Clarion Hotel The Hub

The breakfast was amazing, and the rooms and beds were comfortable. But the ventilation made the stay miserable. In December, even with the heat set to its lowest, our room felt hot and stuffy, airflow was barely there, and the window couldn't be opened. The rest of the hotel was only a little better, so it didn't seem limited to our room. Going outside into rainy Oslo felt like a relief. The next day, with the same settings and outdoor temperature, the room was suddenly cooler and the hotel didn't feel quite as much like a swimming pool changing room. Still, the air in the room wasn't moving enough to make it pleasant. Something seems seriously wrong with the ventilation system. I wouldn't stay here until it gets replaced. A budget hotel and a good breakfast elsewhere would be a better option. One breakfast suggestion for management: Norway has great apple juice. It'd be nice to have a Hardanger apple juice instead of, or alongside, the overly sweet one.

We arrived before our room was ready, but staff stored our luggage in a room that seemed very secure. Only hotel staff could get in with a card. Service was excellent throughout, and the breakfast was the best I had in Norway, with lots of options and delicious eggs from the live cooking station. The room was spacious and nicely decorated, with a luxurious feel. The Rituals products in the bathroom smelled lovely and felt high quality. The location is right in the center, close to the train station, shopping street, and Opera House, making it easy to explore Oslo. I'd definitely stay here again.

I liked the hotel's atmosphere, with nice music, a pleasant bar, and a fantastic restaurant and bar upstairs. The view from the top floor was spectacular. It's also well placed near the station and city center, with taxis right outside. The rooms were quite small and didn't appeal to me much. There wasn't even a desk, and the cleaning could be better.

The reception team were genuinely kind, professional, and helpful. They listened and did their best to think through things with us, and I have nothing bad to say about them. Sadly, that didn't make up for a very disappointing stay. I booked this fairly expensive hotel specifically for the pool and wellness facilities, since I was traveling with my two children, who like to swim every day. When we arrived, we learned the pool was closed for renovations. There was no pool, no wellness, and no alternative offered. We hadn't been told about the closure beforehand. The hotel said GDPR rules supposedly meant they couldn't notify guests, which I find strange because they had sent other messages after I asked a question before the trip. The closure wasn't mentioned on the website either. We were told that was because of an IT issue. It feels as if there's an explanation for everything, but no one is taking real responsibility. We paid a high price for facilities that weren't available, and the compensation offered didn't match the loss of the pool and wellness area, which were a major reason for booking. The staff delivering the news stayed friendly, and I appreciate that, but the hotel's communication and transparency fell below standard. Norway is amazing, but I wouldn't recommend this hotel.