VALO Hotel & Work Helsinki

I liked the room’s design, cozy feel, and adjustable lighting. The bathroom is on the small side but has what you need, and self check-in was easy. I paid extra for the top-floor wellness center, since it wasn’t included in my booking, and came away with mixed feelings. The outdoor area has two saunas, but one was broken, so the other got really crowded. It was otherwise a good sauna, though people kept going in and out, so it never got very hot. There’s no window in the wooden door, so people have to open it to see whether there’s room. The women’s changing room has another sauna, where the temperature stayed steadier because fewer people went in and out. But to pour water for loyly, you have to leave the sauna, since there’s no tap inside. Getting water wasn’t easy because the shower area was almost always full.

The hotel is very modern and was crowded, but I had a better experience overall and would recommend it. The staff were kind, friendly, and helpful. I booked bed and breakfast; there was a good range of options, though I think some things could taste better. The location wasn’t quite right for me personally.

The spa is a good deal when booked with a room, and it’s easy to reach on the 7th floor. There’s a large jacuzzi, a shallow warm pool, a cold dip, two saunas plus a separate sauna in the changing area, a steam sauna, and a bar that opens Friday and Saturday. The gym and modern standards are other strong points. Breakfast wasn’t the biggest buffet, but the ingredients were good, and the restaurant was better than I expected, especially given the hotel’s somewhat isolated location. Public transport runs frequently just outside. It’s more of a work-away hotel, and often busier on weekends. The rooms are modern and sufficient in size, though not large. Contactless check-in and check-out are available. In short, a surprisingly good hotel, with a nice spa and gym, but a remote location and smaller rooms.

I’ve stayed at Valo before, and the decline in quality and customer service is hard to miss now. Check-in involved no interaction with the guest, there were no amenities included, and the spa no longer comes with the room rate, it costs an extra €25 per person. Breakfast quality was also much lower than on previous visits. It was clearly a very busy weekend, but sadly I’m left wondering if I’ll come back.