Originally Posted by
britbronco22
Any experience of IHG hotels in Helsinki? Specifically the HI City Centre and the Crowne Plaza. I'd rather stay somewhere with points benefits, and hopefully get some benefit of Plat status
I stayed at HI City Centre earlier this year for 4 nights. Literally 50 metres from where the Finnair bus drops you if catching that from the airport (~6 euros one-way).
Room was fine, not huge by any means but large enough, although the aircon was a bit feeble, to the point where I thought it wasn't working. I mentioned this to reception and the lady spun me some yarn about 'green' aircon that works sort of imperceptibly - I let it ride as it was borderline, though I still have my doubts about the story. Carpeted floor in the room entrance, giving way to 'Scandinavian-style' wooden floor in the main body of the room.
I'm PC Gold and the only 'benefit' I recall getting (not that I was really expecting anything at all) was a discount voucher for the restaurant (about 8 euros I think). The restaurant is only OK (and they overcharged me - I did
not let that one ride

) - if not for the discount I probably would not eat there. Buffet breakfast was included in my rate and again, was adequate, nothing special. On a side note I saw a man at breakfast with three plates each piled about 6 inches high with various foodstuffs. He had as much at that one breakfast as I consumed over four days.
Wi-Fi was free. Cannot recall if there was any concierge service. There is a sports bar around the corner which was very quiet during the day and ok for a couple of refreshers during the afternoon.
As you might expect, there was a sauna, though I did not use it.
I seem to recall housekeeping being extremely late one day, such that I was doubting they were going to do it, though in the end they did (without prompting).
Overall was OK - a fairly typical HI experience.