Helsinki is by no means my favorite city, but my best hotel stay ever was in the Helsinki Glo Hotel. I booked the 2 night stay over the net, having searched for the cheapest price and found it on the website Agoda. I always check out Trip Advisor for the top rated hotels in the city I am visiting and then the hotel's website, after that I shop around on the net. Most times the hotel's website does not offer the cheapest price.

The Glo Hotel is a 4 star hotel and one of the prestigious Palace Camp Hotel chain. It was opened in 2007 and the over all feel is one of clean Scandinavian architecture, decor and furniture. This chain of hotels has an excellent reputation; I have stayed in both the Glo Hotel and The Palace Hotel. I was very disappointed with the Palace Hotel but the Glo was outstanding.

Glo Hotel Helsinki Finland – LocationKluuvikatu 4, Helsinki, Finland

In the very center of the shopping, historic, restaurant and transport area of Helsinki, you can reach all of the major Helsinki tourist sites on foot from the Glo Hotel, and the tourist sites which are a little out of the center can be reached by the 3B tram line which runs right by the hotel. The hotel is not noisy despite it's central location, probably because it is down a pedestrian side street off of the main Esplanade, this does however prohibit good views from the windows. The hotel also has a direct entrance to the Kamp Galleria Mall.

Glo Hotel, Helsinki, Finland – Service

The service will leave you speechless. The Glo employees seem to have only one thing in mind and that is making your stay unforgettable. Many guests, myself included have commented on the web about the reception staffs willingness to up grade your room or change your reservation, when possible, to make you happy. For example one guest requested a bathtub as apposed to a shower and they were accommodated. At reception I mentioned in passing that I don't like those little artificial milk capsules that are left with the coffee service in the rooms, and by the time we had reached our room a member of staff was awaiting us with a glass of fresh milk – free of charge! On request our chamber maid gladly gave us an extra pair of the luxurious slippers for our son which every guest gets. In short, every whim was met!

Glo Hotel Helsinki, Finland – rooms and facilitiesThere is free internet in the rooms, both WF and a cordless keyboard using the TV as the screen. This gives you the luxury of lying back in your Glo gown on the huge bed and surfing the net in front of the flat screen TV.

There is a modest bar in the lobby but not for those looking for a club atmosphere. The lobby is not the kind of social gathering place other hotels have. Room amenities include ironing board, hairdryer, Tivoli audio system, Mp3 connection, WLAN connection, videos on demand, mini-bar, safety deposit box and seating and work surface. The rooms have parquet floors and a brown, beige, mellow color scheme, the standard rooms are a little smaller than the more pricier rooms but all the rooms are a generous size.

Glo Hotel, Helsinki, Finland – Price

The official web site of the Palace Camp Hotel Chain offers a standard double at 175 Euro, Yeego offers the double room on the same night for 142 Euro and Agoda.com offers the same room for 130 Euro, those are for random dates, but you need to shop around on the net to get the best deal.

Glo Hotel, Helsinki, Finland –that something extraI feel pampered in a hotel when there are slippers and a gown, and the Glo Hotel provides all guests with both, although the gowns can be bought at the end of your stay the slippers are a gift to take home. The rooms are large, as are the bathrooms. There are buyable extras, like a cuddly creature on the bed, and a "Glo Box" of pampering items. The cordless keyboard and in-room Internet are a plus. There is a wide range of pillow types to choose from as well. The hotel provides a number of services that can be brought to your room, like massage services, spa treatments and gym equipment. You can even get painting equipment or a guitar from the reception if you feel inclined! And of course there is a gym with a sauna. The Palace kamp day spa is also available, with a number of treatments at extra cost.

Glo Hotel, Helsinki, Finland – food

Breakfast is a generous hot and cold buffet with something for everyone. There is a restaurant in the hotel – La Cocina – which specializes in Cantalonian food all of top quality. There is room service from 11:00 to 06:00.

The Glo Hotel is not for you if… If you are on a budget look elsewhere or spoil yourself. If you are looking for a hotel where you can socialize with the other guests the Glo lobby and bar area are not ideal. If you are looking for sweeping views from the hotel window then the Glo Hotel is not for you. If you prefer the less modern more homely type of hotel with local color this is not the place for you, the Glo is sleek and stylishly modern.

My stay in the Glo Hotel was truly one of my best and any future visit to Helsinki, Finland will include this top hotel.