5 Key Things To Know About Hotel U14, Autograph Collection, in Helsinki, Finland [Review]

Every trip includes a search for the perfect hotel. Ideally, the property would be conveniently located, bookable with hotel loyalty points, include benefits such as complimentary breakfast and an upgraded room, and have character, charm, or a funky vibe.

Those were my hopes when I booked the Hotel U14 in Helsinki, Finland, for a 2-night stay before my recent sailing to Sweden. Fortunately, the hotel, a Marriott property, delivered all this and more.

Here are all the key things to know about Hotel U14 before booking a stay.

1. You Can Book With Marriott Bonvoy Points

Hotel U14, Autograph Collection, is easily bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points, Free Night Awards, or by selecting nightly rates. I used a 35,000-point Free Night Award for my first night and paid $222 for the second night.

I like earning Marriott Bonvoy points on my Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card as I receive 4x points at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, up to $15,000 in combined purchases each calendar year (then 2x). Plus, when spending $15,000 on eligible purchases, I receive a Free Night Award worth up to 50,000 points.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.

Up to 135,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $945

Annual Fee

$250

APR

19.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

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Card Highlights

• Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®.
• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Marriott Bonvoy^® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Terms apply. See www.marriott.com/loyalty/terms/default.mi for more information.
• Earn up to 18.5X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 25% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Gold Elite status.
• With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy^® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at a participating hotel. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year, receive 15 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy^® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• Booking the trip is easy. Avoiding delays is next to impossible. If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Plan It^® is a payment option that lets you split up large purchases into monthly installments with a fixed fee. A fixed monthly fee is shown upfront so you'll know exactly how much you’ll pay. Plus, you'll still earn rewards for the purchases you plan the way you usually do.
• $250 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Additionally, my Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card provides a Free Night Award (up to 35,000 points) after each card renewal.

If you want immediate and complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card may be a wise choice, as it includes Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and 25 elite night credits toward higher elite status. The card also provides a Free Night Award following each card renewal anniversary, worth up to 85,000 points, along with many more benefits.

You can add up to 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to any Free Night Award to use it for a higher-priced award night.

Hot Tip:

For additional information on the best cards for Marriott Bonvoy loyalists, we’ve compiled a list of cards and their associated benefits.

2. Marriott Bonvoy Status Is Recognized

I work hard for my Marriott Bonvoy elite status and always appreciate when that loyalty is recognized. You can expect status recognition at Hotel U14, as I experienced.

The front desk person recognized my Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status at check-in and offered a room upgrade to a suite. However, I had 2 separate reservations, and the suite was only available for 1 night, so I declined it in favor of a room I could stay in for 2 nights. My upgraded Luxe room was lovely and one I was very happy with.

Additionally, I receive a $10 daily food and beverage credit, complimentary breakfast, and a late checkout.

Hot Tip:

Hotel St. George, Helsinki, a Member of Design Hotels, is another Marriott Bonvoy property to check out!

3. Great Base for Exploring Helsinki

If you’re arriving at Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL), it’s a direct and inexpensive 30-minute train ride to Helsinki Central Station. From there, you can take a short tram ride or walk about 15 minutes to the hotel. Uber is also a good option from the airport or the central station.

If you’re arriving or leaving from the Katajanokka or Olympia ferry docks, the hotel is within walking distance of these terminals.

The hotel is a great base for exploring the city. The waterfront and city sights are just a few blocks away. The hop-on, hop-off bus stop is near the hotel, and you can catch a canal tour in the nearby harbor.

Visit the Uspenski Cathedral, the largest and most impressive Orthodox church in Western Europe, or sign up for a bike tour to see more of the city. The grand Helsinki Cathedral in Senate Square is also close to the hotel.

One of my favorite things to do as soon as I arrive in Helsinki is make my way to the harbor and order fresh fish. This fresh salmon plate was just €18 ($21), delicious, and a way-too-generous serving for 1 person. There are many food venues along the harbor competing for your business, which can be beneficial to customers.

Another incredible place to find food is Old Market Hall. The best of Finnish cuisine is on offer there, where you can purchase caviar, fresh fish and seafood, sandwiches, and a wide variety of Finnish food. Grab a bite to take with you, then catch the ferry next door to the Suomenlinna sea fortress island for an afternoon of exploration.

For more ideas on things to do around the hotel, the My Finland site has all the information you need.

4. Boutique and Family-Owned

With just 117 rooms, including 2 suites, the Hotel U14 is a smaller, boutique-style property. In the heart of the city, my room offered only views of the surrounding streets and buildings, but I could enjoy the inspiring interiors and the convenient location.

The hotel is family-owned and “managed hands-on with a lot of care,” according to the front desk person who checked me in.

I could see and feel the evidence of this care in the professional yet funky decor, with friendly, welcoming leather hippos and their subtle images adorning each room. Beyond the decor, every employee was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and incredibly kind.

Adnan, who checked me in, did an extraordinary job explaining the hotel’s amenities and surroundings. I also received assistance from the hotel front desk manager with a nonhotel, weather-related issue, and he went above and beyond what I would ever expect from any hotel employee!

5. Expect Quality Dining and Amenities

Hotel U14 has very defined dining, wellness, and business offerings that maximize its smaller footprint. Here are the places to eat and amenities you can expect at the hotel.

Dining

The hotel has 1 main restaurant, the Version Eatery and Garden. Breakfast is served there from 7 to 10 a.m. on weekdays, and on the weekends, it offers its slow breakfast from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. I loved that I could sleep in or head out on Sunday morning and return to the hotel at lunchtime. Included in my stay was the breakfast buffet, which would normally cost €37 ($43).

At breakfast, you can find all the typical hot offerings, including scrambled eggs, meats, beans, potatoes, and vegetables. Cold items include cheeses, shrimp salad, cold cuts, fresh fruits, salad ingredients, assorted breads, and more. Though the buffet breakfast is plentiful, it does not include made-to-order eggs.

In the evening, the restaurant has tasting menus, à la carte dishes, and shared plates. Dinner is served every night except Sunday, from 5 to 10 p.m. You can view all the menus here.

The lobby bar, Version Drinkery, is open daily from 5 to 11 p.m. and is closed on Sunday.

Fitness Center, Sauna, and Meeting Rooms

The hotel has a clean, modest fitness center adequate for your basic workout. Additionally, there is a coed sauna. There is no private changing room, so it’s best to come prepared for your workout or sauna.

The sauna is coed, so you are required to wear a bathing suit. Instructions for using the sauna are clearly posted and easy to follow.

In addition to the fitness room and sauna, the hotel has meeting facilities. There are 4 meeting rooms, the largest of which holds 60 attendees. The hotel does not offer wedding services.

The hotel would be a perfect venue for a private meeting, reunion, or seminar.

Parking is available off-site, and the hotel is pet-friendly. The hotel is LEED– and Green Key-certified for sustainability.

Bottom Line:

Hotel U14 has a lovely restaurant that serves both breakfast and dinner. Additionally, there is a lobby cocktail bar. Dinner and evening bar service are not available on Sundays, but numerous restaurants surround the hotel. The hotel also has a fitness center, coed sauna, and meeting rooms.

Final Thoughts

My stay at Hotel U14 exceeded expectations. While the hotel was everything I had hoped for, being in the city center with access to everything Helsinki has to offer made my stay exceptional.

One gesture stood out at the end of my stay. When it was time to leave the hotel and walk to the ferry docks for my journey to Sweden, a rainstorm had developed. The hotel front desk manager recognized my angst and helped me find a creative solution to the problem. Let’s say I will be forever grateful for his help, as I made it to the ship completely dry.

I would certainly stay at the hotel again when in Helsinki and tell my friends to do the same.