Help! I've searched for some reiews, but need recent input. The Radisson chain offers a great deal: buy their Get More Summer Magic Card and then get good discounts at their hotels, with 5th night free. Oslo- which is preferable for 2 female teachers, 50-ish: SAS Plaza or Scandinavian? All tips appreciated! Bergen- thanks to surfergirl for recommending the Royal by the harbor.
Happy travels all!

If you get the Radisson near the train station in Oslo you will eliminate the need for a taxi or walking to get to the other one. It is also very convenient for any sightseeing.

Thanks for the input, WillTravel. Not sure if we'll be flying in from Helsinki or taking the train from Stockholm. Convenience is nothing to be sneezed at!

On the recommendation of Bjorn, who visits this website often, thankfully, his suggestion to me between the two you mentioned (I had the same dilemma) was the SAS Scandinavian on Holbergsgate 30. It is centrally located in a VERY nice area, right down the street from the Royal Palace and the National Gallery (a REALLY easy walk!). The hotel room they gave us (for 2 adults and a child) was huge, well decorated, and a lovely bathroom. Their soap/shampoo amenities were just great. We also used the really nice indoor pool and sauna after a long day of sightseeing. They have a really great bar up on one of the top floors with an incredible view of the city. If you're up there, order the chili nuts (I think they pronounce them chili nudders). They aren't hot, but they are delicious. We brought BAGS of that stuff back with us.

Right outside the door to the hotel is a tram line (I forget which one) that takes you all over town, and you can also catch it to go to the Vigeland Park (an absolute must!) and the wharf.

While the SAS Plaza is right by the train station and looks very nice on the outside, I think that area, while certainly safe, did not look as safe as the Scandinavian.

I completely concurr with all that has been said already, but I would add that if I had to choose I would go for the Scandinavian. I'll admit that the Plaza is at the perfect position for public transport, but the bar in the Scandinavian is famous in Oslo for it's view and even at Scandinavian you are merely a 10minute walk from the nationaltheater subway station as well as all the sights around that area. With the scandinavian you've got the royal gardens right outside your hotel as well as Tram lines 10, 11, 17 and 18 within 10m from the hotel wall. And in a "nicer" part of town even though that argument is not really important. And I would put lots of weight on Bjørn's recommendation.

I might add that the Scandinavian Airport Coach (which leaves every 10 or 15 mins) stops outside the Scandinavian hotel. Or you can take the Express Train to Nationaltheater train station (which is connected to Nationaltheater subway station) and either do the 10 min walk or simply jump into a taxi if you want to get to town quickly and/or love express trains like I do

Cobos

Oh, what great information in such detail. Thank you so very much, Surfergirl, Cobos, and Bjorn for past postings. The Scandinavian sounds great, location and ...can't wait to try those nuts at the bar after a long day of sightseeing! I am ready to go!

Just as a casual warning As I mentioned in my last post the bar at the top of the scandinavian is famous (and I would try the mens restrooms as I've heard they are very good, don't know about the female ones), and it's not famous for being cheap, rather the opposite, for a Norwegian that is.... So just keep that in mind

Cobos

I didn't know the bar was famous! It appeared to be quite popular. While the drinks were expensive, they did not appear to be anymore expensive than anywhere else we had drinks (for me, wine, for my husband, beer) in Norway. The alcohol tax in Norway is uniformly obscene. It is supposedly prohibitively expensive (as a waitress told me) to try to keep the younger population from drinking so much. I don't think it worked. For me, one glass of wine will take me through a whole evening!

Well my point was rather that you can find cheaper drinks, but as long as you are drinking anyway the price difference usually aren't that big...
Well the alcohol tax for one 0.33L of beer is around 6.5NOK (approx $1) but that might include the VAT as well. I beleive the high alcohol prices are not helped by the fact that all pubs and bars also add a big markup. There is a reason that the tradition of "vorspeil" is so popular among the young here in Norway.

Cobos

I will be in Oslo for 1 short day on a cruise. I have been reading about an "Olso card" for discounts and that covers unlimited bus fare. Is it possible to order it online? and from where? I have tried to find reference online to no avail.

Hi,

Have vaguely seen their Summer Magic Card offer. But interpretated it differently.

Could I clarify?

Does it really give discounts at each of the individual hotel stays all over Norway? On top of the 5th night free. Or is the "5th night free" the discount with normal rack rates for the previous 4 nights?

Tiger_Lily,

Check out either the Radisson website or www.joingetmore.com (I believe). It's called the get more summer magic program and one pays about 10 euro for the card (at your first hotel),rates are discounted including breakfast and taxes, perhaps even a 25% discount at their restaurant, and the 5th night is free. Make your reservations beforehand. You can even call the US Radisson 800 number (check their website for details). Sounds like a winner!

Look here for info about buying the Oslo Pass online:

http://www.visitoslo.com/indexe/

Thanks, Andeesue.
I'm still in the midst of getting my itinerary and accomodations planned. So that's real helpful. Cheers.

Anna48: The benefits of the Oslo Card differs widely depending on your needs and the length of your stay. Lots of museums are free or moderately priced. If these are on your priority list, the Oslo Card easily can turn up expensive.

Maybe a day card for the public transportation will be enough? For NOK 50,- one adult is entitled to hop off and on any subs, ferries, trams and buses for 24 hours. During weekends they also may bring some children, I believe 3 or 4, with them for free.

Most hotels, however, will have all info on the Oslo Card and its options, and they normally also sell it. "Trafikanten" at the Oslo S square is the main office for public transportation and purchasing the Oslo Card, though.
Have a wonderful short stay.

Bjorn, Oslo

PS Thanks for all confidence all of you put in my advices. And the only reason I ever would consider the SAS Plaza (at the Oslo S), is the view from the top roof. People with very very little spare time certainly will get value for money if getting up there for some minutes while waiting to catch the nex train.