Ski-Inn PyhäSuites

A wonderful place to visit. A true winter wonderland.

We'd used the sister apartments of the Ski-Inn Pyha Suites accommodation in Ruka resort, so we kind of knew what to expect, in terms of room configuration, standards and comfort. We'd never been to Pyha resort before, but we had a great week there. The rooms are very simply furnished in the typical 'scandi' style, but they are clean and very comfortable. You have your own sauna, which can take a little effort to get it working, but it's great after a day out in the cold on the slopes. There is also a drying cabinet where you can put your gear overnight to dry out and be lovely and warm in the morning when you go out again. The apartments are well equipped, with a dishwasher, coffee maker, oven, 4 ring hob and toaster. It's here where there is an important traveller tip to share and for future customers of Ski-Inn Pyha Suites to consider when booking. We enjoy self-catering when on holiday and, especially in Finland, eating out can be VERY expensive if you're doing it every night. However, customers need to be aware that Ski-Inn Pyha Suites employs a very strict [and IMO unusual] policy when it comes to the smoke alarm in the apartments. If, for some reason, you happen to accidentally trigger the alarm whilst cooking in the apartment and the fire service is called out [as they invariably will be], then Ski-Inn Pyha Suites will expect you as the customer to pay 990 Euros to cover the cost of the call out. They will invoice you accordingly. There are rules on their website relating to "nuisance calls", but these seem to relate more to malicious triggering of the smoke alarm; e.g smoking or vaping in the room, waxing of skis or snowboards. No mention of using the provided equipment to cook a meal. Sadly this happened to us and we received an invoice from Ski-Inn Pyha Suites 4 days after returning from holiday, which we have since been fighting with them to get cancelled. Which it now has, thankfully. However the whole experience has somewhat soured what was, otherwise a really great holiday. We would also have to seriously reconsider whether we book again at Ski-Inn Pyha or Ruka suites [they have the same policy].

We booked with Crystal Ski half board. Arriving late on a Sunday we weren't able to get any food from K-Market and the nearby restaurant closing at 10pm said we were too late even though we went in before 9.30pm. So not a great start, but Pyha Suites were clean, tidy and cosy so we decided to go to bed early and start again in the morning. The apartments are usually self catering but a we upgraded to half board, so it would have been nice to have some tea and coffee to make a hot drink at the very least, there was literally nothing until breakfast the next morning. The apartment had a sauna which had no instructions on how to work it, later in the week I noticed a control on the cooker hood extractor that said sauna on it, surely not?? We did turn it and heard something in the area of the sauna but again with no instructions didn't want to take a risk in using it. However the shower was great, loads of hot water and it did the job of soothing aching limbs. We also had a balcony which on the first morning we discovered hadn't been cleared of the previous occupants bottles which despite the request of guests throwing rubbish away obviously hadn't happened and why should it be the cleaning staff who do it. The boot and ski /board cupboard on the ground floor wouldn't close let alone lock but a quick discussion with our Crystal rep sorted the closing part but had to have a second request to fix the lock that didn't lock, later the same day. Despite the few negatives we've had a great stay, we could ski off the button lift back to the apartment and only a 2 minute walk to the slopes in either direction to the main slope or family slopes. We will definitely return but will be more prepared with drinks and some food.