Review: AC Hotel By Marriott Copenhagen Bella Sky

I guess that since the airline crew is not the obvious choice (Air Greenland), it could very well be Hi Fly, which is operating for Air Greenland currently.

I'm confused by this layover. In your TK post you said you were heading to Copenhagen for a few days and here you mention that you had 2 nights. Why did you want to stay close to the airport and not in the city, especially when it's like ~20 minutes into the city? This review cracked me up though - I unexpectedly spent a night here a while back when a flight was cancelled after rolling delays and was equally surprised/impressed with the buffet!

BM so you should right fit in 🙂 sorry couldn't resist, really like AC brand. I usually order omelets and so on. Didn't need it but think I saw also toothpaste (although was AC in USA)

That replica looks like Lego, which is from Denmark

To go to the hotel from CPH you could just have taken the train one station for no cost

I have stayed in the hotel pre-covid. It also had a shuttle bus service to and from the airport back then, don't know if they still have this service. The hotel is just a few stops from the city centre and the station is just across the street.

Wow. It looks like they spent all the money on designing the exterior architecture and nothing on the interior, at least the hallways and guest rooms. Am I the only one who thinks the guest rooms like a college dorm or even a hospital? The design isn't even Nordic minimalist chic. While at first I was surprised to see the hotel attached to the big convention center is a limited-service brand (AC), I suppose it makes sense. Full-service branded hotels are relatively rare in the Nordic countries because the cost of labor makes them very, very expensive to operate. There are very few legitimate 4-star or 5-star full-service hotels in countries like Denmark and Sweden when compared to other European countries or even the United States. Airports in Nordic countries have had automated boarding gates, automated security checkpoints, and automated lounge access checkpoints for years because it costs too much to pay someone to do that job.

I've stayed at this hotel quite a few times and a few thoughts...

"The AC Hotel is a roughly 10 minute drive from the airport (which costs around $30 in a taxi). There’s also a train, but it requires a bit of walking to get to the station."

The train station is, literally, at the end of the property. In fact, you can see the station in your picture of the parking lot (walking maybe ~2 football fields?) It's also super cheap (like $2?) to get to the airport and the train drops you in the basement of the airport. Super convenient! Additionally, I'm not sure if the hotel airport shuttle is still available (given covid) but they had a complimentary shuttle (for guests) at one point. I had to ask the from desk bc they didn't make it well known.

I'm not sure if the pool is considered "the spa" but it's unfortunate that you weren't able to access it. It's heated and experiencing it (particularly in the middle of the winter) is a treat.

You are correct in the fact that "point hotels" are hard to come by in the city. This hotel sits in between the city and the airport. It's far enough from the city that once you visit the city the first day, you're unlikely to visit it again. lol

The plant wall looks identical to the ones found in Centurion lounges. I wonder if there was any cross inspiration.

I've stayed at this hotel so many times for conferences (pre-covid of course). The hotel is fine - never felt over crowded to me.

Of the 100s of conferences that bar stands out as being very accommodating of large groups, staying past close, all with separate checks. For the record, they had their plant wall before centurion lounges were everywhere.

I think the location for tourism is a good balance between price and convenience. As others have mentioned, the train is a few hundred yards walk and then a few stops to the city. Very nearby is a mall, restaurants, and a grocery store.

“In front of the spa and gym area was a replica of the building… it seems they’re proud of the design!” — it’s made of 100,000+ Lego bricks (Danish company), Ben. I remember the model, I stayed there once too.

Honestly, the room looks so much better than the ones in your review of the Chedi, hah! Would be curious to know why you decided not to stay in the city since you were there for a couple of nights, Copenhagen being a really awesome city.

It's just in fashion at the moment. Westin newly built and renovated properties all have feature plant walls in the lobby.

I've stayed in this area (at the Crown Plaza) for sightseeing and found it very convenient. Between the metro line and the s-train, it was quick and easy to get to most areas and its near a mall with a supermarket.

Interesting hotel, have seen it many time going out of the airport on the bus (but the train is quicker to train station). But as pointed out - not a good location if you want to do sights and night life in downtown. Mostly stay at Marriott. Have stayed at the tall Radisson (megado) over the bridge - but you can still walk over the bridge to get downtown. I would certainly look for a lower budget hotel in town if Marriott is too high.

Should have tried the crown plaza. A few dollars for the shuttle and the train is a short walk. Food is better.

Was there prune juice on the buffet at the BM restaurant?

It looks cold and industrial. The restaurant could pass for an office cafeteria. Won't be on my list to stay at.

I was expecting a review of Nobis or The Socialist. This is the most boring Marriott option in cph and bets me why anyone would stay here unless attending a conference.

What a treat to have a review of this hotel just days before I arrive there for a convention! Thank you for the great review and tips!

I stayed at this hotel back in 2012 before it was an AC hotel and enjoyed my stay. Just looked at the photos I took of my room which is exactly the same as the one in your photo only it didn't have the sofa, but the same corner room, desk, chair, bed and bathroom and back then it was not a junior suite it was just a superior or deluxe room. I guess the sofa makes it a junior suite.

What a soulless hotel. I get that you were doing a review and that was the cheapest redemption in Copenhagen, but for two nights it seems like it was too much.

Even on one night layovers with an early flight the next day, I stay in the city centre which is only 15-20 minutes on the metro (runs 24 hours). Copenhagen is such a nice city and with the great transport links there is really no need to stay at an airport hotel.

Stayed here in 2019 and loved it. Easy walk to train to get to the city plus airport. And there are some cute, funky local cafes within walking distance.

I am not surprised that you did choose the AC Hotel. I stayed at the nearby Crowne Plaza a day or two later.

They give upgrades to points bookings (which is ruled out by IHG Rewards T&Cs).

I ended up in a King Lounge Room (usual upgrade for Spire Elite) for 23.000 points. Cash was around 165 USD. So a pretty decent deal.

They have a small lounge happy hour with many several wines and beers. However, almost no food. My friend would have paid a fortune for the drinks otherwise.

As breakfast is not served in the lounge, you get the regular breakfast at the restaurant.

This is an example of where loyalty is a disservice. If for some reason you insist on staying in this area (apart from attending a conference) the crowne plaza is incrementally closer to airport and in a meaningfully more interesting area with access to some murmur of life near the mall. Stay there vs being "loyal" to marriott. Having said that, if you are not inclined to take the train and will be taking a taxi anyway, go the extra 15-20 minutes toward city center. And skip the big chain hotels. City has so many interesting places to stay run by local/regional chains and also independent hotels. Nearly all of Scandinavia is a loyalty wasteland, at least for global chains. This is an example of what makes sense for a blog review likely does not make sense for most people unless using points is the only realistic path to affording a hotel stay. Honestly, if I didn't have much money I'd still probably take a hostel in city center over this hotel

Crown Plaza, AC Bella Sky and Marriott are all owned by the same (new) owners.
AC Bella Sky has a fantastic restaurant, Basalt, where our order for a 7-course dinner somehow became a 13-course dinner, all pre-Covid. What a treat, incl a tour of the kitchen with the chef.
In-town Marriott has lost a lot of its earlier upscale ambiance and as stated in the blog, prices are much higher.
I am Lifetime Titanium but do try other local chains in Copenhagen, like Arp-Hansen Group's excellent collection, from WakeUp to the Phoenix.

We stayed at the AC hotel in 2019 for 3 nights and loved it. Short walk to public transportation into the city, we went every day with day passes and explored different areas. You can even use some of the boats with a day pass. Nice hotel, great views from our room, free airport shuttle ... and about half the price than any other Marriott property. We would definitely stay there again.

What!? I also stayed in the same room last month, which also had the sofa. However, my room was not upgraded to a suite (not shown in app). Maybe I missed something...