Having been staying in Stockholm, we fancied getting away from the city and spent one night at the Sigtuna Stadshotell. First the good things. The hotel was beautifully designed and decorated in Swedish style, with pale blue-grey wood throughout. Views over the lake were stunning. Our room was a good size corner room, with big windows on two walls and lovely light. There was a good breakfast.
But, but....it needs to do much better than this to justify its 5* star rating. The young staff were charming and friendly enough but hardly schooled in the customer service you'd expect at this price. On arrival no-one offered to take our bags up to our room. Maybe its Swedish egalitarianism and we weren't that bothered, but it would have been nice to be asked. The dinner menu looked appetising but was fussy and pretentious (and, as other reviewers have noted, really salty) . Mark up on the wine was rapacious and the first bottle (which we we had to sent back) had a sulphurous whiff. The replacement was OK but nothing special for fifty quid price tag.
Our departure rather summed up the experience. Check out was at 12.00 and we didn't need to leave until 2.00. But, we were told, the hotel closed at 12.00 and there was nowhere we could leave luggage. With a shrug, we were told "perhaps the tourist information office could look after the bags". Now I...Having been staying in Stockholm, we fancied getting away from the city and spent one night at the Sigtuna Stadshotell. First the good things. The hotel was beautifully designed and decorated in Swedish style, with pale blue-grey wood throughout. Views over the lake were stunning. Our room was a good size corner room, with big windows on two walls and lovely light. There was a good breakfast.
But, but....it needs to do much better than this to justify its 5* star rating. The young staff were charming and friendly enough but hardly schooled in the customer service you'd expect at this price. On arrival no-one offered to take our bags up to our room. Maybe its Swedish egalitarianism and we weren't that bothered, but it would have been nice to be asked. The dinner menu looked appetising but was fussy and pretentious (and, as other reviewers have noted, really salty) . Mark up on the wine was rapacious and the first bottle (which we we had to sent back) had a sulphurous whiff. The replacement was OK but nothing special for fifty quid price tag.
Our departure rather summed up the experience. Check out was at 12.00 and we didn't need to leave until 2.00. But, we were told, the hotel closed at 12.00 and there was nowhere we could leave luggage. With a shrug, we were told "perhaps the tourist information office could look after the bags". Now I might accept being turfed out at midday with our luggage from a hostel or a seaside B&B but in a 5* hotel?
A suggestion, Sigtuna Stadshotel. How about saying to guests in this position (when they check in) "I'm sorry but we are closing at 12.00 tomorrow. However not to worry, we have an arrangement with the tourist information office. When you check out we'll take your bags over and the taxi can pick you up from there". A small thing, but it would have made all the difference.More
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