Home Hotel Arcticus

The views were great, and the hotel is right by the pier, but the room felt stuffy and dated. The heater seemed to be from WW2, so we had to leave the windows open a bit. They could open all the way, though, and at night the wind could blow them wide open and leave you freezing. There was only one elevator, which meant long waits.

The room was in poor condition, with furnishings dating from the 1990s. The double bed was two single beds that came apart with the slightest movement, and the bathroom’s sliding door was barely attached and offered no privacy. There was also a roundel door that seemed either ready to hit you or to make a point about the place. I’ve been to Harstad many times and stayed in many places, but this was my first and last visit here. The “sea view” cost extra and felt like a waste, with a window only 90x90 cm. For service, I can’t say much, though reception should have explained that the extra charge wasn’t worth it. The dinner was especially disappointing compared with Scandic 200 m away. It was like a prison canteen, just some sausage and mashed potatoes with no variety. They only had water to drink, and the juices were out. There was no dessert, vegetables, or fruit. The food felt like a complete scam. The price was 10% higher too. For similar money, I’d look at Scandic, Thon, or even 99% of Airbnb places in Harstad, which are much better value. I hope this review reaches them and leads them to rethink their business policy.

The staff were all kind and helpful, and we had fantastic views from a perfect location. Our family of four, with kids aged 10 and 9, had a wonderful stay in the very nice rooms. The food was really good too, and the kids absolutely loved it. Highly recommend!

The rest of the room was good, and we enjoyed the breakfast and meals. But it wasn’t easy to sleep well: there were no proper curtains or blinds to block the light at night, and the ventilation was quite loud, a bit like being on a plane. Fortunately I had earplugs.