Helsinki in January 2010

I%26#39;ve booked cheap flights from UK to Helsinki in January for a short break with my wife. Please can somebody tell me whether the Crowne Plaza is a good place to stay - given it has a pool and Spa etc then I thought this would be a good choice?

If any one has any experience of this hotel I would be interested to hear your views.

Also, we%26#39;d like to go to Tallinn for a day. Is this a good idea in the middle of winter?

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There%26#39;s no reason you shouldn%26#39;t go to Tallinn for the day. Most of the ferries run throughout the ice season (with the exception of Linda Line), and the Old Town has plenty of pleasant cafés and bars to warm up in. Hours of daylight are very short, however, so be sure to make an early start.

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I cannot comment on the Crowne Plaza, as I have not stayed there.

But, I can definitely advise you on Tallinn. This past New Year (January 2009), I did a similar trip that you did--Helsinki, with a day trip to Tallinn.

There are multiple cruise lines that carry passengers between Helsinki and Tallinn. During the summer months, fast hydrofoil boats make the trip in 1-1.5 hours. But during the winter, only the larger cruise boats operate, making the trip in 2.5 hours. You can buy tickets at the ferry terminal, or at any of the ferry offices (Viking Line and Silja Line, for example, have offices very near the Helsinki central train station). Viking Line cost 25 Euro/person for a round trip.

The only thing I didn%26#39;t enjoy about my trip to Tallinn was that I did not have enough time there! :-) Because of the 5-hour round trip, you only have about 4 hours to spend in Tallinn if you want to do only a one-day trip. With the travel time between the boat dock and Old Town Tallinn, your time is reduced to 3 hours or less. If I could re-do my trip, I would take at least an overnight trip to Tallinn, as the Old Town is so unique and interesting!

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Crown Plaza is anyhow one of you premier hotels in Helsinki, can recommend that even I have not stayed there overnight.

The location is beautiful opposite park and lake Töölönlahti, a 10 min walk to city center or just a couple of tram stops. Nice, less touristic restaurants, are located %26#39;around the corner%26#39; at Töölö Market Square area, such as Kuu and Mamma Rosa.

See hotel fdetails: www.crowneplaza-helsinki.fi/?switch=ENG

A daytrip to Tallin is just a great idea to spend a day in the romantic old town in any season. In wintertime can recommend Viking Line or Tallink only. Bring your longjohns and necktie and gloves! The best activity during the boat trip is eating...that saves you time for sights and shopping in Tallin.

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So sorry...necktie will not be needed and it will not warm ... bring in stead a warm SCARF!!

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A day trip to Tallinn is really worth the effort. However, to make most of a one day trip you should take the earliest Tallink departure and then select one their evening crossings back to Helsinki. Tallink%26#39;s timetables will allow the longest stay in Tallinn on a one day trip.

See timetables at www.tallinksilja.com/en/schedules/helTal/ (these are valid only until 23 Dec 2009, but in their booking engine you can see already the timetables for 2010, too).