OverviewLocated about a 1-minute drive from the nearest Highway 4 on-ramp and a 4-minute walk from Hakaniemen Metro Station in downtown Helsinki, the waterfront Hilton Helsinki Strand is geared towards business or vacation travellers who prefer a centrally located hotel with an indoor pool, on-site dining and easy access to public transit and the highway.
Each of the hotel's air-conditioned guest rooms and suites offers cable TV, an in-room safe, a minibar, a trouser press, an iron and ironing board, a bidet and a hair dryer. Rooms with a desk, a separate bedroom, a kitchenette, a coffeemaker, a dining table and a jetted tub are also available, as are wheelchair-accessible rooms. In-room Wi-Fi is an additional EUR 10 per day and all rooms are non-smoking.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, a sauna, a fitness centre, massage services, meeting/banquet space, a business centre, laundry services and dining at Atrium Lounge and Bar (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily) and Bridges Restaurant, which serves dinner daily. Self-parking is EUR 24 per day and pets are permitted for EUR 10 per pet, per day.
Helsinki Cathedral is about an 11-minute walk from the hotel, while Forum Shopping Center and The National Museum of Finland can both be found roughly 9 minutes away by car. Helsinki-Malmi Airport (HEM) is 17 minutes away by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's staff, location and rooms.
Numerous guests praised the hotel's staff, characterizing them as helpful, friendly, bilingual and professional. One patron remarked, "This Hilton has possibly the best staff I have come across in my 20 years of regular business travel. They are caring, go out of their way to make the stay as wonderful as possible. The front desk manager is by far the most caring and efficient person hotel manager I have ever encountered at any hotel. His staff follow his lead and are constantly looking for ways give the best stay possible service".
Many reviewers were pleased with the hotel's location. They described it as central, and close to public transit, the airport, bars, restaurants, shopping, attractions, Senate Square, Central Station and Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden.
The hotel's accommodations were enjoyed by several lodgers. They found their rooms to be clean, spacious, tasteful and quiet, with great harbour views and comfortable beds. A few patrons had complaints about their rooms, however (see below).
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the Wi-Fi fee, the rooms and the pool.
Numerous reviewers complained about the hotel's additional Wi-Fi fee. They found it very expensive, and felt it should have been included in the room rates.
While the majority of lodgers were pleased with their clean and spacious rooms, a few guests had complaints. They reported poor Wi-Fi connectivity, worn furniture and decor and inefficient air conditioning.
The hotel's pool was found to be uncomfortably cold by a few guests.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.5 out of 10 from 1,049 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #13 of 68 Helsinki hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 531 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.2 out of 5 with a 94% recommendation rate from 87 reviews.
