RovaVisit Center

The apartment itself was cozy, spacious, nicely designed, and in a great spot for exploring. But several issues and the host’s communication left us frustrated. The bathroom needs a divider between the shower and toilet, because the floor gets uncomfortably wet. The kitchen was missing basics like a cheese grater and colander. Both hairdryers were a problem: one didn’t work, and the other caught my hair. We had initially been told we could check out late because our flight was in the evening. Then, on the morning we were leaving, we were told we had to be out by 1 PM. That sudden change disrupted our plans and meant dragging our luggage through the snow, which we had specifically hoped to avoid. We were told a new guest was arriving, but why wasn’t the change communicated when that booking was confirmed? I’d also messaged the day before to check that late checkout was still okay and got no reply, so we thought the arrangement stood. The host had earlier offered a discounted ride to the airport, but on checkout day told us to book an Uber or Bolt instead. That inconsistency added to the stress of leaving. The host can of course refuse a late checkout, but agreeing and then reversing it at the last moment was very inconvenient and disappointing. The apartment was nice, but the poor communication and last-minute changes had a real impact on our stay. The host has since replied to our review on booking.com and called us a “liar”. Since we can’t attach the entire conversation there, we felt we had to include proof here. We can understand someone having difficulty communicating in a non-native language, but the choice of words was appalling, especially with so many communication and translation tools available.

The location worked well for us. It’s in the city, close to shops and restaurants, an easy walk from the river, and not far from a bus stop. We took a bus to Santa Village from the nearby stop, though Google Maps won’t show you that route. Our Northern Lights event organiser even picked us up right outside the building, and we were lucky enough to see the northern lights by the riverside. We visited in mid-March, when it was -13 C. The host was responsive through the booking messages and was waiting before our arrival. We got the key from them at the building gate. The studio has one bed, a kitchen, an attached bathroom, and a balcony, with everything needed for a stay. It was comfortable, and the host’s booklet about the area and useful local information helped a lot. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Rovaniemi, I’d book it without hesitation.

The kitchen and sauna were great, and the apartment was nice and central. It stayed really hot inside, though. One of the double beds is actually a sofa bed, and you can feel the springs, so it wasn’t very comfortable.

The owners weren’t very helpful.