Sure Hotel by Best Western Stockholm Alvsjo

The spacious lobby and sauna are real pluses, and there’s an extensive breakfast with plenty of alternatives. The price is probably the biggest draw, especially with the upgrades. Most of the staff are kind, accommodating, and serious about service, with a few providing A1 service. One staff member, though, treated me in a way that felt racial or condescending. I’ve stayed here many times and want to give the place five stars. It’s solid value, but lately the quality seems to have slipped and the property looked dirty. I barely slept during my stays, and I’m not sure why. Although I had a bathroom in my room, I needed to use the shared one at checkout. It smelled bad and wasn’t clean. My room door also wouldn’t shut properly, so I had to force it closed when coming and going. A few times I realized I’d left it standing open. Staff kindly offered to move me, but I only mentioned it on checkout day, so that part was my fault. For me, it’s a 3.3/5 with room to improve. I wish it could be a five, and I think management has the ability to get it there.

The breakfast was excellent and very good quality, and the train station nearby has a direct airport connection for 43 SEK. The hotel itself was clean, and the beds were comfortable, but the rooms felt like matchboxes, they were so tiny. I only stayed two nights because it was the cheapest choice amid Stockholm’s generally high hotel prices. I didn’t feel comfortable there. They don’t let you bring in outside food and expect you to buy it from the hotel, where it’s quite overpriced. When I said that seemed like an invasion of my privacy, the receptionist told me she was only an employee and that it was the hotel’s rule.

The rooms and bathrooms are small, and the hotel doesn’t look brand new, but it was clean and cozy. There’s a fairly large TV in the room. For Stockholm, the price is really affordable, especially with the railway station so close, so it’s good value. Breakfast was delicious, with lots of choices, including vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free options. There was enough room to start the day calmly, even during the final breakfast hour. The staff were all friendly and helpful, and I felt welcome. Check-in and checkout were easy too. All in all, a positive stay, and I’d consider booking here again if I visit Stockholm.

The room was unclean and unsafe, and the service was incredibly poor. There was hair in the basin, the sink took ages to drain because it was so clogged, and the bed was broken. Every time a door shut in the hallway, the vibration shook my headboard and disrupted me badly. I asked at the front desk for help with the heating. The staff member didn’t come to inspect it, just handed me a portable heater and threw a blanket at me. Its cable was damaged and started sparking, which made me feel completely unsafe. He was rude and condescending, and didn’t check the problem or make a note of it. I tried to find another employee the next morning, but nobody was around, and I had to leave for an event. When I came back that night, I told a different staff member what had happened. He came to check and confirmed the heating element in my room wasn’t working. Since it was 0°C outside and the room was too cold to sleep in, I booked another hotel. They said they’d contact me about a refund for the two nights I couldn’t stay, because the heating had been confirmed broken. I was told the manager would get in touch, but nobody ever did. I stayed at the Sure Hotel by Best Western in Älvsjö, and I wouldn’t recommend it. This was one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve had.