Hotel Scandic Holmenkollen Park (Oslo, Norway)

Guests rave about the hotel's exceptionally beautiful setting in the mountains, surrounded by hiking trails and right next door to the Holmenkollen National Ski Arena and the Ski museum. Though the hotel is about 30 minutes from central Oslo on the train, the stunning views along the way make the trip a pleasant one.

Guests are generally very happy with the overall variety of items on offer at the complimentary breakfast buffet, and the five course meals at the very posh on site restaurant, De Fem Stuer, are widely described as excellent.

The original, wooden structure of the hotel (now largely home to the restaurant and conference facilities) is generally considered very beautiful, though guests also appreciate the more modern wings of the building, which offer the rooms with the best views of Oslo and the fjord, as well as more space and more contemporary decor.

Though the distance is fairly short, the walk up the mountain from the Holmenkollen T station to the hotel is reportedly not for the faint of heart, especially if you have a lot of luggage.

Standard rooms in the older part of the building are widely considered a bit too small and outdated, especially in comparison with rooms in the newer wing. The are also a bit dim all day due to their view of a solid rock wall.

Guests have described the reception staff as a bit "chilly," and note the staff running the breakfast buffet struggle to keep up with the needs of the crowd, resulting in a rather chaotic or stressful atmosphere. The food in the cafe receives mixed reviews, too.