Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While some hostels have quite comfortable lodge-style facilities and are open year-
round, a few are used for school accommodation and others are the cheaper wing of a
hotel; occasionally prices work out to be more expensive than a cabin or budget hotel. In
most hostels, guests must still bring their own sleeping sheet and pillowcase, although
most hire sleeping sheets for a one-off fee (starting from Nkr50) regardless of the number
of nights.
Most hostels have two- to six-bed rooms, and beds cost from Nkr200 to Nkr400. The
higher-priced hostels usually include a buffet breakfast, while other places may charge from
Nkr50 to Nkr125 for breakfast. Some also provide a good-value evening meal for around
Nkr125.
A welcome recent addition to the budget end of the market are chains such as Citybox,
Smarthotels and Basic Hotels. These hostel-hotel hybrids are slick and excellent value, but
you'll only find them in larger cities.
Several hostel guides are available, including HI's annually updated Europe guide.
ACCOMMODATION SERVICE
Hostelling International
(HI;
www.hihostels.com
)
Although not all Norwegian hostels belong to the Hostelling International network, many
do. HI members pay 15% less than nonmembers. Check the HI website to find its office in
your home country so that you can join and qualify for members' prices in Norway.
Norske Vandrerhjem
( 23 12 45 10;
www.hihostels.no
)
The Norwegian hostelling association, Norske Vandrerhjem is HI-affiliated and publishes
the free
Hostels in Norway,
which contains a full listing of hostels and updated prices for the
77 hostels on its books; it's available from hostels and some tourist offices.
ACCOMMODATION SERVICE
Hotels
Norway's hotels are generally modern and excellent, although those with any character are
pretty thin on the ground. Comfortable nationwide chain hotels are the norm and the rooms
can all start to look the same after a while, whether you're sleeping in Oslo or Kirkenes. The
advantage of these chains or hotel networks, however, is that some offer hotel passes,
which can entitle you to a free night if you use the chain enough times; some passes only
operate in summer.
Best Western
HOTEL
