Thon Hotel Opera, Oslo

The breakfast was fantastic but we were in a hurry. For 100 NOK, the manager at breakfast let me pack a lunch. First time doing it, I didn’t know what to pack into those pastry sheets because many items have juice, so I just put some solid food like boiled eggs into the paper bag. The manager saw that I was having a hard time packing lunch, he gave me a juice box to take with me. It was so very nice of him, I was really moved. The hotel literally is right next to the train tracks, very convenient for us as we came by train very late at night then have to leave early morning by air.

The hotel is perfectly situated where everything is happening. The opera house and other points of interests are all within walking distance from this hotel. The central train station is just behind it and from there you can get to the airport directly. Bus stops are just aroud the corner. The room that I had was on the 9th floor. It was small by american standards but comfortable and clean. It is just hard to watch TV when its on the right side of th bed but there are not a lot of English channels anyway. Bathroom is space is adequate. The hotel staff -- fabulous and very professional. The guys who work on the front desk -- knowledgeable, thoughtful and friendly. I really appreciate the advice I was given how to plan my acitivities for the day because there are a lot of things to do and see in the area. The staff in the restaurant -- very hospitable and great service. The guy who checks your room number when you enter the restaurant, can learn to smile from time to time when greeting the patrons particularly at first thing in the morning. Speaking of restaurant, the breakfast buffet is the best. There are a lot of choices --even gluten-free food. The breakfast buffet is a great start your one's day in the beautiful and fabulous city.

The first room we received before upgrading to the larger room was small and didn’t have a safe in the room. The upgrade was worth it. The room had a balcony and additional sofa that can also be used as a bed. The bathroom had a bathtub whereas the smaller room only had a shower. There is no AC in the hotel but in April opening the window was sufficient. Majority of hotels in Oslo don’t have AC. The service was excellent in every aspect. The breakfast was the best we had during our whole trip and we were in plenty of different hotels this trip. Everything was fresh and really tasty. The variety was really large. The location was excellent with everything you can imagine right next to you. You walk out of the back door of the hotel and you are just a couple of feet away from central station and the flytoget train to the airport. We took a taxi on arrival afraid that the station would be too far and we would have to deal with our heavy large suitcases. But save your money and take the train. It takes less time and money. If we ever go to Oslo again, I would not hesitate to stay in Thon Opera again and would definitely recommend it to anyone going.

The Thon Opera in Oslo has a fantastic location, literally a stone's throw away from the central train station, meaning that if you come in from the airport via the express train, for example, you will be dropped off literally on the doorstep of the Thon Opera. Overall, my experience was good, though it started off in a very bad way. I arrived at the hotel at 5:30pm, and was told that "Your room is not ready yet. It will take 30 minutes, can we offer you a free drink at the bar". This greatly annoyed me, as I had been traveling all day and was tired and just wanted to check in. Now, if I had arrived at 2pm or earlier, for example, maybe I could accept that there was some reason for a delay like this. But since I arrived many hours after the check-in time, there is simply no excuse for it. My only other gripe is that there is no room service at all. On the good side, the breakfast buffer is super! Omelette station, eggs, bacon, meats, cereals, pastries, plenty of Cappuccino machines... it's one of the best breakfast buffets I have come across lately. The bathroom was spacious and well appointed, with heated tile floors.

Can't say enough about this hotel. For the price, it's an absolute gem! You could not possibly find a more convenient location - it's literally just outside the Oslo central station, and immediately across the street from the start of the walk to Karl Johans gate. You can also see the opera house from inside the glass elevators in the lobby, it's that close! Our room was really nicely decorated, and very well laid out to maximize the small space. I was in LOVE with the nice deep bath! Great water pressure and nice hot water temps too. And the bed - ugh, that bed was SO comfortable. I slept like a coma patient! We selected a view room, and had a very nice view looking back toward the train station. Lastly - the included breakfast was an absolute delight. It was HUGE! Many hot stations with made to order items and just an outstanding assortment of breads, fruit, cheese, smoked meats and fish, and cereals, just to name a few items. I was so impressed with the breakfast! We loved this hotel so much that we just canceled our next stay in Oslo and booked a second stay at this hotel. What more can I say?? We really loved it!