Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti

A handy, quiet base for getting around Helsinki, with clean, modern rooms, though ours was small and the bathroom was tiny. The beds were comfortable, but the two standard pillows weren't great, and there's no pillow menu. The room was warmer than I like, while the A/C controls were so finicky I couldn't figure them out. The electronics were unreliable too: the other room in our group had a broken TV, which could have been a problem since the hotel guide uses it to show opening hours. The single-ply toilet paper was pretty harsh. Downstairs there's a medium-sized pool and separate men's and women's Finnish saunas, both good quality. Check-in uses a queue number system, which I'm not sure about. For working, there's a small desk and chair, good WiFi at symmetric 100 Mbps, and enough outlets by the bed and desk. Housekeeping isn't automatic each day, but daily service is free if you request it.

When we lost our bags, the staff went out of their way to help us, and they couldn't have been friendlier. The buffet breakfast was amazing, with enough variety for everyone. The location was great too, with a museum across the road, a shopping centre behind the hotel, and loads of places to eat nearby. Many other spots are a 10-15 minute walk away. My favourite thing was the heated bathroom floor. I'd absolutely stay again and recommend it. Thanks to all the staff.

The breakfast was plentiful and tasty, and the hotel is centrally located. Luggage storage was convenient, with its own key card, so there was no need to wait to get into the storage room. The pool felt a little cold, but it was just right after the sauna. Please shower before going in. It was open only from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., which is basically dinner time. The room wasn't clean: there was a fingernail and sticky residue on the bedside table, plus hair in the bathtub. The TV works with Chromecast but not Apple devices, a small extra annoyance. At check-in you take a number and wait, apparently because they don't have enough staff.

The location is very central, close to the subway, and I can see this working well for families too. There was complimentary chocolate drink in the room, along with a fridge for keeping fruit, snacks, or breastmilk, and a kettle. They also left shampoo, conditioner, soap, a sleep mask, earplugs, shoe wipes, and an oatmeal cookie, which made the stay extra comfortable. The room was spacious, the bed comfortable, and the large pillows stayed under my head even when I rolled over. Staff were kind and even printed papers for me at short notice. I really liked the pool: it was about 16 m and big enough for laps, though a bit cold. Its depth varies at the sides, which could suit families with children. This is one of the best hotels I've stayed in.