Helsinki Strand Hilton

Room: 732, April 2007

Hotel looks ok from the outside, 8 floors, nice location overlooking the waterfront. Dated look on the inside, typical early 80s decor.

Staff was nice. Restaurant has a bit of waterfront view and a fireplace. It's an open floor concept, you see the restaurant from the glass elevator as you go up to your room.

Short walks to the room. The room, especially bathroom, looks very dated but well kept and clean.

Soundproofing is well done. Night/Day view is great. I liked the bed, soft but not too soft, nice blanket and linen.

Hilton breakfast is far below their usual standard, with a small selection and not very attentive staff.

They have a great choice of Saunas, but I had no time to check them out.

( + )

Convenient location, great views, nice staff, good soundproofing, good bed.

( - )

Outdated look and feel. Breakfast not as great as usual.

*Executive floors only*

The clubroom is nice with a great view but the breakfast choice is almost inexistant.

My favorite hotel in Helsinki is the other Hilton, the Kalastajatorppa, but I thought I give you a review of the Strand as well and compare the two.

The Strand is probably handled as the number one Hilton in Finland with an executive floor, new widescreen digital TV's etc. The location is certainly much more central than the Kalastajatorppa but still not really in the "middle of the action". It is about a 15 min walk to the absolute center. However, you just can't beat the oceanfront surroundings of the Kalastajatorppa. The executive floor of the hotel is certainly nice with the best rooms facing the harbor. The staff is very service minded, one of the best staffs in Helsinki IMHO.

There is a nice sauna and swimming pool on the top floor plus a small gym. Again, the Kalastajatorppa facilities are better. The rooms may be a little old fashioned but they are in rather good condition (have stayed in five different ones). I have not yet tried the hotel restaurant, but it has an ok reputation.

As a conclusion, if you want to stay on the exec floor or want a Hilton with walking distance to the city center, then choose this hotel. If you are seeking beautiful surroundings or peace and quiet, go to the Kalastajatorppa.

Punti a favore:

L'ubicazione è fantastica; il personale nel complesso molto premuroso; la camera un pochino più grande di quelle che normalmente si trovano nella maggior parte degli alberghi nord europei.

Punti a sfavore:

Il letto era orrendo, la camera sembrava che fosse stata progettata negli anni '80, la colazione era appena passabile e il sistema a tesserine di carta per internet era davvero antiquato, soprattutto considerando che ci troviamo proprio in Finlandia.

Nel complesso, non sono rimasto né contento, né scontento. Forse la prossima volta proverò uno dei Radisson per vedere che differenza c'è. Una volta che viene ristrutturato sono sicuro che quest'albergo andrà bene. Rimodernate certe dotazioni quali l'accesso a internet, la TV, l'arredamento, ecc.

Pros:

Location is great, staff in general very helpful, room was a little larger than most hotels in Northern Europe

Cons:

Bed was awful, room looked like it was designed in mid 80's, breakfast was just ok, internet "paper card" system pretty antiquated considering this is Finland of all places!

Overall, Neither happy nor displeased. Might try one of the Radisson's next time just to see the difference. After a remodeling, I am sure the place will be fine - update the amenities like internet access, TV, furniture, etc.

We stayed two nights at the Hilton Strand. The room was quite spacious and clean. We stayed on the executive floor which has also access to the club room .The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The breakfast was good. The hotel is in a good location, quite close to downtown and siteseeing loactions, with easy access to the metro and tram stops.

Overall a very good hotel in spite of the 80's feel in relation to the general architecture of the hotel.

As another reviews says, this hotel was 'the' place to stay a few years back. It's lost some of its shine since becoming a Hilton however its still a very comfortable and clean place to stay. It's also in a nice quite location about 10 minutes walk from the city center.

When this was still an Intercontinental, it was a fabulous place. It was a ***** hotel, the best in Finland, a real feat of modern Finnish design, and the getaway for diplomats and other expats from Russia and the Baltics who wanted to escape to the West for an expensive yet well-pampered weekend.

Today, this is a **** Hilton, still nice, but the gradeur is gone. Indeed, the fixtures, rooms etc. feel a bit dated, but the wonderful woodwork, glass art, and architecture is still there, and much has been upgraded by now. Very good breakfast buffet included. Walking distance to all academic, cultural, and government places you'll have to go to. The rack rate is on the expensive side (and small side costs are ridiculously high - $ 15 for a shirt cleaned!), but if you get a good corporate one, still the Helsinki hotel of choice.

Amazingly well located hotel overlooking the harbour. So picturesque in winter surrounded by a bay of white snow.

Pros:

Location

Staff - very welcoming and helpful

Room size - good size

Restaurant - nice look and feel

Cons:

Rooms - very dated, need an upgrade to compete with similar hotels

Overall, a good hotel which I would recommend, but not the best I've stayed at in Europe.

This is an excellent hotel which offers great deals during the winter months. I spent four nights there in early January and, apart from the rainy weather, it was a great stay. The city has marvellous museums and galleries which organise exceptional exhibitions - something I did not expect from Helsinki. Finland is probably still one of the least known countries in Europe. As a Hilton Gold VIP member, my room was ugraded and breakfast included. My room had a sea view and the bathroom was equipped with wonderful wellness products. Just right when coming home after long sightseeing tours in a wet January. The personnel at reception reads your lips and helps whenever possible. The buffet breakfast is great and you should try fish, though unusual for breakfast in central Europe. The only thing I did not like was the butter mountain into which everybody stuck his knife; small packed portions would look more appealing. There is a small sauna and tiny swimming pool on the top floor the use of which is complementary. A great experience, and I will definitely go to this hotel again when in Helsinki. Postscriptum: I filled in a questionnaire and received a friendly letter from the manager a few weeks ago. Obviously, customer service is written boldly at the Hilton Strand.

First of all, let me say that I found my love for luxury hotels after staying here. Since then I have stayed at the Amstel Inter-Conti in Amersterdam, the Widder in Zurich, the Haasler in Rome, so I can truly tell you that this recommendation for the Hilton Strand (it used to be Inter-Continental) is well-founded. Oh, the Strand! The rooms are spacious, the windows keep out any noise, the beds are heavenly, the Lapin Kulta always tasty. But that is just the beginning...

The sauna on the top floor is amazing! For a real treat, book the private sauna and get a view of the harbor as you swelter. The pool refreshing and cool! Watch the fish in the adjoining aquarium swim with you.

The best aspect of this well-run, top-notch hotel hwoever is the people. The front desk clerk helped us find a suitable room at a great price. The sauna attendant actually called us up to ask if we wanted to have the private sauna for a discounted rate when someon cancelled (we gave her flowers!).

The topper is: we went there back in 1997 and I still consider it one of the finest hotels I've stayed in. I'd fly back to Helsinki just to do it all over again.