Forenom Hostel Vantaa Aviapolis

We only needed a bed for the night after landing very late at Helsinki Vantaa with our kids, aged 4 and 6. Forenom Hostel was nearby, and we didn’t have many expectations. Sharing the toilet and bathroom was fine since we knew about it beforehand. The room was clean, the code system worked, and that was enough for us.

Our flight ran late, so we arrived after 1am. There were a few men around the lobby and outside who looked stoned, which made the place feel uncomfortable. I wouldn’t recommend it to women traveling alone. The check-in itself was fine: you verify your ID by email ahead of time, then get a code by text or email. Rooms and bathrooms were basic, but clean and okay. There wasn’t a hair dryer in the showers, which makes washing your hair in winter difficult. I was lucky to find a staff member who had one.

I didn’t sleep especially well, and there’s no breakfast. The main draws are the low price and being fairly close to the airport. This time it was quieter than my earlier stay, perhaps because I slept in Aviapolis instead of Airport, which is only about 200 meters from Forenom Hostel Airport. Hilton is closer, nicer, and includes breakfast.

We booked and paid through one of the suggested booking services, but never received the room number or entry code. There were no employees available, and the only contact number didn’t work because the phone robot handling guest calls was broken. No other way to reach anyone was given. It was late at night, so we ended up sleeping in the corridor. Forenom then refused to refund the room payment. It feels like a scam. Other guests had check-in trouble too. One woman had booked two weeks ahead but got the instructions only late in the evening. Another spent half an hour trying to get through a faulty door lock. Tiina from Forenom seems to think this is an acceptable way to run a business. I may need police help.