Review - Radisson SAS Plaza Helsinki
Jan 3, 2009, 11:40 am
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,229
Review - Radisson SAS Plaza Helsinki
Review of the Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel Helsinki
Booked a 4 for2 stay that is only available for Gold Elite members of the GoldpointsPlus program and is probably the best benefit you can have.
Upon Check-In we were upgraded to a Business Class room. Unfortunately the suites were all occupied.
The room itself was on the 7th floor, facing the back, so it was very quiet, and features a large and very comfortable bed, a working desk which also features a big mirror and a hair dryer, TV, Nespresso machine, small safe, medium sized arm chair and a spacious wardrobe.
The bathroom has a bathtub, very nice scented shower gel and soap two bathrobes.
The only negative thing about the room is that there is no way to open the windows for fresh air. Only air conditioning, which caused a very dry and a bit bleedy nose.
The restaurant serves various dishes and has been mentioned in the Michelin guide. The breakfast buffet has a decent choice with lots of fresh and tasty fruits. It can be crowded if having breakfast late.
The bar is existent but nothing special at all.
The hotel features free Internet access and free use of a business centre to print stuff like boarding passes. It has two saunas, one for each gender and a gym.
There are ice machines on each floor. This is very convenient if you like to have some drinks in your room.
The majority of guests were Russians who have holidays right now but there were also Germany, Americans and other nationalities’ present.
The location of the hotel is very convenient as everything is in walking distance. There is a nearby park at which we were lucky to encounter a huge owl hunting some food at night.
The Finnair bus leaves / arrives about 300m away right at the train station.
A trip report on Helsinki will follow shortly.
Booked a 4 for2 stay that is only available for Gold Elite members of the GoldpointsPlus program and is probably the best benefit you can have.
Upon Check-In we were upgraded to a Business Class room. Unfortunately the suites were all occupied.
The room itself was on the 7th floor, facing the back, so it was very quiet, and features a large and very comfortable bed, a working desk which also features a big mirror and a hair dryer, TV, Nespresso machine, small safe, medium sized arm chair and a spacious wardrobe.
The bathroom has a bathtub, very nice scented shower gel and soap two bathrobes.
The only negative thing about the room is that there is no way to open the windows for fresh air. Only air conditioning, which caused a very dry and a bit bleedy nose.
The restaurant serves various dishes and has been mentioned in the Michelin guide. The breakfast buffet has a decent choice with lots of fresh and tasty fruits. It can be crowded if having breakfast late.
The bar is existent but nothing special at all.
The hotel features free Internet access and free use of a business centre to print stuff like boarding passes. It has two saunas, one for each gender and a gym.
There are ice machines on each floor. This is very convenient if you like to have some drinks in your room.
The majority of guests were Russians who have holidays right now but there were also Germany, Americans and other nationalities’ present.
The location of the hotel is very convenient as everything is in walking distance. There is a nearby park at which we were lucky to encounter a huge owl hunting some food at night.
The Finnair bus leaves / arrives about 300m away right at the train station.
A trip report on Helsinki will follow shortly.
Last edited by SwissCircle; Jan 4, 2009 at 12:09 am
Jan 3, 2009, 8:22 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: RTW
Programs: MR Ag, LH FTL
Posts: 947
I really hate when they do this! Sauna is a recreational activity for me, why separate genders? I lose most of the enjoyment if we have to go to different saunas with my SO. Maybe have separate seating areas for men and women in the restaurant, too?
Sorry for the rant...
Sorry for the rant...
Jan 7, 2009, 3:17 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Tampere, Finland
Programs: HHonors Gold, Priorityclub Platinum, SK* Gold, AA Platinum
Posts: 69
Well, a bit of topic but I think we can claim that the original sauna 'culture' comes from nordic countries and we traditionally only use the same sauna between separate genders among family and in some cases with really good friends. So you can have your recreational family activity in the sauna at home and in public saunas we have separate saunas for genders. It has to do with the fact that in Nordic countries sauna is 'consumed' nude whereas in some parts of the world people use towels to cover themselves.
Jan 7, 2009, 7:44 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: RTW
Programs: MR Ag, LH FTL
Posts: 947
Well, a bit of topic but I think we can claim that the original sauna 'culture' comes from nordic countries and we traditionally only use the same sauna between separate genders among family and in some cases with really good friends. So you can have your recreational family activity in the sauna at home and in public saunas we have separate saunas for genders. It has to do with the fact that in Nordic countries sauna is 'consumed' nude whereas in some parts of the world people use towels to cover themselves.
Anyway the best solution I've seen is in some German hotels where there are 3 saunas (mixed / women / men). I suppose 2 (mixed / women) also are OK for most guests.
Jan 8, 2009, 3:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Tampere, Finland
Programs: HHonors Gold, Priorityclub Platinum, SK* Gold, AA Platinum
Posts: 69
However we Finns take our Sauna seriously (700000 saunas in a country with 5 million people) and we tend to get a bit defensive when comparing Sauna cultures. I know that sauna culture is different in Germany than in Nordic countries (I recall my first visit to a gym in Hannover in 1994 when I didn't know about mixed sauna and thought I must have entered a wrong sauna) but then again it is different in the U.S. too where you see people in swimsuits or wrapped in towels in one-gender saunas in the gym and hotel saunas. What I truly hate 
are the crazy rules in some countries which ban throwing water on the stove. Simply crazy and takes away at least 50% of the pleasure.To make everyone happy your three saunas concept sounds good.
Mar 10, 2013, 4:36 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Plt 3MM; UA 1K 2 MM; MR Lifetime Plat; HH Lifetime Diamond; HH Diamond; IGH Spire Ambas; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,149
Booked a 4 for2 stay that is only available for Gold Elite members of the GoldpointsPlus program and is probably the best benefit you can have.
Upon Check-In we were upgraded to a Business Class room. Unfortunately the suites were all occupied.
The breakfast buffet has a decent choice with lots of fresh and tasty fruits. It can be crowded if having breakfast late.
Will be staying at this property during the summer--first two nights on a 2 for 1, last on cash and points.
As a Gold, is one eligible for suites?
And even if one gets a business class room, what are the benefits?
Finally, is breakfast included for all guests at this hotel--my understanding is that comp breakfast at Radissons is only for Concierge-level elites?