Hotel Rantakalla

On our first stay, we liked the room and the view, and the staff were warm and helpful. Breakfast and the amenities were good too. But on our second visit, the room was on the lowest floor and had a clear musty smell. The cleaning carts were also extremely noisy early in the morning, so we cut our stay short by a day.

The setting is seriously beautiful. We stayed in the older section, which felt quite elegant for the price, though the cracked walls showed its age. The passage to the room was a dim basement corridor with pipes. Still, a solid option, 3/5.

The restaurant was a bright spot: modern feel, a lovely sunset view, and tasty, nicely presented food at mid-range prices. The meals arrived very quickly. The beach was long and pleasant, with shallow, calm water for kids that was also good for swimming. The little cottages at the Rantakalla campsite were the worst place we stayed during our trip around Finland, especially for what they cost. At 150 EUR for five people, with towels and bed linen included, they just didn't feel worth it. They were old, dirty and smelly, the washing facilities were grimy and run-down, and there was unhealthy-looking black mould on the ceiling. We slept with the door open and washed all our clothes in the next cottage to get the smell out.

It's a simple hotel right on the beach, and the price is reasonable. The rooms are a bit dated, and breakfast is basic, so don't expect much from the accommodation. If you're after luxury, Sannta hotel resort next door may suit you better.