Hilton HHonors - Scandic Byporten Oslo Trip Reports and Reviews

Preface: Never been to Oslo so thought it would be interesting. Friend and his wife arrive later.

Rate: Using two HHonors awards. Two rooms for two nights.

Transportation: From OSL take the Flytoget airport express train to Central Station. When you exit customs make a hard right. The ticket machines and entry gate are to the right side as you walk straight. Buying your ticket will be your first confirming indication this is a expensive country. 160 NOK or about $1 US per minute on the train each way. If you need a ATM machine they are found to the left of the Customs exit.

Finding the Hotel is a bit of work. It is atop Central Station. But you must walk forward thru the shops. After it seems as if you have reached a dead end take the escalators down. Now look to your left. The entrance to the Hotel is after the Nokia shop.

Check-in: This process was fairly efficient but lacked any personality. I arrived early so I was happy to just get checked in. I ended up with two rooms on the 6th (highest) floor. The plaque says Club but who knows what that means. Breakfast is included and I did need to ask for internet access which is also free. In my case I needed a card for each 24 hour period.

I asked about a upgrade and she stated the Hotel is fairly full so that was not happening. If I am supposed to get a amenity as a Diamond that was not given. Will research.

Perks: As noted above.

Room: My room is Scandic small. I had two beds that I pushed together. You could fall off a single. I have a small L shape desk with a view of some water. I tv with frig. The bathroom has a shower. Bring a extra sock or wash cloth. I just called down to the front desk and was told you get one big and one small towel. I am lucky. I am only one person so have two of each. Wood floors, chair and a small side table. The room has a iron board and iron. Maybe that is Club.

Communications: As noted internet is free. Wired with cable provided in room.

Location: I suppose excellent but I am going to sleep before my friends arrive.

Closing: Will advise more as days go by. Regards from OSL.

Trains from the airport arrive on tracks 2 and 14. Looks like all trains leave from 14. In the evening arrivals alternate. HSIA worked fine. Breakfast at Eagon restaurant was filling and good. Phone card. Go back into the Station to the second level. There is a internet cafe. You can buy a phone card which cost 100 nok. You can call from the room phone (charge) or us at public red phones. Must start with 5 nok but use ## to continue onward with multiple calls.

From front of Hotel we took a bus to Bygdon. You can buy tickets for 20 nok or pay 30 nok to the driver. So buy in advance. We went to the Fram and Nordic Maritime museums. Make sure your bus 30 direction is Bygdon. Later in the day from Central we took the subway to the Munch museum using any line EXCEPT 5. Also 20 nok per way. The entrance their for whatever reason was free from 10/1 to I believe end of 3/06. I assume off season.

Other than those three places everything else for us was walking. If you are conservative be prepared. Your award stay if you use points will be your best bargain. We had three cookies, two bottled waters and a ice tea. Around $20 US. Lunch without any alcohol was around $80 US.

Our friend is a real crispy waffle fan. The Hotel has this as the treat in the evening. You can make your own waffle with jam.

In closing we had a excellent stay and this is certainly one of the most beautiful cities I have been. The hotel was Scandic very good. Off to home. Regards from OSL.

rtwstaralliance, if not using points, roughly what would the room rate be?

Another great hotel report - thanks so much.

Room rates on Hilton site are 1575Nk which is about $175 a night plus taxes. This makes an award a real bargain, at just 10K HHonors points per night!

Thanks for the report. I have a two night stay booked there in April when I do my SK/£20-C fare to PKG. Will also be my first time in Oslo, and Norway.

Thanks for the report, we are staying at the Byporten on 2 night reward next week so this is very useful! The consensus from the HH board is that the 10,000 point reward levels for Scandic hotels are one of the real bargains of the programme.

You are all welcome. I think my confirmation says 1750 per night. Yikes.

Great report. I will be staying at this Scandic in May 2006 before and after the PVG trip.

I stayed there in September for two nights mid-week. The rate was NOK1145 (booked through Amex PTS). For 10k points the hotel would be quite a good deal.

The rooms are nice but small. Location is great, in particular for access to the airport, but also for the city.

Funny that you received 24h WLAN passes, I received a 7day pass.

So did my friend. Not a problem.

We spent three nights at the Oslo Scandic Byporten from 12/29-1/1. This was an award stay of 10,000 points per night. We arrived late around 9:00pm and were quickly checked-in given two key cards and instructions for breakfast. Our room was on the 6th floor “club” level, and had a great view of the train station and the Christmas decorations. Room was small but very functional. My wife was especially thrilled at the heated floor tiles in the bathroom. Which being about -5 outside was a great and very Scandinavian touch. Internet was Free. Interactive TV was impressive, could retrieve messages, set wake-up calls, order room-service, etc. And Unlike other European hotels I’ve stayed at the US programs were in English with sub-titles, instead of dubbed was actually able to pick up a few Norwegian words by watching sitcoms. Breakfast was included and hearty and had long hours 6:30-10:00. Considering how obscenely expensive Oslo is ($5 for a specialty coffee, $10 a beer, etc.) this was a real treat, saved many NOK a day. Hotel is in the train station and perfectly located in this very walkable city. Very easy to navigate and took us five minutes to catch a train. The Airport Express Train (FlyToGet) terminates at the station, which for this time of year meant we didn’t have to trudge our luggage through the snow, all indoors. I was initially hesitant to book a hotel this close to a train station, as my experiences with other train stations in major cities is that they can be less than pleasant. Must say that at no time did we feel uncomfortable. As we had a 7:00am flight, we were dreading the new years ruckus (knowing how quiet and sedate the Scandinavians are), but were only woken up a few times, rooms were surprisingly soundproof. We checked-out speedily at 5:00am, made the night clerks night/morning by leaving him with a Bottle of Champagne which we hadn’t used. From leaving our room to checking in at the Airport took a total of 40 minutes.

The only possible negative was the Hotel had no personality. During our walks we stopped in the Grand and Bristol Hotel, which we’re amazing. The Byporten by comparison was pretty bland. But having said that it was clean, functional and perfectly located and would return without reservation. Also for only 10,000 points has to be one of the best deals in HHonors

Hope this helps

Agreed on all points. Even if one isn't interested in the train, it's a better facility than the KNA up the road. (The KNA suffers, principally, from age and some obsolescence.) It's nicely central, clean, modern. Rooms were a bit small.

I'm not sure if anyone else had this problem. I'm staying at the Scandic Byporten in Oslo and I'm not sure if my room was snuck into. I left my room and closed it behind me (automatically locks). When I got back, the room was not fully closed. I thought about it for a second, then brushed it off as to maybe I was stupid enough to not completely lock it (though I'm pretty sure I did).

I went to sleep cause I was really tired, but woke up a few hours later and realized that both my laptop network cable and power cord were unplugged. It was plugged in when I left as I was charging my laptop. I also noticed the side wall hairdryer on the table (it was on the wall when I left). I'm not sure if a maid walked in, even though they werent suppose to since this is my first day here. That also doesnt excuse the fact that everything was unplugged.

I dont see anything missing at this point. But what if I find something about it afterwards? I already contacted the staff and they told me to come back tomorrow morning and have a manager check the doorlock (keycard) and see who had access my door. I was seeing if I could hold them liable for missing items after I leave. Just wanting some suggestions. thanks:(

Whenever I leave my hotel room, I turn the TV on (loud enough to be heard if you stick your head near the door, but not too loud to annoy the neighbors) and stick the "do not disturb" sign on the door. This usually discourages any would-be staff thiefs.

I'm not sure what the OP can do, as nothing was apparently taken and staff might shrug off the "my computer was unplugged" and the like. If someone came in, it appears they were honest and thought they were being helpful (especially with the big flap about computer battery fires.) <later> It seems I am wrong and perhaps a burglary in progress was interrupted.

But I second djlndc - when I leave the room for a short period with something of value out, the television is on a "guy" associated channel (sports usually,) and the "Do Not Disturb" sign is on. And I would never leave my passport where it could easily be taken - it is either with me, or in at least a locked room / front desk safe. (A PDF copy of the important pages is left accessible to me on my GMail account as a backup for getting a reissue at a consulate / embassy.)

OK..this is strange. My small pack of clothes are gone. Just realized it. It was one of those Eagle Creek cube packing folders will 5-6 shirts. I know it was on the desk when I left, heck, I thought I saw it before I went to sleep at night. But its gone. ...?:confused: It doesn't make any sense.

You think someone took your clothes instead of your computer?! :confused: That doesn't sound very likely, though I suppose anything could happen...

OK..this is strange. My small pack of clothes are gone. Just realized it. It was one of those Eagle Creek cube packing folders will 5-6 shirts. I know it was on the desk when I left, heck, I thought I saw it before I went to sleep at night. But its gone. ...?:confused: It doesn't make any sense.

At the Scandic Byporten -- and a great number of other hotels -- the doors don't always close and lock as expected, particularly when it hasn't been pulled all the way toward the hallway as to be flush with the frame. I always double check the door to see if I can open it even after thinking its locked.

Leaving the TV on and putting on the DND sign when not in the room is a good idea and one I almost always do. But it's also amongst the reasons why I ask for two keys, especially at Scandic hotels.

At some hotels -- including a great number of Scandics -- the electricity kicks off, sooner or later, if a key is not placed in the "key"-power switch; and so I use the extra key to keep the power on in the room.

The staff will come in the room sometimes to resupply the brochures and limited stationery-related items. At that point they sometimes disconnect the power to things that are plugged in.

Stealing clothes but not the laptop doesn't make much sense, especially as they could grab a laundry bag, from the closet, in which to hide the laptop in on the way out. Did you check to see if any currency, coins, credit cards, travel documents, etc. were taken?

Perhaps Norway's trolls exist more than in myth? :D

You think someone took your clothes instead of your computer?! :confused: That doesn't sound very likely, though I suppose anything could happen...
Maybe he woke up in a parallell universe? :D

Just got access to internet today to update.

Yes, as crazy as it might sound, they DID take my pack of clothes vs my laptop. They did however, unplug my laptop cables as if to take it. The only thing I can think of is that someone else came and scared them off before they could take it (that might explain the dropped hairdryer near the laptop as they bumped into it).

My passport was in my backpack with the folder, but it was left untouched.

I'm pretty sure I closed the door tightly to lock it. I'm pretty good at making sure I'm careful about that sort of thing.

Just got access to internet today to update.

Yes, as crazy as it might sound, they DID take my pack of clothes vs my laptop. They did however, unplug my laptop cables as if to take it. The only thing I can think of is that someone else came and scared them off before they could take it (that might explain the dropped hairdryer near the laptop as they bumped into it).

My passport was in my backpack with the folder, but it was left untouched.

I'm pretty sure I closed the door tightly to lock it. I'm pretty good at making sure I'm careful about that sort of thing.

A growing number of Scandics in cities are putting in hotel key swipe devices to get on the elevator. However, that's not much of a helpful measure since anyone can go to any floor as soon as the elevators are opened. Perhaps a clumsy thief who took an opportunity that presented itself rather than one who professionally breaks in and is prepared to conceal stolen objects. Who knows.

I hope you informed the hotel. What was their response upon being informed?

Back home now to update.

I filed a police report in Oslo. Don't think that did much good. Yes, I notified the hotel about the incident. They basically told me it was my fault assuming that I did not close the door all the way (the door doesn't close all the way if you leave it to shut on its own). They checked the keycard system and told me that no one accessed my room except me in the given timeframe.

The manager made a follow-up call to the home I was staying at be I was not home. He left a message asking whether or not I filed a police report yet and that the last theft incident occurred about 2-3 months ago but it was also the "guest's fault" for not locking the door correctly. He left for his holiday vacation and won't be available for contact until after New Year's so I cannot get in touch with him at the moment.

I guess I just have bad luck. I didnt get my luggage from the airport and then I got my spare clothes stolen all on the same day lol.

Anyone stayed here recently?

With the 1, 000 point refund promotion at Scandic, I was considering the Byporten in Oslo for 3 nights.

Is this a decent value at the now 30,000 point per night price? There are no full service Hiltons, so Scandic seems the best option for points before they leave the program. I usually value HH points at about $.008 each which makes this stay about $225 a night. The current rates for the room during my dates are $269 per night, so seems decent.

Thanks in advance!!

I stayed there for two nights at the end of March. I'm unlikely to return, despite the Hilton points. The rooms are pretty basic in comparison to US hotels, and roughly the same size as hotel rooms in central London, UK. I've stayed at the Byporten once before and prefer the Radisson SAS just up the street.

If I had to go back in the winter, I might select the Byporten - it's on top of the train station, so directly accessible from the FlyToGet airport train without going outdoors.

There's no restaurant although they do have an arrangement with the restaurant opposite, where breakfast is served. There's no coffee facilities in the room - there is a machine in the reception area (and I can't now remember if that's chargeable).

Honors members can have a bowl of soup in the reception area in the evening.

Overall, I found this hotel to be expensive, not good value for money and not particularly comfortable.

Sorry I can't be more encouraging.

Scandic Byporten (Oslo, Norway)
Jernbanetorget 6
O154 OSLO NORWAY
Telephone: +47 23 15 55 00
Fax: +47 23 15 55 11
E-mail: byporten@scandic-hotels.com
Web: http://www.scandic-hotels.com/byporten

(New classification) HHonors award Category 4 - 30,000 points per night :eek:

We arrived at about 3 PM via train from Stockholm – exited the station to Jernbanetorget, walked diagonally to the right to the hotel entry (next to the signage for Egon’s restaurant,) and were promptly checked in – our C102 was readily accepted, and we were expected. We were assigned a “Club Room” (#551) on the 5th floor, but all that meant is we had somewhat of a view (the Sentrum railroad station and the street in front of the hotel, which was under considerable construction.) A keycard is required for elevator / lift operation. (The only significant difference between regular and “Club” rooms seems to be that “Club” rooms have views, the others look toward Byporten shopping centre and the rail station.)

The Scandinavian Spartan room was tiny – a blonde wood box with light walls and a well-insulated double window, with what appeared to be two three-quarter twin beds with duvets, flanked by small bedstands (no drawers) and reading lamps (I'm a tall guy - it was a bit like sleeping on a backless bench!) An easy chair, a desk with chair, a smallish television and tiny double closet with little space (two wire baskets attached to the door and some limited hanger space) and hidden built-in ironing set completed the less than extensive furnishings. The desk, with small fridge doubling as minibar, did have a gift from management, a half-bottle of red wine, some fruit and three bottles of water. No air con, of course, heat was off, and any climate control is via opening the window, which is limited to a few inches. Free WiFi is included, and there are two laptops in the lobby available to guests. A gym is presumably available - we didn't have time to investigate.

The cramped bath included a heated tile floor, a coffee-tea set, sink, tub with half-divider in glass that, without a bottom gasket, allowed water to flood the bathroom if one was not very careful. Two thin bath towels and two thinner hand towels completed the furnishings (no washcloths, typical of the European hotels,) and no bath mat or safety mat for the tub, tricky to get in and out of because it was encased by a strange and hefty enclosure.) Of course, no amenities are provided other than toilet paper, sanitary disposal bags and liquid soap dispensers.

The Scandic breakfast (signage marked “Frokost”) is in the adjacent fast food franchise restaurant, Egon’s, upstairs, served from 6:30 – 10:00 AM (7 weekends and holidays,) and is quite a contrast to the rooms – everything you could ask for and more, from fruits, cereals, breads of all kinds, cold cuts, vegetables and salads, several kinds of herring, smoked salmon, liver pate, hard- and soft-boiled eggs, and cooked foods such as crepes, scrambled eggs, cipolata sausages, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. Though I know they offer some kind of hot snack in the lobby early evenings, we were out and missed them. (I would not recommend Egon’s for a regular meal, other than in emergency – it is expensive, self-serve, and has the atmosphere of a US rustic pub, with food similar to a Sizzler – and self-order to boot. Hamburger $15, double that with cheese; a Sizzler type dinner for two with a glass of house wine house wine would go over $100. Scandinavia is expensive!

Basically, this Scandic is centrally located, and is directly adjacent to the railroad station, so it’s about location with a good breakfast - and not much else. For those arriving late or departing early by train, it’s well situated – you can take a pricey express (or less pricey local which takes twice as long) train to the airport every 20 minutes (under 25 minute trip) starting at 4:30 am, with tickets bought online or via the many automated kiosks (NSB - Norwegian Railways tickets purchased in advance online are very reliable and much cheaper generally than day-of-travel purchases.) But forget it if you want a honeymoon nest in Oslo, as this is certainly not it. (The Radisson SAS is also nearby, as are the well-spoken of Rica hotel across the street and at least one of the several Thon hotels.)

For us, this was one of the last of the 10,000 point per night Scandic stays we had booked last year before the new points levels were put in place – and a bargain it was, given July is the highest of high season in Norway - not to mention the reclassification to Cat 4, with 30,000 points a night for this bare box, sleep-on-a-weight-bench arrangement.

Thanks so much for the great trip report. Wish I could have planned ahead and gotten in on the 10,000 rate, but I am one of the idiots paying the new 30,000 rate!! I hate to do it, but rooms in the hotel and elsewhere in the city are going for about 190EUR per night, so it is still saving me a lot of money.

I picked Byporten because we leave one morning at 6:30 for a Norway in Nutshell tour, and this seems best for that and in the center of the city (only there for 2 nights). However, if there are other recommendations, I would be interested to hear them...........


Thanks again for the report.

You're welcome!

I'd check out the Rica Hotel, right across the street (though the cost might even be higher during high season) - and I'd also think of doing the Norway in a Nutshell tour out of Bergen if I were planning to visit that city and you are only looking at the one day "compact" tour, as it is much closer to Voss and Myrdal, the usual start and end points for the tour. (If it's the multi-day tour with lodging at Flam and Bergen, ignore this.)

At 30,000 points, it's still worth the $aving$, IMO. One thing I did not mention that helps me in Scandics is I take a light washcloth that will dry out before I head out again, and a bar of soap I take with me.

There's lots to do and see in Oslo, and you can do quite a bit in one day - after breakfast, walk down Karl Johans Gate toward the palace, down to the Rådhus and take the ferry at nearby Pier 3 to Bygdøy; walk to the Norsk Folkemuseum if you want to see some older Norwegian buildings (including a stave church,) over to Vikingskiphuset (Viking Ship Museum and then on to the Frammuseet (Fram Museum) to actually board the Fram (built like a wooden ox ship that has been farther north and south than any other, with both Nansen and Amundsen,) the Kon-Tiki museum if you are into Heyerdahl, and ferry back to town from here. There are several good restaurants (you can look a listing over on Frommer's here (http://www.frommers.com/destinations/oslo/60_inddin.html),) and still have some time to wander - the Nobel Peace Center is at the dock as well (the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, not in Stockholm.)


Thanks so much for the great trip report. Wish I could have planned ahead and gotten in on the 10,000 rate, but I am one of the idiots paying the new 30,000 rate!! I hate to do it, but rooms in the hotel and elsewhere in the city are going for about 190EUR per night, so it is still saving me a lot of money.

I picked Byporten because we leave one morning at 6:30 for a Norway in Nutshell tour, and this seems best for that and in the center of the city (only there for 2 nights). However, if there are other recommendations, I would be interested to hear them...........


Thanks again for the report.

Norske's spouse stayed at the Byporten in May '06 and agrees with JDiver's description and assessment.

JDiver also made excellent suggestions for your day in Oslo.

Give us a trip report when you get back!

Thanks for the tips - I will print out your suggestions to take with me. Glad you reminded me about the lack of shampoo and the liquid soap - I tend to overlook it because it doesn't matter to me, but the wife will want to be prepared!!

We are doing 2 full days in Oslo and then taking the "Norway Nutshell" route in one day to Bergen (through Myrdal, Flam, etc.). Stay overnight in Bergen and then flying off to Stockholm - unfortunately kind of a whirlwind first trip "sampler" to Scandinavia, but if it is enjoyable, will come back for more.......

Thanks again..........

Take lots of money! Scandinavia is breathtakingly beautiful - and can be breathtakingly expensive! Not to mention, take rain gear - for every day with sun in that area, you can expect three with rain.

Thanks for the tips - I will print out your suggestions to take with me. Glad you reminded me about the lack of shampoo and the liquid soap - I tend to overlook it because it doesn't matter to me, but the wife will want to be prepared!!

We are doing 2 full days in Oslo and then taking the "Norway Nutshell" route in one day to Bergen (through Myrdal, Flam, etc.). Stay overnight in Bergen and then flying off to Stockholm - unfortunately kind of a whirlwind first trip "sampler" to Scandinavia, but if it is enjoyable, will come back for more.......

Thanks again..........

Looks like most of you take the flytoget, which is most convenient and expensive. I was considering the local train, since for 4 people, this would save us about $50. Anyone taken it? The local and express trains both go to Oslo Central Station where this hotel is located. Just for future readers, these are the options I found:


flytoget (20 minutes) = 160 NOK ($27.50) one way
flybussen (45 minutes) = 120 NOK ($20.60) one way
local trains (Lillehammer to Skien Line OR Eidsvoll - Kongsberg Line = 35 mins) = 82 NOK ($14.10) one way

jkzahn is exactly right (and thanks for posting the fares!) The local train takes more time, and iirc has no luggage stations other than the overhead luggage racks. The more expensive, faster and more streamlined flytoget ;) has luggage stations near every entrance.

For people who are not in a hurry and are not burdened with lots of luggage, the local would be just fine, at just over half the price.