Arkadia Hotel & Hostel

If indoor air quality bothers you, I'd skip this place. As soon as I entered the room, my eyes began to burn and it got hard to breathe, so I had to leave after an hour. The service was kind, but the place was terrible overall.

For the price, this was about what I expected, though there was room for improvement. I'd describe it as a motel more than a hotel. I can't quite give it four stars, but a solid three feels fair. The staff weren't especially chatty, but they weren't rude. One was polite and helpful, and I didn't feel unsafe. That's just my experience, though, and solo travelers should still follow basic safety advice. The neighborhood was quiet and clean, and I felt safe walking around alone. Buses were nearby and came regularly. A tip: an HSL A-B ticket gets you to central Helsinki in 40 minutes without costing much. You have to flag down the driver, since they won't stop otherwise. The rooms were clean, if somewhat dated, and I didn't see any rats, roaches, flies, or other animals, despite what earlier reviews said. There were several problems in the room and kitchen. The curtains didn't close all the way, and the blinds had a couple of holes. Insulation was poor, and one night the humidity got up to 94%, making it awful to sleep. There was a fan, and it wasn't too loud, though earlier reviews mentioned being freezing in winter. The kitchen had limited plates and cutlery, the washing-up liquid wasn't refilled during the week I stayed, and there were no drying racks or towels. The shower had no floor divider, so the whole bathroom got wet when I showered. I'd give it a higher rating if those issues were fixed. In my experience, it wasn't, and it was nowhere near, quote, "hell on Earth." It's just a cheap place to stay if all you need is a room.

Horrible, just awful. My friend heard drunk people on her floor all night. They were breaking into other guests' doors in the middle of the night and apparently fighting, but the hotel didn't step in, and the disturbance was allowed to continue. All night, she also saw a bloodied mattress above her head. I'm sure it had been there for more than a day. This hotel in Finland's capital seems to take guests' money without caring about their comfort. It's unsanitary and, in my view, dangerously unsafe. We wouldn't go back for any amount of money.

The staff weren't unkind, and the rooms weren't dirty. The bus ride to the city center takes 40 minutes. I paid 20€ for a weekend during high season, and at that price I'd come back. The only thing I'd want improved is more ventilation in the rooms.