Post
by Caroline » Thu Jul 17, 2003 8:44 am
mototykk:
I recommend a youth hostel instead of a hotel. Several members have already replied with youth hostel contact information. When I was a tourist years ago in Helsinki, my favorite was Hostel Academica. You can ask for a double room (which cost more), or a dormitory room which you will share with 1 or 2 roommates. But the nice thing is you get a kitchenette so you can prepare your own meals. Those rooms are basically vacant university student apartments rented out to tourists when classes are not in session.
There is one youth hostel in HKI which I definitely do NOT recommend, but darn it, I can´t remember the name nor the street where it´s located! If you are coming out of the railroad station, facing the direction of the main bus station, and go left, then take a right onto one of those side streets...it was up in there. It was organized in the same style as Erottajanpuisto, but definitely not the same (I've stayed at Erottajanpuisto and it was very nice). Anyway, this unpleasant place was located on an upper floor, dark and dingy, and my bunk bed reeked of cat urine. The shower had no place to hang towels and toilet barely enough room to turn around when the door was closed. Based on my clues, maybe someone can identify this hostel. Maybe it´s not even in business anymore.
Former expat in Finland, now living in New Hampshire USA.