Friday 18 June 2010

SCANDIC GARDERMOEN OSLO AIRPORT

Unlike most Scandic Hotels I have visited, that were basic hotels, the Scandic Gardermoen Oslo Airport, is a completely new hotel, recently opened. It has a modern look, quite spacious reception and a lot of design.

It is on the other side of the runway from the Terminal. There is a shuttle bus that takes you to the hotel every 20 minutes, for a mere 60 kroner (7.5 Euro approximately) each way, on a trip that takes barely 5 minutes. Something to bear in mind if you compare prices with Radisson Blu, which is situated just across the street from the Terminal building.

Checking in, doesn’t take long, if you are quick to get off the bus and try to be first at the counter. After all, it has 243 rooms. Otherwise, you will need to wait until the staff finish with previous guests. I feel they were a bit “cold”. Not unpleasant, but distant. They did their job.

Reaching the room was somehow long. The corridors are long and my room was a bit far away. And rather dark. I don’t know… it must be the latest fashion, to have light that doesn’t give light.

The room was “tight”. Modern in look, but not much space. I asked for a big bed… All sold out… (As if!!!). I got two twins. Next to it, a small table with hardly space to move around.

The hotel is nice… but there isn’t anything around, so you need to make sure you reach there late, unless, of course, you want to use the gym. TV stations are very limited, and you have to depend on a TV channel that offers some film or series in English… If there isn’t and you don’t know Norwegian, you will have a rather boring evening.

Internet is free of charge, as in the rest of the Scandic, so that is a positive point.

Despite what you get from its website, Sauna is still not opened. I normally don't use them, but on this ocasion, I had been working long throught the day and needed to relax. The only option was a warm shower...

Breakfast was good and lots of choice; very well presented buffet.

It is a hotel that seems to give you a better image of what it is. It is not bad, but there are certain points that will make me reconsider whether I would like to return to it. Probably, if the price difference is not much, I would go to the Radisson Blu.


SCANDIC GARDERMOEN OSLO AIRPORT

Ravinevegen 15 2060
Gardermoen

Norway

Phone: +47 23 15 59 00

Fax: +47 23 15 59 11

E-mail: osloairport@scandichotels.com

Thursday 10 June 2010

SCANDIC HØVIK

The Scandic Høvik is really a Motel. At 15 minutes bus ride from Oslo Centre, situated in a Service Station, is that… a Motel. Getting there is not complicated, if you are choosing to use public transport. Taxis are out of the question due to the distance and the high fares you will be charged. It’s Norway after all, and nothing is cheap there.

The hotel rooms are basic. Scandic hotels tend to be that… In my case, I got a ground floor room, with basic bed (actually, two twins) and basic bathroom. Do you need more? Not really. Unlike what I thought initially, the rooms were quite silent. You could not hear the cars passing by or the train, which was a positive point.

Staff was helpful and gave me indications on how to get into Oslo Central the fastest way. That is, by bus, route 151 to be precise. Although, bus stop is 5 minutes away, and the route to it is a bit… tricky, as you have to cross the entrance to the services from the highway. There is a train station, but I got told it was a bit more complicated.

Breakfast was basic. Not bad but had had much better ones. Nothing compared with other Scandic Hotel ones. In my opinion, if you can get a closer hotel to the centre and need to head that way, it is better you use another hotel.

SCANDIC HØVIK
Drammensveien 507
1363 Oslo
Norway
Phone: +47 23 15 53 00
Fax: +47 23 15 53 11
Reservation & Customer service:
+46 8 517 517 20