One day runs from Helsinki?
 

I'm going to be in Helsinki next month, and will have a bit of extra time (I've already seen many of the city's nice attractions). My meetings end on a Friday evening, and my flight home isn't until early Sunday. I'd like to do a mileage run (and maybe see somewhere else, even for a few hours) on Saturday the 13th ... any suggestions? Ideally, I'd like to earn miles on a CO or AA partner, but elite mileage isn't a concern. Any ideas?

It's not a mileage run, but visiting either Tallinn or St. Petersburg are two interesting options not too far from Helsinki. US citizens don't need visas for Estonia.

I'll second Tallinn. My favourite city in Eastern Europe. It's an easy day trip on the fast cat (providing it is still running - it runs for summer season only as the water freezes). Or if you can stretch it, it's a really fast helicopter ride ...

Maybe a Finn will help me here.

On Tuesdays Finnair releases their really bargain prices for that weekend. And they are great deals. The trouble is that they are only to be found on the finnish part of their website and I no longer have the link.

It is easy enough to navigate through, I have done it several times.

Maybe call finnair and ask. I got to Vienna for 90E return.

Likewise KLM have a 'Click and Go' feature on the website available on Mondays to three destinations......www.klm.fi

Actually the AY webpage has the same info in English. Go to the finnair.fi page (note: only the .fi pages have the deals!). You need to click the "Äkkilähdöt in English" button and you'll get the bargain flights.

Great ideas, all. I'll check out the last minute deals, and if nothing looks particularly good, maybe I'll just spend the day in Tallinn!

I have heard rave reviews of Riga as well.

Just a quick follow-up ... I did end up taking the jet boat over to Tallinn, spent the day there. It was fantastic, reminded me of a smaller Prague. And very different from Helsinki, too.

Thanks again for the suggestion!

-Paul

I'll add my suggestion for Tallinn -- maybe the night boats each way and spend the day in Tallinn. Wonderful city, great sites.
tom

And the crystal is cheaper than it is in Prague too,if you can believe that!