Original Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden

There’s a park nearby that’s great for running, and the shopping center is less than 100m away. In winter, the pond behind the hotel becomes an ice skating rink, with inexpensive skate rentals. A great choice for a business trip.

It’s an easy metro ride to Helsinki city center, and the brand new shopping center is right next door. The rooms were quiet, tidy, and well cooled, and the staff were friendly. A cozy hotel with an excellent sauna and a nice little pool.

I arrived exhausted at 1am after prebooking and prepaying, only to be told reception had overbooked the hotel. They offered to send me to a hotel up the road or put me in a Sauna facility, and I accepted the sauna room. The bed was tiny, and the fire exit light kept me awake all night. In the morning, the toilets hadn’t been cleaned or even flushed, and there were empty beer cans in the room. I expected them to make it up to me the next day, but there was no sign of an apology. The woman at the front desk said this happens a lot, as if overbooking and putting guests in this situation were normal.

The kids’ extra bed was easy to request, and the room wasn’t too cramped. We all slept well and will come back. This was our usual family weekend in Helsinki, and Tapiola is handy for the metro and for visiting friends nearby. I recommend the underground car park, especially now that the old gate system has finally been removed. Breakfast was the usual Sokos hotels style. We skipped the restaurant this time. I ran an internet speed test, and wifi coverage may be limited in some rooms.