Review: Hotel U14, Autograph Collection Helsinki

For the final stop on our road trip through the Baltics, our group spent a few days in the Finnish capital before we all went our separate ways to head back home. Autograph Collection hotels in Europe have provided some of my most memorable stays. They are often located in historical buildings or feature unique characteristics that set them apart from the more cookie-cutter Marriott Bonvoy brands.

The distinctive design and friendly staff made for a great stay in Helsinki. Here is everything you can expect during a stay at Hotel U14, Autograph Collection.

Booking & Check-In

Hotel U14 wasn’t our original choice for accommodations in Helsinki. We had initially booked a stay at Hotel Katajanokka, Tribute Portfolio, as we were intrigued by its unique setting in a former prison. We thought the idea of staying in such an unconventional boutique hotel would make for a fascinating experience. 

Unfortunately, around two months before our trip, we received an email from Marriott Guest Relations notifying us that Hotel Katajanokka, Tribute Portfolio would no longer be affiliated with Marriott. As a result, our reservation could not be accommodated. This meant our reservation would be relocated to Hotel U14, Autograph Collection, which honored our original booking dates and nightly rate.

This ended up being something of an upgrade since the nightly rate at Hotel U14 was notably higher than at Hotel Katajanokka. While we were a bit disappointed to miss out on the prison hotel experience, we’ve always had great stays at Autograph Collection hotels in Europe, so we were happy with this outcome.

Nightly rates at Hotel U14 start at around €270 and go up to over €600 for a suite. Since the €130 nightly cash rate from our original booking at Hotel Katajanokka was applied to our stay at Hotel U14, we ended up receiving more than a 50% discount on our stay at Hotel U14. Furthermore, a few days prior to our arrival, I noticed in the Marriott Bonvoy app that I had been proactively upgraded to a Luxe Guest Room, enhancing the value of my stay even more.

If you want to redeem points at Hotel U14, most nights are priced at under 50,000 Bonvoy points each. This makes Hotel U14 a solid option for using a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award with a small top-up.

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Awards by holding cards like the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card. This card offers a Free Night Award each card anniversary year as a recurring benefit. Members can hold both personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, allowing them to accumulate multiple Free Night Awards annually.

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The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card earns Bonvoy points and offers cardholders benefits including an annual free night and 15 qualifying nights towards elite status.

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BONUS
50,000 Marriott Bonvoy

MINSPEND
$1,500

NET VALUE
$330+

ANNUAL FEE
$120

FOREX FEES
Yes

EXPIRY
–

Hotel U14 features a distinctive design that blends Scandinavian minimalism with some elements of African safari aesthetics. The mostly single-tone furniture was accented by animal print area rugs, with stuffed leather safari animals scattered around. The table lamps were shaped like different birds, adding a unique touch. 

Check-in was taken care of quickly by the friendly agent, who provided an overview of the hotel facilities, including the gym, sauna, and breakfast hours.

For my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite welcome amenity, I was offered the choice of between 1,000 Bonvoy points or a €10 food & beverage credit. Lastly, as per the Marriott Bonvoy Terms & Conditions, Autograph Collection properties that do not have a lounge must offer a daily breakfast in the hotel restaurant. 

At this location, you have the option to receive an additional bonus of 1,000 Bonvoy points instead of a complimentary breakfast if you prefer. I opted for the 1,000 bonus points over the €10 food & beverage credit and selected the complimentary breakfast.

Location

The location of Hotel U14 is perfect for exploring Helsinki on foot. The hotel is ideally located just minutes from the Port of Helsinki, where you’ll find the daily outdoor city market offering a variety of traditional Scandinavian goods and food.

Another must-visit spot is Esplanade Park, a central urban green space nestled in the city’s upscale shopping district. This area boasts numerous high-end retailers and fine dining options.

Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL) is located quite a distance from the city center. Although public transit to the airport is available, I found the most economical option in terms of both time and money was by taking an Uber. The Uber ride took about 25 minutes and cost just over €20. 

If you’re arriving in Helsinki by ferry, as we did, the ferry terminal is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. There’s a tram stop right at the ferry terminal, along with plenty of cabs and rideshare options available.

Parking

There is no guest parking at Hotel U14. However, the hotel has partnered with a nearby off-site parking garage to offer overnight parking, providing guests with a 20% discount voucher.

There is also some short-term parking available on the streets near the hotel.

Room – 1 King Bed, Luxe Guest Room

I was assigned to Room 105 on the ground floor, one of the two rooms accessed directly from the hotel’s outdoor courtyard.

I originally booked a base-level Comfort 1 King Guest Room but was proactively upgraded to a Luxe Guest Room on account of my Marriott Bonvoy status. The Luxe Guest Room has a slightly more spacious overall footprint with a larger sitting area compared to a standard room. Although I didn’t necessarily need the extra space since I was staying alone, any upgrade is always appreciated.

The main living space was furnished beautifully with a very comfortable king-size bed that was flanked by matching nightstands on either side and a striking red velvet bench at the foot of the bed.

As the room looked out over the outdoor courtyard, there was an abundance of natural light from the two large windows.

Directly opposite the bed is a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, with a desk and chair positioned underneath. In keeping with the safari theme seen in the lobby, a stuffed leather hippo is resting on the desk.

The room featured a separate walk-in closet area with shelves, a luggage rack, an iron, and an ironing board. Additionally, it included a mini refrigerator, a coffee machine, and a kettle. In the drawers below, you’ll find a bottle of wine, glassware, and a variety of coffee and teas.

The bathroom is a nicely appointed single vanity space featuring contrasting black and white tones. In-room essentials are provided by I Love Eco Essentials, a Scandinavian company focusing on sustainable cosmetics.

The bathroom featured an enclosed area with a combined walk-in shower and bathtub.

As this property only opened in 2020, as you would expect, the guest rooms are clean and modern, providing all the necessary amenities and modern connectivity, such as bedside USB ports and power outlets.

Additionally, as part of the hotel’s commitment to sustainability, single-use plastics are completely absent from the property. This is illustrated by the absence of any bottled water, as the hotel encourages guests to drink tap water. A note left in the room explains that Finland is consistently ranked for having the cleanest tap water in the world.

Restaurants

Version Eatery – Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Breakfast

Like many Autograph Collection hotels in Europe, these properties tend to fall into the boutique hotel segment and usually have no more than 100 guest rooms. As a result, you’ll often find just one dining establishment on-site.

The food at Version Eatery is inspired by Californian fusion cuisine, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. You can view the Version Eatery menu here. 

Each morning, we enjoyed our complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Elite breakfast at Version Eatery. As with all Autograph Collection properties in Europe I’ve stayed at, the quality was consistently high, offering an excellent morning buffet breakfast.

The buffet featured all the usual items you would expect from a high-quality hotel spread. This includes hot and cold drinks, along with various pastries and cold cereals.

All the usual staples were available, including meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, and yogurt. Hot items included bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, and traditional Finnish dishes like Karelian pies.

We especially enjoyed breakfast each morning and appreciated the hotel’s offering of some traditional Finnish dishes. It was a great opportunity to sample some unique foods and dishes we might not have had the chance to try otherwise.

Facilities

Fitness Center

The gym offered all the standard equipment one would expect, including cardio machines, a cable machine, a bench, and some free weights. The fitness center at Hotel U14 might not be the largest, but it was sufficient for a decent workout each morning.

Spa

No Scandinavian hotel would be complete without its own sauna facilities, and while the sauna at Hotel U14 is fairly simple, we thoroughly enjoyed experiencing a traditional Finnish sauna each evening before bed. 

The sauna at Hotel U14 is kept at a temperature well above 100°C, which can feel quite intense if you’re not used to it.

Cold dunk buckets are conveniently located just outside the sauna door, offering a quick cooldown between sauna sessions.

Amenities

Complimentary Pedal Bikes

Helsinki is an incredibly bicycle-friendly city, and the hotel has around half a dozen pedal bikes available for guests to use on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Conclusion

Although we were initially disappointed when our original reservation at Hotel Katajanokka could not be honored, our stay at Hotel U14 turned out to be an entirely pleasant experience. Located in the heart of Helsinki, the hotel offers a perfect blend of modern and offbeat vibes, making it an excellent choice for using a Marriott Bonvoy Free Night Award.

Building on our earlier stay at Stradom House during this trip, the Autograph Collection properties in Europe continue to impress with their exceptional quality.