We found a hotel in Helsinki ... in the end

Happy Friday! This week we are happy that we were able to go to Helsinki and the travel fair Matka. We were even happier when we in the end, after our hotel booking was lost, found somewhere to stay in Helsinki.

Table of contents

We booked a hotel ...

How difficult can it be to book a hotel in Helsinki? Back in Stockholm, Peter looked up an apartment hotel on Booking.com, booked and tried to pay with our regular credit card. Pretty soon we got a message telling us that we had to use a credit card. credit card instead of a "normal" credit card.

Peter repeated the procedure from the beginning but with a new card, and everything seemed ok. Until the next error message came, saying that something was wrong again. Had we entered the wrong numbers? We tried again, got no error message, and went ...

... but it didn't work

Once in Finland, the next error message came. The payment had not gone through. Why? We tried to call the hotel, but there was no answer. We were sitting in a café near Sveaborg and tried to pay again.

When we came ashore after the trip to Suomenlinna, it was clear that the apartment was cancelled. What should we do now? We found an address for a reception 40 minutes walk from the boat - now we just had to start walking! It was getting dark and really cold but at 16:45, a quarter of an hour before closing time, we were there.

"Are you Bergstrom?", the staff asked. And then: "Do you have Swedish Nordea?" And yes, we did ... Apparently the apartment hotel always (for some reason) has problems with payment with Swedish cards from Nordea banks ... And no, we still couldn't pay with that card, but had to solve the situation with a card from another bank.

Finally a place to live

From being annoyed, tired and cold, we were very happy to suddenly have access to an apartment. Now we just had to go on a 20-minute walk to the railway station to pick up our cabin bags, which we had locked in there... That's 22,000 steps on the pedometer that day, and walking is good for your health, right?

The apartment at Citykoti Downtown apartments is centrally located and fairly basic, but it's fresh and has everything you need including kitchenware and good WiFi. Of course, you have to buy breakfast yourself, but it works. And if you just don't have Nordea bank, it's easy and convenient to stay here! The price is currently about 500 SEK per night for a double room.

Two dinners in Helsinki

Burgers aren't usually our favourite, but after all the walking and looking for somewhere to stay, we needed food, and fast! It was a burger with St Agur blue cheese and sweet potato fries at Naughty Burger.

The second evening we found a cosy sushi restaurant called Sushi and Wine, which seemed very popular. Many sushi pieces were sold two by two (for 5-7 euros) which we thought was expensive, but we found a menu with 22 pieces to share for 35 euros, which seemed a bit more reasonable.

Travelling is a bit of a hassle, but every time it works out, you're just as happy. What has been the best part of your week?

More tips for Helsinki?

If you want more tips for Helsinki, read our guide and things to do in Helsinki. to see and do in Helsinki. Below you will find even more tips for Finland.

Helena

18 January 2019 6:00

Happy Friday

hotel

Helena

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20 Comments

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Hasse says:

Happy Friday - not? Nordea seems to be unreliable, I myself have left the big bank world almost completely, not least when travelling ? The burger looks nice, never understood the greatness of sushi? In Helsinki there is a gigantic market hall? By the way, isn't there ? in Helsinki ? Like the street signs in Helsinki, Have fun bäst‼️ #enjoyyourmoments

18 January 2019 - 7:37

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We have not had this problem with our Nordea card before, but here they said that they often have problems and that you have to call Nordea. I think there are several nice market halls, but we have not had time to visit them this time.
  
  18 January 2019 - 14:04
  
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Kenneth Risberg says:

No evil without good, 22,000 steps is not a bad thing.
"Nördea" no, I have no confidence in it and neither does Swedbank so it's the Dane and one more just in case.
Speaking of Helsinki and bank cards, I was pickpocketed there a few years ago, only banknotes, no bank cards.
Have a nice weekend!

18 January 2019 - 8:17

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  You can console yourself with the fact that there were many steps 😉 And what a shame about pickpockets! I have the impression that it is very safe and honest here, but of course there are pickpockets everywhere.
  
  18 January 2019 - 14:10
  
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Ama de casa says:

It's tough when things go wrong like that! We have sometimes had problems with card payments in the US, and it is always good to have cards from different banks. Once it didn't work to pay at the hotel, but withdrawing cash from the ATM next to the reception desk worked fine. Strange ... In any case, you are always just as happy when it works out. Which it has always done. So far in any case - pepper, pepper *knocks me in the head* 🙂 🙂
The room looked both nice and affordable and exercise is never wrong 😉.

This week we've been busy, and only with nice things. Well, except that miserable Christmas, which seems to refuse to leave the apartment... But it is precisely because we have prioritised the niceties that Christmas is still at the door. Well, the Christmas boxes are at the front door now, that is 😀.

Stay happy in Helsinki!

18 January 2019 - 9:46

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We suggested that we could take out cash and pay that way, but they don't want cash... so we were lucky to have another card 😉 My grandmother always had all the Christmas and Easter decorations out all year round because "it's almost time again" 😉.
  
  18 January 2019 - 14:13
  
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JoY says:

I'm glad you were able to find accommodation. A bit disappointing when something like that happens.
Have a good weekend
Hugs

18 January 2019 - 9:57

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Most things work out in the end! Have a nice weekend!
  
  18 January 2019 - 14:14
  
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Emma, sun like sun? says:

That's strange! As Ama says, it's good to have different cards. I still have my emergency card from Norwegian Bank and it has been great to have. Doesn't cost anything to have if you don't use it either.

Best of the week? Hmmmm ... sounds sad but that a package that has been in trouble since the end of November has finally been found. Everything is not yet solved because the package is not with us, but now I know where it is anyway.

18 January 2019 - 11:14

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, having cards from different banks is probably smart! And nice that the package seems to come to the right place! What trouble you seem to have had with it!!!
  
  18 January 2019 - 14:18
  
  Reply
Ditte says:

I only use credit cards when booking travel, hotels and other things. But Nordea's cards can be so that they must be "unlocked" if it is to be used for payment outside Sweden and then it must be done before. (Have a Norwegian credit card they always work.) Nice that it was read in the end but you can get tired for less.
Best of the week? That our long trip to Cape Horn is one week closer and that I have planned for both work and private trips during the spring and summer. And that I have made a few steps further in a co-operation project.
Hope it will be a little calmer for you and the city has many nice restaurants. If you find them and have the energy...

18 January 2019 - 12:17

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  When Peter paid online, he went to the online bank and unlocked the card, but for some strange reason it still didn't work. So great to have the trip to Cape Horn to look forward to!
  
  18 January 2019 - 14:19
  
  Reply
Lena - good for the soul says:

But my God, how strange! Why that particular bank, one might wonder! I understand that you were not in the best mood. Glad it worked out in the end.

The best of the week has to be that today I was able to work from home for the first time in a long time. And finally went to the gym, also for the first time in a long time.

Hug Lena

18 January 2019 - 13:50

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I'm not cheating at all, I haven't had problems with that card in other countries. Nice to have a job at home and exercise!
  
  18 January 2019 - 14:21
  
  Reply
Malin Lundsten says:

Welcome to Helsinki! Maybe we'll meet at the exhibition centre this weekend? 🙂 And if you want other restaurant tips, just ask - I myself live quite centrally in Helsinki, out on the island of Lauttasaari!

18 January 2019 - 15:40

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you Malin! We go home tomorrow again. But will you possibly come tonight to the party at Clarion?
  
  18 January 2019 - 16:09
  
  Reply
Maria / Magnolia Magis says:

It was a nice room / apartment you got in the end anyway. Not so fun outside and walk in the cold but then you appreciate the heat when you come in! 🙂 Have a nice weekend!

18 January 2019 - 16:12

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Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

After 22,000 steps, I realise that even hamburgers taste good. And these looked really good too.
The issue of credit cards and which ones work best is really a chapter in itself. I'm glad it worked out.
The best of the week will probably be our little mini holiday in Stockholm, the remaining days have been a bit too much work...(but now it's Happy Friday again!)

18 January 2019 - 16:51

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Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

euro has made Finland more expensive. This has been confirmed by our Finnish friends.

18 January 2019 - 19:06

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BP says:

What if you hadn't had several cards with you then?! Okay, you can always withdraw cash at the ATM of course, but still. Glad that it still worked out in the cold.
I know that Nordea is complicated even here at home. The owners of the apartment we usually rent in Spain have Nordea. So far I have not managed to pay the rent from my SEB account to her account. Luckily she likes cash, so I withdrew the money and paid in cash.

18 January 2019 - 19:10

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Suomenlinna in Helsinki - sea fortress with Swedish history | FREEDOMtravel

We found a hotel in Helsinki ... in the end

We booked a hotel ...

... but it didn't work

Finally a place to live

Two dinners in Helsinki

More tips for Helsinki?

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20 Comments

Hasse says:

Helena says:

Kenneth Risberg says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

JoY says:

Helena says:

Emma, sun like sun? says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

Malin Lundsten says:

Helena says:

Maria / Magnolia Magis says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

BP says:

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