Programs: Lufthansa Senator, SAS EB Gold, Hilton Diamond VIP, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,763
Quote:
Originally Posted by GUWonder
Can you tell that I find Scandinavia to be a laggard when it comes to world class hotels, because the service aspect is never consistently great? (Even the physical plant leaves something to be desired too often.)
My bigges worry regarding Scandinavian hotels is that they often have tiny tiny rooms.
I stayed at the Scandic Prinsen in Trondheim last weeked, and as Hilton Gold VIP I should receive their best non-suite room upon check-in. Well. I got a small closet, and I called the front-desk (the receptionist was very helpful and nice, and I had had a long discussion with her at check-in time), and she said that what I had was their biggest non-suite room that had one single bed, and she had thought that I'd rather have a queen-size single bed rather than a twin room. Her assumption was right, so I opted to keep the room.
Still, compared to what I have received elsewhere in Europe, the room was really tiny, with the TV hung on the wall...
I agree that service levels in Scandinavia is much lower than in Asia for example but the same could be said about most hotels in Europe & US - especially when you compare hotels in the same price range
Well given the prices I've been paying, I can't really complain since most of my hotel stays in the region -- as of late -- are, in effect, only costing me $40-$50 per night -- courtesy of Hilton HHonors* -- for a room priced on the hotels websites at 1800-2800 SEK on some nights.
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* This Hilton HHonors option is no longer available.
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This game is not as much fun as it used to be: 2008/2009 Frequent Flyer Program Fleecing Award goes to Delta Airlines
Given the Norwegian push to have 50% female representation, perhaps Tommy777 can help with the female recruitment drive on FT like he helped arrange the legendary SAS DO?
BTW,there are "Nordic Club"s for Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, Danish and Finnish citizen outside these territories.
So, Denmark + Norway + Sweden = Scandinavia.
Scandinavia + Finland & Iceland = Nordic.
Add the Faroe Islands to the Nordic countries. Being a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, they are usually not considered part of Scandinavia. One definition of Scandinavia could be that Norwegians understand the local langauge without having learnt any foreign langauges! SK doesn't fly to the Faroes either!
Add the Faroe Islands to the Nordic countries. Being a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, they are usually not considered part of Scandinavia. One definition of Scandinavia could be that Norwegians understand the local langauge without having learnt any foreign langauges! SK doesn't fly to the Faroes either!
Actually, the Nordic Region consists of:
Denmark
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Iceland
The Åland-Islands (part of Finland, but semi-autonomous)
The Faroe Islands (Part of Denmark, semi-autonomous)
Greenland (part of Denmark, semi-autonomous)
Combined population for the Nordic region is 24,7 mn people, speaking seven different languages. Danish is the most common among the countries, being a mandatory language in schools in Denmark (surprise), Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Swedish is spoken by most people (in Sweden, the Åland islands and parts of southern Finland).
Historically, Denmark, which is now the smallest of the fully independent Nordic countries by size, once ruled all of the Nordic region except Finland.
Historically, Denmark, which is now the smallest of the fully independent Nordic countries by size, once ruled all of the Nordic region except Finland.
Well, for several periods totalling 67 years between 1389 and 1521 the three Scandinavian countries were in a union under Danish dominance (Greenland, Iceland and the Faroes were Norwegian dominions). But Denmark was larger then, comprising much of what today is southern Sweden (Scania).
As for Greenland, that is politically a Nordic country, but geographically a part of the Americas, viz the recent skirmishes with Canada over Hans Ø.
Greetings from Zürich! I did SK603 earlier today and Im staying at the Intercontinental.
Got upgraded to Executive Room at the Club floor and then upgraded again since my room had a double bed and Im sharing the room with a colleague. Im writing this from one of the Suites and I just made myself a nice espresso with our own espresso-machine in the room
I am doing ZRH-DAR tomorrow morning on a A332 in C and I have no idea of what to expect from Swiss. Hopefully some nice chocolate!
The LX "Bellevue lounge" in ZRH was nothing special - very little to eat when I expected a breakfast buffet.
The flight to Dar Es Salaam via Nairobi was very nice - service was better than expected with a friendly crew and excellent food. Only complaint was old C-class seats and missing AVOD on IFE.
I managed to upgrade my friend from Y to the C seat next to me so we tilted our seats and enjoyed french champagne and swiss chocolate
One week on Zanzibar - its been great and highly recommended for someone looking for some peace & quiet. About double the prices of Thailand but still not expensive. Will try to post a pic or two later!
We are leaving for Kilimanjaro and then Serengeti / Ngorogoro for some Safari early next week. Back in the snow next weekend
To get somewhere near the original topic: I'm on the 10:40 flight to LHR from OSL tomorrow (Saturday, 25MAR) and I'll be in the OSL lounge prior to that, if anybody wants to meet up.
I am expecting a 10-15% price increase on Swedish CRTWSTAR tickets in 2006, maybe mid-April? The current 38.800SEK is too low compared to Euroland and UK and Star has tried to even out all differences earlier (CAI and IST comes to mind).
(Even the physical plant leaves something to be desired too often.)
