Kosta Boda Art Hotel

We only came for the spa, and left disappointed. It was too small for the number of people there, so we queued for the saunas and even the chairs. There was nowhere to sit by the pool either, so we ended up standing with our drinks. The hotel looked nice from what we saw, but the spa visit was a letdown.

We found a packet of snus and a sock under the bed while packing. That pretty much sums up how careless the stay felt. We paid 7000SEK for one night as a family of 6, and the SPA booking process let me select 20-22. Nobody mentioned on arrival that it would close at 21, though, so after getting the kids to sleep we found it shut. They offered less than 800SEK as “compensation”, saying that was the SPA price for 3 adults. It didn't make up for a ruined experience. The morning visit with the kids brought more problems. The sauna never got above 60C, and loose pieces of wood made it feel like someone could fall onto the heater. At the bar, the guy initially refused to sell us green smoothies because he said they didn't taste good. Breakfast was edible, just an ordinary Swedish hotel spread. The orange juicer was so old only very strong men could use it, and the fresh waffles they used to have are gone. Nothing else about breakfast stood out. Four years ago, this place felt much more proper. The sauna was hot and breakfast felt luxurious. Now it seems they’re trying to save money on every little thing. For this price, we won't return.

The indoor and outdoor pools were quite nice, but we got no information about treatments or what else the spa offered. Since staff knew it was our first stay, I expected them to explain the options. Plates with leftover food and empty glasses also sat around the pool area for ages. That doesn't meet a four star standard. We were there for three nights, and the elevator was out of order the whole time. The reception was almost always empty, as was the spa bar, and staff seemed unhappy or maybe the hotel was understaffed. In the room there was no shoehorn, and the glass sculpture in our bathroom, which was for sale, was damaged. The Glass Bar looked high end, but there were exposed electrical cables taped across the floor to the tables, along with radiators that spoiled the “under water” feel. Service was slow, and few of the servers seemed to speak Swedish. That alone isn't a problem, but I'd expect better training in a high end bar. They also made my Negroni with Aperol instead of Campari. The menu's “vegan” burger had Halloumi in it, which could be a serious issue, hopefully it was just a typo and they'll fix it. If art glass and design are your thing, the expensive, elevated gallery might still be worth a visit. I might come back to Kosta, but would probably stay at the Lodge or a nearby B&B and watch the stars dwindle from a distance. This feels like a two star hotel at most, not the luxurious treatment you'd expect from a four star place.

There are art pieces all over the hotel, and the spa was a great place to unwind. The food was amazing and the service was lovely. There are quite a few outlets close by with very good prices, too. You get a lot for your money here.