We stayed at the Hotel Continental on Oslo as a part of a package trip. On the plus side, it's a fine old hotel. The room we stayed in was very comfortable, clean and quiet. The beds and bathrooms were what one would expect for a quality hotel. The staff was friendly, helfpul and all spoke English. Breakfasts were very good and served in a large, quiet and comfortable dining room that looked out over the busy theater district. It was a good experience. Location was excellent. It's right in the middle of town near the harbor and a close walk to the train transfer station (Note: if you arrive from the airport, take the train and NOT a cab - much cheaper and easier). On the down side, the room was hot (no air conditioning) and the sun shining in the windows in the afternoon didn't help. Opening the windows let in more hot outside air and the city noise, so that wasn't much of an improvement. Prices were very high, but this is endemic to the whole city of Oslo and not just the hotel. Would I stay at this hotel again if I went to Oslo? Definitely yes.

For first timers to Oslo, such as us this was a perfect hotel. You can catch a train to the airport directly across the street which made things very simple. The staff was superb at directions, restaurant recs, etc. Our room was clean and even had a little bit of a view of the fjord - request a high floor in the back of the hotel. Breakfast was very good, with many options including local fish. We would stay here again in a heartbeat.

The hotel itself is very nice. Nice location and nice rooms. The toiletries from Molton Brown was the most luxurious with my room. No bathrobe and no slippers. Two days before arriving I wrote an e-mail to confirm my booking. I never got any answer. I would have expected a true 5* to respond to e-mails. Check-in was fast and efficient, but maybe too efficient, I had to ask for the elevator. The room was nice. Breakfast was a big disappointment. It looked nice, but the hot food was cold and the rest looked like it had been laying there for some hours... (like the "skin-food" at Radisson SAS Royal Copenhagen). The waiters didn't say "good morning" and never smiled. They talked too much with each other instead of taking away plates. There were only filter coffee and "ready made" tea. The coffee was served in the can from the coffee-machine! I looked for a bottle of water, no bottle, no water at all. I went out to do some shopping while the housekeepers did my room. When I came back, they had not taken the rubbish away! And, yes, there were much because I had been to a beauty-show the day before and had thrown away lots of brochures I didn't need. There were so much I had to place it at the floor... It was taken away at the turn-down service. Speaking about turn-down service.... You don't get it if you don't ask for it by hanging a sign outside your door. I did the second night. No chocolate at the pillow.... It may bee that I am "pickey", but I really expect a lot from a 5* hotel, especially one that is part of "The leading hotels of the world". The hotel COULD have been a true 5*, but because of average service and cold breakfast, I would never have rated it as more than a 3+*. I never felt like a "princess" or a special person, like I would have expected a true 5* to treat me. My advise is to send the staff to a true 5*, maybe they would have learned something new.

Continental is a decent hotel in a city that is a little starved of choice. It is somewhat expensive for the facilities, but the location (outside the National Theatre with its train station, and close to the new shops at Akke Brygge) is really good. The rooms are divided into Classic and Modern and are in a variable state. Some of the Modern rooms are really good in particular. However, they seem to have a tendency to put foreigners (its happens to me and other english friends a lot...maybe I am being paranoid) into the worst rooms, even when the hotel is empty! However, they are happy to move you when you complain to a better room.....you just wonder why you didnt get one in the first place. I will be going back, but I always leave feeling slightly disappointed. Maybe I will try the Grand next year!

I book directly on Continental Web site a week end package. Service was absolutely not in line with leading hotel standards : - Late checking after flights problems including lost of lugages : basic kit not proposed. - Champagne & fruits had to be asked even if included - No table available for breakfast and I had to clean my table myself both mornings in order to avoid to wait too long, catch a spoon, etc. - Absolutely no good morning during our whole stay. Conclusion : leading hotel price with a level of service of a 3 stars hotels.