Last February 2019 I finally made it to Norway, unofficially country number 100 and decided to visit Kristiansand in winter. Why choose Oslo when you can also travel to Kristiansand? It turned out to be a great choice as I had an amazing time. This was also due to Clarion Hotel Ernst Kristiansand where I stayed while traveling around Southern Norway.
I did not only visit Kristiansand, but also took a little roadtrip in Southern Norway. See the complete story in the link above.
From TRF Sandefjord Airport I took a bus down south to Kristiansand where I arrived around 19.00. It was already dark and as soon as I got out of the bus I already saw Clarion Hotel Ernst. It was only a little stroll down the street and within 3 minutes I stood in the massive inner courtyard of the hotel. Check in was fast and smooth and I got to my room in no-time.
I had no clue what kind of room I would get, but it was on the top floor. When I opened the door with my keycard it was pitch black and I didn't see anything until I put my keycard in the electricity slot. WOW, is this my room? :)
Location Clarion Ernst Kristiansand
It is hard to beat the Hotel Ernst Kristiansand location as it is literally 50 meters away from the main shopping street and square. On top of that it is just a few steps away from the bus terminal as well as the ferry terminal. In my Kristiansand travel blog I already mentioned the opportunity to travel to Denmark from Kristiansand. From my room I was able to see the huge ‘cruise-like’ ferries arriving and departing the port. The ferry terminal to Denmark is also within walking distance only about 300 meters away.
Room Clarion Hotel Ernst
Apparently I was upgraded to one of the best rooms at Clarion Ernst Hotel and it was not just a hotel room. When the light turned on I stood in a huge round living room. This corner suite on the top floor of the hotel was the perfect place to start my trip in Southern Norway.
There was a huge flatscreen tv and an ever bigger sofa. Perfect to plunge on after traveling for about 8 hours from Gdansk. I connected the Bose sound system and indulged on the red wine and chocolate that was left on the table as a welcome surprise by Clarion Hotel Ernst Kristiansand.
The bedroom was cosy with the overhanging roof and the bed was huge. Like in most cold countries in Europe there was not one duvet, but one per side of the bed. Im still not sure how I feel about that but since I was alone it was ok and after all the bed was heavenly!
The bathroom was next to the bedroom and had a bath tub and a separate shower. On the huge mirror they left a written welcome message and there was another gift waiting for me. The hotel toiletries are all from the Rituals brand and the gift waiting for me was the a set of Ritual products.
Breakfast Clarion Hotel Ernst Kristiansand
There is a buffet breakfast from 7.00 am till 10.00 am and in weekends even till 11.00 am. Perfect for me as I am not a morning person. There is a huge selection available of fresh fruits, nuts, granola, fish, eggs, juices, cold cuts, pancakes and bread. The buffet breakfast at Clarion Ernst was too good to just have a simple and quick breaky. It always took me a little while before I finished my 3 buffet rounds.
Rent an E-Golf from Clarion Ernst
The hotel offers its guests to rent an E-Golf for only 300 Norwegian Krone per day, that is like €30. Do you know how much a trip to Norway cost in general? In my Kristiansand in winter blog I already discussed the topic. Renting a car including free kilometers for this price is definitely a winner. When fully charged you can drive up to 250 kilometers. The E-Golf is only available for guests of Clarion Hotel Ernst Kristiansand.
Kristiansand Hotel review Clarion Ernst
Needless to say that in this Clarion Hotel Ernst review I am raving about my stay. The staff was super helpful and friendly and facilitate all my needs. Upon check out they stored my bag for a couple hours before I was traveling to Oslo. They even prepared me lunch while the kitchen was actually closed. These small things as well as the bottle of wine, the chocolate, the Rituals surprise and the written message on the mirror is what differs this Kristiansand hotel from the others. Curious how much Clarion Hotel Ernst Kristiansand charges per night? Click here to check it out.
Thanks for the excellent service Clarion Hotel Ernst. I will surely travel to Kristiansand in summer this year and enjoy the warm summer sun in Norway.