Citybox Oslo

It sounds a bit silly, but I am genuinely a bit upset about giving three stars to Citybox Oslo as I am 100% all for the concept. I don’t need a front desk person checking me in and making awkward small talk, if all I am doing is trying to pay and get a room key then a kiosk works perfectly fine. I don’t need an overpriced bland breakfast on site, I’m in the centre of a city where there are hundreds of cafes. I don’t need my bed sheets changed every day, I don’t do that at home. I don’t need a TV or a kitchen in my room if I am here to enjoy my short time on a city break.

The location of the hotel in my opinion is excellent. Short walk from the Central Station and Metro, with a Tramline right outside the front door and a lot of the main attraction of the city nearby.

As mentioned above, the services you lose out on as part of their concept bring the price down which is great for a hotel in an expensive city.

My bed was comfortable and pillows were good, even if I wish I had a bigger duvet booking a small double room to myself (although I understand that this is cultural thing for couples sharing). The shower had good water pressure and was always hot. The heated floor in the bathroom was a nice touch (if it could have been turned off, see below).

However my complaints lay more with the execution of the concept, and then the room itself.

Firstly, how in the year 2024 have we not got individual heating controls per room in a hotel? My room was far too hot for my comfort due the radiator in the room being on full blast as well as the heated floor in the bathroom I couldn’t turn off. This meant I had to keep the window open my entire stay, which of course made the room noisy (unavoidable in a city).

Secondly, and this is the part that really annoys me, if you’re going to tell me how to contact you then please monitor that communication method. On the check in instructions I was given, it said I could ask questions over Facebook, which I did and never received a response. I got an automated reply telling me you’ll get back to me ASAP, that was three days ago. I checked out yesterday. If you hadn’t had told me I could contact you over Facebook, I wouldn’t have!

Finally, and this is a minor thing but really started to get on my nerves, I understand I am booking a small room, but please let’s not have it so small the bathroom door doesn’t open all the way because of it hitting the bed.