Affordable Lahti lodging options popping up, site suggests
Is Lahti loosening up? Appears so from the 2009 WMA worlds website, which has a big blue headline: “Accommodation in all categories available in Lahti!” The site declares: “In all accommodation categories in Lahti, in the Lahti region and in Helsinki there are beds available for World Masters Athletics Championships 2009,” including “school housing right next to the main venue, price 25 € / person / night.” Now we’re cooking with gas! However, the site also says: “The prices and beds stated on the webpages of Lahti Travel and World Masters Athletics Championships 2009 are only available by booking through Lahti Travel. Lahti Travel Ltd is LOC’s city-owned partner for accommodation.” Why the more affordable prices? It could be competition for scarce entrants or someone cracking down on gouging, which we talked about. In any case, thanks to Rita Hanscom for pointing out the new pitch.
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I recall reading somewhere last fall about the possibility of dorm housing in a school near the main venue. I cannot remember where I read that but thought that it made sense – at the WMA meet in Finland in 1991(?) friends of mine stayed at a school facility some distance out of town and took a shuttle bus to the main venue area. Other WMA sites have used school/university housing as well.
It is too bad that the Lahiti LOC did not make this widely known before now -and in fact are not making it widely known except to the detectives among us – ie Rita Hanscom – who happen upon this information.
I looked at the Lahti LOC travel website a few weeks ago and did not see this type of housing – just the stuff about the hotels with a wide range of prices. Because the local travel agency has made it seem like buying a pig in a poke – I have opted to find housing via other means. It is not cheap – but — – less than one recently reported room for something like 125 euros/night but considerably more than 25 euros/night for a dorm room too.
Given the current widespread economic recession I suspect that participation at the WMA meet in Lahti will be lower than previously expected. While the Euro is much cheaper now for Americans than in Italy in 2007, it is about where it was for the meet in Spain in 2005. Those of us going to Lahti may need to pack instant noodles and peanut butter(have to put that in your checked bag).
Airfare is another issue – while some transatlantic fares have fallen – notably to London – it is a long ways from there to Helsinki. The bargain airlines that fly from Great Britain to Helsinki do not fly out of Heathrow (which may be a blessing) but rather from airports some distance from the city. It may require an overnight stay going and coming – spent either in a hotel – which detracts from the savings – or sitting up all night in the airport – not a pleasant thought. Flights from the East Coast to Helsinki are very expensive – from more distant parts of the US – even more so.
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