The Radisson Blu Scandinavia Gothenburg remains a safe bet with nice rooms and a great location despite some oh-so-Scandinavian friction points.
For this return to Gothenburg before returning to France I chose the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Gothenburg that I have already frequented many times. I could have gone elsewhere in order to discover new hotels here, as I had done on the outward journey at the Scandic Rubinen, but this time I preferred to opt for a safe bet, without surprises. I had just spent long hours on a flight from Asia, was leaving for Paris the next day, had a nice dinner planned that evening and wanted to optimize comfort and recovery. Here at least I knew exactly what I was going to have and above all, after a 13 hour flight, I was looking forward to enjoying the hotel’s superb spa.
You will find all the articles about this trip to Malaysia at the bottom of the page.
This review will be short because it is already the third one about this hotel but you can read the other two for more details.
Booking
I made my booking two weeks before my trip. I booked a junior suite for two reasons.
The first is that my status with Radisson Rewards (Premier, formerly Gold, the second highest) will never give me a suite upgrade due to the cheapness of the program, and furthermore, access to the spa is not free when you are not in a suite. All things considered I thought it was better to book a suite.
Location of the hotel
It is in the center of the city, in front of the train station, with, depending on your room, a view on the canal that flows through the city.
Check-in and arrival at the hotel
Before leaving Kuala Lumpur I proceed to my check-in online. The Radisson application is still as bad as ever: impossible to check-in online, you have to follow a link from the email they send you to tell you that check-in is possible.
I want an early check-in? No way to request it online, you have to call the hotel…too bad I hope my room will be available when I arrive.
I am also offered paid upgrades. I hesitate and then…I don’t want to do a new review of a room I already had so I upgrade to a corner suite with terrace. After all it’s Christmas in 4 days, I’m giving myself a little present.
So I arrive at the hotel mid-morning from the airport by Uber. While snow was waiting for me a fortnight earlier, it’s now a typical Gothenburg rain that’s waiting for me (those who know will understand).
No one at the check in and the protective glass, a souvenir of the COVID, is still in place.
As always the staff is always as pleasant as the application is terrible to use. In a few minutes I was introduced to all the services of the hotel that I already know and I head to my room.
However, I will have to fight to pay my stay only at the end. This is a recurring issue here, they have a habit of trying to make you pay for your whole stay at check-in and not at check-out, which I find all the more unbearable as they have an imprint of the card given at the time of booking and they take another one at check-in. Moreover we will speak about it again during the check-out.
The room
It is located on the top floor of the hotel.
Once in the entrance I take on the left to join my room. It is large, warm and in a very Scandinavian style so simple and soothing. Given the weather outside, don’t expect much light.
I would especially appreciate the large desk, something that is becoming increasingly rare.
Those who are used to traveling to Scandinavia will notice something quite rare and exceptional: I have a large comforter and not two half-duvets! I hate this local practice so much that it more than justifies this upgrade, which I could have done without!
The bedding will be comfortable but I still have too many memories of the St Regis Langkawi. Nothing to compare.
Next to it is the bathroom.
Opposite me I find a medium sized bathtub and a single basin sink.
Turning the head we find the walk-in shower, and as often in these countries, not at all separate.
And, what a surprise, an individual sauna.
The toilet is in the bathroom but separate.
The bathroom floor is heated and it is very pleasant.
I walk back to the entrance and from there head to the living room.
I find a large table in front of me. The decoration is warm, sober and beautiful.
The room forming an L, I take on my right and find the lounge area.
A real little lounge area, cosy and comfortable.
It’s really nice and welcoming, well decorated, you almost feel at home.
A quick tour on the terrace to finish.
It is large and offers a superb view of the city.
However, considering the weather, it is not the best time of the year to enjoy it.
A very minimalist welcome gift was waiting for me.
In the end a really nice and pleasant room. And considering the weather outside, you could spend the whole day there without leaving, so much so that you feel at home.
And the visit in video to finish.
Hotel facilities
The hotel has a gym and a spa.
Gym
It is located in the basement, like the spa, and is unfortunately blind.
It is a good size and well equipped.
To know it well, I find it very pleasant, especially since it is not very frequented.
The spa
It alone is the reason I chose this hotel. It is undeniably one of my favorite hotel spas because it is so beautiful and soothing.
It has several baths.
It has a sauna, a hammam and several types of showers.
There are also very pleasant relaxation areas.
The only negative point is that you have to reserve a time slot to go there, whether you have a treatment or not, whereas I think it’s big enough to leave it freely accessible for the few clients who have free access! And there again nothing is fluid: they give me vouchers at the reception that I have to give when I make my reservation. Wouldn’t it be easier if the spa reception could verify that I am eligible for free access?
But I love it anyway.
You can find a more detailed tour of the spa in my first article on this hotel.
Restaurants et bar
I will not try the restaurants of the hotel but will go twice for a drink at the bar.
It is located, like one of the restaurants (in fact the restaurant part of the bar, there is another real restaurant that overlooks the outside) in the lobby of the hotel.
This is the bar.
At 2pm I will go to the bar for a beer and what follows is typical of my experience in many hotels in the area.
When I arrive, the waiter is totally idle, he sees me, but finishes what he is doing (putting away glasses) before coming to see me after a few minutes.
When he serves me he immediately puts the credit card terminal under my nose and puts the beer next to it. Sorry young man but
1°) It’s not polite
2°) I pay when I leave
3°) I am a customer of the hotel so it will be on the bill of my room.
As soon as I tell him I’m a customer, he puts his machine away and makes me sign a bill, but it’s the kind of behavior that’s very much in tune with the local culture and that really gets on my nerves.
Same scenario in the evening when I come back from the restaurant but since there were more customers I will wait much more.
Apart from that the staff is very nice, it’s just the way they operate that is quite annoying for non-locals.
Check-out
Even if the hotel has my card imprint, even if…no mobile check-out possible and not even express check-out. You have to go to the front desk, let the staff process your paperwork and pay.
What a useless waste of time!
Bottom line
Once again a very good stay especially because of the room and the spa!
Then there are friction points that annoy me in the long run. Details but whether it is the way to proceed at the bar, the administrative and paperwork side of the check-in and check-out, the fact that you can’t simply leave your room without having to pay at the reception… But hey, it seems to be cultural.
I’m glad I avoided the two half-comforters!
Articles about this trip to Malaysia
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