Eurohostel's intern Satu shares her tips of things to do in late summer Helsinki

Since beginning of June, you've been able to find Satu at the reception of Eurohostel. Satu is a third year Bachelor of Hospitality Management student and her internship is a part of her studies at University of Applied Sciences of Satakunta. 

Satu ended up applying to Eurohostel through Google: ”I specifically wanted to do my internship in a hostel. Eurohostel has an open search for interns, which encouraged applying here.” 

Big city and it’s variety of activities has made an impression on Satu. Now she shares her tips to enjoy last summer days in Helsinki:

1. Picnic at World Heritage Site Suomenlinna on a sunny day
2. Helsinki Zoo and its funny animals 
3. A quick escape to Tallinn by different types of ships

Suomenlinna © Visit Finland

About Eurohostel

Eurohostel is one of the largest hostels in Scandinavia open all year round. The hostel is located in central Helsinki in a unique part of the town close to the Market Square. It is surrounded by Jugendstil buildings and old red brick warehouses. Sights, shops and restaurants of the city centre are all within walking distance and passenger ferries to Stockholm is only a few steps away. Eurohostel is easy to reach, trams from the centre arrive just next to the hostel.

Restaurant Day Helsinki: Cheesecake bar Cupton on Stadion Hostel

Restaurant Day sprouted from Helsinki, is a food carneval when anyone can set up a restaurant, anywhere, for a day. The idea is simply to have fun, share new food experiences and enjoy common living environments together.

The next Restaurant Day takes place this Sunday 17 August and Stadion Hostel provides the setting for Heidi and Anna’s cheesecake bar Cupton.

There are three different flavours to choose from:

Call of Home Garden – currant
Voodoo Temptation – kiwi, passion fruit, coconut
Persian Dream – mint, cookie, chocolate

To accompany the cheesecakes try homemade rhubarb juice.

The cheesecake cups will be served at the north end of the Olympic Stadium, just outside Stadion Hostel, where you can sit down and relax while enjoying a sweet moment.

Oh bliss, see you there folks!

Cupton - Cheesecakes in a cup
On Restaurant Day 17 August, 10 am - 2 pm
Stadion Hostel, Olympic Stadium
Pohjoinen Stadiontie 4, Helsinki

The Big Blog Exchange, the biggest blogging competition is back!

The launch of the project last year was a roaring success and Hostelling International (HI) are back on the lookout for 16 passionate, adventurous bloggers from across the globe to take part. 23 July marks the beginning of the competition, and a new chance for bloggers and readers to get involved.

When the project first ran last year, it had never been done before, and HI was overwhelmed by the positive response it received. HI sent 16 excited bloggers from all corners of the globe on an adventure, swapping countries, cultures and blogs with each other for 10 days, all the while sharing their experiences with the rest of the blogging community following their journey digitally.

The competition saw all sorts of bloggers from 72 different countries, a total of 1173 of them, compete to win the opportunity of a lifetime. It gave 16 bloggers a chance to step out of their comfort zone and experience incredible things and this year it’s happening all over again!

This popular project received global recognition with three prestigious travel industry awards, including one from the UNWTO for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism.

With cultural understanding being at the heart of this project, we were pleased to hear what Camie, a Filipino winner from last year’s BBE, had to say about her exchange. “This unique journey in Germany gave light and opened my eyes to so many things.” She went on to say “I believe the Big Blog Exchange project not only helped me open my eyes, but helped open the eyes of those that followed my journey as well.”

Bloggers can register into the competition from the 23 July on www.bigblogexchange.org, and the lucky winners will be announced on the 16 September. Bloggers scattered all around the world are busy preparing their writing, getting excited and joining the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the tag #BIGBLOGX. Last year’s winners had the time of their lives, now it’s somebody else’s turn to do the same! We need your help to keep on changing the world using the power of blogs.

 About Hostelling International (HI)

• Hostelling International is a non-governmental, not-for profit organisation representing 69
Member Associations and 4 Associate Organisations all over the world.
• Works closely with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
• Around 3,500 hostels within 85 countries
• 37 million overnights per year
• 500 million GBP estimated annual revenue within the HI network
• Four million members, HI is one of the world’s largest youth membership organisations and
is the only global network of Youth Hostel Associations.

Delicious moment on Lake Saimaa

Summertime in Hostel Ukonlinna is all about swimming, sauna bathing and enjoying pure nature as well as the perfect combination of coffee and homemade doughnuts!

You can crab coffee from the hostel cafe and just enjoy the great view on a sandy beach. Ukonlinna offers a nice place to relax also for kayakers.

The cafe is famous for its homemade doughnuts. Hostel owners mother Kaarina reveals that the recipe has remained the same for the last 50 years.

Kaarina likes helping her son at the hostel.

"I love early mornings when the birds are singing and the day is just starting. Then I start washing saunas!"

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