Hotel in zona Iron Sculpture Park, Tampere

Devo dire bene

The hotel had a modern, inviting style with a nice room and sizeable bathroom, comfortable bed and a sofa. The breakfast held a good a variety of warm dishes and cold cuts which was displayed delicately. The location was quite central with only a small stroll towards the main streets. If one arrives by car, there are accessible parking in a parking house around the corner of the hotel. The way from the parking house towards the reception was poorly explained, which could lead to confusion.

We stayed here for 12 days. We had a code to enter the building, our floor and our room. Room was clean and compact. Windows didn't open so no way to get fresh air. 2 covered beds/sofas with instructions to convert in to a chair but these were beds and would not convert. Our double bed was 2 singles pushed together, The Hotel is keen on being sustainable, provides a kettle, small fridge and microwave. A few cardboard cups and wooden spoons. A few teabags, sachets of coffee and sugar but no milk. We knew the room would only be cleaned every 5 days, spare bedding and towels were left on the windowsill. The day I changed the sheets the staff came and changed it again and then again the next day. Position was fantastic as we were in the town and places of interest were no more than 10-15 mins away. Considering its position it was really quiet at night. In my opinion, it would have been more sustainable to provide crock cups/mugs and glasses. We went out and bought 2 mugs, plus some cutlery so we could use the microwave and eat. We regularly lost TV signal and WiFi was intermittent. The recycling system was quite complicated and it wasn't obvious which materials could be recycled. The main box in the entrance had 4 smaller boxes which were always full so recycling was stacked at the side. The cleaners were in the block every day but the stairways were not always cleaned. Empty vodka bottles, beer cans and even a dropped kebab spread over 3 levels . We then wondered if the hotel do not clean the lower stairs as that is not part of the hotel. All these small annoyances were overcome by its position.

A reason for me to select this hotel had been its closeness to the bus station, where the Finnair bus from Helsinki airport arrives, but its location is generally a very positive aspect, since it is close to the shopping centres Koskikeskus and Ratina, but also to the main street Hämeenkatu. Many restaurants and sights are in walking distance. Good was also my room, a Standard Twin on the 8th floor with big windows and a great view. It had all I needed, especially also a writing desk, and it was very clean. One could ask for daily room service, otherwise it takes place on every third day. Check-in at reception was fast and very friendly. The lobby is large with several rooms to sit down, just the pop music there was a bit too loud for my taste. Also one will find here the Lynx bar ('ilves', the hotel's name, in Finnish means lynx). Further down is a spa with sauna and swimming-pool, open for men between 6 to 9pm, a time, which didn't suit me, so I never went there. Breakfast is served at the Amarillo restaurant on the ground floor and there is a big choice of items, also a good coffee from the machine.

This hotel did many things right: clean, comfortable, truly caring about the environment and a wonderful breakfast. My room faced the inner block and had a nice French balcony with both doors opening. The sheets and blackout curtains kept the daylight out during the Finnish summer. With the balcony closed, the room was virtually soundproof. The bathroom was delightfully designed. While the bathroom was seemingly clean, the shower wall grout was moldy. The bed and bedding was traditional Scandinavian and confortable. I only have two non-positive comments. The heat was set to 23C which is was too warm for me. I asked the front desk for help. I tried their suggestions without results. I slept hot and sweaty my entire trip. The floor seemed a bit gritty, but I am not sure why. Perfectly located near the centrum and the train station. Excellent value and very nice property.

L'hotel è ben situato: 5 minuti a piedi dalla stazione di attesa, anche 10 minuti a piedi dalla Nokia Arena. Deliziosi colazione, camere pulite.

Abbiamo passato un bel tempo in una stanza molto amichevole e bella

The hostel staff were nice and the place was fairly clean. The location was perfect for me. Sounds went through the walls like they were made of paper. Your experience will depend on how loud your neighbours are.

In Finland, the hotel industry is basically a duopoly offering two star standards at four star prices. Thus, an international chain hotel is a very welcome addition to the market. The Courtyard claims three stars, but deserves at least half a star more. While prices are on par with the duopoly, quality is a lot better. I paid 120 € / night without breakfast, which is decent. The hotel felt pleasant and modern, materials and fabrics were of high quality and staff were friendly. I checked in at 1 pm and was welcomed by a friendly receptionist who had a room ready for me. The room was of good size and in good condition. A fresh fitted carpet, a comfortable double bed with a socket by the bed for charging your phone, a desk, a closet (with a safe and an empty minibar), a large mirror on the wall, a luggage rack. There was even a small coffee table and a chair. The room would nicely fulfill four star criteria. The A/C was efficient, but I didn’t learn how to turn it off for the night. Wifi was free and fast. The standard room here is probably better than at any other hotel in Tampere. No water bottles are provided, but tap water is potable and tastes good. Overlapping curtains kept the room dark in the morning. The bathroom did not feel cramped. It came with a walk-in shower with terrible water pressure from a shower head that provided an awfully narrow stream of water. Not the right place to save money! Unfortunately, there are no bathtubs at this hotel. Sadly, single-use toiletries have been replaced by wall-mounted containers, which are a convenient way for the hotel to save money, but which I don't find hygienic enough. Body lotion was not provided anymore, only shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. There were still small bars of soap available. The toilet paper was of high quality, which shows their attention to detail. Breakfast is available in the lobby restaurant from 7 to 10 (until 11:30 on Sundays) and costs 20 € for hotel guests. I did not have breakfast this time, but the breakfast room did not feel crowded. The restaurant also offers a limited menu of comfort food from 4pm onwards Mon-Sat. The hotel is located next to Tampere Hall, a bit far from the city centre. Keskustori is at least 15 minutes away on foot, Stockmann about 10 minutes. The nearest tram stop is a five-minute walk from the hotel.