I have stayed at Swissôtel Tallinn closer to ten times without any loyalty card. This was my first stay after Swissôtel joined Le Club and I was interested in to see how the hotel treats Le Club members.

Check In

I arrived before the official check-in time at 1:30 pm. There was a queue to front desk. I chose the empty and unstaffed Le Club desk to find out what will happen. After a few minutes wait someone came to ask if I needed help. I said yes, I would like to check in myself. I was then asked to move to another lane. My room was ready and I was proactively told that I had been upgraded. I received a key card and a drink voucher.

Room

The hotel has several room categories: Swiss advantage, Swiss grand, and Swiss executive rooms, plus three different suites. All comes with either city or harbour view and they are considered different categories.

So to speak, a view is as an upgrade here: if one book an entry-level Swiss advantage room with city view, like I did, one will receive an upgrade to Swiss advantage room with harbour view. Not much of an upgrade if you ask me.

On the other hand, different rooms are pretty similar to each other in terms of amenities and design. Every rooms has espresso machine, bathrobes and slippers, for example. I have tried all the categories except the suites. Actually, Swissôtel offers complimentary upgrades to anyone who just book a stay at Swissôtel’s website.

The grand rooms and the suites are slightly larger and the executive rooms are on high floors and includes lounge access, naturally. The smallest room is 28 sqm and the biggest 36 sqm. Some of the rooms has both walk-in shower and bathtub, some only walk-in shower. I had both. Bed is too firm to my liking.

My bathroom was in bad condition. In addition to broken floor tiles, water flooded from the shower to all over and I had to place towels on the slippery floor. A cleaner was sent after I reported the front desk.

I was told that the management is aware of some construction defects and that those will be fixed next year. Yeah, right. The hotel isn’t a new one. It has been open for 11 years now so it has taken a long time to fix this problem. While waiting for the repair, a rubber list between shower door and floor should be added.

I was also disappointed to the quality of towels that were thin and rough, like sandpaper, not thick and fluffy that I expect in a hotel of this level. No turndown service was provided.

Service

It’s hit and miss. People working at the front desk and breakfast restaurant are often grumpy while the staff at lounge, dining restaurant and bar are nice. If there is an issue the front desk staff is excellent in arguing and not solving the problem.

Dining

There is an executive lounge. I didn’t book it but I was offered an upgrade for 95€ (was gold back then) which I decided no to accept since I thought that it was a better idea to use the money in some of the Tallinn’s excellent restaurants. One of them is located on the top floor of the hotel. For about same money I had a decent five-course menu with wine pairing.

I’ve tried the lounge before. It’s on the 28th floor and quite small, a size of two guest rooms. When the house is full it’s not a relaxing place at all. The lounge has a basic selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, plus decent snack buffet, but it’s not worth the 95€.

Breakfast place has a clinical ambience that reminds more a school cafeteria than hotel restaurant. Quality is somewhat modest.

Spa

The hotel has a calming spa with swimming pool, steam room and Finnish sauna. It was most of the time almost empty.

Location

The location is excellent. Walking to the old town takes about 10 minutes. Taxi to the airport and harbour is more or less the same. There is a high-end department and grocery store just beside the hotel.

Elite experience

The elite experience was overall a little letdown. Morning paper wasn’t delivered to my room and at breakfast they only had a small selection of news printed on white paper.

The drink voucher was usable for anything expect champagne and spirit. Yet I was able to have a GT and pick any gin brand I wanted to so kudos to that.

A welcome gift was already in the room when I arrived which was a positive surprise. However, it was rather lame: a rhubarb drink and a water bottle. While it was nice to have something local the rhubarb season was already over. Perhaps an Estonian cheese platter or selection of local chocolates and Vana Tallinn liqueur would have made me more happy. This is how Hilton Tallinn Park treats their elite members.

Late check-out was granted at 2 pm.

Overall

The stay was okay. The hotel is nice and being the tallest building in Tallinn it offers magnificent views to the city in clear days. But as a Le Club member I didn’t feel anything very special. Hilton close by is often cheaper and deliveres better value for money.

I returned to Tallinn’s Swissôtel, now as a platinum member. The stay was satisfactory and I have another one coming up soon. The treatment was clearly better than as a gold last year. The lounge was an interesting experience.

Check In

I arrived at the hotel early in the afternoon and asked whether I could check-in in the lounge. A concierge then escorted me to the elevator that took me to the 28th floor where the lounge is located.

After all the necessary paper works had been done, my room was ready. I got upgraded from basic Swiss advantage room to one bedroom suite. It wasn’t the best room category of this property but I was surely happy with the upgrade.

Room

The 64 sqm suite was comfortable if somewhat tired. It had a separate living area and bedroom. Bathroom was naturally bigger than in basic rooms. Bath amenities were the typical Pürovel, odd mix of old and new scents. Housekeeping should have chosen either of them. Personally, I prefer the old one.

Spa

Here are some photos of the nice spa and heated swimming pool.

Lounge

The opening hours of this rather small executive lounge were complicated as can be seen on the lounge benefit list and the service was hit and miss.

There was lots of food, both hot and cold: delicious canapés and simple home cooking style main course. One can survive with it. On the other hand, Tallinn has many excellent places to eat so I would recommed eating out.

Breakfast was served in the restaurant only.

Food ran out quickly, refilling took a while and the refilled food was different than on the menu. Yet it was poured to the same serving dishes. For example, salmon suddenly became Baltic herring and ratatouille gnocchi.

The serving policy was odd, too. For example, nuts and crisps were only available during the weekdays. Maybe so that the weekenders don’t get too thirsty? Now, they made an exception and offered a bowl of nuts on Saturday.

On Sunday, happy hour was supposed to start already at 2pm but there was nothing at 4pm. I mentioned this to the lounge attendant who said she forgot.

Fans of fizzy drinks, be aware that there won’t be any sparkling wine not to mention champagne.

Platinum treatment

Early check-in at 1pm, late check-out with full access to the lounge until 5pm, room upgrade, drink voucher for two, and a large fruit platter as a welcome gift.

I had another great stay at Swissôtel Tallinn. I keep the review short since there isn’t much new to report.

Check In

I was welcomed back when arriving after noon and received again an upgrade from bottom to almost top, one bedroom suite, lounge access and two drink vouchers (used it for pretty good prosecco as champagne wasn't available). I was proactively asked until what time I would like to keep my room and was able to check out at 4pm.

Room

The suite was similar as in my previous review but now on the 28th floor where the executive lounge is so it was very convenient. Welcome gift was same as last time: a fruit platter with berries and macarons, plus fresh flowers. There was bottled water as well.

Service

Service level varies. Some staff members are excellent, some close to rude. When I gave feedback about the food offerings in the lounge (more about that later), one super friendly lounge lady offered to order something for me from the kitchen – free of charge. I accepted it and soon I had a tasty pepper steak in front of me! That’s something.

On the other hand, the agent answering Swiss service calls seemed stingy. I requested some more water and was told that only two bottles are complimentary. She then adviced me to use room service if I wanted to pay for water. I reminded her that I’m a platinum member staying in suite. After a few minutes a housekeeper knocked my door and brought the water. I don't see the point of limiting water as they have plenty of it in the lounge any way.

Executive lounge

This time I stayed for two nights and three days in the middle of week. The offerings were slightly different than during my weekend stay earlier this year. There was more food on Saturday and Sunday than now on Wednesday and Thursday. However, drinks, including alcohol, were available all day long. Friday seems the worst day concerning food and beverage.

I find it unnecessary to have three different service concepts depending the day. It takes some time to learn the opening hours and the available benefits.

The variety and quality of food wasn’t as good as last time and again the main course was finished before I got chance to try it. Menu stated salmon and cod in herb butter but I only found some sad looking Baltic herring with dry rice. Disappointing.

The other day (when I had a table reservation in restaurant and didn’t plan to dine in the lounge) the food was of course better: beef and pork in creamy mustard sauce and creamy potatoes.

Breakfast could be ordered to room for a nominal tray charge of 8€. That’s a welcome benefit because the breakfast isn’t served in the lounge.

Photos below are from three different days presenting afternoon tea, evening snacks and breakfast in room.

Gym

The gym seemed well equipped. Here is one photo of it.