HI - Helsinki - Eurohostel

HI - Helsinki - Eurohostel is a good place to stay if you're not looking for a very social hostel, as it is run more like a hotel than a backpacker's hostel. However, it is very secure and well run, and offers a number of amenities including a washer and dryer, internet access, a café, and self-service kitchens.

The Location

The hostel is located in a quiet little neighbourhood not far from the water, and is quite safe. While it is possible to walk to the centre, the hostel is also on at least two direct tram lines that run frequently between the railway station, downtown Helsinki, and the hostel. There are tram stops nearly directly outside and the hostel is extremely easy to find.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The rooms are very clean, and the dorm rooms are more like small hotel rooms than actual hostel dorms. When we booked a dorm room, we were assigned a shared, two-bed room. The rooms have large individual cupboards, which are allocated based on bed number, so only the occupant has the key to the cupboard. They provide ample storage for suitcases and clothes. Each room is accessed by key card, which also works in the bathrooms and shared kitchen. The bathrooms are quite clean and have three showers and sinks and two toilets.

Common Spaces

The one downside to this hostel is that, as it is run more like a hotel than a hostel, there are very few common spaces. The reception area provides information on downtown Helsinki as well as two internet kiosks, but there is no real place to socialize here. There is a café, but most people seem to go in, order their meal, and then leave. There are shared kitchens with a television set on each floor that can be used as social spaces, although most people seem fairly untalkative. The nice thing about the kitchen in this hostel is that, in order to use the fridge, guests must get a key from reception to an individual box within the fridge. There is a deposit for the key, but it is returned upon check-out.

Summary

This hostel is great if you are simply looking for a place to stay while in Helsinki, and do not care whether or not you meet people. It is secure, clean, well run, and has a number of amenities. If you are looking for a social, party hostel, this is probably not the place for you!

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
August 2009