Settling into Oslo - Norway - page 86

hallway. Each of the suites is thematically decorated, based on the life of a famous
Scandinavian, usually with photographic tributes. Rooms and suites are accessi-
ble via a labyrinthine path of stairs and many angled hallways, and are sometimes
a bit hard to find unless if you're being escorted by a staff member. Each unit has
a mini kitchen, some kind of original art, and in many cases, exposed brick. All
units come with a neatly tiled bathroom with tub/shower combinations.
Kongensgate 5, N-0153 Oslo. & 23-10-72-00. Fax [phone] units. Mon-Thurs 1,602NOK ($227)
double, 2,149-2,999NOK ($305-$426) suite; Fri-Sun 1,420NOK ($202) double, 1,789NOK-2,499NOK
($254-$355) suite. Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking 150NOK ($21) per night. T-banen:
Stortinget. Amenities: Outdoor Jacuzzi on roof terrace; laundry service/dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV, mini-
bar, iron/ironing board.
Hotell Bondeheimen In the city center, a short block from the Students'
Grove at Karl Johans Gate, the Bondeheimen was built in 1913. A cooperative
of farmers and students established this hotel, now a Best Western, to provide
inexpensive, teetotalist-friendly accommodations when they visited Oslo from
the countryside. Although small, the compact rooms are comfortably furnished,
often with Norwegian pine pieces. The hotel was fully renovated in 1995, with
regular refurbishments since then. Bedrooms are larger than standard with firm
mattresses, and the bathrooms, although small and mostly without tubs, contain
shower units and heated floors.
Rosenkrantzgate 8 (entrance on Kristian IV's Gate), N-0159 Oslo 1. & 800/633-6548 in the U.S., or 23-21-
41-00. Fax [phone]. www.bestwestern.com. 81 units. Mon-Thurs 1,295NOK ($184) double; Fri-Sun
990NOK ($141) double. Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking 180NOK ($26). Tram: 7 or 11. Ameni-
ties: Restaurant; boutique; laundry service/dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobil-
ity. In room: TV, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker (in some), hair dryer, iron/ironing board.
Norlandia Karl Johan Hotell For the past century or so, an old-fashioned
aura hung about this gray stone hotel, the former Karl Johan. Now, a 2002 ren-
ovation has made it brighter, more inviting, and a lot less dim compared to its
neighbor across the street, the daunting (yet still far better) Grand Hotel. Filled
with Norwegian folk art, the Norlandia welcomes you to a reception area filled
with mirrors and marble, along with rugs from Asia and antiques (or reproduc-
tions at least). The medium-size bedrooms have a classic decor with excellent
fabrics, good beds, double glazing on the windows to cut down on the noise out-
side, and tiny but marble-clad bathrooms with tub/shower combinations. The
best units open onto the front and contain French windows from which you get
a panoramic view of the central city.
Karl Johans Gate 33, N-0162 Oslo. & 23-16-17-00. Fax [phone]. www.norlandia.no. 111 units. Mon-Fri
1,595NOK ($226) double, 2,100NOK ($298) suite; Sat-Sun 990NOK ($141) double, 2,490NOK ($354) suite.
Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking 140NOK ($20) in nearby public garage. T-banen: National The-
atret or Stortinget. Amenities: Laundry service/dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited
mobility. In room: TV, minibar, hair dryer, iron (in some).
Rainbow Hotel Cecil This contemporary hotel enjoys a central location, and
many restaurants, sights, and shops lie within a short walk of the main entrance
of the hotel. Dating from 1989 and last renovated in 2001, it was constructed
on the site of a previous hotel destroyed by fire. As if inspired by a much grander
Hyatt, most of its rooms are built to open onto a central atrium. Only four
rooms on each of the eight floors overlook the street (the sometimes rowdy—at
least at night—Rosenkrantzgate). The well-maintained rooms are cozy and con-
tain neatly kept bathrooms with tub/shower combinations. Expect relatively
simple styling with none of the trappings of more expensive nearby competi-
tors—there's no health club, sauna, or full-fledged room service.