GLO Hotel Kluuvi
Maiden experience with the GLO Hotel Chain, and we were pleasantly surprised by its inviting and cozy interior, delicious breakfast offerings, and excellent location. A great option for anyone intending to explore Helsinki.
GLO Hotel Kluuvi
Helsinki Highlights
HEL-SIN (Finnair New Premium Economy Class)
Pros
Super central location, situated right at the heart of Helsinki's city center.
Spacious rooms, a rarity for a boutique hotel.
Delightful breakfast with a wide selection of options
Great service.
Cons
Compact elevator that may pose challenges for travelers with large luggage.
Limited availability of charging points, and they are not conveniently located for ergonomic use. A
No complementary gym facilities.
How I decided to book it
Following our four-night stay at Hilton Helsinki Strand, the missus concluded her workshop, and we were finally ready to embark on our joint exploration of Helsinki. Taking into account my GHA Platinum status, I opted to make a reservation with GLO hotels, thereby marking off another brand on my list (with just one more to reach GHA Titanium!).
GLO Hotels have established a notable presence in Helsinki, with a total of four hotels spread across Finland. Among these, two properties stood in close proximity to the city center. After careful consideration, I opted to make a reservation at GLO Hotel Kluuvi, primarily due to its super good location adjacent to Helsinki's historic main road.
Price
The rate for a GLO Comfort Double room was 202.50 EUR, with a complimentary room upgrade to a Luxe Double Room. Breakfast was also included as part of the room rate.
I made a request for an upgrade to a Suite or the GLO Studio with Marimekko theme, but unfortunately, none of these options were available during our stay.
Check-In
Before our check-in, I had made a request for a room upgrade and a late checkout starting from 4pm, taking into account our late-night flight out of Helsinki. Although this arrangement wasn't confirmed through email correspondence, we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived for check-in.
Arriving at the hotel around 2pm (our driver had to take a longer route due to a parade held as part of the Helsinki Midsummer celebrations), we were relieved to learn that our room was already prepared! During the check-in process, the attendant graciously informed us that our request for a 4pm late checkout had been approved without any hesitation. If this kind gesture was solely due to my GHA Platinum status, it was certainly very generous of them!
Room - GLO Luxe Double Room
Upon entering, we were pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness of the 32sqm GLO Comfort Double Room, which didn't appear so from the outside. Walking through a corridor with wooden flooring, we arrived at the main bedroom area. The room design provided a sense of privacy, which we appreciated.
The sleek design of the room, coupled with the cozy wooden flooring, created a pleasant atmosphere.
On the bed, we found a hotel mascot (a bobcat) that could be taken home for an additional fee of 20 EUR.
One notable drawback, however, was the limited availability of charging points, which posed a constant challenge for us. The positioning of these points was also somewhat ergonomically awkward and not particularly intuitive.
The bed itself was incredibly comfortable, and we both agreed that it was one of the best beds we had experienced in a hotel so far. If you're curious, the brand of the bed they use is Unituli Oy, the largest manufacturer of mattresses and beds in Finland.
Facing the bed, there was a spacious sofa area and a large work table. Again, the issue of insufficient charging points persisted.
The room offered a pleasant street view, allowing for some enjoyable people-watching, should you be so inclined.
The work table featured information about the hotel facilities and room service menu, which we would try later on during our stay.
My GHA Platinum complementary amenities were provided, and it was a generous one! We received two packs of local gourmet chocolate, showcasing classic Finnish brands like Fazer and Goodio, both of which were incredibly tasty.
The mini bar was also well-stocked and featured their signature house wine, available at 25 EUR. Interestingly, we learned that they have their own vineyards as well.
The room provided ample storage space with cabinets located next to the TV and a wardrobe near the entrance.
Speaking of the TV, we didn't watch it extensively, but it primarily offered Finnish channels with only a few English options available.
The suite essentially consisted of two connecting rooms merged together, offering a distinct living space with a sofa, 47-inch HD LED TVs, and a cosy work desk. What stood out were the conveniently placed USB charging points by the bedside, a feature shared with the Executive Room. Kudos to the designers of the revamped hotel rooms for this thoughtful touch!
Bathroom
The bathroom features an open-style entrance with a curtain blind for privacy from the neighbouring building. The shower head design showcased the Scandinavian style, though I was unsure if it could be classified as a rain shower. The water pressure was slightly lacking, which was a minor issue.
As for the bathroom amenities, they were provided by Ritual Cosmetics, a Dutch lifestyle brand, and EcoLog, a Swedish brand. The amenities were presented in refillable bottles, emphasizing sustainability.
Dining
GLO Hotel Kluuvi houses a main restaurant called The Tray, conveniently situated on the ground floor, also serving as the primary breakfast venue. Opting for convenience, we chose to indulge in the in-room dining menu for our dinner, enticed by its reasonable prices.
Our selections included The TRAY Double Cheeseburger (which came with fries) and calamari, we were delighted by the unexpectedly high quality! The Finnish beef patty's smoky flavor, paired with the delectable calamari, stood out as the highlights of the meal.
For breakfast, we went down to the main restaurant for breakfast and instantly admired the stylish Scandinavian designs that adorned the space. The ambiance was so appealing for us, it felt like a place country that we can stay long-term.
As is customary for breakfast in Europe, a continental-style spread was offered, but we were pleased to find that the quality of the food was exceptional. The variety was reasonably wide too.
The convenience of the TapJuicer caught my attention, and I couldn't help but envision having one at our home in Singapore, if available! Additionally, Finnish coffee was a delightful staple during breakfast. In my opinion, it ranks among the best filtered coffees in the world ☕
Facilities
As previously mentioned, the hotel features a spa and gym, which are available for a fee. The gym usage is priced at 10 EUR per person, and access to both facilities can be obtained for 35 EUR per person.
It was worth noting that guests staying in Marimekko and Executive Suites receive complimentary visits, which only added to our disappointment of not receiving a suite upgrade 😞
Needless to say, we decided not to visit the facilities during our stay. But it didn't bother us too much as we were already getting ample exercise while exploring the beautiful city of Helsinki.
Service
Service was alright with no particular standouts, which was good in a way. However, we greatly appreciated the 4pm late checkout that was granted, as it provided us with extra time to fully enjoy our exploration of Helsinki (and indulge in some shopping) before our return flight to Singapore.
Conclusion
Overall, our first experience with the GLO Hotels brand was incredibly positive. The hotel's prime location in the heart of the city center, combined with spacious rooms and excellent food quality, made GLO Hotel Kluuvi an ideal base for exploring Helsinki.
