Special Offer at Stadion Hostel in Helsinki - also your last chance to experience a hostel stay in Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Time is running out! Stadion Hostel at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium will close its doors for good at the end of September due to extensive renovations at the stadium. If you still wish to experience this unique location and traditional hostel atmosphere, we have a great offer for you.

With a Hostelling International membership, you get a 20% discount
when mentioning the code LAST CHANCE.

Bookings must be made directly to Stadion Hostel, either by phone +358 9 477 8480 or email info@stadionhostel.fi

Conditions:

• Bookings directly to the hostel
• The offer is valid with a valid Hostelling International membership. Membership will be checked on arrival.
• The offer is valid for stays that take place by 30 April 2015.
• The offer is only valid for new bookings.
• The discount is calculated from normal rates and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

Pori's Hostel River has been internationally recognised for its high quality

Hostelling International (HI) has awarded its HI Quality Light certificate to Pori’s Hostel River. The certificate shows that the hostel meets HI’s strict quality standards. 

There are now five HI-Q certified hostels in Finland. The certificate has previously been awarded to Stadion Hostel in Helsinki, Dream Hostel in Tampere, and Hostel Borea and Hostel Turku in Turku. Hostel River is the first hostel in Finland to receive the Light certificate.

HI Quality (HI-Q) involves Hostelling International’s specially developed quality-management system, designed by hostel professionals. It has been created specifically for the use of hostels and other hostelling organisations. HI Quality Light is a scaled-down version of the HI-Q system, and it is aimed at smaller hostels. The HI-Q system is used at Hostelling International network locations all over the world. The HI network includes around 3,500 hostels, in 90 countries.

The quality-management system is based on high-quality management of all aspects of the day-to-day running of the hostel: the general management, the reception, cleaning, catering services, and property maintenance. Clear guidelines and consistent practices improve the efficiency of communication between hostel staff and managers.

‘Since the introduction of the quality-management system, we have started to plan and organise our work more efficiently, and I would say that we are now more professional in what we do. This means that we can provide even better service to our customers,’ explains Hostel River’s proprietor, Sirkka-Liisa Peni.

‘When everything is running smoothly, customers notice the professionalism and efficiency. Our customers must be at the heart of everything we do – that is the only way to success,’ says Hostelling International Finland’s Hostels and Quality Officer Ninni Lumme.

Åland’s Bomans Gästhem reopens

Bomans Gästhem will once again offer hostel accommodation on the Åland Islands, from mid-May. After the retirement of the previous owners two years ago, the hostel is now under the management of a second-generation, with hostel owners Arto and Mari. This popular hostel is the winner of the 2007 Hostel of the Year award.

Bomans Gästhem is situated in a former farmhouse on the idyllic and peaceful island of Vårdö. The scenic island is on a historic mail boat route. Even the journey to the hostel by the Archipelago Road is an unforgettable experience.

Bomans Gästhem, founded in 2000, offers traditional bed and breakfast accommodation with rooms available in three buildings: the main farmhouse, a rustic-style terraced house, and a converted cowshed. The hostel has around 60 beds in total, which makes it suitable for larger groups too. Some of the rooms are equipped with a kitchenette, and there is also a shared kitchen that all guests are welcome to use. Lunch and dinner are available for groups by advance booking.

The island provides an excellent environment for cycling and hiking, while the archipelago is ideal for canoeing, sailing, and other boating. The nearest swimming beach is around 1.5 km from the hostel. The hostel has bicycles, canoes, and a motorboat available for hire.

In addition, the hostel is a perfect base for exploring other parts of the Åland Islands – for example, Mariehamn, the capital of the island region, is less than an hour’s drive away.

Bomans Gästhem opens on 17 May and closes for winter in late September.
Prices start at €45 per person. Breakfast, bed linens, and cleaning are included in the price. A 10% discount
is available with a valid Hostelling International (HI) membership card.

Bomans Gästhem
Vårdöbyvägen 75
22550 Vårdö, Åland
+358 44 211 8475
info@bomansgasthem.info
www.en.bomansgasthem.info

Bomans Gästhem is available for online booking at hihostels.com.

Summer events in Åland, 2014

5–7 June, Salmon Trolling Contest (Eckerö)
14 June, Mail Boat Race (Eckerö–Grisslehamn)
20–21 June, Midsummer celebrations (various locations around Åland)
22–28 June, Åland Organ Festival (various venues around Åland)
16–20 July, Åland Sea Days (Mariehamn)
18–26 July, Rockoff Festival (Mariehamn)
8–7 September, Konstrundan Open Studios (various locations around Åland)
19–21 September, Harvest festivals (various locations around Åland)

Photo: Visit Åland / Heidi Ikonen

Åland in brief

Inhabitants: 27,500
Part of Finland and a member of the EU
Language: Swedish
Currency: The official currency is the euro but Swedish crowns are accepted in most places

New HI Hostel in Finnish Lakeland

Let's welcome a new hostel to our network of Finnish HI Hostels: Yömyssy Apartments!

Yömyssy Apartments is situated in a building that used to serve as a school.

Yömyssy Apartments is situated in the heart of Lakeland Finland, in Kerimäki town. Kerimäki is also the home of the largest wooden church in the whole world. This beautiful church was built in the middle of 19th century.

Kerimäki Church is the largest wooden church in the world. It seats more than 3000 people. 
Picture by Visit Finland Media Bank

Kerimäki is situated in these surroundings in Finland's Lakeland area.

Close to Kerimäki town is also Savonlinna, which hosts the annual opera festival in its Olavinlinna Castle.

Olavinlinna Castle in Savonlinna that is only a short drive from Kerimäki town.

Yömyssy Apartments is run by a local family that found this former school building and decided to give it new life in the form of accommodation services.

Yömyssy Apartments offers both dorm rooms and cosy apartments for travellers to stay in. There are common areas where you can chill out. Each apartment have they own little kitchenette and there's also a common kitchen that those staying in dorm rooms can use.

There is a sauna for guests to use.

There's an outdoor ice rink outside the hostel during wintertime. You can rent skates from the hostel!

Other facilities at the hostel:

• sauna
• laundry
• free wifi
• conference rooms
• bicycles to rent
• board games, magazines, books
• outdoor games, beach volley

How to get there?
By bus: Get off at Toroppala bus stop. The hostel is less tan 200 metres from the bus stop.
By car: Take highway 71, the hostel is only 15 km from Savonlinna and 5 km from Kerimäki.

See you in Kerimäki!

P.S. You might wonder what the name means. Yömyssy is 'nightcap' in Finnish.