at the hotel.

The hotel rooms are (unfortunately, if you ask us - but you are probably not) designed in a modern, boutique- hotel style. Neat, but not reflecting the spirit of the building's public spaces.

images Linna = Castle in Finnish.

Hotel RADISSON BLU
Mikonkatu 23, Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)20 -1234 703
Fax: (358)- (0)20 -1234 704
Email: info.plaza.helsinki@radissonblu.com

Center of Helsinki, the hotel is close to the central railway station, theFinnish National Theater, Ateneum Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Short walk to the Esplanade Park.

HOTEL KATAJANOKKA
(Best Western Premier)
Address:
Merikasarminkatu 1a, Katajanokka, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-(0)9 -686 450
Email: sales@bwkatajanokka.fi

"The oldest part of Hotel Katajanokka dates back to 1837 and the main part to 1888.

The building originally served as a county prison and pre trial detention center.

The open central corridor, red brick outer walls and the high wall around the park are protected by the National Board of Antiquities and serve as a reminder of the building's long and colorful history."

Their restaurant is called... wait... yes: "Jailbird."

Hotel ANNA
Annankatu 1, Helsinki
Phone: (358)-09 - 616 621
Fax: (358)- 09 - 602 664
E-mail: info@hotelanna.fi

Comfortable & practical hotel in a good, central location. Take a look at (scroll down) Anna's terrific location page, with a map & a good aerial shot of the neighborhood, showing parts of the center and the Railway Station in the background.

Hotel CUMULUS KAISANIEMI Kaisaniemenkatu 7, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9- 172 881
Fax: (358)- (0)9- 605 379
kaisaniemi.cumulus@restel.fi

Located on a heavily trafficked street, but very close to the center and a short walk to Aleksanterinkatu & the Esplanade.

Hotel ARTHUR
Vuorikatu 19, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)-09 - 173 441
Fax: (358)-09 - 626 880
Email: reception@hotelarthur.fi

Central location, good prices.

HOTEL LIST: Star rated hotels, provided by Helsinki City Tourist Office.

Second HOTEL LIST

List of SOKOS HOTELS in Helsinki.

LIST OF APARTMENT HOTELS

List of Hostels & Campgrounds

APARTMENT HOTEL GELLA: Offers apartments in various sizes, from studios to 4BR apartments, scattered around town.

Be sure to find about all additional fees before booking an apartment. For example: Is cleaning included? How often?

Hotel PALACE
Eteläranta 10, 00130 Helsinki
Closed on Nov.1, 2009
We loved Palace for its terrific views and wonderful service. Palace was our home away from home..

Hotel MARTHA
Uudenmaankatu 24
00120 HELSINKI

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL HELSINKI ARCHIPELAGO GUIDE, with images, provided by the City of Helsinki. Take your time and "leaf" trough it. Made me miss Helsinki so, so bad!In pdf-form: Takes a looong time to load, you might also have to refresh the page for it to open.