Hello, hello!
Fall is wrapping up in Finland and we have already had our first touch of winter as well. Temperatures have dropped below 0C/32F and we have snow. It is also very dark most of the day. That is why I took some time off from work and headed to Helsinki with my friend for a mini vacation.
We traveled there by bus, so neither of us had to drive but we could just chat, giggle and eat while the bus driver had to worry about bad weather and traffic. Besides going to Helsinki we also popped over to Tallinn, Estonia. We didn't do much there, mainly enjoyed fun stuff on the ship.
The best part of our vacation was our last night at the brand new Clarion hotel down by Länsisatama. Since we didn't want to travel back to Kuopio late at night, we decided to stay overnight in Helsinki. Luckily we chose Clarion for our stay because it is definitely one of the best hotels in Finland that I have ever stayed in.
We had the luxury of having a deluxe room with one of the comfiest beds in the world. I just loved the fluffy pillows that were bigger than the moon. I slept like a baby. Also the bath robes and towels were really soft. I almost wanted to take them home with me (*giggle*). The interior of the hotel is modern yet cozy. Sometimes modern buildings can feel bit cold but that is not the case at Clarion. Also their staff is really polite and happy to serve you.
The 16th floor sauna and roof top heated pool sealed the deal for me - I'll definitely want to go back there. Clarion also has a gym and it looked efficient to me for a hotel gym. I didn't have time to test it out though. Instead of doing sports we took it easy and relaxed. We tried out Clarion's restaurant called Kitchen and Table and absolutely loved it! Since we only wanted something little to snack on, we were more than delighted with crispy sweet potato fries and chicken Caesar salad that we ended up ordering. Prices at the restaurant are affordable.
To top of the night we ventured out the 16th floor Sky bar to taste their crafted drinks. I can't decide which was better; the view of Helsinki from the bar or the delicious drinks. I think they go hand in hand.
Last but not least the breakfast was superb! Bacon cooked to perfection, thick pancakes, mango smoothie and great variety of fresh fruit. Needless to say I had the biggest smile on my face after our visit. Little getaways like this give so much energy to tackle the every day grind. Thank you Clarion! I hope we'll see again soon.
On the bus. Happy to be on a vacation.
All prettied up for cruise to Tallinn.
Selfie time! Getting ready for dinner.
Done with dinner and time to go dancing.
Kisses for my dear friend. This cruise was a great idea!
We loved our warm welcome from the Clarion staff.
Surprisingly good complimentary products. I'm usually picky about my shampoo and conditioner because I have a lot of hair but these worked pretty good.
The most comfy bed ever! The pillows were huge and it felt like I was sleeping on a bed made out of clouds. Yet the mattress was firm enough for my bad back.
I just loved our Deluxe room!
In an elevator on our way to the 16th floor sauna/pool.
Amazing Scandinavian design. Love it! Only down side that we noticed was the lack of hooks to hang your towels etc.
Enjoying the view from the roof top heated pool.
After relaxing in the pool we went to check out the Clarion's Sky room bar.
Cocktail time!
A cute bartender served us a very delish drink. No picture of the bar tender though (*sorry*).
Hallway in the reception.
Dinner time at Kitchen and Table restaurant. Since we weren't super hungry, we only ordered sweet potato fries and Caesar salads. They were plenty! And really yummy!
The many clocks on the reception wall reminded us to go to bed on time. Girls need their beauty sleep, right?
Good morning! I slept like a baby. And I also almost stole this awesome pillow (*wink*). Unfortunately it was way too fluffy for my suitcase.
Morning swim. Awesome view from the16th floor.
The wind was cold up on the roof but thankfully the pool was warm.
Nice!!
The words cannot describe the breakfast at Clarion. They nailed it!
Wise words to ponder while eating breakfast.
Then it started to snow and it was our time to head back home to Kuopio.
What have you been up to?
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