Best Western Havly Hotell

My employer booked this place through booking.com, and the reservation was supposed to run through October 24. The trip was for business, with some time to relax. Google showed a reception, a communal room, and laundry service, but this turned out to be little more than a bed. There was no reception, communal room, or laundry service, and the hotel's contact person was very hard to reach. There were no hotel staff, just cleaners. The bathroom was old and in poor shape, with a broken toilet seat, a tiny shower, and a small sink. There was hardly anywhere in the room to put clothes, and the carpet was covered in stains I couldn't identify. The beds were single beds with poor mattresses, and the air conditioner sounded like it was about to take off. There's a nice street behind the hotel with bars and restaurants, but that wasn't much help when trying to sleep. People heading to and returning from that street made a lot of noise outside, including drunk and obnoxious behavior. It wasn't a pleasant experience. I'll never stay here again. I've already booked another hotel that's much better, cleaner, more comfortable, and friendlier. For me, this was a one-time stay.

Havly Hotell makes a fantastic base in Stavanger, just a short walk from the waterfront and the historic old town.

I had a comfortable bed and a great location, and the stay was warm, memorable, and full of character. I even laughed at some of the surprises. The room's controls were a puzzle: the switches read like riddles, the heating panel seemed to need a PhD, and I still don't know whether I reprogrammed the room or switched on a satellite. It all felt like stepping into a Scandinavian Wes Anderson film, charming and chaotic, with a mildly life-threatening edge. I put my Best Western Rewards card into a slot marked “MAIN SWITCH,” which set the tone. The built-in hairdryer looked like it had survived a bear fight, with a cable that seemed chewed by ghosts of electricians past. A little rustic electricity for the morning, I guess. The outlets eventually worked after some bargaining and sacrificing my phone charger. The wall art was lovely, while the walls looked like they'd escaped a DIY crime scene.

The room was clean and comfortable, and I enjoyed my stay. I met the friendly housekeeping staff, who were happy to help. It's very central, but be aware that check-in is contactless, as it is in many places in Norway. You'll get an email when the room is ready with its number and door codes. I appreciated the security, though at first it felt unsettling that nobody was there.