There are often some great fares from Oslo on Qatar Airways and other airlines, but I usually try to build in an overnight break just for contingency. Oslo has several airports on site. I had previously stayed at the other Radisson but decided to give the slightly more modern Radisson RED a try earlier this year.
In this post:
Location
The Radisson RED is connected by a walkway from the terminal which is well signposted. Basically, you turn left as you come out of the terminal. The walkway is covered but still open at the sides, so there were still some parts that were very icy and slippery. This got worse when you got to the end of the walkway and had to briefly walk outside. There was a very icy area that you had to cross to get to the hotel, and the slope up to the hotel was closed, so you had to take your luggage up a small flight of steps instead.
I think the airport and hotel could have made more of an effort to keep the walkways clear of ice and snow as it was quite treacherous.
Check-in
I arrived late in the evening, and there was a huge queue back to the entrance to check-in and no one at the Radisson Rewards position. I noticed that there were some self-check-in kiosks at the side, so I went to use one of those rather than wait for ages. It was relatively simple to use and create a key. However, it can’t tell you where your room is or give you any information! The numbering of the rooms and the signs were confusing in terms of which lift to use, so it took me a couple of tries to find the right lift for my wing.
Overall, it was not a great start to the trip, from leaving the airport to getting to the room.
Room
I had a standard King room with breakfast booked. I am Radisson Gold so should be entitled to a next category upgrade but I would guess that is not available with the automated check in.
The room was very stylish with its muted grey tones and pops of Red. It also felt like a generous enough space for a short stay and well equipped. There was a large desk suitable for working with sockets within reach.
As you walk in, there is a small hanging area rather than a proper wardrobe, but that is fine for an airport hotel. There was a free-standing luggage rack and a built-in luggage rack as well, which I prefer.
The safe’s orientation was strange, but since I barely left the room except for breakfast, it was not an issue.
There was an iron and ironing board too.
It was good to see both a kettle and a Nespresso machine, as you don’t often get that in airport hotels.
I also liked that hot chocolate was provided, perfect after a chilly walk from the terminal!
No water was provided but there was a carafe you could use to fill up with tap water. The water in Norway is pretty good so I did not have an issue with this at all.
The bed was OK but could have been a little softer for my personal taste and the room was reasonably quiet as well.
The bathroom was very stylish but it was a little bit dark and could have done with a shaving mirror.
Toiletries were Radisson RED’s own brand and were perfectly fine. I did like the quips on them such as the shower cap that says do not use in front of the mirror! I would have liked to have body lotion provided as well but it was nice to see hand wash instead of soap.
The shower had a rain head or standard head with decent pressure and toiletries attached to the wall. There was a small shelf for your own items.
Food and drink
I opted for breakfast since I was not heading to the airport until midday. This was served in the GAMO restaurant as follows:
The breakfast area felt quite airy, with large floor-to-ceiling windows and stylish tables and chairs.
The staff were very friendly and helpful, although it was a buffet service. The buffet was not the most extensive I have seen but it had all the basics for a cooked breakfast alongside local favourites and fruit or pastries. Allergies were well-labelled, and there was gluten-free bread available.
In the evenings, it operates as a restaurant and has a separate, well-sized bar area which is open until 1am.
Facilities
The gym was a bit small but reasonably well equipped and open 24/7.
There were lots of common areas where you could sit and work with sockets if you did not want to sit in your room. There were also comfy sits to relax in and a selection of papers to read which I liked.
Pricing
I paid £122 in advance for bed and breakfast using a Radisson Rewards discount rate, which I think is pretty reasonable. However, it was more than the standard Radisson Hotel & Conference centre and I am not sure if it is worth it for one night. I have also stayed at the Radisson Blu at the airport but
Conclusion
I have also stayed at the Radisson Blu at the airport, which was quite old-fashioned, and this was definitely better, although a slightly longer and more treacherous walk!
The rooms here were very stylish and it is handy being so close to the airport. Having to negotiate the icy patches with two suitcases was not a lot of fun, and I did not appreciate the chaos that greeted me as I walked in. Much as I felt the hotel was a cut above a standard airport hotel, I’d be tempted to try the cheaper Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre next time, which is still modern but a bit cheaper.
You can find more information about the hotel on the official page here.
2 comments
We stayed there in February and I echo your thoughts on the somewhat treacherous walk between the airport and the hotel.
We also found a long check in queue but made even worse but the automated check in machines being out of use.
Overall only ok but did the job for one night.
Red and Conference Centre are the same hotel! Same reception , restaurant and confusing lifts. It is just the detail of the rooms that varies. For an airport stay just go for the cheapest!
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