Shangri-La Singapore - A True Luxury Hotel

My Dear Readers,

As you already know I tend to plan my trips last minute and that’s what happened with this one too. I booked it maybe two weeks prior to my departure. All I knew was, I wanted to splurge a little (a bit understatement, yes) and stay at high-end, quality guaranteed hotels. I hadn’t even decided the actual destinations yet - all I knew was I wanted to go to Asia.

However, when browsing flight options, turned out that I didn’t have that many options because I wanted to fly in business class, and of course, with Finnair. It’s a long flight and I knew that I would get meals that have been checked in terms of my food restrictions and intolerances and in addition, A350 plane type’s business class seats go to complete bed mode (i.e. flat) so I sleep there very well, which helps at both ends.
And it turned out that Singapore was the only long-haul destination in Asia that still had some upgrade business class seats available. Well, at least now I had my tickets to Asia and back home.

While browsing the hotels, I remembered, my best friend from Australia now lives in Singapore, maybe I want to stay in town for a few days before going somewhere else. No matter how many hotels I checked out, I always ended up, time after time, back to browsing rooms at Shangri-La Singapore so I figured, it must be the right place for me. (Yes, it really was!)

I wasn’t quite sure what to do after those 2 days as the weather seemed to be a bit unstable around SE Asia, hence I decided to take it day by day and all I did was book my return flights with Finnair, upgraded to business – which was absolutely lovely as always, booked those first 2 nights at Shangri-La Singapore (LINKKI: https://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/ ) for the room type of Horizon Club Deluxe.
I will tell you more about the room later on this post.

I have certain routines on my flights, one of them being; no actual work on the plane (so far I’ve kept this promise relatively well) and the other one is, one glass of quality Champagne is always an excellent way to start a trip on Finnair’s business class, so yes, please.
The flight was pleasant, I got a proper 4-5 hours of sleep and the food was good, as always!

I arrived at Changi airport quite late, around 5 pm – late in a sense that I just wanted to get to the hotel in time to get something to eat and enjoy the evening just a little.
All the customs and immigration formalities went smoothly – I have to say it’s always a pleasure when officers speak English, it’s just so much easier and Changi airport is super organized and always a pleasure.

Even though everything went smoothly, it was quite a walk around the terminal with all my luggage – as you know, I don’t pack lightly, and I was getting a bit worried that I won’t make it to the hotel in time for my fave, the cocktail hour, so I needed to figure out my transportation to the hotel, fast. I jumped into the elevator and got to the -2 floor (if I remember correctly) – that’s where all the taxis and limo services were. The taxi line was just way too much for me, for which reason I decided to go for the fastest option, which turned out to be a Transfer Van Limo Service. I believe it was somewhere around 50 € in total. Probably the most expensive option there was but it had its pros; it arrived quickly and the driver picked me up from the counter so there was no need for me to wander anywhere and he took care of my luggage, which meant; my holiday has now officially started!

Just note that when you pay the fee at the counter, you’re only paying for their services. You have to pay separately to the driver, which, in my case turned out the be a somewhat frustrating experience as his credit card machine’s wife wasn’t functioning properly so he had to swipe like 3 times each of my 3 credit cards before he actually managed to get the fee through. I’m sure this seemed a bit sketchy to all those hotel guests standing outside the hotel, pretty much next to me, waiting for my limo to become available. They probably thought that poor girl has no credit on her cards to pay for her ride, why else would it take that long… well, may I add, they were wrong – just saying… to avoid any misunderstandings.

It took a good 30-40 minutes to drive to the hotel, I had no idea the traffic would be that bad, so when you go to Singapore, always expect relatively heavy traffic - better be prepared than getting late because of it.
It felt amazing to finally see glimpses of the hotel between the lush garden’s trees…
There it is, my first stop on this journey, I was so happy to finally get there!

Arriving at Shangri-La Singapore – one of the best there is!

Once I arrived at the hotel, it felt as if I had just come to a whole different world, all the hustle was gone. After all the traveling and that traffic, I could sense the tranquility. Also, I noticed the humidity immediately, it was the end of the monsoon season, which meant that it rained almost on a daily basis still. I couldn’t wait to get a shower after a long trip and humid weather and me not wearing clothes perfect for such tropical climate…It was easy to tell just by looking at the entrance area that this is a grand old hotel with an impressive history and glory. 

And my staycation begins… and I’m one happy traveler!

I was sweaty, dirty and tired and just wanted to take a quick shower before the cocktail hour. However, I wanted to make sure that my luggage comes right behind me, after all, it would have been quite troublesome had they gone to a wrong place as that has happened before...
Luckily, the check-in process was quick and the receptionist was very respectful and professional and completely understood when I said that I would appreciate a quick delivery of the luggage as I want to get freshened up and get to the cocktail hour before it ends.
Well, I didn’t quite make it.

I got to my room, which was, no surprise, absolutely beautiful, and very spacious, and I, of course, loved it! My special request, a foam pillow had been delivered, much appreciated. I also always enjoy when a hotel provides something welcoming for its guests, even if it's just a fruit basket like the one in the picture. Besides, I like the fact that I have some healthy snack in the room.

Like I said earlier, my room type was Horizon Club Deluxe Room (click this to open the link), which is located with the newly renovated Tower Wing. (More about the Tower Wing at the end of this post on the hotel description section.)

On the left; an art piece by the entrance of the Tower Wing / On the right; night view from my room.

The room itself was quite contemporary, which I don’t really mind, as I still felt that it had some Asian details and pieces that reminded me that I’m actually in Asia, not just in any luxury hotel. The interior was, naturally very inviting, it really was warm, practical and comfortable and yet very stylish. My room was 38 sqm with a city view that I really enjoyed watching – day and night!

The bathroom was marble-clad with bathtub and separate glass-enclosed shower and of course, there were premium Shangri-La toiletries as well. Wifi was fast and I had no problems with it at all, which I of course very much appreciated as someone who needs to be present in social media pretty much every day.
I’m sure the TV was ok, I just basically never watch TV when traveling but I know that they had satellite TV as well as in-house movie channels to entertain those that do. Coffee and tea making facilities, as well as the minibar, were also at my disposal, as were the slippers and robes.
You can read more about other room and suites here: Rooms

It took a moment before my luggage got there so when I finally made it to Club Lounge, I managed to get my fave; my arrival Mimosa but special diet food options were no longer available at the cocktail hour. 
However, they kindly offered to bring me dinner to my room according to my wishes, and simply asked if there was something I was graving. Well, those of you that have followed my travels, you know it; of course, I wanted to check out if I could have that gluten-free pasta gorgonzola. And just like in a 5-star luxury hotel should, they said; no problem! This actually turned out to be an excellent choice, I didn’t even realize how tired I was until I got back to my room, I was barely able to eat the delicious pasta before I passed out.

And the bliss continues
The next morning I woke up just to realize that the hotel is absolutely stunning and on top of that, the sky was clearing up as well. Seems like my first day in Asia is going to be a pretty nice one… I decided to head down to the garden and pool area right after breakfast at the Club Lounge. I wanted to luxuriate myself in the wonderfully landscaped garden and by the pool while working on my tan (which I barely had left since it had been already 4 months since my trip in September to Italy). The garden area of Shangri-La Singapore is spectacular! 

I loved walking around inside the hotel admiring all the art and splendid details as well as in the garden area, just absorbing the calm vibes and good energies. 

All those flourishing colorful flowers and senses certainly calmed me down after all the busy times in Finland and almost a day of traveling. 

One thing I found strange though was that not once was I asked if I wanted to order some drinks. Which, naturally, would have been much appreciated, I mean that first day’s poolside Mimosa is a must for me, it kind of kicks off my holiday. 
However, one of the staff members served guests frozen grapes (served in a cocktail stick), not sure if it was only for the Club Lounge level guests or for everyone but it was such a pleasant surprise as they were really refreshing.
After a few hours of sunbathing and relaxing it was – obviously – time for my nap, after all, the time difference was 6 hours so I was still a bit confused as to what time it really was. After my fantastic nap, I took a long shower and just sat by the window, watching the surrounding neighborhood and waited for the sunset.

This beautiful statue in the garden was donated by a grateful guest years ago. 

Doctor on callI had, unfortunately, strained a muscle on my back the day before and it was getting quite painful so when I went to cocktail hour, and I asked the Club Lounge front desk manager, Ivan, if it would be possible to meet with a doctor so that I can get some painkillers so that I can continue to my next destination in a few days. I had earlier that day decided that I will go to Langkawi, Malaysia next, although I had been there before because I heard that my sister and her boyfriend was there at that very moment and since we live very separate lives, it was an excellent opportunity to meet up with her as well. 
So, Ivan kindly organized the doctor to come to my room and what a lovely doctor he was. One of the most skilled doctors I’ve met in my entire life. It was not cheap by any means; it was approximately 450 euros but it was the weekend and after 4 pm so he charged extra for that but luckily I have an excellent traveler’s insurance that covered the costs. This originally Chinese doctor even had necessary meds with him, so I didn’t have to go to the pharmacy at all. How handy, this is what I call a 5-star service!
At this stage, I felt like I had enjoyed my stay at this spectacular hotel so much that I just had to stay a bit longer, so I extended my stay from two nights to four in total. 

Chi, The Spa

I booked a foot massage for Sunday and I have to say, it was heavenly. Even the garden nook with waterfalls just before the spa area is so calming that you start to relax before you have actually stepped into Chi, The Spa. 

Spa’s therapists were extremely warm, kind and certainly skilled – well at least the one that provided me with my foot massage. I felt rejuvenated immediately, my body and my soul were truly and thoroughly pampered. I also felt my back getting better already. I’m pretty sure I had just gotten 10 years younger and was a young girl again, what an amazing feeling! 

This place really is something else! 

One of the most fascinating places in the hotel was Tower Wing's lobby.

It was almost surreal, so spectacular it was with all the statues, art and centerpieces as well as that incredible plant feature wall. (Btw, you can imagine the size of it if you check out this photo carefully; there's actually a waitress behind the bar but she is very difficult to see as she seems so tiny, this wall so fabulous and very impressive!) 

There was no request that would have been too much. The concierge service is always ready and willing to take care of your wishes. The chef was superb, she came up with new ideas for my special diet every morning and every evening and I absolutely loved every dish and canapé she prepared for me. Oh, and by the way, turned out that the duty manager who personally served me every evening had been in Finland for quite a while and knew some of our most popular musicians. How cool! It’s a small world.

I had the pleasure to meet up with the hotel’s GM as well, such a lovely, respectful gentleman who wanted personally to make sure that I was feeling better and that I had everything I needed. So lovely.
Overall, truly immaculate service and an experience I will never forget! I felt almost sad to leave this hotel but after being here for 4 days it was time for me to head to Langkawi.

More about that and the rest of my Asian adventures in my next blog post, unless I decide to tell you more about my trips to Italy first.

Don’t leave just yet though, here is more awesome details and stories of this superb, world-class luxury hotel!

SHANGRI-LA SINGAPORE

This sophisticated urban retreat is set in lush greenery and yet only minutes from the Orchard Road shopping belt, which was hard to believe as despite the humongous size of this hotel, it felt always peaceful and enjoyable, whether you were in the street level lobby with bars, sitting areas, check-in counters etc in it, in the Club Lounge on the 24^th floor of the Tower Wing or wandering around in the garden. Shangri-La Singapore features 792 luxurious guestrooms and suites across three distinct wings, which include unique family-themed rooms, supported by a host of dedicated family-focused amenities.
I enjoyed the gym, it was quite spacious and it was facing the kai pond and the water feature, what a view to watch while working out!

As unbelievable as it sounds, there are also 11 restaurants and bars in the hotel area. I think that itself says it; this place is like a little hotel town itself.
And based on all the meals I had, this hotel's chefs truly know their way to guests' hearts and stomachs, everything was so tasty and exactly what I hoped for.

The Tower Wing

..in which my room located at, is an actual part of the first Shangri-La Hotel in the world, opened in 1971, which basically established the standard for the unparallel signature Shangri-La experience. The name Shangri-La has become synonymous with paradise, inspired by the famed utopia by James Hilton’s Lost Horizon. The Tower Wing, with is spectacular art amenities, a completely redesigned, very impressive lobby and Lobby lounge is a true centerpiece of Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. The Lobby was no doubt the most impressive one I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen many. Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!

Horizon Club Lounge
On the 24^th floor of the Tower Wing, there’s an exclusive Horizon Club Lounge, in which guests staying at Club level rooms are entitled to unwind and enjoy a high-end service, including hot breakfast buffet, afternoon tea, evening cocktails, and canapés. You also can have a priority check-in and check-out if you so wish. The Horizon Club is open all day, it’s like a peaceful haven where you can relax and enjoy the panoramic view. Also, 24 hr concierge assistance is available. However, I would like to remind you that smart dress code applies at the Horizon Club Lounge and that children under 12 must always be accompanied by an adult.

The champagne station at the Club Lounge / My breakfast along with the wonderful views!

The Garden Wing 

This part of the hotel has clearly been inspired by nature. Its tranquil ambiance is literally surreal when you realize that you are still in the middle of Singapore! The Garden Wing underwent an extensive renovation. There are now 158 spacious guestrooms and suites there with warm, welcoming interiors.
I loved the sounds of the waterfall and truly enjoyed watching koi swimming in the ponds.
In this wing, there are Three Premier Balcony Suites that are perfect for an ultimate getaway in Singapore, as they each feature an outdoor jacuzzi, private barbecue grill and sun loungers on their large balconies. They are ideal for your private parties with your loved ones. Further, for guests of these suites, there are personal housekeeping and round-the-clock butler services available. If this isn’t the ultimate luxury then I don’t know what is!

The Valley Wing

This sanctuary with its 131 elegant guestrooms and suites is an epitome of luxury. Its exclusivity is evident and certainly experienced immediately upon guests arrive through a separate entrance for a private arrival and departure at the Valley Wing Lobby. This is the choice for heads of states, heads of major corporations and discerning travelers.

The Lobby of the Tower Wing

I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love this place and I warmly recommend to anyone. In my opinion, it’s not even that pricey compared to some other high-end hotels that are not even (in my professional opinion) at the same level as this place.

I can only express my greatest gratitude for making my stay unforgettable. The staff of the hotel truly was warm and caring and thanks to them, I’m absolutely certain, I will be back one day!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


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Lapland Hotel Oulu - relaxing and pleasant oasis!

My dear friends,

I am going to introduce you a 3-year old Lapland Hotel Oulu, which is part of the hotel chain called Lapland Hotels. As you can guess, it got started by having hotels only in Lapland but now, it's getting its newest addition to Helsinki at the beginning of next year, Lapland Hotel Boulevard. But now, let's talk about Lapland Hotel Oulu.

Outside the hotel in September 

Outside the hotel in December

If you ask someone who lives in Helsinki if Oulu is part of Lapland, they say Yes! If you ask the same from someone who lives in Kittilä, they say No!  Don’t let the location fool you. Oulu is near Lapland in any case. More importantly, Lapland Hotels bring Lappish vibes to where ever they are. You get to experience Lapland by staying in this beautiful, historical hotel, located next to Cathedral and the historical Ainola park. I've stayed here already 3 times simply because it is such a lovely place and its location is perfectly situated between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, the 900 km route that I drive many times a year.


Brief hotel introduction

Lapland Hotel Oulu has 160 rooms all designed and styled with high-quality Lappis products and design elements. The moment you step into the hotel’s yard, and especially into its entrance hall, it is very obvious that Lappish nature has had great influence when designing and accessorizing the hotel. There are elements there that literally radiate mystical Lapland vibes and if you have not experienced an authentic Lapland before your stay at Lapland Hotel Oulu, I’m pretty sure you will end up booking a trip to Northern Finland to experience that original, authentic Lapland’s nature as well – because being in this beautiful hotel makes you want more!

Location is very easy to reach and for a small fee of 25 euro, they also provide guests with convenient parking space in their garage (underneath the hotel) so that you have direct access to reception as well as to your hotel room floor by the lift. However, please note that since space is limited I recommend booking the spot prior to your arrival, in connection with your room reservation.
And since being all about nature, they of course also have Tesla Destination Charger & Tesla Wall Charger in the garage as well

And not to worry, in those rare cases that the hotel garage happens to be full, there's also a public garage building the hotel cooperates with called Auto-Heikki, which you find only a block away from the hotel. At Auto-Heikki you can park your car for 15 euros/night - just remember to bring your parking card to the reception and they'll give you a replacement card that gets you out of there.
There are only a few free parking spots within a short proximity from the hotel. If you arrive by train, the hotel is about 500-600 m from the train station, walkable if you're not carrying plenty of luggage, and if you are like me, meaning you do have multiple suitcases where ever it is that you're going, just take a taxi, it won't be more than maybe 15 euros.

Check-in begins at 15.00 / 3 pm and check-out is at 12.00, however, late check-out is available subject to availability at the price of 10 €/extra hour, which I think is fair. Also, in case you are arriving for example on a morning train, you can always either just leave your luggage to the storage room and explore the city until your room is ready or you can give the reception a call and ask in case you're lucky and your room happens to be ready.
Although, if you do have to wait just for a while, there is a beautiful seating area right next to the reception and a very pleasant, comfortable lobby bar on the other side of the entrance hall. 

The entrance hall itself gives you immediately that impression that ok, I'm in Lapland, you cannot think of any other location. On your right, you see the reception area with two separate working areas for receptionists, which means there are rarely long lines here as it is possible for two receptionists to check you in and out simultaneously. In the end corner of the reception, there is a small shopping corner with some local and Lappish products as well as some snacks and drinks that you can purchase, this shopping corner is open 24 hrs, excluding the alcoholic drinks which have limited selling time due to Finnish alcohol regulations (9 am - 01.30 am).

On the right-hand side there is the lobby bar and at the end of the left-hand side, there is the
Kitchen & Bar Oula along with the breakfast area. Also, I would like to point out that there is an amazing space divider on the left, a square-shaped shelf structure, wherein you can find all types of wonderful handcraft and other souvenirs that you can purchase, you will remember this place and the vibe forever once you take some of these products at home with you!

You can enjoy the tasty, exotic drinks and/or those delicious meals whether you're a local and just want to relax for a moment alone or with your friends or your a hotel guest that wants to feel that warm, pleasant Lappish vibe.
The menu of the restaurant features fish from the lake Inari, reindeer, game, almond potatoes, fried lichen, Nordic mushrooms, and berries - all products of fresh, pure, Lappish nature.
If you plan on dining on the weekend, I'd suggest you book your table upfront as this is a popular restaurant due to its tasty, unique menu and in order to make sure that you get the table at that specific time, book one upfront and you have nothing to worry about, just show up and enjoy, let the aromas take you to the wilderness of Lapland!

Lapland Hotels Club
Like I told you, Lapland Oulu is a part of Lapland Hotels chain, although you couldn't tell just by relaxing here (as some people seem to think that it is a bad thing to be a part of a corporate hotel - well, I can tell you, in this case, it is good thing and can be very beneficial for you as a guest)!

If you consider staying here, may I refer you to their website and make a direct booking or contact the hotel!
Lapland Hotel Oulu (click here to open the link!)

Below you find a link, via which you can join Lapland Hotels Club and get all the great benefits of the member, such as parking half priced, a voucher of 10 euro/night which you can spend in the restaurant or at the corner shop by the reception...
After joining and staying you can use your accumulated points in different ways, please read the further info below - and join! (As I think, if you travel a lot in Finland, after staying in one of the Lapland hotels, you may find it hard to choose any other hotels after that so why not just benefit from it as well!)

You can read more about the club here:
Lapland Hotels' Club (click here to open the link)


Rooms

Naturally, this being a modern hotel, there is a free wifi in every room.

Extra beds are available for certain room types for the charge of 25 euros/night, kindly book prior to your arrival. Baby cots can be set to all rooms. This is a pet-friendly hotel, thus, some of the rooms are available for guests with pets, the extra charge is 20 euros/stay.

The hotel and some of its rooms are also wheelchair accessible and there are also allergy-friendly rooms available, kindly request upon your booking.

There are 6 different room types;

Comfort Twin
This room type, just like them all, have a warm Lappish vibe, very relaxing atmosphere, suitable for both for holidays or a working trip. The room of this particular type has two beds, sizes of 90 x 205 cm that are very high in quality and mattresses adapt to your body which makes sure that you sleep well and wake up well rested. And, naturally, a good selection of pillows is also available and I have to say, for me a good pillow is worth gold!
The room has 40 " flat-screen TV with a wide selection of channels.
Naturally, there's also a bathroom with shower, towels and a hairdryer.

Comfort Twin Plus
This room type has similar amenities to the Comfort Twin but in addition, this one has a bathtub and some of the rooms have views and balconies facing the fabulous hotel atrium. I enjoyed sitting there and watching what was going on downstairs, quite a lovely experience in particular at winter time when it would be cold to sit in a balcony outside!

On the left, there is a small surprise complimentary gift from the hotel manager. Finnish vodka, small kuksa (the small wooden cup that according to folklore you're not supposed to buy, you can only get one as a gift and it brings you good luck) and a small box of Finnish candy, salted licorice called salmiakki, which I absolutely love!

The Atrium

Comfort Queen
This room type has, naturally all the basic elements similar to previous ones, but this one has a single queen size bed (160 cm x 205 cm), along with high-quality bath products and a hot beverage selection.

De Luxe King
This room type is excellent for some pampering due to superb materials from the selection of pillows to the adaptive mattresses and all those beautiful decor items along that make you feel like you're right at home in Lapland. It is very easy to get that luxury feel on the king size bed (180 cm x 205 cm) while watching that large 48" flat screen TV, and naturally you'd be wearing comfortable bathrobe and slippers after you've just taken a lovely hot shower or a bath and made yourself a hot cup of tea or coffee with tea maker or that specialty coffee maker. There is also a minibar, a high- speed wifi and APPLE tv in De Luxe room types.

Premium De Luxe King
This room type is a premium version of De Luxe King room, meaning this one has its own lovely sauna as well as a private balcony - I absolutely loved the room 539 with views to the cathedral - my favorite room type of them all! There is also, of course, your very own mini bar in the room with some lovely, quality products in it, and let's not forget its specialty coffee maker!

Premium King
This room type has, of course, all the basic, high-quality amenities as every other room type but on top of that, it has an individual sauna, bathrobes & slippers, a minibar, a 48" flat-screen TV and APPLE TV along with a minibar and a specialty coffee maker.


Suite
The Suite of the hotel is perfect whether you want to just relax and pamper yourself or maybe you're on a business trip and you also need to get some work done. Materials in this beautiful corner suite are luxurious and, naturally, the entire design is affected by Lappish stories.

It has its own sauna, spacious bathroom along with bathtub. The TV is an impressive 55" flat screen TV that provides you with a watching experience like no other. Naturally, there's also APPLE tv as well as a high-speed wifi.

This suite truly means luxury. It is spacious with great views and high-end amenities and is certainly worth it for example for a honeymoon night or if you just want to pamper yourself properly!


Breakfast
Breakfast is being served Mon-Fri from 6.30 until 10 am and Saturday & Sunday (and public holidays) 7.30-11 am, which I found very convenient as on my first trip I had to get going early in the morning and I appreciated the early breakfast whereas on my last visit it was Saturday and I enjoyed the fact that I got to sleep a bit longer, until 9.30 before even getting up and I still got enough time for my breakfast. 

Fruit & berry shots!

The breakfast is included to all room rates. Also if you just want to enjoy this delicious breakfast even when not staying at the hotel, you can do that, it costs 19 € / adult and children under 12 years, -50 %.

I can warmly recommend this breakfast! In particular, as someone with food restrictions, I was very happy with the servings, I don’t think I could have asked for more. There is a separate mini fridge in the corner that has various foods for those with allergies and restrictions; vegan, gluten-free, milk-free etc. - much appreciated! 

There were all kinds of cold dishes, yogurts, jams, bread, cheese, ham, turkey, a variety of cereal and muesli along with local delicacies such as Lapin leipäjuusto i.e. squeaky cheese which I absolutely love, especially with cloudberry am! You have probably never tried anything like it and some people just don't get it and others are like me and simply love it!

Naturally, they serve also fresh fruits and all sorts of berry products, after all, ingredients from Lapland’s nature are its specialty.

They also serve many types of bread, basic white bread, dark rye bread (very good!) and I, once again, was very impressed of the fact that they have taken into consideration also people with special diets, and I even got to choose instead of just having one option - kudos to you!

There was a good variety of hot dishes as well, bacon (proper, crispy bacon!), scrambled eggs and there’s also a chef’s corner, wherein you can order your own omelets, (very important for me as I only eat egg white omelets so YAY!), porridge, fried potatoes, veggies, and reindeer sausages, which are a true Lappish delicacy and pretty much everyone who has ever tried them, loved them!
Oh, and let's not forget that smoked salmon they serve on their breakfast buffet, that, if any is a true Finnish delicious dish, if you are a fish lover, you will love this!

Lapland Hotel Oulu also served a great selection of juices on their breakfast buffet, starting from orange juice and other regular beverages to local juices, which vary and I strongly recommend to try them! Blueberry juice seemed to be particularly popular. Also, of course, there were different types of coffee and tea to choose from.

I couldn’t fault the breakfast, which is a lot said from me who due to my special diets, in most cases skips breakfasts as there's nothing special for me - but here, that was not the case, there were so many ingredients I enjoyed that I could have easily gathered even my lunch from their tasty breakfast selection!

They naturally also serve all types of coffee there as well as teas but the cherry on top was definitely that "Kuusenkerkkä" Sparkling wine that anyone was welcome to try!

What else can you do here other than relaxing, sleep and eat breakfast?

Well, there is a small activity room on the basement floor before the sauna department. The hotel also cooperates with an excellent local gym called Fressi, you pay your gym session, 5 euros at the reception (or put to your room invoice) and you get the key to get in - easy and a healthy option for entertainment!

Further, the hotel's lovely pool area is at your disposal (free of charge) from 7 am until 9 pm and saunas are warm from 5 pm until 9 pm (there are separate saunas for men & women or you can book your own sauna from the reception for a certain fee, if you want to experience it privately with your spouse or for example with a small group of friends, you can also order some refreshments there, and that is something that we, Finns, love to do and I could easily imagine booking one of the smaller sauna areas for myself and invite e.g. my cousins who live in Oulu to join me, that would be such a fun experience!)

Meetings

There are in total of 12 different types and sizes of the meeting rooms all the way up to 180 seat conference room. The actual part of the hotel in which the meeting areas are is called Ynninkulma ("Ynni's Corner). The history behind the name comes is based on the location; next to Frenzèn park and Oulu Cathedral. This fabulous, historical wooden house of OYMCA (= Ynni's Corner, corner referring to 4 centuries that OYMCA was there) still stands there, has done so ever since 1825 when it was built. The oldest of the three vaults on the grounds was built in the middle of the 17th century so you certainly get that history vibes in these meeting areas. I personally find it very fascinating that this hotel has two totally different sides to it; that charming Lappish hotel side and then this historical meeting rooms' area, which certainly is part of the most authentic Oulu, after all in the wine cellar there used to be a pharmacy already back in the 1700s - oh and by the way, that wine cellar is a perfect spot for wine tastings with your friends or colleagues, trust me, your mind starts to wander back in its roots when you look around in that basement while sipping your wine... If those walls could talk...

You can make your meetings more than just a meeting by ordering some delicious refreshments, snacks or even full course meals from Kitchen & Bar Oula and that will turn your meeting into a Lappish mouthwatering experience!

The history of these rooms is so fascinating, it would be interesting to be able to time travel just for a moment to see what was going on, say, for example 1835...

You wouldn't believe all the stories this building has inside of it, when you walk the corridors of the Lappish hotel as the meeting area is totally from a different era. These banquet rooms literally radiate that old charm and history, I was mesmerized by the place!

Restaurant Oula
Oula restaurant has a very calm, relaxing vibe to it and once you get to taste the flavors of its out-of-this-world menu, you are sold, I promise! The hotel chain's head chef, Tero Mäntykangas is a true Lappish food guru and a magician, he brings the nature to your plates and you get to taste things you probably didn't even know existed. Dining here is not just eating, it's an experience. 

If you want to explore the city more, you can rent a bicycle (available on summertime), it is only, 15 euros/per day and free of charge for guests staying in Deluxe Rooms or Suites and what an fun and fabulous way to see the city! Especially on summertime Oulu is such a lovely oceanfront city and the views are stunning, just rent a bike and you get to see way more than just wandering around by walking.

Oulu Cathedral & a rental bike

Hope you get to experience that warm hospitality of Lapland Hotel Oulu, it certainly is worth it! Welcome to Finland and in this case, in particular, to Oulu, you know where to stay in this city and that is of course the historical, beautiful Lapland Hotel Oulu, wherein its kind and caring staff will show you what Finnish hospitality means. You will be happy here!

Oulu Cathedral and Ainolan Puisto (Ainola Park) - right next to the hotel!