Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Telegraaf or Tallink Spa hotel?

Hi everyone,





I really can%26#39;t decide whether to stay at the Tallink Spa or Telegraaf hotel in Tallinn - the Telegraaf is £100 more - but location seems best?





Help!!! I want to book for early december.




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Lainet1984,





I think the decision is yours!





Do you want to spend £100 more





Oh course if you up grade to a better class (different style) hotel and pay more money the experience will be better.





Both of the hotel our brand new, Tallinn Spa opened 6months ago, and the telegraph hotel opened 4months ago.





Location is very important especailly during the winter time...




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I had a tour of the rooms at the Telegraff last week. I went to the Tallink Spa to have a look as it seemed interesting to me. I didnt go into any rooms. But let me tell you that hotel is not that bad a walk outside the Old Town on a nice day but if its cold, rainy, or snowy it will seem like a long walk and you cross a busy street. Also be very careful when you book the Tallink as most rates DO NOT include the spa. How they can control it I dont know though as the main lobby is one big pool. Back behind are saunas and steam rooms. Maybe they give you a wrist band to go back there like other spas in town.





The Telegraff is just a few steps off the town square in the heart of Old Town. The Tallink is outside the city wall toward the port. The area around the Telegraaf is charming. It is the PRIMO location in all Tallinn. The area around the port is NOT charming nor primo. The two hotels nearest the Tallink are the two cheapest in Tallinn.





I had a tour of all the rooms types at the Telegraff, plus a walk through of the spa and dining area, lobby etc. I can tell you the Telegraff is really nice! They have older style rooms in front with street view. In winter it shouldnt be noisy. These rooms have double windows. It is kept in the %26quot;old style%26quot; of when the building was a post office. They are a bit more pricey than the modern rooms in back. Those dont have a view. But really all the rooms are VERY nice. I actually prefer the new and they are cheaper but you look out over nothing or a wall. The windows are deep in the old rooms...so you wont see a lot outside and the street is narrow.



I dont know if you travel light or heavy but keep in mind that many Old Town hotels in Tallinn Riga and elsewhere are not reachable with a cab. You have to walk the last bit yourself! Buses I know can NOT drive to the Telegraaf. They park about 300 yeards away and they send a porter. But its worth it if you dont mind paying as the atmosphere around the Telegraaf is nice where that around the Tallink Spa is just windswept port area.





If the Spa sounds appealing remember the Telegraaf has its own spa and it is nice and upscale and quiet. I didnt see any screaming kids jumping around like at the Tallink .





Or if you choose a different hotel you can go into some spas on your Tallinn Card if you buy it. One time entry to each item on the Tallinn card. Kalev Spa on the east edge of Old Town is one. Entry without Tallinn card is 110 Kroon, or about $10 us or 5 pounds.



Also the Pirita Top Spa is on the card but has less to offer in the free areas and its out in Pirita a bus ride away but the bus is free on the Tallinn card too.





So...I dont know your budget. But the Telegraaf is a much better location and more upscale for sure. But to me a hundred pounds is a fortune. I stayed at Hotel Bern that I booked on yeego.com and it offered 34 Euro Single and 40 Euro double. This was Oct 07. The Kalev Spa is steps away! Old town steps away. The Viru Mall a short walk. It met my expectations very well and if your cab knows how to get there he can drive up! Mine didnt and he left us way off. By the way if you can avoid cabs by all means do it every chance you get. They are almost all crooked everywhere in the Baltics or else imported from outside the country and might not know where they are going like mine and then they overcharge to boot!





So my vote is the Telegraaf if you got the pounds, go for it! It has a nice feel, warm staff, nice fireplace. Feels homey and the location cant be beat. If you need internet they hand you a laptop to use there in the lobby. You will be in the heart of Tallinn. The other might be fun, but you wont feel like your in Tallinn out by the dock and its more like a water park attraction.




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sokus viru is fantastic views bars and nightclub dead central back door actually exits into shopping precinct good buffet breakfast i paid £54 twin with breakfast all in in april expdia it is 10 mins at most frm telegraf




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Thanks for all the advice, it has been really helpful!





I chose the Tallink Spa in the end - because I thought the extra £120 that Telegraff would have cost will go a long way towards meals/excursions. Maybe I have made the wrong decision because of location! Oh dear.





Thanks for your advice about taxis - I will have to find out which bus to get from the airport - does anybody know?




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