Norefjell Ski & Spa, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member

Getting there without a car can be tricky because there aren't many travel options at all times, but I'm looking forward to coming back. The spa was really relaxing, and the outdoor hot tubs were fantastic, especially with a bottle of prosecco. Both restaurants served delicious food. A few things in our room were broken, though it wasn't a big problem.

The meals at 815 were the standout for us: dinner was a fantastic, carefully prepared three-course buffet with enough gluten-free options for our family member, and friendly staff happily changed our dinner time for the rest of the week. Breakfast there was varied and well presented too, with plenty of gluten-free choice, though it started to feel repetitive after four days. For lunch, options include one of the few open hillside restaurants, self-catering, or NON on level 1 for soup, pizza, and fries. NON is the a la carte restaurant in the evening. We booked a suite for four, including three adults, through Crystal Ski expecting to self-cater, but changed to half-board after hearing supermarket access was poor or depended on unclear deliveries. Access had actually improved by the time we arrived. Check-in was efficient, and although they offered two keys, getting a third was no problem. The decor is mostly dark wood with a Scandi, Alpine, maybe Oriental feel, a bit eclectic. The hotel is large, and our rooms were about as far from reception as you could get while still inside. Carrying three travel bags and three ski bags was a trek, though luckily the corridors were ramped and there were no stairs. Ski lockers, hire, and lift access are on level -1, in the opposite direction from our rooms through reception. Lockers are apparently included with ski hire, but cost extra if you bring your own equipment. They officially fit two sets of skis and boots. Given the hotel's price, that was disappointing, even if the policy isn't unusual. The skiing was typically Norwegian, with fairly empty, moderate slopes and cold weather, but much better than the afternoon slush in the Italian Alps in January 2025. The paid day spa is on levels 6 and 7, and my wife and daughter really enjoyed it. Guests can also use the pool, sauna, gym, and climbing wall on level 3. Some recent complaints seem partly justified. Maintenance didn't seem very proactive: we had a couple of issues I expected a true four-star hotel to catch without being told, although the maintenance man did a good job once sent. Some furnishings were already rather worn for early in the ski season. Housekeeping also seemed limited. I don't expect to have to book it at reception the day before, though the housekeepers were accommodating when we asked in the corridor for a simple midweek towel change. From our experience and comments from other guests, a room guide explaining things like the heating controls would help, as would more English on the information signs. Not everyone understands Norwegian well, including visitors from outside the UK. I booked through Crystal Ski and am staying here all week, so these are first impressions. Reviews through the end of winter 2024/25 all seemed excellent, while more recent ones have been more mixed.

The spa was the best part of our five-day stay. Camilla was such a lovely person and treated us to her sweet treat. The breakfast staff were friendly and kind, and we had a new room cleaner who suited us better than the previous one. That said, the rooms were dirty and need maintenance. I'd recommend it for families with kids, but couples or friends looking for a good time should find somewhere else.

The hotel sits in beautiful surroundings, but the service was really poor. Reception staff couldn't answer our questions and just said, "I don't know." The staff seemed terribly unqualified, loud, and without manners, which made me think management isn't doing a good job either. Management needs to act or change immediately.