Finland

Danger Phoenix

Danger Phoenix

Danger Phoenix

Soldato
Joined
21 Jul 2004
Posts
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Location
Harrow, UK
I am thinking of going to Finland with the girlfriend in March 2011, and was wondering if any of you knew of places to stay and/or of tours.

I want to stay for 3-4 nights in Helsinki and then another 2-3 nights in Lapland (for the snow mobiles and Northern Lights).

I have found this in Lapland:
http://www.nellim.fi/hotel.html - Apartment Tsurnu 2, 40 m2

Could get some tours from there I think. Does anyone know of anywhere slightly cheaper in both Lapland and Helsinki?

:)
 
The cheapest place you'll probably find in Helsinki is Eurohostel on Linnankatu, it's a 15 minute walk to the centre. There's places closer to the centre, like the Sokos hotels, Hotel Kamp, but they'll be more expensive.

For tours, what do you want to see? There's a ferry to Suomenlinna, the sea fortress. Bare in mind in March it'll still be cold.
 
I know this might be a silly question but... do you know how far it is from Helsinki to Lapland? How are you planning on making the trip? I know it might seem an odd choice, but it might be worth looking into taking a train. You could get a sleeper, and believe me when I say that Finnish trains are a great experience compared to British ones. The prices are comparable, but it's worth it for the quality.

Last time I was in Helsinki we stayed in the Sokos hotel, but my parents were paying so I'm betting it was expensive...

As has been said, in March it will be cold. I'd guess maybe -5ish, but it's fairly dry at least. There might be snow on the ground, but I'm not sure. Lapland will be considerably colder, but I'm sure you're aware of that side of things.

Soumenlinna, the island fortress is worth a look. The zoo on the island (I forget the name) is good, but might not be open at that time of year. There's some nice buildings in Helsinki, if you're into that sort of architecture.

While you're there, make sure you take a proper sauna and eat some reindeer meat. You don't have to do those things at the same time.
 
Jadds said:
Bare in mind in March it'll still be cold.
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Agreed, when I visited in March the ground still had a reasonable coating of snow, and large portions of the docks and harbour were completely frozen over (enough for people to be walking about on the ice and snow)

Helsinki is quite a nice city. Not cheap though.
 
Lopéz said:
Agreed, when I visited in March the ground still had a reasonable coating of snow, and large portions of the docks and harbour were completely frozen over (enough for people to be walking about on the ice and snow)
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My uncle (a Geordie, married to my Finnish aunt) used to be nervous about walking on the ice until he saw that the Finns often drive lorries across the ice in the docks in Helsinki and other places because it's safer and easier than negotiating the roads in the dead of winter!
 
PapaLazaru said:
You know it.

Plus, if you want to Sauna properly you need to dip into a lake afterwards and not get into a shower.

(My uncle has a working Savu Sauna as well). :cool:
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And for the love of all that is holy, if you're in a sauna, you should be naked as the Good Lord intended. Wearing swimming trunks in there is... yech.
 
PapaLazaru said:
This involves beating your missus round the back with a vasta and lobbing some Olvi onto the hot coals. A few shots of Kosnenkorva for afters (not for lobbing on the fire). :D
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I know Olvi is not great but throwing it onto the coals?

Jadds said:
Or roll around in the snow.
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Word of warning - make sure that you're in a suitably secluded place when you do this or you might frighten the neighbours. It's tremendously refreshing though, an icy river is really the best option but can be slightly impractical so snow is a good alternative since it's a lot more common.

Danger Phoenix: I don't know if you've looked into it but Rovaniemi is pretty much on the Arctic Circle, it's one of the biggest towns that far North in Finland and the sleeper trains that vonhelmet mentions do go up there. You can either book a berth or just chance it and sleep on the seats as the trains often seem to be fairly quiet.
 
I have to echo others and say that Helsinki to Lapland really is quite far, and using the trains will be your best option. As semi-pro suggested, perhaps consider Rovaniemi? It's still in the region of Lapland, and is easily accessible by train.

If you do consider Rovaniemi, then about an hour away (again by train) is the town of Kemi. Each year they build a snow castle that you may find quite interesting, and should still be open by the time you want to go in March.
 
vonhelmet said:
My uncle (a Geordie, married to my Finnish aunt) used to be nervous about walking on the ice until he saw that the Finns often drive lorries across the ice in the docks in Helsinki and other places because it's safer and easier than negotiating the roads in the dead of winter!
Click to expand...

Yep. Friends of my dad didn't understand why he had a garage at his cabin (it was on this small island so you have to use a boat to get there) until he explained that in the winter you just drive over the ice instead :D
 
Tuo3U.jpg
 
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