Go Happy Home Apartment Mikonkatu 18 2

The third so-called bedroom was just a couple of beds off the lounge, with no separation at all. The bathroom was grubby and had no shower door, so water went everywhere. The sauna and internet didn’t work, and they’re refusing to give any kind of refund for that. The whole stay was a letdown, even if one star might be harsh. We took a taxi to collect the keys, then learned the apartment was another 25-minute walk away in wet, cold weather.

The apartment block and the flat both smelled of smoke, and the bathroom left a lot to be desired. I stay in Helsinki regularly for work, and I wouldn’t book through this company again. The one saving grace was that I ended up within easy walking distance of where I needed to be. I picked up the key after hours, and the instructions were great. But the apartment was a 20-minute walk from the key office, which wasn’t ideal at 1 am. The place itself was hugely disappointing. If I wanted an Airbnb, I would have booked one.

I really enjoyed my three nights at Mikonkatu 11. The apartment had one bedroom plus a pull-out sofa in the lounge, with plenty of room for a dining table, seating area and enclosed balcony. There was also a washing machine in the bathroom, so it seems well suited to families or longer stays. The complex had excellent security, which made me feel comfortable as a solo traveller. It’s well placed for buses and trains and close to the main tourist attractions. I’d highly recommend it.

The apartment itself was decent, with internet and the usual conveniences. But getting there was a hassle: after walking all our luggage to the office, we found it empty. I’d told them our arrival time, though we were an hour early, and at 2pm I expected someone to be there. They told us to return in an hour, so we did, picked up the key, then walked another 20 minutes with our bags. Since the only reason to go to the office was the key, meeting us at the apartment would have saved a lot of time. Inside, the walls were so thin we could hear everything, and one light seemed to have no switch, which didn’t help us sleep. We were also asked to wash the dishes, even though we would have done that anyway. The request felt rude.