Hotel Fredrikstad

The staff were very kind, and I can really recommend this place. The rooms are tasty and classy, and the price for the quality is very good. A couple of little things could be better: the bathroom soap comes in cheap plastic packaging, and breakfast could use fresh fruit and a bread toaster.

I booked the cheapest single room they had and was glad I did. It was bigger than I expected and had everything I needed. They also had free make-your-own waffles in the early evening, which I appreciated. This independent, family-owned hotel has a lot of character, a high standard, and top service. It's a short walk to the town centre and very close to the river walk. Reception were friendly and helpful without laying it on too thick.

By the time my first four nights were up, Jack had talked me into staying three more, and gave me a great upgrade on the top floor with a view of the church and an Apple TV dongle. They clearly care about their guests and know how to build loyalty. I'd give six stars if I could, and since they wouldn't accept a tip in NOK, I insisted on leaving a few treasured personal items for them to remember me by. I told them I'd write a big review, so here it is. You're welcome, future traveler. Jack looked after me really well, and the rest of the staff were helpful too. I spent a lot of time in the very clean lounge instead of my immaculate, contemporary room. Breakfast was up there with the Radison Blu I stayed at last night across from Oslo Lufthavn, and the bacon was probably the best in all of Norway. It was properly crispy, unlike the fat-flavored chewing gum I found elsewhere that you can never swallow. The atmosphere felt welcoming and classy. Some people in there weren't hotel guests, but despite what you might hear or read online, I made more friends and had more great conversations with random locals than I'd expected. Everything was an easy walk, and it felt very humble compared with a bigger city like Oslo. They also offered me escape rooms, laundry service, snacks, and different off-the-menu drinks. I didn't get to try the escape rooms. There was talk of specialty dinners and more live entertainment in the near future. If I come back, there's no question where I'll stay.

We booked the biggest family suite, listed on the website as 107 square feet. We called to check, and the receptionist confirmed that size. The confirmation email said the same, but when we arrived, they laughed and told us, "we don't have a room like that." Instead, we got a room barely 50 square feet, with too few beds. When we complained, all they offered was to turn the sofa into a bed. There's no parking at the hotel, so you have to find your own. The only reasonably cheap option is 600 meters away. Reception is part of the bar, which means queuing with people ordering drinks. The staff seemed highly unprofessional, and we got no information about Wi-Fi or anything else. The male receptionist tried to help everyone at once instead of one customer at a time, leaving everyone dissatisfied and feeling they hadn't received the help they needed. The only reason I'd rate it two stars instead of one is that the rooms and bathrooms are modern, with an elegant style and interior. I wouldn't recommend it. Next time I'm in Fredrikstad, I'll look for a different hotel.