Scandic Opus Horsens

The Scandic Opus hotel in Horsens was among the three worst hotels we stayed in during a full month of travel across three continents and eleven countries. I’m not sure what hospitality means in Denmark, but I really hope this hotel doesn’t represent how the country wants to welcome international guests. The room itself was badly outdated. The bathroom looked like the changing rooms and showers at an elementary school sports hall, with those grey tiles. The shower barely had any water pressure. We’d asked for a double bed and confirmed it again at check-in. The receptionist assured us all their rooms had double beds, but we got twin beds and couldn’t change rooms. The reception staff were unbelievably rude. One receptionist looked at my wife and asked me, “Is she going to stay in your room as well, OR WHAT?” They also said room service existed, but we’d have to buy our food there and bring it to our room. I’m not kidding. They didn’t make up our room. After a long day of hard work, we came back to find the towels still wet as we’d left them, the bed unmade, and the bins unemptied. When we asked reception to tidy up, we got another rude answer: “No, we do not make up the room, don’t you read our signs? We only do so upon special request. You have to request one day in advance.” The receptionist showed no understanding of how we felt, what we needed or might appreciate, or even what basic accommodation for a paying guest means. We still had another night to stay, so we looked for somewhere else around Horsens or even Billund, hoping for a little more comfort than Scandic Opus offered. We had no luck finding another hotel. I’m afraid they may all be like this in Denmark. There’s a book in the lobby about why Danes see themselves as the happiest people in the world. I think it mentions the predictability of life. I also came away thinking Danish culture prizes self-reliance and avoids showing need, even small, human needs. That could mean less genuine warmth in everyday life. Everything works in Denmark, but my impression is that few moments really touch you.