Scandinavia
Best and worst accommodations:
Best: Aero Camping
Why: Friendly staff, nice facilities, gorgeous site.
Worst: City Lodge (hostel) in Stockholm
Why: I know your book caters to a somewhat older crowd than the Let's Go set. Leave this place for Let's Go backpackers, because they're already there... and incredibly loud.
M. Nelson in Chicago, IL USA 06/29/2008
Best: Aurland Fjordhotel in Norway
Why: Great staff, clean comfortable and good size room, great view of the fjord and town, quiet, great location, very good restaurant and breakfast! Can walk to the ferry and market as well.
Jim Asprinio in san Francisco, USA 05/11/2008
Best: Freys Hotel in Stockholm
Why: Great staff, clean comfortable room, free internet, great location, very good restaurant (a little pricey) and amazing breakfast!
Worst: P-Hotel
Why: Rooms were just ok, not super clean, no coffee in the morning provided, thought it could have been less expensive for what we got, although its close to station and free internet on 2nd floor.
Jim Asprinio in san Francisco, USA 05/11/2008
Best: Skansen Pensjonat in Bergen, Rica Hotel Kungsgatan in Stockholm
Why: The Skansen Pensjonat was easy to walk to from the train station (although the last bit of walking is quite steep--and we arrived in the pouring rain), was centrally located, clean, had a nice view, and a great breakfast--all for 600 NOK for a double. The Rica Hotel Kungsgatan (745 Kr for a double no window) in Stockholm had the best buffet breakfast I think I'll ever experience at a hotel, good air conditioning, free Internet in its lobby, and was steps from the main pedestrian street.
We also stayed at the Helsinki Holiday Inn City Centre for 68 euros (no breakfast). It was great because the public bus from the airport stopped about a block away, and the hotel was centrally located. There was a fan in the room, too!
Worst: P-Hotel in Oslo
Why: It really wasn't that bad, but it was the least appealing place we stayed. We liked the free Internet on the 2nd floor, the good bagged breakfast, the TV, and that they had an electric fan we could borrow. We didn't like that the deadbolt on the door didn't work, that the room was a bit loud, and that smoke came in through the window (though the room was a non-smoking room). It was also easy to reach from the train station.
Kyla Gurganus in Ypsilanti, MI USA 01/10/2008
Best: Hotel Aerohaus, Isle of Aeroskobing, Denmark
Why: Delightful stay in great island location with friendly, helpful staff. Owner/manager was not comfortable speaking english, but staff was alert and accomodating
Worst: Frimurarehotellet, Kalmar, Sweden
Why: Booked Friday & Saturday night. Entertainment on adjacent town square until 3:00 AM, both nights. Sleepless in Kalmar! Nice hotel...except Fri & Sat!
Gene Field in Tampa, FL USA 09/09/2007
Best: Balestrand Hotel
Why: Unni-Marie is great; helpful ahead of time on some Nutshell questions, gave us a discount on a 2nd room and the food is good. 2nd place was the Rica Kungsgaten in Stockholm. Great breakfast and nice rooms. (you can see breakfast is important for my family!).
Worst: Cochs Pensjonat
Why: It's not terrible and we could stay there again, but it's impersonal due to size and then the unrenovated rooms are VERY spartan. Savior was having a balcony so we could sit out.
Mike McDonnell in Wroughton, UK 09/02/2007
Best: Balestrand Hotel, Balestrand, Norway
Why: Fantastic staff, great location, spotless rooms, good breakfast. It's worth springing for the fjord view room--one can sit watching the water and ferries for hours.
Worst: Thon Hotel Europa-Oslo
Why: Thon hotels apparently now being bought out by Rainbow Hotels and don't do the Thon card discount. This one did not honor our Thon card or our credit-card guaranteed room choice because there was Rolling Stone concert in town and they gave our room away! What they substituted was an incredibly small room with a green netting obstructing the entire window because of hotel construction. I will never again use a Thon Hotel.
Elaine in Livingston, MT USA 08/28/2007
Best: Balestrand hostel
Why: Great view, great family room, balcony, wonderful breakfast room and food, comfy TV room and kitchen area.
Worst: P Hotel, Oslo
Why: Tired and worn out. Still, we were not there very long so it was not a big deal.
Bob DenOuden in Eugene, OR USA 08/03/2007
Best: CabInn Scandanavia in Copenhagen
Why: Just wanted to let you know that we found the staff to be VERY helpful (your book says they won't give you the time of day). Maybe they've had some customer service training, or something. They were always willing to help us with questions. One gal spent at least a half hour researching kid-friendly restaurants with authentic danish cuisine for us. We'd definitely stay here again.
Vivian Miller in Los Alamitos, Ca USA 07/29/2007
Best: Toldbodhus B&B in Aeroskobing
Why: After a month of following in Rick Steve's footsteps in Scandinavia, (and several summers following his guidebooks in Western Europe)our family of 5 unanimously voted Toldbodhus B&B to be our favorite accomodation. We had no reservations, but, being early in the season, we took our chances. We were fortunate enough to get two rooms in the loveliest B&B that we have ever experienced. Everything was perfect. The rooms are beautiful,clean and comfortable, the breakfasts are sumptuous (hot bread, a delicious egg dish, homemade plum jam, fresh squeezed OJ, plus other goodies) and the most gracious hosts (who waited up for us when we arrived on the midnight ferry). We extended our stay on Aero and ended up staying 3 nights (instead of the 1 planned) as it was so comfortable and the island so beautiful. It was like a vacation within a vacation. Our kids didn't want to leave!
E Philpot in Chapel Hill, NC USA 07/18/2007
Best: Roisheim Hotel, near Lom, Gudbrands Valley
Why: Great atmosphere. We were there mid-week in mid June, we were the only guests but were served an excellent dinner and breakfast
Lori in Minneapolis, MN USA 07/05/2007
Best: Rica Talk and Park Inn Aurlanda, Stockholm
Why: The Rica Talk is an elegant hotel catering to conventioneers at the expo center next door. Large rooms, comfortable beds, designer fixtures. The Park Inn is just a cut below the Talk but just as clean. Near the airport too. Great B'kfast included at both hotels.
Earl in Lockport, IL USA 07/03/2007
Best: Stockholm: Queen's & Adlon Hotel, House of Colors in Copenhagen, Thon Stefan in Oslo
Why: The Queen's Hotell is being renovated, so they had to cancel our reservation 1 week before our trip. However, they rebooked us at the Adlon (a nicer hotel -- the Queen's people admit it). The Adlon is much more expensive, but we paid them the Queen's rate -- the Queen's hotell paid the Adlon the difference. Gitte's House of Colors Bed & Bike was a great experience in Copenhagen. If you want to feel like a "temporary local" stay here and bike in to town. Thon Stefan in Oslo had the best breakfast buffet and reasonable rates (we were in Oslo during a heat wave and the A/C could have been more powerful, but otherwise a great stay). In Bergen we stayed at the InCity Apartments, which is (GASP!) not in Rick's guide, but should be. Very central & affordable.
John in Towson, MD USA 06/12/2007
Best: Hotel Park Pension, Bergen
Why: Beautiful, antique filled old hotel in a quiet area of town. It is in the National Registry of Historic Hotels in Norway. It is a long uphill walk from the port but is close to the train station.
sandy winters in willis, te USA 06/03/2007
Best: Copenhagen Island Hotels/Scandic Helsinki hotel
Why: Search the internet. Some Hotels offer a cheaper rates if you book online and pick Tivoli package.the Scandic Helsinki clean and friendly workers. They even give me a free drink upon arrival.
Worst: Stockholm Scandic Sergel Hotel and Radisson SAS Airport
Why: Although in the Center city, the Scandic Sergel rooms are old and smell like mold. SAS Airport hotel also smells like mold. The good thing about it is the free bus to the airport and the good breakfast buffet.
Jude1349 in deptford, NJ USA 05/30/2007
Best: Thon Hotels
Why: Thon card gives discount--and have many locations to pick from. Shoould be applied for on internet before going to Norway or Belgium
richard welsh in westfield ctr, oh USA 04/17/2007
Best: Hotel Sct. Thomas
Why: Really don't know if it's the best but it was comfortable with great beds and a newly remodeled bath. The staff was very helpful and the breakfast a three stars.
Mike Worosz in Griffith , IN USA 11/14/2006
Best: Frimurare Hotellet in Kalmar
Why: Charming staff, beautiful room...and a breakfast that was amazing in amount and quality of food. Also must mention the Hollenders' in Copenhagen...friendly, helpful, accommodating.
Marion Dunham in Whitefield, NH USA 10/26/2006
Worst: Skansen Hotel in Stavanger, Norway
Why: We traveled thru Scandinavia for 18 days and this was the worst accommodation. You should drop it from your book. We had a double room in the annex for 1090 NOK ($174 US). I mentioned to the desk clerk that the rate was up considerably from the Rick Steves book and she said it was the taxes. The room was cramped, threadbare, inconvenient, dimly lit, and unsafe. We had a reservation. When I saw the room, I told the clerk that it wouldn't work. It was wall-to-wall beds with bunk beds and two single beds overlooking the street. She said there was another room, but smaller. We took that as it was just two beds. I thought we were lucky. Your book mentioned the street side rooms could be noisy and this was an interior room. It looked into the courtyard. Great. It was raining so I thought no one would use it that night. Wrong. Smokers from the bar sat out there, chatting loudly on cell phones. No A/C so we couldn't drowned out the chatter or smoke. Also the door to the courtyard was next to our hall door. Anyone could could walk off the street into the sleeping area. Your book said it had been renovated but it was shabby now as they didn't use commercial quality.
B & V Broering in Austin, TX USA 10/01/2006
Best: Stureparkens Gastvaning & Balestrand Hotel
Why: The hosts of these small hotels provide the very best: warmth, helpful suggestions, Eng. books to trade in lovely common areas, delicious buffets & fair prices for all they offer. What great finds!
Sally Davenport in Bellingham, WA USA 09/15/2006
Best: Annette & Rudy Hollender's (Copenhagen)
Why: Big attic room, lot's of privacy, good location
Worst: Marken Gjestehus (Bergen)
Why: They charged my credit card for a night as a no-show even though when I emailed them to confirm my reservation, I was told that there was no reservation in my name
Lauren in New York, NY USA 09/06/2006
Best: maritim hotel in simrisham
Why: amazing design
Worst: house of colors in denmark
Why: housekeeper has circular saw going for two days above our hotel room with accompanying dirt & debris. Her response is reluctant accomodation with and attitude: "you are young, but act old" was her parting insult about our lack of appreciation for the dulcet tones of a power drill.
eric daimler in san jose, ca USA 09/02/2006
Best: PensionVestergade
Why: Suzanna is a born hostess...lovely home...lovely breakfast...and great location
Jaunita Eichman in Wirtz, , VA USA 08/26/2006
Best: Balestrand Hotel
Why: Great folks running the place. They picked up our luggage at the boat. The short walk to the hotel was a pleasure. Wonderfully quiet and peaceful town.
Tom Gilbert in Bryn Mawr, PA USA 08/25/2006
Best: Tourist Info in Oslo and Helsinki
Why: Both booked us into nice hotels on sale. In Helsinki we got the Radisson SAS Royal for 95 euro a night. Free sauna, free breakfast, very nice room.
Kenneth Thomas in O'Fallon, MO USA 08/21/2006
Best: In Copenhagen, the Nebo, In Aero, the Hotel Aerohus
Why: The Nebo for its great location, wonderful breakfasts and helpful staff...and its only one block from the back door to the Train Station. Don't take Steve too literally (when he says the Hotel Aerohus is less personal)...they certainly made us feel at home and welcome...good food (wonderful dinner the first night on the island and good breakfasts). They had great bikes which we used to navigate around the island. One suggestion...no matter what anyone tells you, the trip around the island can be done without riding on the gravel roads (except Vodrup Klint)...they are to be avoided at all costs (we didn't and we suffered in the heat as a result). In Helsinki, we stayed at the Hotel Kamp...it was easily the most luxurious and most centrally located...they were wonderful, with a spa that included both a suana and massage (for those so inclined).
Bill Young in San Leandro , CA USA 08/16/2006
Worst: Rica City Gamla Stan in Stockholm
Why: It was ok, but I wouldn't use the term "Old World elegance." The bathrooms and breakfast smorgasbord were excellent, but they never serviced our room in 4 days, although we asked! The beds were foutons (hard and uncomfortable), the lighting in the room and lobby virtually non-existent, and staff just modestly helpful. The location was, indeed, an A+.
Linda Maryanov in New York, NY USA 08/01/2006
Best: all the hostels,
Why: clean, safe cheap and the fellow travelers of all ages were great. bring sheets from home.
jenna stone in new york, NY USA 07/26/2006
Best: Flam Apartment
Why: Each room has its own porch overlooking the Fjord. (bring your own soap/shampoo) Amazing view !
James in Commerce, ga USA 07/13/2006
Best: Hostels in Copenhagen and Helsignor
Why: It kept us on within our budget
MaryThompson in Schroon Lake , NY USA 07/10/2006
Best: Montana Hostel in Bergen
Why: Rick ´says this hostel is too far out of town. With the Bergen card, or tranist pass, it's only a 10 minute ride. I had a 4 bed dorm room to my self, immaculate bedding, sink in room, best 2 nights of sleep i've had in a hostel.
Jenna Stone in New York, NY USA 07/03/2006
Best: Aurland Fjordhotell, Aurland Norway
Why: (May 2005) The room was clean and nice. But the best part of our stay was that the owner, Steinar Kjaerstein, learned that we were booked the following morning on the Nutshell fjord cruise, and all the boat captains had just gone on strike. He sent us off to dinner, then got on the phone and made many calls until he found places on a huge cruise catamaran which would take us through the same fjords and all the way on to Bergen - at no extra charge. He was so helpful and saved our vacation! We recommend him and the Aurland Fjordhotell highly!
Archie Johnston in Edisto Beach, SC USA 06/14/2006
Best: Graasten Farm B&B, Aero Island, Denmark
Why: good service, cleanliness was top notch, comfortable, good breakfast
gayle lonnis in hamilton nj, nj USA 04/13/2006
|
