Review: Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret Oslo

Did you actually get to use the pack and play? Seems like there wouldn't have been room at all.

I don't know how you do it sir... I only have one kid and can picture the struggles of just hauling him around, let alone three. If your pack-and-play is like ours, it is very heavy and not that small when stored....I wonder where they would have put the $80 crib?

Certainly seems like a great deal! For one that room would be great....but for 5. Yikes! Did you ever think about going back down and refusing that room? Certainly the hotel could not have been fully booked. There's never any harm in asking is my motto--especially when you've got a little status.

Good post Travis. Looking forward to traveling to Oslo.

I understand your reasoning for the "getting 2 free meals" with the price of the hotel room, but isn't half the fun of traveling actually leaving the hotel and trying local restaurants? Rarely, if ever, do I eat in a hotel, unless it's a renowned restaurant that's part of the hotel (not looking at your, Trump Grill). Regardless, sure, you may save a buck, but instead of traveling, aren't you really just flying thousands of miles to stay in a far-too-small hotel room and eat dinner at a hotel?

Personally, that type of traveling isn't for me.

This makes me optimistic for my upcoming clarion collection stay in Malmo in a couple weeks.

Were you able to sleep five people in that room, or did you get two rooms?

Are the clarion hotels an exception? it seems that most chain European hotels don't allow more than two in a room.

I loved both Bastion and Savoy in July 2016 before and after our family trip to Svalbard.I think that Clarion is the best deal in Norway!

@Keith I generally agree with you on that. But I'm guessing you've never been to Norway...

Nat: There actually was enough room between the bed and windows, so yes, we used it.

Donald -- I generally agree with you. My motto is "you don't get what you don't ask for".

But this time I actually didn't try. I guess looking at the floor plan it wasn't really obvious to me that our room was significantly smaller than average. There seemed to be number of rooms of that size, so I didn't feel like they singled us out or anything. Then I sort of expected that there would be an up-charge for a bigger room, which I probably didn't want to pay. 😉

Keith --

I'm guessing you don't have kids. They kind of change the equation. We all travel differently.

Cheers.

Doug -- We had one room.

Joanna -- Agree on the Bastion! And agree on Clarion Collection being the best deal in Norway. We love them.

Travis,
Very nice review. Sounds like a great place -- the hotel and the city the country -- to visit with the family.

Was your wife okay with your obsessing over the statue? Just saying.

zow -- LOL, yes, all of my commentary on the statute was approved by my wife.

Thanks for the report Travis! We stayed at a Choice hotel in Malmo last summer, and it included supper. It looked similar to the spread at your hotel. We stayed on points, and they gave us an inside room, w/ no ventilation. The hotel did not appear to be full 🙁

Travis, you wrote "I don’t usually put that much stock in TripAdvisor ratings". Do you not review other people's comments, opinions, suggestions and photos on TripAdvisor? I stay at +60 hotels a year and I have found that site to be a fantastic source to support or counter the narrative promoted by the actual hotel.
Just out of interest, when you go travelling, is there a 'must see' that you have when you travel? Mine is Microbrewery pubs. I find they are not always in the tourist zone (which I love) and the meals are usually a great price. FYI, Crowbar Bryggeri in Oslo was pretty good 😉

SullyofDoha -- Yes, I use TripAdvisor like you describe. I'm just saying that I wouldn't usually choose to stay at Hotel X because it is ranked as #6 in that city versus Hotel Y which is ranked #10. I don't think the specific numeric ranking means all that much, it's more about the comments as you say.

But in this case, I basically went with Folk Theater because it had a higher numeric ranking mostly because my wife said I had to just make a decision.

As for must-see: my wife likes to collect UNESCO World Heritage sites. So if there's one in the vicinity, we'll try to include it. We also have a thing for funiculars as crazy as that sounds.

Radiators are very common in Scandinavia, even in hotels. They double as great dryer for towels and wet clothes 🙂

I think the "30 days out" policy for award stays has changed. Perhaps the website:

Members who have not yet achieved Elite Status must make their free night reservation personally through the Program Line or through their online account no more than 30 days prior to planned arrival for stays in their country of residence. Sixty days prior to their planned arrival at all other locations worldwide.

Maybe this changes the game for some? Although, if we're looking at Scandinavia in the summer time (and we're originating from the US), we could see hotels booked out before our window ever opens.

We got a bigger room but would recommend this hotel. They let us check in at 8 am with no charge. Left early the last day and they offered a sandwich to go. I like to eat in local restaurants but the food here is nice and Norway is expensive. You can eat something different for lunch and then eat here in evening. Especially when feeding kids. Nice to see review of somewhere I've been

Travis - great articles! Do you have a recommended pack-and-play for travel? We will be traveling with a 15-month old and in some areas where there are only AirBnBs without cribs. Any insight is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Hahaha I just read bits and pieces, but it was funny. You should start your own blog.