THE hotel: A modern building just a five-minute shuttle coach transfer from Oslo’s passenger-friendly airport. The hotel was a very welcoming sight on a cold, snowy winter’s night.
THe check-in: In spite of it being past midnight, there were three people at the reception desk in the spacious, pine-smelling lobby. Check-in was friendly and quick, before taking the lift to my room.
THE ROOM: Warm and welcoming with a wall-mounted TV, double bed with typically Scandinavian deep snow-white pillows and duvets. There was a well-equipped bathroom with both shower and bath – the result of all rooms undergoing refurbishment in autumn last year.
THE BUSINESS: Wifi access is available in all rooms and public areas. In addition, a PC with printer is available beside the front desk in the lobby. The hotel is an important conference venue and claims to have Norway’s most extensive conference hotel facilities. The 1,008m2 Luftrommet can be converted into three different halls, while the hotel also has an additional 32 smaller meeting rooms.
THE RESTAURANT: The Raumarket restaurant can seat up to 500 and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast buffet is extensive, serving croissants to cooked and cold cuts to cappuccino.
THE FACILITIES: There’s an impressive 1,700m2 Water World straight off the lobby which has a training pool, therapy pool, Jacuzzi and water slide. It can also be used for events. This complex is also open to the public. There’s a bar with piano entertain-ment in the evenings and a fireplace. The hotel’s lounges have 250 seats and good free coffee in the lobby.
THE location: The reception was similarly well staffed mid-morning, making check-out a speedy and efficient experience. Tickets for the shuttle to the airport can be purchased at the reception desk.
THE verdict: An excellent airport hotel perfect for an overnight or business meeting and cheaper than the on-airport hotel, which is still an outside walk from the terminal.
THE DETAILS: Sør-Gardermoen, NO-2060 Gardermoen, Norway. Tel: 0047 63 94 94 94; email: oslo.airport@clarion.choicehotels.no; see: www.clarionhotels.com. Rack rates are NOK1995 for a single and NOK2195 for a double. That's approximately £186 and
£205 respectively. Alan Orbell
