Scandic Hotel Reviews

Last leg of the trip. Whew. Enough of packing and dragging luggages to airport, checking in flights and hotels, and re-orienteering myself in a new city. I was thankful I chose to stay in the same hotel chain so there was some continuity and familiarity each time I moved. The Scandic hotels were quite decent and value-for-money. Every stay came with a sumptious breakfast buffet and free wireless internet. Easter promotions also meant that I get some dining vouchers for each night of stay (cost of living in Scandinavia was generally high). All the hotels that I chose were in very good locations, near the railway station and major tourist areas, so everything was very convenient.

Comparison chart of hotels -

Scandic Continental Helsinki - A typical large business hotel. Mass rooms, so expect mass customer service too. 2 tram stations from the railway station. I chose it because it was the conference venue and cheapest of the Scandic hotels in Helsinki. Finnair shuttle bus goes directly between the airport, Scandic Continental, and the railway station. So you do not have to lug luggages all over the place. There is also a check-in for Finnair flights in the hotel. Saving grace was the restaurant in the hotel. Breakfast and dinner were the best amongst the 3 hotels. My reindeer steak experience was fabulous. The ability to be flexible and respond to customers' request.

Scandic Webers Copenhagen - A boutique-like hotel that is newly renovated. Room was the cosiest - design was no frills but thoughtful, dark wood panels and wooden flooring. Modern and contemporary. Delightful touches like a hidden panel at the bedstand concealing an ironing board. Reading lamps by the bed and working desk, large plasma TV. Centrally located 2 streets from the railway station, down the road from Tivoli Gardens, and 2 streets from the lake for a run. Breakfast was decent. No restaurant on-site, so we used the neighbouring Scandic Continental Copenhagen. An American restaurant called Napa (read: oily oily oily food). I had a steak and fries, drenched in oil....

Scandic Sergel Plaza Stockholm - Again, a mass hotel. But great location, right above the T-central metro station, which was linked by underpass to the Central railway station. Across the road from Athens City, H&M, Zara and major shopping streets. To the back a short 10-15min walk was the Royal Palace and waterfront. Room and hotel design was a bit dated (old). Restaurant food was 2nd compared to Helsinki. I had reindeer fillet, which was a little too bloody for me. This was the only hotel that checked room number for breakfast (but then again, Stockholm was the only city that checked travel passes on board bus and rail).