Scandic Sarpsborg

The family room was large and clean, and there were good breakfast options. The receptionist was friendly and very helpful, explaining the best and cheapest way to park and quickly arranging the cot bed.

The location is excellent, right in the town center with an Egon restaurant attached. The windows open wide and have a ventilation panel for airflow. Breakfast was OK, though some hot food was cold, and the dining area was cramped and crowded but manageable. The room was full of long dog hair, apparently left by a very long-haired dog that had stayed the night before. We found fistfuls of it everywhere, so the room clearly hadn’t been cleaned properly. I’m allergic to dogs and don’t usually bring medication because I don’t expect to sleep in a room full of dog hair. I was OK overnight, but the avoidable cleaning issue made the stay stressful. I initially thought the hair might be old winter fur, but the receptionist confirmed a dog had stayed there. She was shocked by our photos and handled things well. The hotel was full, so we couldn’t move rooms. She waived our 150kr parking fee, which was kind, but didn’t make up for it. There were other problems in the family room on the 4th floor of Scandic Sarpsborg: the shower curtain was dirty, there was grime on the side of the sofa bed, one side of the toilet seat was loose, and the bath was too small for the room to have sealant around it, so shower water spread across the floor. The room was marketed as family-friendly, which made the poor cleaning especially disappointing. The receptionist was helpful and the location was good, but a room full of dog hair is enough to put me off returning. If pets are allowed, rooms need a proper deep clean, especially those intended for families.

The central location was great, and breakfast had a nice variety. Parking was difficult, with very few options nearby, and the staff’s suggestions weren’t helpful. The bathrooms are quite dated and could use renovation.

Breakfasts were delicious, with lots of fresh, high-quality choices, and the location put us right in the heart of the city, close to what we needed and wanted to explore. The room was clean, beautifully decorated, and really comfortable. Staff were friendly and helpful from the moment we arrived, and their care made us feel at home. We had an amazing stay and I’d happily return and recommend it to anyone visiting the area.