Copenhagen Hotel Room Help - 2 adults with 7 year old
 

Well, I'm now experiencing information overload. I've read reviews and when I think I've made up my mind, I read a really bad one!! Having an extremely difficult time finding a room for 3. We will be in Copenhagen over Easter break visiting our daughter who will be studying in Copenhagen next semester. So far, I've got reservations for the Scandic Copenhagen for about $200 per night (staying 3 nights). I can spend the same amount at the Marriott by getting a free night. The Marriott might be too far a walk for our 7 year old, and the Scandic Copenhagen looks like it's really for business travelers. I've come across other properties that are centrally located and then see a comment about it being near a gentelman's club. What to do! What to do! This analysis paralysis is driving me nuts. Has anyone stayed at the Scandic Copenhagen? I've heard good and bad things about The Square and The Admiral. Was hoping to be in an area convenient for the 7 year old. I'd really appreciate any help! Thanks!

It would be nice for your 7y/o to be near Tivoli, as is the Marriott. He will love that!

Many of us on this board have booked here on Priceline for $100/night. Getting back to the hotel at night you could get a taxi or pedicab from the central area. It really is only about a 12 min walk.

However, with Priceline, particularly in Europe, you are only guaranteed a double room, and not a room that will fit three people. It might work out okay if they got the Marriott, but that can't be guaranteed, either that they will get the Marriott or that it will work out to get a triple room.

Of course if you book the Marriott directly to get a triple room, that won't be a problem.

Yes, I would have "Pricelined" for the Marriott but 3 people are not a guarantee AND my college daughter might want to stay with us on our last night as she will just be returning from a trip with school. I checked on Tivoli and it does not open until April 15th so that is something we will miss out on. We fly home on the 11th! Legoland may not be opened either during our stay! So, if we take Tivoli, out of the picture, what's near the Marriott? Any comments on the Scandic Copenhagen, The Square or the Admiral?

I wouldn't recc the Mariott then, samejia.

Try going to Aero Island for a few nights if you can! A 3-4 hr trip from Copenhagen. Delightful.

We visited our son, studying in Copenhagen, last Thanksgiving. Stayed our first night at the Marriott and yes it is a walk to just about everything. We rented the most beautiful clean apartment from Hay4you in the Copenhagen K district, on Købmagergade which felt like being on Fifth Ave in NYC. Perfect location. And it was across the street from Museum Erotica, if that what you mean by Gentlemans club. If so, it was a non issue. Good luck. My son loved studying there!

I just stayed at the Square in August 2009. I lived in Copenhagen for 20-plus years of summers, so I never before had to stay at a hotel. I used to mostly rent a place, so The Square was my first hotel experience and I wasn't impressed at all. I only picked it for location as I had some things I needed to take care of while in town and it was a short walk away.

I had the smallest room I had ever seen in my life, and I've stayed in a LOT of hotel rooms in the past 35 years throughout the world. Plus, my non-smoking room smelled of smoke. Also the room was only large enough for a twin bed which was pushed against the wall, so every time, I'd turn in my sleep, I'd hit the wall. Also the shower drain was so slow that the whole bathroom floor got soaked. And as for service, pretty non-existent. My Danish friends dropped by to see my room and couldn't believe how small it was. Next time I'll stay with them and commute. Happy Travels!

stimjay-Thanks for posting the apartment rental agency. This past trip I was only in Copenhagen for 4 days and then on to Paris to a friend's apartment. So, I just needed to take care of some things and see some friends and move on. But, maybe next time I'll stay a week and just get an apartment. Kobmagergade is a great street, but I couldn't believe how much it has changed and Copenhagen in general. And that Marstrand bakery, on Kobmagergade is gone....absolutely heartbreaking. I lived there almost annually during the summers from 1973-1993 and then 2003 and 2004 for spring visits and then this past summer 2009 visit. So, I've really seen the changes. Happy Travels!

The Marriott really isn't that far out of the way. The Scandic is 5 minutes closer to anything (tops) and is a much lesser hotel. I would probably stay at the Marriott if the price is agreeable.

The Admiral hotel would be a good option if they have a room that fits 3. It is on the better side of downtown.

I second Hay4you or try to get in touch with some of the peóple who rent out their private apartments through craigslist.org. A real home away from home is a nice thing with children. And everybody who come to visit relatives in Copenhagen have the chance of looking into the apartment before arrival.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. The apartment idea is a good one. We may only be staying in Copenhagen for 3 nights before heading to Norway. I appreciate the comment on The Square hotel. I'm intriged about the Admiral but on a mpa it doesn't look like it's close to things. Prices are now available for the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel for about the same price as the Scandic Copenhagen. Any comments on that one? I just realized we'll be in Copenhagen during Easter weekend. How is the Easter Bunny going to deliver a basket to our hotel? :-)

Oh, I checked the Hay4You website. They only rent for 7 days or longer. Great source, though!

The rooms at the Radisson SAS are very small. It will be awfully cramped. I would book the Marriott over the Radisson every single time. The Radisson is probably better than the Scandic.

As to the Admiral 'not being close to things', where are you looking to go?
The Admiral is closer than the Scandic/SAS to the following:
- Amalienborg Palace
- The Little Mermaid
- Nyhavn
- The worthwhile end of the Strøget
- The Opera House
- The Marble Church
- Resistance Museum
- The Metro

The Radisson/Scandic is closer to:
- Tivoli (not open)
- The Planetareum
- The Glyptotek (The Marriott may be the closest to the Glyptotek)
- The Main Station
- Ethnic food (read: affordable-ish)

They are pretty equidistant to:
- The botanical gardens
- Christiansborg Slot
- The National Museum

You should also bear in mind that Copenhagen largely shuts down for Easter Weekend. LOTS of things will be closed. Pretty much nothing will be open on either Good Friday or Easter Monday. I don't recall what is open on the Thursday before Easter. Shops do open on Saturday, IIRC. Restaurants will be open, but expect some to close for some of this period. I think Museums will be open most days, but don't quote me.

Travelgourmet, thank you so much for your detailed response. I live near NYC so I didn't even think about things being closed around Easter. I'll have to check with the tourist office in Copenhagen. I sure do hope the canal tour and bus tours will be operating. Figured that would be a good starting off point with the 7 year old!

There are two Radisson SAS hotels. I thought the rooms would be bigger at the higher rated SAS Royal versus the SAS Scandinavia. I've seen very good reviews for the Royal. I will definitely check out the rates at the Admiral. Right now, I can get one night free at the Marriott. I've just been stressing about the location because of my little one. I can hear the "I'm tired" or "carry me" whining now! Since you know about Easter there, do the Danes celebrate with Easter baskets by chance? I may have to mail one to the hotel ahead of time so the Easter bunny comes!

Regarding the two SAS hotels - I would think that the Scandinavia would actually have the larger rooms, as it is newer. But it is basically out in the middle of nowhere. The SAS Royal is a very nice hotel, but it was designed in the late 50's, when concepts of space were different than they are now. It is a must if you love Danish Modern design, but the Marriott has much bigger rooms.

I also think you need to bear in mind how compact Copenhagen is. The Marriott and the Royal are only 1 km apart. Heck, it is only a 20 minute walk from the Royal to the Admiral on the other side of town.

As for Easter - I really don't know. I don't have kids so it never really came up. I'll see what I can find out. One thing you should definitely get in Denmark, that you can't get in the US is Kinder Eggs. They are these cool little eggs that have toys inside. They are illegal in the US, due to safety concerns.

Have you checked out the Scandic Front near The Admiral? Many Scandics have family rooms.

HappyTrvlr, I actually did check on the Front when I called Scandic to make a reservation. I was told that Scandic Copenhagen was more of a kid friendly hotel and that the Front was for mostly couples. I really liked the look of the Front better..... Have you stayed there?

Oh Travelgourmet, I just noticed your comment! Thanks for pointing out how compact Copenhagen is. I just emailed the Tourist Office in Copenhage for information about Easter and if there were any masses offered in English. I'll have to look out for the Kinder Eggs.

No, but we wished we had because of its location.