Note: This article was first published in November 2021 and some details may be out of date.
The best Christmas presents don’t always come in boxes.
Is it just us, or is it getting harder and harder to buy Christmas presents for people? The feeling that we “have everything” becomes more and more true every year.
What do you give the person who “has everything”? Well, an experience! At one of these fresh places to stay, for example.
Besides, experiences in general are long-awaited things in the wake of two (!) pandemic-marked years. And there’s no hiding the fact that travelling abroad is still more complicated and risky than we’d like. Fortunately, we have plenty of nooks and crannies in this country of ours that are perfectly suited to a getaway – or a staycation!
Britannia Hotel, TrondheimAn exclusive hotel in the middle of Trondheim. Yes, please! The perfect place for a little city break or weekend trip. The hotel has no fewer than six different food and drink concepts, plus a spa oasis and fitness room. It also has its own cultural calendar, so it’s well worth checking whether you can catch a concert or another happening at the same time!
Trehyttene, Gjerstad
Time to live out your inner Tarzan dream, perhaps? Or not – either way, the cabins are a refreshing place to stay! Morning coffee high up among the treetops? Yes, please. The large, modern, family-run cabins are also set in impeccable surroundings in Aust-Agder, which offers plenty of lovely nature experiences whatever the season.
Storfjord Hotel, Glomset
“A slow life hideaway”, as they call themselves, doesn’t sound too bad, does it? At Storfjord in the fjord village of Glomset in Sunnmøre, you get that good Norwegian atmosphere. We’re talking log walls, surrounded by green forest, its own library, a fireplace lounge and an outdoor hot tub. And not least, views of fjord and mountains.
The Thief, Oslo
If you go for a stay at The Thief, you can easily combine big city, luxury and spa. Slightly secluded at the tip of Tjuvholmen in Oslo, you can enjoy delicious food, fresh sea breezes, massages and a spa area. And why not drop by the Astrup Fearnley Museum, which is practically the next-door neighbour?
The hotel has five stars and has received several international awards.
Solstrand Hotel & Bad, Os near Bergen
Beautiful Solstrand bad lies right down by the water, with views of fjord and mountains. And in fact it was Christian Michelsen, Norway’s first prime minister, who built the place in 1896 – so that the men of Bergen would have “a place to gather their strength before their big assignments in the city”! Among other things, the hotel offers food from local suppliers, an outdoor seawater pool, sauna and spa.
It also has a clear green profile. For example, the hotel and pools are heated thanks to heat pumps in the sea.
Hotel Eilert Smith, Stavanger
This hotel is for those who care about design, or want a slightly different hotel stay. The boutique hotel has only 12 rooms – all top class, and all with their own unique look.
Fýri Resort, Hemsedal
Mountain idyll and resort calm, all year round. At Fýri, fireplace lounges, comfy lounge furniture, fresh mountain air and a fresh pool club await. In winter you can enjoy ski-in ski-out, and when there’s no snow you can explore the mountains on foot. Among other things!
Hattvika Lodge, Lofoten
If you’re looking to combine activity and a getaway, Hattvika Lodge is a good option. They offer several types of accommodation right down by the sea in genuine rorbu (fisherman’s cabin) style, as well as activities for both groups and individuals. Take your pick from everything from northern lights safaris to sea kayaking – or how about trying cod liver oil making at Möllers?
Opus XVI, Bergen
City break or weekend trip? Everyone loves Bergen, right – and at Opus you get luxury right in the centre. You’ll find both Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular close by.
Amerikalinjen, Oslo
The New York-inspired luxury hotel is right on Jernbanetorget in Oslo. It opened its doors in 2019, but did you know that the building itself has a long history? It was built in 1919 and was once the headquarters of the Norwegian America Line – so many a Norwegian has waited there to set off in pursuit of the American dream.
The hotel oozes chic, and while you’re there you can enjoy breakfast in the year-round garden, a delicious dinner in the brasserie and a cocktail or two in the hotel bar – which, by the way, has a live Jazz Night on Saturdays.
Dalen Hotel, Telemark
Dalen is one of Norway’s oldest wooden hotels – popularly known as the Fairytale Hotel. At the end of the bright yellow hotel’s own garden you’ll find an award-winning sauna designed by none other than Snøhetta. And if you enjoy being on the water, a stay here can be extra memorable! Several packages with boat trips and canal cruises on the historic Telemark Canal are on offer.
