Clarion Hotel The Hub — Hotel in Oslo

Where do I start been a real nightmare. We checked on Monday when checking in we clearly stated we wanted to stay in a quite area of the hotel. The person on reception said I understand I will put you on the 13th floor which will be good for you. I should have known by the number 13. My goodness how noisy this hotel is. Are room was behide the 13th floor bar which was ok on Monday because it wasn't open. But come Tuesday my goodness what a nightmare . The music is so Loud from the bar it vibrates through the walls .none of the rooms are sound proofed in this hotel. Every five minutes you heard slamming doors music blaring people talking. We have phoned down to reception and complained about noise levels. We were assured that the noise levels would not carry on. But they got worse because a party going on on the bar till 2am. We haven't spelt now for 3nights all we wanted was a rest. Yesterday we spoke to a manager that showed us a room but this was on the 13th floor which wouldn't have solved any of are issues so we stayed in are room which we where assured that no party's where booked for the Eveing and would be more quite in the bar . Oh boy it was a million times lounder the music from the bar was unbelievable how Lound it was . This went on to 2am I phoned down a couple of Times and complained about the noise . The night manger on Friday was very nice bought us up a hot chocolate even she could hear the music when she stood outside the door and could understand are issues. I went back to bed but the music got lounder so I got dressed and went down to reception. I spoke to a nice lady I explained everything she said I don't no why you where put on 13th floor thats noisy there was nothing she could do but she noted down what I said. So today Saturday morning I went to reception like I was told to I spoke to a young guy on reception and explained I needed to speak to the duty manager. His reply was umm the manger is ill the manger isn't hear .so my wife said so there's no manger ? Then he walked over to the manger which was next to him basically and bought her over . His reaction was very strange and rude. The manger she's called chera she's lovely very nice a good manger and nice person. She has moved us this morning to a different floor and room.she lift us a plate of chocolate and cold drinks from the mini bar and hopefully a refund one night's stay.we all so received a free meal at the downstairs bar which was nice. I think this hotel is the most noisist hotel iv ever been in. We haven't spelt for 3nights it's ruined are stay in oslo yesterday I went out I had to come back because of a migraine from lack of sleep. I wasn't told that at weekends you needed to book a time slot for breakfast found out the hard way which is unacceptable of reception not to have informed us. The doors need looking at us they slam and shack the room very Lound the rooms need sound proofing . A member of staff told me floor 13 was a party floor thats why it's noisy. I was told many different things from different members of staff. Yesterday when going back to are room on the 13th floor . A member of the bar staff saw me coming push into me almost knocking me over and just carried on no sorry . I'm so disappointed by the stay me and my wife haven't slept in 3days iv put earplugs in and could still hear the music from the bar it was thar loud. Iv stayed in manhatten and slept like a baby. This has to be the most disappointing hotel iv stayed in I wish I never came I wish I stayed at home. I'm lost for words why when we booked in when we stayed we wanted a quite place we where put on level 13 behide the bar. I feel ill from lack of sleep . Hope someone can explained why we where put on level 13. Lastly thanks to chera she's the best part of hotel .part from that what a complete nightmare this stay has Been . I'm tired my ear hurt from where I pushed my earplugs in to block the noise . I can't wait to leave. If you want to party and like noise this...

A great hotel marred by theft.

My partner and I have been fortunate enough to stay in a different country once a month this year with no negative stays, the month of November was Norway. A great start as on check in we were bumped up to the 12th floor as there was a conference going on and due to noise they provided a complimentary upgrade which was very nice of them. Side note, the lobby was a real standout from a decor perspective.

The room was spacious and the bed was very comfortable, to the point I would love to know where to purchase the pillows. The individual duvets was a good touch too. The window view was not great as it was an internal view but this didn't bother us. The room was designed for disabled access, close to the elevator, slight downside is there is a slight noise from the elevator cables, not bothersome for us but could be for others. One thing to note is that the door doesn't immediately lock when you close it, you can switch the lock on and off prior to shutting the door and this will lock it on closing.

The breakfast spread was varied and great quality, fresh fruit, yogurt, multiple pastries, cereal, bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms, various hot and cold drinks, the list goes on and on, just make sure you book an early slot.

The pool is relatively small but cosy and the sauna and steam room are well sized.

The hotel is well located, very short walk to the train station, underground and Trams/Buses. Everything is within easy reach.

Now for the real downside to our stay.

On check in we left our bags in the storage room, a room that can only be opened by staff or from the inside. We were given a luggage tag to wrap around the luggage handle and told we must retain this to be allowed to have our bags back. I was not advised that this storage was actually at the guests risk.

This was repeated on our last day, Sunday 12th November 2023.

Unfortunately, it appears that on the last day, my partners toiletries bag containing all her make-up as well as two of her winter hats, (one of which had great sentimental value, as well as being approximately 1500 NOK) was missing from the hand luggage bag. These were stored at the top of the bag.

I called the hotel and although they were friendly and checked with Security and lost property in case it was found in the room, the only real recourse they provided was to advise me to notify the police and report it to our company insurance as the timeframe of potential theft was too long to look into in depth.

It should be noted that, when I picked up our bags, I was escorted to the storage room and observed collecting our bags, however on dropping it off, this did not happen. I appreciate there are limitations in liability, however, if the hotel simply spent an extra 30 seconds per person and always escorted those people who wish to drop off or pick up luggage, you would minimize or even eliminate the risk of theft to your customers. The fact that the door can only be opened from inside or from a staff desk indicates that it should be quite easy to ensure security.

We loved Norway and definitely want to return, however this incident has undermined my confidence in Clarion and I feel it would be irresponsible if I did not warn other guests of the potential...

I wish I could give more than two stars, but the shortcomings of this hotel are quite serious and outweigh the pluses.

Nonetheless, I will start with the pluses. PLUSES The staff are fantastic. Really top class. They are helpful and warm, have impeccable manners, and are genuinely engaged in what you need. They seem also to feel hamstrung by the problems that I will get to in a moment--problems, I might add that are clearly a result of poor management at the top level. The breakfast is fantastic as well. The eggs are cooked perfectly, the spread is luxurious and fresh. You feel like Saudi royalty at breakfast.

MINUSES Lifts The hotel has installed lifts that rely on a touch screen that requires a key scan followed by a selection of a floor. It then tells you which of the five lifts to take. This, however, becomes complicated by the fact that the screens are of poor quality and do not always register your finger. In attempting to return from my floor to the lobby, I spent countless times pushing at the screen before it registered. And I am someone who is a "digital native". Baby boomers will really struggle with this lift system. Once you are in the lift, there are no floor buttons. So if you miss your floor--something easy to do--due to lack of clear signage as to what floor you are on, you will be trapped for a good while.

Rooms in shoddy condition The room I was assigned to (760) was extremely hot, and the climate control did not work. The overhead bathroom lights did not work, and neither did the fridge. In fact, the fridge seemed to be overheating, causing the room to become even hotter.

IT system not working In the morning I asked them to resolve these issues, and the receptionist painstakingly entered them into the computer and told me they would either resolve them or would assign me a new room. Upon returning, no record of them could be found. Yet another example of a poor IT system.

PA system randomly turns on at night, waking you up I was assigned a new room that was much better (750), but at around 11.30 PM, the public address system came on in my room at an extremely loud volume yelling something in Norwegian. It startled the living daylights out of me. On that note, what hotel has speakers attached to a PA in every room??

Hotel is a dark maze The hotel is labyrinthine and dark--the corridors are separated via heavy fire doors, and it is easy to get lost.

No phone in room Given all these issues, I wanted to call reception. This was not possible because the rooms are "21st century" and have no phones. Instead, one is supposed to use a mobile to call a Norwegian number in order to access reception. So while they have invested in a Rube-Goldberg-touchscreen lift system that doesn't work, the rooms do not even have phones. Incredibly...