your towel touches the toilet when you dry off, that’s how small the bathroom is.
During a short visit to Helsinki I stayed at the Radisson Blu Plaza hotel. The Radisson Blu is centrally located, affordable, has a lounge and a good breakfast.
Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Helsinki
The Radisson Blu Plaza hotel is not a special hotel, but it does offer value for money. My stay included a free breakfast and I had access to the lounge, which definitely improved my visit in terms of value for money.
The hotel is located in a beautiful building and a quick search on the internet shows that this building dates back to 1917. Although characteristic, you can also see that the age of the building does not benefit the hotel.
Room Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel
The room at the Radisson Blu is not special. Especially considering that I received an upgrade to the Deluxe room.
The room lacks ambiance, offers no option to turn on anything but bright light, and although tastes differ, a blue sofa with purple wall upholstery combined with an organic lamp is not necessarily something that appeals to me.
The bed, on the other hand, is comfortable, which is ultimately what matters for a good night’s sleep.
The bathroom is a story in itself. It’s small. Too small. As a result, you wipe your towel over the toilet when you dry off after showering. You shower in a bathtub with a hand shower, which also doesn’t have a particularly good spray.
What is nice are the soaps and body lotion from Radisson Blu itself. I can’t determine which brand this is, but I do like it.
Remote working Helsinki
Although you can use your mobile internet in Europe, the hotel’s wifi is also good. You can access it without a username and password because it’s an open network. So make sure to secure your connection when you’re on the hotel network.
The hotel also offers plenty of opportunities to open a laptop. This can be done both in the lounge or in the restaurant.
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Radisson Blu Plaza Lounge
The lounge is different from other lounges I’m used to. The lounge consists of a balcony overlooking the restaurant where breakfast is also served, and it has a pleasant atmosphere.
It’s a shame that the food offering in the lounge is disappointing. There’s (a little) crisps and it’s not replenished when it’s gone. Furthermore, you have the choice of a piece of cheese or some nuts, but that’s about it.
At the bar, you can order alcoholic drinks and here too the lounge differs from other hotels. When I ask for two (last) glasses of wine just before the lounge closes, the staff member looks at me and asks if I wouldn’t prefer a bottle.
Later in the lounge, she comes by again to ask if everything is still to my liking, and that personal service and relaxed approach to the “rules” is quite pleasant.
Breakfast Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel
The breakfast is one of the hotel’s highlights. Although expensive – you pay 28 euros per person if it’s not included in your booking – the breakfast is very extensive and offers plenty of healthy choices.
There’s an extensive salad bar, you can make a yoghurt with granola and tasty seeds and nuts. Or you can choose a healthy baguette or falafel.
Sweet pastries, pancakes, muffins and other sweet treats complete the breakfast.
Fancy a coffee, tea or a healthy vitamin shot and a juice? Then you have nothing to complain about at the Radisson.
Location Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Helsinki
The Radisson Blu Plaza hotel is centrally located and near the southern part of the centre. If you arrive by public transport from the airport, you can walk to the hotel from the station in 5 minutes. Ideal.
Advantages
- Lounge
- Good location
- Good price
- Sauna
Disadvantages
- Very small bathroom
- Lounge has little food offering
- Shower is a too small hand shower in a bathtub
Gym Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel
The gym – if you can even call it that – in the Radisson Blu hotel in Helsinki is disgraceful. It’s nothing more than a family room that has been sacrificed and where a few machines have been placed in a brown, outdated room. It reminds me of an upgraded exercise room of a GP, where you can do next to nothing.
The speaker with an outdated Apple connector – discontinued in 2012 – speaks volumes.
Sauna
Where the gym is a huge disappointment, the sauna seems good. Since I have little time, I don’t use the sauna, but it is spacious and seems fine at first glance.
Price Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel
I pay 117 euros (Jan. 2025) for a night at the Radisson Blu hotel in Helsinki. This is the price for a room without breakfast, for which 28 euros per person is charged. Because I have a Premium status at the Radisson I get access to the lounge and breakfast is included.
Conclusion Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel
The Radisson Blu Plaza hotel is a decent hotel, but not outstanding. If you have a status and can get free breakfast, then it’s a good choice. If you have to pay for breakfast, there are better options.
For example, there’s the Hilton Helsinki 5 minutes away or cheaper options. You can then spend the 28 euros per person you have to pay for breakfast in the city for a nice breakfast.
