Original Sokos Hotel Valjus

Lower than basic level, outdated hotel waaaay below usual Sokos Hotels average. Contacted the hotel beforehand and asked for a room with a tub. Got a reply saying the hotel will try and arrange this. Didn’t happen – the room had a shower. When I returned to rec. to ask about tub the receptionist replied straight up that ”unfortunately all tub rooms were full!” Like they would know and remember this detail just like that! The basic level room had no mini fridge, the shower tap was from the 80’ies (because I had one just like it in my childhood home!), shower tiles and groutes were covered in brown dirt, pillows were mushy, the arm chair was dusty. A total joke were those Lumene brand shampoo and conditioner bottles that had been refilled with some cheap not-even-close-product! To be frank: I am amazed they still keep this place as it only weakens the current brand.

Sokos Hotel Valjus is located right in the middle of Kajaani. It has been partly renovated and I was lucky to be assigned a renovated room. The service at the reception was very friendly. The room was new and, clean offering no frills but instead was very basic. The bathroom design is silly; when taking a shower you are about to make the whole bathroom floor wet. Breakfast was quite basic with nothing special. The selection of teas was poor (just "basic Lipton and cheap fruit teas) and so was the coffee selection. When you pay nearly 200 euros for a room per night you would expect more.

I’m reviewing Valjus keeping in mind other Sokos-hotel stays. On it’s own I might give five stars, but you will expect excellent quality at S-group hotels. Nothing to complain. Parking at the front door.

I stayed at Sokos Hotel Valjus with my grandmother for two nights. While I was expecting an average room in an average hotel, I must say I was disappointed even with those expectations. While the staff was friendly, the rooms (as well as the hotel in general) really were quite terrible. First of all, it was very hot, which we received no warning of. However, this I think is understandable in a hotel as old as this one, especially when Finland normally doesn't have summers quite so hot. Even then, the room was what one might call the opposite of cozy, had poor air quality, an INCREDIBLY small shower cubicle, very uncomfortable pillows and comforters, and on top of all that it was also dirty (dirt stuck to your feet when walking barefoot, dirty bathroom cabinets etc.). The uncleanliness was the last straw for me, especially at a time like this (global pandemic). Breakfast was great, but unfortunately didn't make up for the uncomfortable stay (think of a boiling hot room with unpleasant bedding). This hotel definitely needs an upgrade, BADLY, and I think it looks bad in the general Sokos Hotel chain. For basically the same price you could stay at a brand new hotel in Turku, for example, which was a great deal more pleasant stay. Please do renovate this place from top to bottom. The location is great, and you could do so much better. As it stands right now, however, I wouldn't stay here another time.