Description: At first glance, this hotel is expensive, although not the most expensive in Bergen, but initial prices are misleading. Compare the Trip Advisor ratings for the somewhat lower rated Hotel Augustin, 1150 kr vs the Clarion for 1450 kr The Austin's rate included a breakfast buffet, as did the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET. The Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET rate also includes an afternoon crepe snack at 4:00pm. It is easy to eat a big enough breakfast at a buffet breakfast to get you through to 4:00pm, skipping lunch. The Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET rate also included a buffet dinner. Looking at a lot of menus in Bergen (like all European nations, Norway's restaurants handily post the menu outside the door so its easy to compare prices), a hamburger for lunch ran about 55 Cr and dinner entrees started around 155 kr. For two people, that would be a minimum of 110 Cr for lunch and 310 Cr for dinner. Add that to the Augustin's room price for room and board for one day, and a day's cost of staying at the Augustin comes up to a minimum of 1570 Cr, about $21 more than staying at the nominally more costly Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET.
We had a deluxe room at the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET. Deluxe rooms are larger than standard rooms and overlook the street, the old harbor, and Bryggen, the top sight in Bergen. Standard rooms are also smaller and mostly overlook the interior courtyard. Deluxe rooms get some street noise, which the standard rooms avoid. In early April, street noise was minimal, but some commentators on the internet note that in high season, there is a lot of late night party noise in Bryggen, which may or may not affect the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET's deluxe rooms.
We started traveling in Europe in 1972. Since then, we have spent some 500 nights in European hotels. The only rooms we have had that were better than the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET were 45-50 years ago when the exchange rate was highly favorable so that super luxury rooms in Europe were priced about the same as Motel 6 in the USA. I'll give you an example. In the early '80s, we stayed in a corner suite-- two bed rooms, living room, and kitchen, TV, video, with dinner and wine and breakfast for $35-- about $100 at today's inflation adjusted rates. That was a steal. Four or five years ago, we stayed at a deluxe but far from comparable hotel in Rome for $360 a night.
In our recent travels to Europe, the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET beat places like the London Hyde Park Hilton, the Hilton Atrium in Prague, the Prague Intercontinental, and the Budapest Sofatil Chain Bridge. These are all fine hotels, but the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET was better.
Front desk-- reception/concierge-- personnel were the best we have ever encountered in Europe, or anywhere else for that matter. They were friendly, helpful, and apparently honest-- when I asked for a recommendation for a Chinese restaurant, the girl at the desk said, "I really don't know. I don't eat Chinese." Fair enough.
Their front desk personnel's command of English was more than impressive. However it is that Norwegians learn English, it seems to be a near universal second language and they speak English with very little accent. We had no trouble communicating with the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET staff nor with the Norwegian's any place else except at one local shop same where in the far north.
Now to the rooms. The facade of the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET is perpendicular to the harbor, overlooking Bryggen, the old Hansiadic town. Our room was closest to the harbor, which maximized traffic noise. All in all, traffic noise was not too bad, but we were there in the cold off season when traffic was minimal and the room's windows were shut.
The room negatives were:
1] Some street noise. All in all, traffic noise was not too bad, but we were there in the cold off season when traffic was minimal and the room's windows were shut. There is god chance that in high tourist season, street noises will be markedly worse-- more people partying at night and open windows to cool the rooms.
2] Pillows were so so in firmness. She was happy, but she like squishy pillows. I'd given them a 6 or 7 on scale to 10.
3] The chairs in the room were of average comfort at best.
4] The window curtains did not completely darken the room. On the other hand, I'd given them a 8 or 9 out of 10.
5] The room came with a damnable European duvet and comforter on the bed. AS_ this is standard in European hotels, don't let it distract you from thinking the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET is a fine hotel, but for American's who are used to sleeping with blankets and sheets, it is an irritation. We deal with this stupidity like this. First, we strip the duvet from the comforter, throw the comforter in the corner, and sleep with the duvet cover alone which is the equivalent of light weight blanket
Next, we turn up the thermostat so that a light weight blanket is enough to keep warm over night-- about 70 degrees. F.
The problem with the duvet/comforter is that it is too hot with room temperatures exceeding 65 degrees F. I don't understand how Europeans can sleep with these damnable things
On the other hand, the room's positives were
1] Minimal street noise
2] almost decent pillows
3] Far better than average widow curtains
4] A decent thermostat for controlling room temperatures
5] Lots of space for European hotel room
6] Three chairs-- two easy chairs, one desk chair
7] Absolutely no interior noise-- no noise from the hall, no noise form neighboring rooms, no noise from the plumbing when somebody else flushes or runs the shower. This is a near miracle.
8] Excellent staff.
9] Comfortable bed.
10] Great location.
11] Expensive, but fairly priced.
The Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET is located in some old rich dude's town house which was built in the 1920s. The hotel does not use the mansion's original door, but the the original entryway and grand staircase has been preserved and even if you are not staying at the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET, it is worth a visit to see these. Enter the hotel through its only door which faces the side of the Radisson Blu Hotel cross the street, turn left, pass the reception, and take the first right.
The Michelin Guide gives one star to the Rosencrantz Tower, built in 1550, more or less, largely for its view of the old harbor area. The Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET has a tower that is higher than the Rosezenkrantz Tower, and so offers an even better view, which is free to hotel guests-- ask for the pass key to the tower at the front desk. Do not miss this, it is one often best sights in Bergen.
For me, the most important requirements for a hotel are 1] quiet, 2] dark, and 3] a comfortable bed and 4] pillow. Here's how I would grade the Clarion Collection Hotel HAVNEKONTORET on scale of 1-10 for each of these: 1] quiet: interior noise, 10; exterior noise 7. 2] dark: 8; 3] bed: 10; and 4] pillow: 5.
BTW: If you go out the hotel's door and turn left, about half way up the block on the left are the excavations of the oldest known buildings in Bergen: Catwalk over the ruins, free admission.
Outside the hotel on the quai, a short walk to the right brings you to the old castle and fort, now a park. The park is free, entering castle costs money.
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