Seeking travel experience with FinnAir and Finland

Posted by wendellrm on 06/28/23 06:04 PM

Greetings fellow travelers.

We are going on the best of the Adriatic tour in Sept of 2024. Yes, that's a ways off. We have done a number of RSE tours and generally like to add additional stops/countries to the itinerary, Also, we like to get mileage credit on One World partners of Alaska Airlines. So, we are looking a flying FinnAir to Helsinki and seeing a bit of Finland before flying on to Ljubljana. We will spend a bit more time in Croatia after the tour before heading home through Helsinki.

We're interested in hearing of people's travel experiences with FinnAir and with sights to see in Finland. Thank you in advance for any insights.

Keep on Travelin'

WRM

Posted by JimD

Upstate New York

06/28/23 07:15 PM

94 posts

I flew FinnAir not long ago. Non-stop from Helsinki to Chicago. I was very pleased. Plane appeared rather new. Very clean. Comfortable, tho nothing out-of-ordinary. Good service both on the ground and in the air. Based on that limited experience, I would not hesitate to fly FinnAir again.

In Finland, I spent several days in Helsinki. It was a nice city but not spectacular. Some nice eateries. Perhaps the highlight of my stay was a day-trip via ferry over a Talinn, Estonia. About a 2 hour cruise each way. Very comfortable. Talinn’s old town, walled, is wonderful. A trip from Helsinki is well worth considering if you have the time.

Posted by parkertraveler

Dallas

06/28/23 07:31 PM

6 posts

Hi WRM,

I was in Finland early last year and it was fantastic. Probably the best travel in terms of genuinely meeting the locals. "Finnair" is my top international airline in Europe flying either Airbus 330 or Airbus 350 from the United States all under 10 years old on the Airbus 350 side. There was free water bottles and blueberry juice offered along with beer with dinner. All served with wooden utensil.
Wanted to let you know a few items in Helsinki that I really liked

Kotiharjun Sauna - the most traditional all nude sauna. Best travel experience of my life. Only tourist in the place.

Löyly Helsinki Sauna - a very fine more commercial place that you can and should jump into the Gulf of Finland.

Check out the ice breakers in the old harbor (you will not be disappointed). Anyway have a great time in Finland and let me know if you need another information.

Posted by acraven

Washington DC

06/28/23 09:41 PM

28065 posts

I've never flown FinnAir.

I like Helsinki a lot in the summer. Temperatures should still be pleasant in September, but the days will be considerably shorter than what I'm experiencing right now.

My sightseeing preferences are rather odd: I'm interested in Art Nouveau architecture (of which Helsinki has a great deal), art museums (many in Helsinki, though most are quite small, and the focus is on art from the 19th century and later), 20th-century history (not a lot of sightseeing options in that category), and 20th-century decorative art, especially glass. For the latter you have the Design Museum, the Iittala-Arabia Design Center, and the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimaki (day-trippable). Helsinki is quite walkable

Posted by wendellrm OP

06/30/23 06:46 PM

18 posts

Thank you all for the feedback so far. Very helpful. All the best to you in your travels!

Posted by Badger

Uppsala, Sweden

07/02/23 06:56 PM

6970 posts

Just be aware that Finnair recently "updated" their onboard experience (i.e. they reduced the service but haven't changed the price). They have been hit very hard by the war in Ukraine and have struggled a lot recently.

How much time do you plan to spend in Finland? What are you interested in? There are certainly things to see in Helsinki, but the big attraction in my opinion is just across the water, you can't miss Tallinn in my opinion.