Sola Strand Hotel

What a wonderful hotel right next to the beach. Incredibly helpful staff. Great service. The food was amazing. The staff take food allergies very seriously and go above and beyond to cater to your diet needs. Any problems that we came across the staff were very quick to address. We are definitely returning to this wonderful place. Highly recommend it!

Front desk staff Astrid: give that woman a promotion! Very professional and accommodating from the moment I called and asked about making a reservation up until checkout. One of the stars is for her effort and attitude. About this hotel: it's a little bit of a hype that you perhaps shouldn't fall for. Surely, this probably was one of the best resorts in the area once upon a time, but time has caught up while the exclusive pricing has remained. This hotel could be described as a shell of its former self, which is a pity. I hope someone will invest to bring this establishment back to its glory. Rooms: travelling with pets seldom rewards you with the best rooms (also a pity), and this hotel was no exception: a small standard double, overlooking the parking lot, not very inspiring or memorable. Impractical positioning of power sockets (where am I supposed to plug in the kettle??), no socket at all in the dated bathroom (no chance to blow your haird where there's a mirror) and nightstand only on one side of the bed. What would have been nice though is a broom to take care of all the sand you're bound to bring inside after a windy walk on the beach (especially with the dog!). Ventilation was subpar; it was absolutely necessary to keep the window open. Fridge in room, no coffee maker. Iron & board. Dog bed and trays were provided (no complimentary treats though) and we have since learned that according to Norwegian law, you can't have pets where food is served, so you can only have your pet in your room or outside. Might not fit everyone's needs. Service: personal service was great. Breakfast was plentiful. Restaurant food was average with an annoying thing that starters are presented together with main courses; might get you fooled! Also, the acoustic conditions in the dining hall are terrible: even at half full it's noisy to the degree of uncomfortable (that also goes for breakfast hours). The main waiter did a great job too; very accommodating and service minded. The resort also has a spa which contains one pool and a variety of saunas, plus a relax area. Maybe not what I would consider a spa, but for NOK250 (resident price) you get access for 24 hrs which means that you can linger in the spa even after checkout, if you play your cards right. Location is what gives this place its edge; the roaring Atlantic is just beyond the dunes. About a minutes walk away you'll find a long, wide sand beach. There's also all kinds of surf gear to rent. We thought the nearby airport would be a problem but we were never bothered by it. Final verdict: either completely renovate the place and make it great again or cut prices in half. Perhaps their finest rooms are worth it, but I honestly doubt that.

Just a coffee review(the rest is stunning) Better barista training is needed to justify charging a premium for milk based coffees. Boiled to death milk froth and stale espresso combined for a muddy experience.