Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel

Sokos Hotel Kimmel is a beautiful hotel, staff very friendly. Breakfast buffet really nice lots of choices. Had prawn pasta for an evening meal, for such a large hotel, prices very reasonable. 5min walk to the main train station, and 10min walk to the town centre, Overall Sokos Hotel Kimmel was Great!! Will definitely be going back.

Really friendly arrival and travelling with two cats were taken care of nicely. Were given treats to cats. First time ever! Customer service is really good. Amazing breakfast and the little details in the room were the best. Beautiful hotel!

The location of the hotel is excellent. It is situated between the railway station, the bus station, River Pielisjoki and Park Sirkkalan Puisto. The riverside park is a nice picnic area with tables and benches. There are even fishing possibilities there but notice restriction areas. However, walking distance to the city center and all main attractions is very short. It is also possible to rent Jopo bikes from the hotel. Also electric city scooters are often available in front of the hotel. Our standard room was very nice. We had good beds, an armchair, a big flat-screen television, a self-adjustable air-conditioning system, a ventilation window with an insect net and an empty refrigerator (no minibar). However, the refrigerator was quite loud. Our bathroom was OK but the shower wall was too short. Water came under it and watered the whole bathroom while showering. Breakfast was good. I especially loved local specialties, that is to say Karelian rice pastries and banana-chocolate cake by a local bakery. The breakfast room was so big that there wasn't any congestion there. Park view was very nice. The dinner restaurant of the hotel is good, too. It is also possible to take a drink on the large summer terrace. We didn't test the pampering spa department because there is an admission fee there. Service was very kind in the whole hotel.

This hotel has been completely renovated. So everything looks stylish and fresh. Joensuu railway station is located opposite the hotel. We booked the best suite which is located on the top 5th floor and has a huge wrap-around balcony with great views. You have your own sauna in the spacious bathroom but no bathtub. We had dinner at the hotel's Bistro Heili restaurant. The service was friendly and the food was tasty. Breakfast is served in a big breakfast hall. The food selection is wide but the atmosphere has a canteen-like vibe on busy mornings. The reception staff was friendly. Our stay had a quite good value for 352 euros considering the size of the suite.

Excellent riverside location between the railway station and the city center. Very short walking distance to the city center but rental bikes are available, too. Cozy rooms with self-adjustable air-conditioning and ventilation windows. The refrigerator of our room was quite loud. Good breakfast with local specialties like Karelian rice pastries and banana-chocolate cake by a local bakery. The restaurant with a large summer terrace is good. The pampering spa department is with an extra charge.

The facilities look great, we had booked the Superior King for two nights. However, the room was extremely dusty and I struggled to sleep as I am asthmatic. We asked reception to send a cleaner to dust the room which they were happy to do. The cleaner came while we were out and had cleaned the bathroom but all the dust in the sleeping area was untouched. We ate at the restaurant and the food was delicious, however, the waiter dropped one of the dishes on my partner and newborn baby. She did apologize profusely. We were also double charged for an item and when I queried this, I was told their system doesn't work well and returning the money would be difficult and they would prefer us to just take something of the value of the overcharge instead of a refund. When I walked away I was told they could just return the overcharge. Spa is lovely but unfortunately the negative outweighed the positive and I would be unlikely to recommend to a friend. There was no compensation for the lack of cleanliness or the food being splattered all over my partner's and baby's clothes. I would have expected at least some level of a good will gesture.

We had only one overnight stay in this hotel. It is ok nothing special but there is also nothing wrong with it. The room was recsently renovated and they were nice. The breakfast was also ok. The hotel staff was nice and polite.