Denmark Travel Guide
Tags: Killer View / Copenhagen Hotels / → All Tags
The View From Hotel Bethel Looks Like a Disney World Ride
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
When you look out the window of the Hotel Bethel, don't you see, like, such a pretty picture that it reminds you of a certain Disney World ride? Perhaps a certain Disney World ride involving boats and a song that will never, ever leave your head long after the ride is over?
Sitting right in the heart of Copenhagen on Nyhavn, this former Seaman's Hostel offers spectacular views of the canal and harbor and is within walking distance of all sorts of shopping and attractions. We've heard the cool thing to do is to sit outside at the restaurants along the harbor (Nyhavn literally means "New Harbor") and drink beers. Right behind the hotel is a cute little church, which the website promises is the "only seaman's church in Denmark."
And this view and kickass location can be yours starting at only 595 DKK -- that's just about 100 USD per night. For this quintessential Denmark postcard-esque view, that's really, really not a bad deal after all. Not a bad, bad, deal...
[Photo: subpace100]
Tags: Green Hotels / Eco-Hotels / Carbon-Neutral Hotels / Copenhagen Hotels / → All Tags
Who Needs Champagne? Get Carbon Credits Instead in Copenhagen
We know those Scandinavians are a pretty innovative bunch, so it's not surprising that the claim to have the world's first 100% carbon neutral hotel chain comes out of Denmark. The chain is small, though, which makes it easier--just four hotels under the Brochner Hotel brand, including Ibsens Hotel, Hotel Kong Arthur and Hotel Danmark, all in Copenhagen.
Tags: Hotel Blog Watch / Copenhagen Hotels / Fashion Week Hotels / → All Tags
Monitoring your AOBLs During Fashion Week in Copenhagen
Now that New York's Fashion Week is almost over, what will fashionistas have to look forward to? Well, there's always Copenhagen!
We had no idea that Fashion Week was going on in Copenhagen next week but it is and the Avenue Hotel is getting ready for the onslaught of fashion-minded guests. According to their hotel blog which is written by receptionist Rasmus:
Only a few days left before Copenhagen Fashion Week officially begins which means the hotel will be bustling with activity (even more so than usual) and from Wednesday till Saturday various events will take place in the lounge....
Furthermore, there's a slight and noticeable increase in the AOBL (Average Overall Beauty Level) with every other hotel guest being either a model or a fashion big shot. Although their presence certainly makes me look less attractive I can't say that I mind them being here and judging from previous years they also enjoy staying at Avenue Hotel.
Ah the old AOBL measurement. Yep, that's a tricky one. Er...
As for the hotel, it has a modern clean design plus it was just refurbished in 2005. Judging from reviews, rooms tend to be on the small side but guests love the free breakfast and free WiFi included in the room rate which averages about $200. Totally different from NYC Fashion Week Hotel prices that's for sure.
[Photo: MartinRoell]
Tags: Seth Sherwood / Copenhagen Hotel Reviews / Budget Hotels / → All Tags
The Danhostel Copenhagen City: A 'Five-Star Hostel'
We knew things would go awry with New York Times reporter Seth Sherwood's review of Copenhagen's Danhostel once he likened the idea of a "five-star hostel" to that of "gourmet fast-food" and "luxury trailer park."
Though Sherwood didn't hate the place, he seems pretty ambivalent about it, and with good reason. While the locale is good (described as "the edge of the Copenhagen city center"), the rooms are so barren Sherwood says his "felt like a prison cell designed by Ikea."
That's not the hotel's only trait reminiscent of bygone college days. Sherwood says bathrooms resemble closets (though perhaps unlike most dorm bathrooms, these were very clean) and that the basement offers a television lounge and computer area. Too, the place was proliferated by an assortment of 20-somethings, including the dreaded hipster.
Overall, Sherwood recommends spending about 100 to 200 kroner more (about $20 to $30) for a budget hotel behind the nearby Central Station. Also of note is that the hotel's web site won't be available in English until March 1.
Tags: Hotels-Near-Eurail-Stops / Copenhagen Hotels / → All Tags
Eurail Hotel Stop: Central Location at Hotel Hebron
When your Eurail pass takes you north to Denmark, alight at the Central Station København (and no, we're also not sure how you say that funny-looking "o", but we do know that most Danish speak fantastic English). Our tip for a reasonably-priced hotel near the Copenhagen station is the Hotel Hebron. It's a 1900 building and a long-serving hotel which is now run by the Best Western chain, and it's really just a few minutes' walk from the central station.
The added bonus is it's also just a short stroll from some of Copenhagen's most visited tourist attractions including the Tivoli Gardens and the famous shopping street of Strøget (there's that funny "o" again). Even if you're not Eurailing, a good way to get to the airport in Copenhagen is by train from Central Station so you can't lose here for location.
As for the hotel itself, it's not fancy, but it's also not expensive, or at least not for a well-located Scandinavian hotel. It has three stars and rooms have all the basic necessities, although not all have bath tubs; but being modern-thinking Scandinavia, there is free Wifi throughout the hotel.
Nightly rates include breakfast--watch out for those fish the Danish love to eat at breakfast--and start at 1,350 Danish krone ($250) for a basic double room; mini suites which have a separated bedroom will cost 1,600 DKK ($300).
Related Stories:
· Hotels in Copenhagen [HotelChatter]
· Travel Stories in Copenhagen [HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotel Heaven / Copenhagen Hotels / → All Tags
Hype and Heaps of Advice at Copenhagen's Fox Hotel
Most people rave about a great hotel after they've stayed there, but some get all excited just knowing it exists. At Susan Connor's Spiralbound blog, she's practically started hyperventilating after discovering Copenhagen's Hotel Fox. Susan says:
When I was skimming through some back-issues of Artichoke magazine, I just couldn't help but drool all over the article about Hotel Fox ... I can definitely see staying here and never even going out to any museums. This place looks like heaven. There should be more visionary, profit-making projects like this in the world. Fun for all.
Of course we'd prefer Susan checked in first before publicly claiming the Fox is the place, but there's something else new this month that we like about it. They've started their very own Ask Me page with experts for every aspect of Copenhagen life--so if you want to know where to see new exhibits, what sport you can catch while you're there or (most importantly, we think) where to eat and drink, there are a bunch of cool, knowledgeable Danes to ask.
[Photo: Christellefv]
Related Stories:
· Hotel Fox Copenhagen reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Farfegnugen at the Hotel Fox [HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotel Fox / Snapshots / Copenhagen Hotels / → All Tags
Snapshot: Hotel Fox Creates In-Room Think Piece
Hotel Fox in Denmark has decided to turn their in-room decor into one big hotel survey. We must be extremely demented, because we think this is really cool.
Hotel Fox findings:
82% of all European hotel rooms feature a romantic landscape painting
Last year, 5 out of 10 people said that this bed was firm enough. 3 out of 10 said that the bed was too soft. The rest had absolutely no opinion.
77% of all hotel rooms in Denmark have white walls.
Kinda reminds us of the Van Halen's "Right Here, Right Now" music video.
Right now, if you click here and scroll down you will be instantly transported to 1992.
[Photo: timpritlove]
Tags: Copenhagen Hotel Reviews / Seth Sherwood / → All Tags
Farfegnugen at the Hotel Fox
This week, the Grey Lady checks in on the Hotel Fox in Copehagen, which opened back in April 2005, the same time Steve Wynn was unveiling his Las Vegas masterpiece.
The story behind Hotel Fox is that it was once an aging hotel that Volkswagen decided to spruce up by hiring 21 "artists, illustrators, graphic designers, graffiti writers and other forward-looking creators to decorate its 61 rooms." And each artist did so using their own personal style, which means every room in the hotel is distinctly different.
Reviewer Seth Sherwood was placed in Room 510, a small room (out of the S, M, L and XL room categories) designed by a German illustrator who lined the walls with "humanoid" creatures with monstrous heads and filled the room with tufted armchairs and "Gothic electric candelabras", all apparently designed to soothe the guest's thoughts. Aside from the playful interior, the room had a single bed and a little desk with a small flat-screen TV and a phone.
The biggest fault of the hotel seems to be its bathrooms.
Untouched by the commissioned artists, the generic industrial tiles and fixtures recall an American college dormitory. Mine had only a shower with an unmountable, hand-held sprayer. The lone serving of Hotel Fox combination shampoo and shower gel came in a packet like airline salad dressing. The stiff towels seemed washed once too many times.
But you can cheer yourself back up by renting an iPod from the hotel or a bicycle. Also check out the free breakfast and the hotel bar which is actually the hotel lobby that transforms into a bar Thursday through Saturday with a DJ and signature cocktails.
The small rooms start at 945 kroner while the XL rooms go for 1,620 kroner. Sherwood recommends at least a medium.
Related Stories:
· Check-In, Check-Out: The Hotel Fox [NYTimes]
· Hotel Fox: Copenhagen Lifestyle Pad [HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotel Hype / Hotel Openings / → All Tags
Copenhagen to Float its Own Boat, Hotel that Is
There's now an official reason to visit to Copenhagen come summer--The Copenhagen Living Hotel, the country's first floating hotel.
Located in Copenhagen's central harbor and alongside restaurant VIVA, everything you need will be aboard ship which has only 12 rooms. VIVA will handle the food, a company called Waterliving will handle the uh, barge, and if you must hop ship, downtown is only a ten-minute walk away. As for the design:
The interior of the hotel will blend design classics with bespoke furniture specially made for the hotel, while the panoramic windows will offer a great view of the harbour and city. The rooms will be decorated by some of the most talented young artists in Denmark.
But truly, one doesn't really have to worry about interior design when it's a Danish hotel right? Those Scandinavians always have that under control. Amenities are probably the bigger concern, none were listed as of yet and this place doesn't even have a website. But then again we know the Danes love their WiFi so we're not too worried.
Image via ykrupnikov/Flickr
Related Stories:
· Copenhagen gets floating hotel [Travel Gate]
· Pending Hotel projects [Visit Copenhagen]
Tags: Denmark Hotel Reviews / Design Hotels / → All Tags
The Square Copenhagen is Too Hot for its Own Good
One can usually count on the Scandinavians when it comes to modern and functional design. The Square Copenhagen Hotel represents the Danish design as hip and cool in that Ikea way but better.
Located smack dab in the middle of the city, the hotel is just a couple steps away from the Tivoli Gardens. The 268 modern rooms house brightly contrasted red chairs that envelope their sitters against cream and beige colors that soothe out the spotted reds. WiFi in every room as well as the much-needed "trouser press."
There's a slight problem at the Square. However high in style, the design seems to have forgotten that essential Scandinavian ingredient of function:
The design was ultra-modern and very attractive, but with more attention to form than function. A coathook was placed near the room door, so whenever the door opened, the hat on the hook was knocked off. The luggage rack folded out into the space by the room door, so one could not go in or out when the luggage rack was extended. The burgundy and beige decor was appealing to the eye, but the carpet, mostly beige, showed several ugly stains.
One more missing function: no AC. This may seem fine since it is Copenhagen after all, but even here summers can get pretty hot. And without AC guests look anything but sleek and hip.
Related Stories:
· The Square Copenhagen Reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: YouTube / Odd Hotels / → All Tags
Hotel Legoland Room Tour
As the description for this video says, "You must want to know how Hotel Legoland is decorated!"
Ok--we'll bite. In the video a man gives us a guided tour of room 231 (narration in a language other than our native tongue.) The room seems to have a Princess/Castle theme, but what is on the toilet seat and why was The Nanny on the television?
Related Stories:
· Hotel Legoland [YouTube]
· Hotel Legoland reviews [TripAdvisor]
Tags: Anti-View / → All Tags
Room with an Anti-View: 71 Nyhavn Hotel
You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.
We know how unreliable those European hotel star ratings can be, but one traveler gives us the scoop on the supposed four-star 71 Nyhavn Hotel in Copenhagen:
The absolute worst 4 star hotel I have ever been in. This is the view out my skylight, cause there are no windows, in a room smaller than any dorm room or suburban home closet in the USA with 1972 battered furniture and a WW2 surplus war mattress
Related Stories:
· Ken Anderson photostream [Flickr]
· 71 Nyhavn hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]
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