First Camp Sommarvik - Årjäng

The reception and store staff deserve a crown for hospitality. We had car trouble, with two cars and two pitches, and the receptionists went out of their way to find us help jump-starting the car and to connect us with maintenance. We’d bought a part in årjang, but it didn’t fit and needed some grinding. We started doing it by hand because maintenance wasn’t available, then were able to borrow tools and a workbench once we reached them. Those people saved our trip home. Five stars for reception and store, and for the maintenance staff too. Our group was camping with cars and tents. The pitches were laid out nicely, with electricity and water, and the campsite was quiet at night, with no wild parties or unnecessary noise. The grass spots were soft on top but had gravel underneath, so getting pegs in was hard. That cost the rooms rating a star. The restaurant and bar brought my overall score down. The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet was nice, but there weren’t many choices, and staff suddenly stopped serving more of a popular item for no clear reason. The bar area felt unfriendly. I accidentally walked into a glass door because I didn’t see it was closed. Staff assumed I was drunk, though I wasn’t, rolled their eyes, and didn’t help. We had to clean up ourselves. Friendliness at the restaurant and bar depended on who was working. Some morning staff said good morning, others didn’t have time. Kudos to the ones who greeted guests, that was top-notch hospitality. Restaurant: 2 out of 5. Reception: 5 out of 5. Overall: 4 out of 5. They brag about being five-star, but the restaurant and bar hospitality especially has room to improve.

We were told at check-in that we could leave very early, so we got ready at 5 am. But the barrier was shut, and we had to wait in front of it for two hours with no contact person and no way out. That’s not acceptable. We’d booked a cabin with bed linen and a towel set, but neither had been provided.

Booking the spa area for the evening was a lovely way to unwind at the end of the day. I stayed here while going to find a wedding dress at Nordic wedding dress outlet, which I’d highly recommend as well. It was a really fun experience.

The pool and the area around it were dirty, and there was food left outside my cabin along with boots, apparently from previous guests. The place looked poorly maintained, as if the gardener wasn’t looking after the surroundings. The rooms are equipped with only the bare basics, too.