Moxy Bergen — Hotel in Bergen

For some context, I'm a solo traveler that works remotely during my travels and I am adventurous and like to explore local neighborhoods and vibes, especially the food scene. I'm a Bonvoy titanium and I typically stay at 5 star properties.

THE GOOD

• Service & friendliness - 5 stars, actually 10 stars out of 5

The staff are outstanding. Even when they're overwhelmed with food orders on a night it was raining and everyone decided to stay in, they remained professional, friendly, and kind.

• Room logistics - 4 stars

Room is very spacious and somewhat functional. Not a lot of storage space but they give you hangers and clips on a peg board type wall. I was upgraded to a harbor view on the top floor. Bathroom is tiny but not the worst.

The room darkening curtains work great.

• Lounge - 4.5 stars

The lounge is great for working remotely. WiFi is great for video calls, I never had any connection problems. There are power sockets by every table. Music can be a tad loud but Google Meet usually filters out the background noise. I use airpods so I had no problem hearing my coworkers in my meetings.

Some cushions smelled so bad so they really need to wash them regularly.

Overall it's a fantastic working space with a lot of natural light and view of the harbor. Easy to grab drinks and order snacks from the bar. Or take a mini break to go outside for some fresh air and soak in the view.

THE BAD

• Room comfort - 1 star

As others have mentioned, the bed is VERY firm. I have hip issues and I can't sleep well because I'm in pain all night. It also hurts my shoulder because I'm a side sleeper.

There are often noises so if you're a light sleeper then it would bother you. I used my earplugs after the first night and the noise didn't wake me up. Early morning there could be loud slamming noises as if someone was moving furniture or throwing things.

You cannot adjust the AC since it's central. There is a thermostat but it doesn't do anything. I asked the staff and they recommended opening the window, which only cracks a couple of inches. I left it open all day during a cold rainy day and my room still wasn't cold. It's not warm but it's also not cool. I need the room to be cold to get a good night sleep so this is definitely a no.

• Shower - 2 stars

Weak water pressure. Water temperature not exactly consistent. I expect a Marriott property to have a good shower. This was a disappointment.

• Elevator - 2 star

You have to use your key card to select a floor. Problem is, the scanner doesn't work well. It takes at least 4-5 tries for about 30 seconds total each time. Not a lot of time but when you just got back to the hotel and tired and hot and need to use the bathroom, that can be very annoying.

• Location - 2 star

While there is a bus 5-7 min walk to get to town, they don't come very regularly. I had to wait 15 mins to take the bus from town back to the hotel, but the bus stopped behind another bus at the bus stop and I missed it, so I had to wait another 15 mins and take a different bus where I had to walk a steep downhill in the rain for 850m. It wasn't fun. Staying in town would definitely be a lot more convenient. There is not much going on around the hotel otherwise.

One night it was raining and everyone stayed in and the staff became overwhelmed with the food order. They don't have the capacity or resources to accommodate dinner for everyone so they're not really set up for success in the food department. Not to mention the food is mediocre, typical bar food.

OVERALL - 2 stars

I really want to love this property. It's a beautiful, gorgeous property, with a fantastic lounge and amazing views, and one of the best staff I've met. But functionally they have failed. I just can't love it because I can't sleep well or comfortably, and I don't like being stuck at a hotel when I'd rather have easy...

The room was clean, the location was convenient the staff were friendly and helpful, and the shower ventilation was impressive enough to keep the mirror from fogging up. That's enough to earn the hotel a second star from what would have been a 1-star review.

The overall vibe and style of the hotel seem that they're intended to appeal to teenage girls and no one else. From the decor to the music and everything in between it just feels like a failed attempt to be edgy. As a business traveler, it felt like a joke to stay here.

The rooms are tiny and have virtually no features or conveniences that I'd expect from a 3-star hotel. A mini fridge and microwave would be nice. Some type of in-room coffee should be considered absolutely essential, even at a 1 or 2 star hotel! You won't find any here. A closet, dresser or otherwise adequate space to put things so I don't have to live entirely out of a suitcase would also be nice. These are basic amenities, but are completely absent.

At very least, there should be a comfortable place to sit, and above all to sleep. Instead, the "furniture" consists of what is basically a shelf with a makeshift cushion as your "sofa"; another shelf tethered to the wall -- barely large enough to fit a laptop -- as your desk or workspace; and a flimsy table the size of a small barstool as your bedside nightstand.

The bed is one of the worst I've ever experienced in my life. The first night, I felt as if I was sleeping on a concrete slab. In the morning I requested a soft topper for the mattress, which the helpful staff happily provided. It upgraded the comfort level of the bed from concrete slab to sheet of plywood. That's the best it got. My back, neck and hips physically hurt in the morning from sleeping on the medieval torture device this hotel calls a bed.

Showering here is also an unpleasant experience if you like even remotely consistent water temperature. It will fluctuate wildly and frequently no matter how quickly you shower. And the water pressure is so low that the difference when you switch the shower head from "rain" to "jet" is virtually imperceptible. They combination shampoo and body soap is also a negative. If something is gentle enough to be shampoo, it will not rinse off well enough to feel like an effective soap for your skin. Combining these 2 products is just a way of saving a little money by not actually providing soap, but rather telling guests to use shampoo instead and pretend it's soap.

And then there's the breakfast. It's not terrible for a hotel breakfast, but a person can only handle the exact same rehydrated powdered eggs for so many days in a row. The breakfast is one of the reasons the rooms should have a mini fridge and microwave. It's fine to serve typical, mediocre hotel food at a hotel, but at least have a little variation from day to day. Oh, and pancakes aren't supposed to be served cold, right out of the refrigerator. Serve them warm or skip them altogether. On the plus side, there are a lot of coffee options. It's not great coffee but if you have a latte macchiato to mask the bitter, acidic, extremely over-roasted flavor of the coffee beans it tastes acceptable.

The room prices are lower than a lot of places, as they should be. This is just a case of getting what you pay for I suppose. So before you book, know that with the lower prices should also come much lower expectations. In this case, expectations not consistent with a 3-star hotel, and an experience that the Marriott organization should be embarrassed to have associated...

The location is convenient with the light rail and bus stops nearby. The city centre is also a walkable distance. The area is very picturesque and we got a room overlooking the water.

The room was very clean and kept well. We did have a small hiccup with housekeeping one day in that they only partially tidied the room, but the staff member apologised and rectified it professionally. There isn’t a closet, but there are places for you to hang your coats. No slippers provided. Although it lacked a coffee table and chairs, our room did have a little table attached to the wall accompanied by a stool, but I imagine it would probably be difficult to use your laptop there. The electrical outlet includes USB A and C ports, which was very handy.

Breakfast was decent: hot food consisted of bacon and scrambled eggs; hard boiled eggs sometimes available; ready-made pancakes along with a variety of breads (seeded loaves, rolls, baguettes and sweet pastries); cold cuts, cheese, pâté, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, yoghurt and fruit; cereals with an assortment of seeds, nuts and dried fruit as toppings; juices, tea and coffee. There’s also a microwave if you need it.

The food from their menu outside of breakfast hours is not bad, though it can take a while for it to be served, as it seemed that there was only one person behind the counter doing everything.

It was a very enjoyable and comfortable stay and I would’ve given a five-star rating had it not been for one interaction. When my husband and I were checking in, we had an issue with payment, so I was going to put it on my card. The young man helping us out was polite, but when I, the person intending to pay for the room, asked him for clarification on a matter, he responded to my husband rather than me. If you’re a woman, you can understand why I am highlighting this. Although it was a subtle exchange, or lack thereof, I felt diminished. I suggest that MOXY should address this for...