w3andw4d

I arrive at HEL at 2310 on a Saturday night and leave at 0740 the next morning.
Has anyone spent the night at the airport?
If so, any recommendations for getting some rest, or would you go for a hotel?

Thanks.

Tobias-UK

I'd never stay at an airport unless absolutely unavoidable - that means if there are no hotels!

TyneTraveller

Personally, I would use the Hilton which is located just across from their arrivals exit. Just a quick stumble out of bed in the morning too, and usually to be found at a reasonable price.

rossmacd

+1 ^

kauppias

I have done this on a MR and we used the Holiday Inn at a cost of 65€ it seemed the best deal. On many weekends it is as low as 55€. Free shuttle and clean quiet rooms!

gcuk

This is a useful website. Seems more people sleep in airports than I imagined. Link to Helsinki details here:
http://www.sleepinginairports.net/li...a#.VqNKJja96M8

gorps1

I'm doing the same trip in a couple of weeks. By buying flight and hotel together via BA Holidays I saved around 10% - the hotel was effectively an additional £40 on the flight cost. I personally wouldn't want to spend the night at the airport.

corporate-wage-slave

I've stayed at the Hilton, which is a good hotel a short walk from the terminal (it actually overlooks the non Schengen gates that BA uses), but it's not the cheapest hotel. The dilemma that then happens, which I suspect inspired the question, is that if going further afield the transportation time will eat into sleep time, so less good value for money, as well as increasing the risk of oversleeping. The latter can be resolved by using mobile phones, hotel phones, hotel televisions and the intervention of the front desk.

There are 2 other hotels on the airport site (and a host just outside). The GLO hotel is inside T2 landside, again not particularly cheap but very convenient.

Rather more cost effectively, Vantaa is one of the few airports I can think (ok, the only one) with a youth hostel on site. It's called Forenom Koto Vantaa and you can pick and choose which services you want. (CWS has not stayed here!). I can see prices from 45€ but doubtless there may be add ons if you haven't got a sleeping bag (etc). There's an expensive but extensive grocery mini mart by the arrivals gate. The hostel is in the car parking area, about 500 metres from Arrivals.

Hotel taxis won't mind taking you to the small town of Tikkurila (and accept credit card payment), and there's a public bus service too, several cost effective hotels there, so you can get to Tukkurila quite quickly, it's just 10 minutes away. The Sokos hotel is one I've used.

madfish

Where's your sense of adventure!

OP, you could always take a tent...

lorcancoyle

I now have visions of Scott of the Antarctic.

Anybody who goes on a HEL TP run in winter and stays in a tent should get an award - Mucci des Asylum?

w3andw4d

C-W-S is correct re the reason for the question, I suspect that sleep will be short and not of good quality anyway!

Thanks for all your replies, I will give them consideration.

I have just booked a ABZ-LHR-HEL and back for £480 with 200TP, which will keep me at silver. This is usually not an issue, but I had to cancel a CW trip in Oct due to bereavement.

The info on this site is invaluable. Thanks to all you folks for your efforts!

lorcancoyle

If you're within 24 hours do check gorps1's suggestion of BA flight and hotel, it can be attractive pricing vs separate bookings.
And if booking separately with HI don't forget to see what IHG Accelerate promo has as tasks...

Tobias-UK

In my hotel room

DYKWIA

You can rent one of these for a few hours :-

Hoch

+1 On the Hilton and Holiday Inn. I actually preferred the latter but the former is better for maximum sleep.

H