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The majority of European countries reported a weak August in the hotel business, which only comes to strengthen the worries about the recession still threatening the industry. However, there was an exception to the rule: Italy.

Hotel Industry in Italy

In a recent article published by Hospitality.net the data released by STR Global shows that the hotel industry all over the world is showing signs of improvement.

In Italy, things are looking better for the hospitality industry. In Rome, the occupancy rate in August 2009 showed a 17.9% increase compared to the same period last year. But Rome is not an isolated case. Both Florence and Naples reported increased occupancy rates in July and August 2009. However, the revenue per available room dropped in Italy by 18.1% in August 2009 compared to last year.

Although Italy entered recession in the second half of 2008, later than the majority of other European countries, it’s showing signs of recovery earlier than expected.

Hotels in Russia

By comparison, both the occupancy rates and revenue per available room in Russia dropped in the first eight months of 2009, as it was reported in an article on Hospitality.net . Moscow reported a drop of 8.7% in occupancy rates in August 2009 compared to the same period last year, while the occupancy rates in St. Petersburg fell by 14.3%.

The forecast doesn’t look too good for Russia. The vice-president of STR Global, the leading provider of market data for the hotel industry, confirms that in Moscow the revenue per available room will drop by 26% by the end of the year and any improvement might occur by mid 2010.

What does the future hold?

The reports coming from most European countries are quite bleak. The hotel industry isn’t expected to perform much better during the last part of 2009. In UK, it’s expected that hotels will report a decline in revenue per available room by the end of 2009 but with hopes of improving the numbers in early 2010. While the occupancy rate is not doing that badly in the UK, the average room rates are the main culprit for the drop in revenue.

Photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission.

Italy is one of the most popular travel destinations. Regardless of the season, travelers come here to visit the beautiful sites, enjoy the good food and relax in the country side. No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to visit the entire country during a single (short) vacation…so you’ll definitely have enough reasons to come back.

>>If you are visiting Italy for the first time, make sure to read this Italy First Time Visitor Visitor Guide and get to know the country a little bit before departing.

Planning your budget

The popularity is always followed by expensive rates and Italy, unfortunately, makes no exception. However, there are ways to “trick” the system and find a reasonably priced Italy vacation package . First of all, you need to be willing to sacrifice the time of the year. We know that most people want to come to Italy during summer but summer is the most expensive period (not to mention the most crowded). The next best choice is autumn. The shoulder season is perfect for those looking for a bargain. The hotels are struggling to get visitors now so they have various offers available. Better yet, if you feel adventurous, you can try looking for some last minute packages, which are always the best priced.

During autumn and especially in November, it is easy to create your own package as well. Should you need the flexibility to visit different places or just don’t have enough days off to get a package, then you can book the airfare and hotels separately. Cheap flights to Italy are easy to find now and you should try to fly into one of the major airports: Milan, Rome or Venice. They receive a lot of international flights and the fares are cheaper than if you would fly into a smaller airport.

Although Italy does have a reputation of being an expensive travel destination, cheap hotels in Italy can be found in pretty much any city. You can also consider setting a “base” in Rome or Milan and then take day trips to other cities you want to visit.

Things to do in Italy

Italy is alive and kicking no matter when you come here. There are festivals taking place all over the country and November is the White Truffles month so be prepared for a lot of fairs.

November 1 marks the All Saints Day, which is a national holiday in Italy.

The Alba White Truffle Festival takes place in the town of Alba (Piedmont region) and is one of the biggest truffles festivals in the country.

During the last two weekends of November, the San Miniato Truffle Fair takes place in San Miniato (Tuscany). You can enjoy the good food and check out the craft stands. There’s also entertainment at the fair.

>>Read more about Holidays & Festivals in Italy

Where to stay

Whether you plan to visit Italy for the food, festivals or sights, you need a place to stay, which is both affordable and in a good location. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Rome: Diocleziano B&B is a B&B located in Rome, near Termini Station. There’s free wi-fi within the hotel. Breakfast is included in the room price. Room rates start at €57.60 per night for a double room (bathroom ensuite).

Florence: Hotel Garden is located close to the train station (10 min walk). It has been recently renovated and all rooms have private bathroom and TV. Breakfast is included in the room price. Room rates start at €26.20 per night for a double room (bathroom ensuite).

Venice: B&B Rota is located in the heart of the city, in a 500 years old building. Breakfast is included in the room rates; there’s free wi-fi within the property. The guests can use the shared kitchen. Towels and linen are provided. The restaurant offers a cheap backpackers menu for only €8. Room rates start at €31.40 per night in a double room (bathroom ensuite).

Milan: Hotel San Tomaso is located in the city center. The city’s sights, restaurants and shops are within easy reach. There’s free wi-fi within the hotel. Room rates start at €34.55 per night in a double room (bathroom ensuite).

Naples: Fabric Hostel & Club is located in Portici, a small neighborhood south of Naples downtown. It offers a common room and free wi-fi within the property. The linen and towels are included in the room rates. Room rates start at €20.70 per night in a double room (shared bathroom).

Photos by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission.

The Caribbean area is a very popular vacation destination year-round. But during the peak season – December to March – the prices tend to be too high for most people to consider going. A good alternative is going to the Caribbean during the shoulder season, particularly in mid and late November. 7 days in Aruba. Kids welcomed. $386 per person, airfare not included.

More last minute Caribbean deals

Maybe Aruba is not your favorite Caribbean destination. No problem. There’s also Jamaica to consider. You can spend 4 nights in Jamaica, in a 3-star resort, based on the all inclusive plan for $380 per person, airfare not included. But that’s not a big problem, is it? Cheap flights to Jamaica are not hard to find, even if you plan to grab a last minute offer. A round trip flight from Miami to Jamaica starts at $296 per person, for the period comprised in the resorts offer (Nov 12 to Nov 16).

Barbados is another interesting choice, although the prices tend to be a bit higher than in Aruba or Jamaica. You can spend 4 nights in early November (Nov 5 to Nov 9), in a 4-star resort, based on the all inclusive plan for $703 per person, airfare not included. Flights to Barbados for the same period start at $381 per person (round trip, from Miami).

Peak Season Offers

By early December, the peak season has almost kicked in and the prices are starting to act accordingly. However, if you book now, there are interesting deals in St.Lucia . Should you want to spend 4 nights in December (Dec 10 to Dec 14), in a 3-star resort, based on the all inclusive plan, you’ll be paying $560 per person, airfare not included.

Other alternatives

If the flight is not included in the last-minute offer, sometimes it gets too expensive to consider such a trip. But there are also the US destinations waiting to be explored. You can spend Christmas in South Carolina, in a 3-star resort, and pay only $266 per person, airfare not included. The package includes 4 nights (Dec 24 to Dec 28). And by the way: now it’s the time to put those saved miles to good use!

Istanbul is Turkey’s most populous city and the only city in the world which stands on two continents. The blend of European and Asian traditions can be felt in every aspect of life and culture.

Istanbul, hidden behind the straight between the Black and Marmara Seas, has always been an affordable destination. The Harbiye area, on the European side, is the main center on the European side of Turkey and is definitely a place where you should look for places to stay.

Come late fall, Istanbul is turning into a rather cold and wet destination. It’s possible to even snow in late November, but it doesn’t happen too often. However, make sure to be prepared for cold nights and mornings.

Planning the budget

While October is still a popular month to visit Istanbul, November definitely is not. And the prices are behaving accordingly. It is a good time to find a family vacation package and explore the culture and history of the area. Everything is affordable and the crowds are gone.

Alternatively, you can book the flight and hotel independently. The city is served by two airports, one on each continent, making it easy to find cheap flights to Istanbul . It’s a good idea to fly via a major European hub (such as London or Paris) and then catch a low-cost flight into Sabiha Gokcen Airport, the airport located on the Asian side.

Since you will not be traveling during the peak tourist season, it’s easy to find cheap hotels in Istanbul even in the areas close to the old city center. Such an option can be Sultanahmet neighborhood, which is close to the main attractions and dotted with a variety of places to stay for every budget.

Things to do

The months of October and November aren’t filled with festivals or events. October 29th marks the Republic Day, which is a national Turkish holiday. It commemorates the moment when Ataturk announced the forming of the Republic of Turkey (1923). Several days later, on November 10th, Turkey remembers Ataturk’s Death. At exactly 9:05 a.m. the entire country observes a moment of silence marking the passing of the great leader.

Where to stay

The city is filled with a variety of affordable places to stay, ranging from hostels to international brands of hotels. The hostels are very popular among the backpackers crowd but this time of the year you don’t need to worry about booking too far in advance.

Cordial House Hostel is located in the Sultanahmet area, in the old city center, and offers affordable accommodation. It’s close to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, as well as to the public transportation. The hostel offers a common room, a bar, a café, an information desk and an internet area. It’s free to use the wi-fi within the hotel. Room rates start at US$70 per night for a twin private room (bathroom ensuite) and US$8 per bed in a 8-bed mixed dorm. The hotel offers singles, doubles, triples, quadruples, 5-bed dorms, 6-bed dorms and 8-bed dorms.

Sultan Hostel is located in the heart of a youthful, filled with shops and cafés area, close to the main attractions. All rooms have private bathroom and the breakfast is include in the room price. The towels are also included in the room price and there’s free wi-fi within the hostel. Bed prices start at US$17 per night in a 6-bed dorm (male or female).

Istanbul Hostel is located in a semi-residential area in the heart of the old city. The hostel offers a café and a bar. The breakfast is included in the room price. Room rates start at US$46 per night for a double room (shared bathroom) and US$12 per bed per night in a 13 or 21-bed dorm.

Southern Cross Hostel is also located in the Sultanahmet, in the heart of the old city. There’s wi-fi within the hotel. Breakfast is included in the room price. Room rates start at US$40 per night in a double private room (shared bathroom) and US$11 per bed per night in a 8-bed dorm.

Bahaus Guesthouse proudly calls itself a place only for those who are found of the backpackers’ lifestyle and hostels atmosphere. It is located in the heart of the old city, offering stunning views of the Asian side from its roof terrace. There’s free wi-fi within the hostel. Breakfast is included in the room price. You can play backgammon in the living room and even take free lessons to learn the game! The towel, linen and pillow are included in the room price. Room rates start at US$39 per night for a double room (1 double bed; ensuite bathroom) and US$18.6 per bed per night in a 8-bed mixed dorm.

Ibiza is blessed with Mediterranean weather but don’t expect to be able to soak up the sun in October or November. While the weather is still warm, 17-21C / 63-70 F during the day, there are a lot of chances to experience some rain fall.

Ibiza is famous for its nightlife but the clubs close down as soon as the summer is over. Some are still open in October but there aren’t many chances to party all night in November. However, you can explore the old town, walk on the beaches and just relax in a beautiful place, without having to bump into thousands of tourists.

All inclusive packages

Many European tour-operators offer very affordable all inclusive packages for vacations in Ibiza until the end of October. The party crowds are gone and the resorts are discounting the rooms heavily so if you want a cheap and lovely vacation, now it’s the time to pack and go to Ibiza.

During the summer the number of low-cost flights to Ibiza are downright enormous, making them quite affordable, you don’t really need to worry about flying during autumn, either. There aren’t that many flights, but the carriers still offer several of them during the week, especially from large European cities such as London.

Outside the peak season, finding cheap hotels in Ibiza is easy, but you do need to remember that some of them close after the summer. So make sure to do your research in advance. The best part though is that you can stay on the beach and not pay an arm and a leg for that.

Festivals and events in Ibiza

The crowds might be gone but the island is not deserted. And the near-by islands aren’t either.

Festa de Virgin is held on October 21st in near-by Palma (Mallorca). It includes singing, different festivities and good food. Festa dies Butifarro is held on the third Sunday in October in Sant Joan (Mallorca) and is the place to be if you like sausages.

November 4th marks Sant Carles day in Ibiza. This is the patron saint of the island and is celebrated throughout Ibiza.

Dilous Bo is an important agricultural feast, held on the third Thursday in November in Inca (Mallorca). There’s a fair taking place during the festival, complete with good food and interesting things to do (cultural and sporting events).

Where to stay

Outside the peak summer season, it’s easy to find affordable places to stay. However, many hotels close for the winter so make sure to read the details and book your stay in advance.

Ibiza Budget Beds offers private rooms, with bathroom ensuite. The place is located in San Antonio. Room rates start at $34 per night in a twin double room.

Apartamentos Blue Star is located in Bay of San Antonio, close to the beach. It offers studios and apartments, all equipped with kitchen, refrigerator, microwave, air conditioning, TV, bathroom and terrace. It also offers two pools, children’s pool, children’s playground and snack bar. Rates start at $48 per night for a 4-bed studio.

Hotel Riviera is a 3-star hotel located in San Antonio Bay, close to restaurants and clubs. All rooms have private bathroom and are equipped with TV, phone, AC, kitchenette and mini fridge. Room rates start at $40 per night for a double room.

Sol Post Apartments is located in San Antonio’s bay, just 100 m from the beach. All rooms have AC, TV, bathroom, kitchenette, fridge and microwave. It offers two swimming pools, a children’s pool, solarium beds, children’s playground and restaurant. Room rates start at $38 per night in a twin double room.

Apartamentos Bahia De San Antonio is located in San Antonio’s bay, just 100 m from the beach. All rooms have kitchenette, fridge, AC, TV and balcony. There are two swimming pools and a snack bar. Room rates start at $46 per night in a double room (twin beds).

It’s not a surprise by now that the hotel market all over the world is not doing pretty well. Compared to last year, revenues went down, occupancy rates went down and things are moving slowly. Hoteliers are reluctant to predict a better future.

However, according to this article about the European hotel chain market in August 2009 , the rate of decline of the revenue per available room (RevPAR) was slower for most cities than in the first 8 months of 2009. Seventy percent of the hotels participating in the survey experienced a decline in occupancy levels, while 90% experienced a decline in room rates. Also, with the exception of Berlin, all cities showed a decline of profitability in August 2009 compared to August 2008.

Over all, July was a better month than August for the entire European hotels market. Hoteliers believe that the worst of the declines have already happened but the recovery will be a slow process.

Central-Eastern Europe Hotel Market

Vienna, Prague and Budapest were hit badly by the decline of RevPAR in August 2009. Out of them, Prague took the hardest hit (almost 25% drop) and it was mostly due to the decline in international tourists numbers. On the other hand, Vienna reported a decline in visitors from UK, Spain, France and Russia but the US tourists numbers increased (and so did those from Germany and Italy). The economy in the above mentioned cities is not the only one affecting the rate of recovery so it is hard to estimate what the future has in store.

Western Europe Hotel Market

In Western Europe, the cities took the hit for other reasons than just the bad economy. RevPAR in Munich dropped with 30.3% in August 2009 compared to last year. This is mostly due to the fact that last year Munich hosted the European Society of Cardiology Congress, but it was moved to Barcelona this year. Plus, Munich is very popular among Middle Eastern guests but the Ramadan fell during the last week of August this year, which also led to a decline in profits.

The future

Fall is the traditional low-season when it comes to traveling in Europe and it will be interesting to see the statistics for the following months. The deals available for the winter holidays are unbelievably cheap which only reinforce the fact that hoteliers are struggling to keep the business going.

Photo by Cristina Dima and cannot be used without permission.

Probably the best months to visit Honolulu are September and October, when the weather is great but the crowds don’t overwhelm the island. The high season kicks off in December, so November is also a good month to head to Hawaii, but the prices start to get higher and you might run into more tourists than you’d want to.

The majority of those who want to travel to Honolulu assume that a vacation here is very expensive but, don’t worry, there are ways to save some money. As mentioned, traveling during the low season is a sure way to find affordable accommodation and cheap flights. Another good trick is to look for accommodation located further from the beach.

Vacation packages

One of the easiest ways to look for an affordable way to get to Honolulu is to look for Hawaii vacation packages . They bundle the flight and accommodation, creating a cheaper package. In many cases, such packages are based on last minute offers and special deals. Since the deals change quite often, it’s a good idea to keep checking them out until you find what’s best for you. During the low season, many resorts and hotels offer a lot of special deals which are often coupled with cheap flights.

Why are vacation packages such good investments? Because you need a way to get to Honolulu and a place to stay. Cheap flights to Honolulu are not hard to find as the airport located on the island of Oahu is the main entry point into the archipelago. It is also the hub for Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines. So for the best airfare, you should start the search with those airlines.

Now it’s time to look for the place to stay. Hotels in Honolulu cater for pretty much all budgets but they are not very cheap. In order to save money, it’s a good idea to look for places located further from the popular beaches. Or spend a lot of time looking for deals from the resorts located closer to the beach.

Things to do

Hawaii International Film Festival takes place between October 15 and 25 at various venues in Honolulu. On October 16, HIFF will host the world premiere of “Barbarian Princess”, a movie based on the true story of Hawaii’s Princess Ka’iulani. Over 170 films from 36 countries will be featured this year. General admission is $10.

The 2009 Food and New Products Show will take place between October 16 and 18 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall in Honolulu. There will be more than 50 food booths featuring an array of dishes (from the Pacific region). General admission is $3.

The 2009 Hallobaloo Music and Arts Festival takes place on October 31 on Nuuanu Avenue in Downtown Honolulu. It’s a free street festival complete with a costume contest.

The World Invitational Hula Festival kicks off in early November and lasts until the middle of the month. It is a colorful dancing competition which comprises dancers from various countries.

Where to stay

Although October and November fall during the low season, it’s a good idea to book the accommodation in advance, particularly if you want to travel during the festivals.

Hotel Renew is a luxury boutique hotel, offering an intimate atmosphere. Guests are welcomed with a complimentary chilled beverage. The hotel also offers complimentary breakfast every day and there’s free wi-fi within the hotel. The 72 guest rooms are equipped with LCD TV, AC, fitness kit, fridge and safe. Room rates start at $185 per night (excluding taxes).

Park Shore Waikiki is located right on Waikiki Beach, offering stunning views. It offers 226 rooms and an outdoor swimming pool. Special packages are available and the prices for a standard room start at $89 per night.

Best Western Coconut Waikiki is a boutique hotel , centrally located in Waikiki. The hotel offers complimentary deluxe daily breakfast and free wi-fi in rooms. All rooms come with LCD TV, fridge, microwave, coffeemaker and safe. Room rates start at $169 per night.

Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk is a new all-suites resort, located close to Waikiki Beach. There’s free wi-fi in all suites. Special packages are available, including a Suite Romance Package, starting at $289.

Outrigger Reef on the Beach is located on Waikiki beach. It offers a fitness center and there’s free wi-fi within the resort. Special packages are available. Moderate standard rates start at $159 per night.

Time is ticking away and if you want to spend an affordable New Year vacation, it’s time to start considering the alternatives offered. Here is a great one. 7 days in Florida for $464 per person (airfare not included)

Other hot deals

Orlando is a great place to spend the New Year with the kids or with friends. It’s also a great place to spend some quality time with your significant other. Orlando vacation packages come in many forms but they typically comprise the flight, accommodation and car rental. Often, hotels would add tickets to the theme parks as part of the deal.

First you need to find a flight to Orlando . While in some cases it’s cheaper to get it bundled with the accommodation, if you search well enough, you might be able to find some very good deals. For example if you buy now a round trip ticket for Dec 28 – Jan 4 the prices start at $329 per person.

Hotels in Orlando are always more expensive during the holidays but with a bit of research, you’ll be able to find some good bargains. For the same period, the average room price in a 2-star hotel is $47 per night (total: $329). This particular hotel does run special offers.

So it’s not hard to realize that you can easily create your own vacation package at good prices but you need to sacrifice a bit when it comes to choosing the hotel (or better said the number of stars).

The alternative

If you don’t mind going to Orlando outside the winter holiday season, you can find even better rates at hotels and flights. It’s a known fact that if you fly mid-week and avoid the peak travel season, there will always be good deals available. You just need to be flexible.

For example, a room at this hotel for the Dec 10-17 period only costs on average $41 per night (total: $287) . The 3-star hotel offers a childrens’ pool and even complimentary shuttles to Walt Disney World Resort.

Hong Kong is a very interesting city and a shocking experience for those not used to so many people cramming into small spaces. Simply put: the word “urban jungle” gets a new definition here. Hong Kong is dense and vertical, the streets are always busy and the mix of Chinese and British influence is challenging all your senses.

For most visitors, Hong Kong is a great place to go shopping but apparently it’s not the cheapest place to do so (and we really don’t recommend getting any electronics from here). The traditional Chinese festivals mix with the Western trends to offer something unique. And indeed Hong Kong is unique in many ways. You can find the Hong Kong Disneyland here, along with several other theme parks. There are also plenty of traditional Chinese places to check out and of course, you shouldn’t miss the view from Victoria Peak.

Accommodation and flight: planning your budget

I wouldn’t call you crazy if you would opt for a family vacation in Hong Kong and, of course, comprise the Disneyland theme park in the fun. It’s definitely a simple way to find good deals. Packages always comprise the flight and accommodation and, with some luck, some sort of entertainment. And they usually come with discounted rates as well.

The city is served by Hong Kong International Airport, the main point of entry for tourists you choose to fly here. Finding cheap flights to Hong Kong is not hard as the airport is connected to numerous destinations from all over the world.

There are some alternatives to lowering the flight costs though. You can transit through Macau, which has lower landing fees than Hong Kong so the flights are usually cheaper. Or if you want to include other parts of China in your itinerary you can fly into Shenzhen and then continue your journey to Hong Kong.

Accommodation wise, the city offers a lot of interesting places to stay, ranging from hostels to posh hotels. Just remember that hotels in Hong Kong come with smaller rooms than what you are used to in other parts of the world. However, especially during the low season (fall and spring) you probably will be able to find an affordable 3 or 4-star hotel (and for prices lower than what you would pay in other major cities).

What to do in October

October is not a fascinating month in Hong Kong and you won’t be able to experience any traditional Chinese festivals. But you won’t get bored either.

Until Oct 15 you can attend the International Jazz Festival which features various artists from all over the world.

Halloween is a newly adopted Holiday in Hong Kong and there’s no better place to experience it than at Disney. On the night of Oct 31, Disney offers a themed night, complete with parades and everything else to make your spine shiver.

Places to stay

Fall is a good time to travel if you are looking for cheap flights and affordable places to stay. October is not exactly a festivals filled month in Hong Kong so you don’t need to worry about finding a place to stay.

Cosmic Guest House : is located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui and offers 79 rooms. Each room has en suite bathroom and TV. There’s free wi-fi within the property. Room rates start at US$19.60 per bed per night in a twin room.

Geo-Home Holiday Hotel : is a cheap tourist property, located in a shopping area (which is filled with tourists). It offers 16 spacious rooms and free wi-fi. All rooms come with LCD TV, phone, AC, fridge and en suite bathroom. Room rates start at US$25 per night per person in a double bed room. Dorm beds start at US$16.30 per night.

HongKong City Guesthouse : is located in the heart of the city, within walking distance of the major sights. The rooms are clean but small. Room rates start at US$20 per night per person in a double bed room.

International Inn Hotel : is a new hotel located in the heart of the commercial and shopping district of Kowloon. The rooms include LCD TV and free wi-fi. A city walking tour is also included in the room price. Room rates stat at US$36.16 per night per double room (US$40 per night during the weekend).

New Hong Kong Hostel : offers the facility of a 3-star hotel for hostel prices. It was recently redecorated (Dec 2008). All rooms have high speed internet, LCD TV, AC, en suite bathroom, fridge, DVD player and hair dryer. Discounts are available until Dec 31, 2009 (more than 5 days stay: 10% discount; luxury room: 50% discount sale). Room rates start at US$36.13 per night for a standard double room (US$41.30 per night during the weekend).

Even if you didn’t like geography, you probably know that Helsinki is not exactly a destination for those who don’t enjoy the colder weather. Summer is by far the best season to visit the city, but if you hurry and plan your vacation in October, chances are you won’t be freezing your behind. Just remember that Helsinki is not a cheap city and it’s not very big either. So try to think of “affordable accommodation” in broader terms and include hostels in your research.

Vacation packages versus planning independently

If you are planning the first visit in Helsinki, then it’s better to start your search with the European vacation packages . However, many of them include more than one Scandinavian country so you’ll be in for a broader experience. Still, no matter how you look at it, you need to book both a flight and a place to stay. And packages make it easier for travelers and offer some good discounts.

International flights to Finland are not hard to find and most likely you will land in Helsinki, which is home to the primary international airport in Finland. There are flights from Europe, USA and Asia. However, it’s probably a good idea to fly into a major European hub (London or Paris) and then catch a low-cost flight to Helsinki.

While the flight is not such a hard thing to tackle, the hotels in Helsinki are another story. The city is not exactly very big and there aren’t an overwhelming amount of cheap hotels available. So many travelers usually opt for hostels. Of course, it costs more to stay close to the city center but you’ll be in a convenient location.

Festivals in Helsinki this fall

Helsinki Baltic Herring Fair kicks off on Oct 4 (Sunday). The event lasts until Oct 10. It’s being held in the Market Square. The event dates back to 1743. The festival is a celebration of Scandinavia’s love of the herring but other interesting items which can be bought include: dark bread and clothing (knitted from wool).

The Carnival of Light takes place at the Linnanmäki Amusement Park from Oct 9 to 18. It’s the perfect occasion to make the dark autumn nights bright.

Starting from Oct 22 (Thu) the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre is home to several interesting events. The Wine, Food & Good Living, Helsinki Book Fair and the Helsinki Music Fair take place at the same time at the venue. Entrance is €13 for adults and €9 for children. The focus of the Book Fair is on Sweden, but writers from Italy, Turkey and Germany are also invited.

Where to stay

Whether you come to Helsinki for the festivals or you just need a weekend getaway in a less-than-obvious destination, you will need a place to stay, which is in a good location and the room prices won’t burn a whole in your pocket.

Hostel Stadion : is located in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, close to all the main sights. The bed linen is included in the price but you need to pay for breakfast (unless you choose to eat somewhere else). There’s a kitchen the guests can use and there are also rooms where the guests can socialize. Bed rates start at €25 per night in a twin private room and €21 per night in a 12-bed dorm.

Eurohostel : is one of the largest hostels in Scandinavia. It’s located in central Helsinki, close to the Market Square. The hotel offers a total of 255 beds (all rooms are non-smoking). The Eurohostel rooms (modernized) are equipped with TV. Each floor has its own facilities: shared bathroom, microwave and fridge. The bed linen, towel and morning sauna are included in the rates. Room rates start at €31 per night for a bed in a twin room (shared bathroom).

Academica Summer Hostel : has been awarded the “Hostel of the Year 2008” by the Finnish Youth Hostel Federation. It is located in the heart of Helsinki. All rooms have private bathroom, small kitchenette and fridge. The guests can use the sauna and swimming pool for free each morning. Bed rates start at €31 per night. Make sure to book in advance as the hostel is very popular and books up really quickly.

Hotel Anna : is a 1-star non-smoking hotel located in the center of Helsinki. There are 64 rooms, a breakfast area as well as a sauna. Rates start at €61 per night per bed in a twin private room (bathroom ensuite) and €38 per bed in a 4-bed room (bathroom ensuite).

Hostel Satakuntatalo : is located in the heart of the city. Should you visit Helsinki during summer, the best beach in town is located just 10 minutes away from the hostel. All rooms are equipped with fridge and phone.