AINO Aparthotel Olympiapark

I was hesitant to book after reading some older reviews, but the stay was a pleasant surprise. The room looked very modern, with everything seeming new, and was decently sized with all the basics, including a small kitchenette. The bed was super comfortable and the bathroom squeaky clean. Check-in was simple, and I even got into my room a bit before the stated check-in time. There’s a grocery store in the same building, and bus and tram connections are across the street. All in all, a great stay.

Ideal if you just need somewhere to overnight for business. Everything else was okay, but getting the check-in instructions was a problem, and I had to call Booking.com for help. They were very helpful and sorted it out. I’d recommend AINO send fewer emails, since when you’re traveling there’s no time to read them all, and instead provide clear, short check-in instructions.

I liked how efficient everything felt, and the place was clean and safe. It’s in a residential area, with local cafes, restaurants and bakeries right outside. The tram gets you to the city center in about 10 minutes. I never worked out which zone I was in, but did my best with what I could figure out. There’s no air conditioning, which would be a big problem in hot weather. I was there in May, so it wasn’t unbearable. A good option if you want to stay among locals and take a short tram ride to the action, as long as you can handle the heat.

Getting around to the station and town center wasn’t too difficult once I got used to public transport. The room was okay, though not completely clean, and I was glad mine faced away from the street. At night there was a lot of noise, and the area felt a little unsafe with drunk people outside the building. The reception was always closed, so I got no city information or even a welcome from staff. Rooms aren’t cleaned during shorter stays. The safe kept making odd noises, so I pulled out its leaking batteries to make it stop. After two nights I almost booked another hotel. I’d look for somewhere closer to the city, even if it costs a bit more.