Balestrand Hotel, Balestrand

Pros  

• Enjoy gorgeous fjord views from the hotel's common spaces and front-facing rooms with seated balconies.
• The renovated lobby lounge has a young ambience and is a relaxing spot for sipping a nice selection of beers and wines, with occasional cultural events (though there's no restaurant).
• When the weather behaves, there's outdoor seating on a terrace and a private beach and fjord dock for swimming. 

Cons

• Breakfast is not offered on the property, but you can add it to your rate and dine at the nearby Kviknes Hotel for a large buffet spread.
• Rooms are clean but sparsely decorated with no frills—it's all about the views and a good night's sleep.

Authenticity

The Balestrand Hotel was purchased in 2021 by family members of the previous owners, making this a second generation property. The new, younger owners have spruced up the lobby to create a hip open layout for ordering drinks and snacks, including coffee, tea, wine, and beer, with several tables and lounge areas topped with flickering candles. Though it's a quieter location and a bit removed from the center of town, they hope to draw visitors with cultural events and a fun ambience, which explains the upbeat music in the lobby. Another perk of this family-friendly environment: the owners will pick you up and deliver you at the ferry dock during arrivals and departures. 

Location

The hotel is located in Balestrand, a small fjord town of around 2,000 residents surrounded by stunning mountains on the Sognefjord, Norway's longest and deepest fjord. Guests can arrive by car on a beautiful scenic route that includes a car ferry in Dragsvik if arriving from the east. There's also an express passenger ferry in Balestrand with daily crossings to and from Bergen (the hotel is a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal, and the hotel can arrange free pickups and dropoffs). Balestrand itself can be experienced in a day with its walkable core offering art galleries, a museum, an aquarium, and a traditional stave church. Most guests choose to stay a few days to enjoy the area's natural beauty with challenging hiking trails and fjord adventures, and the staff can make suggestions and arrange excursions. Free hotel parking is available, and guests can walk to lunch and dinner options in town in under five minutes.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Half of the hotel's 30 rooms have big windows and seated balconies overlooking splendid fjord views (especially nice with a cup of coffee from the lobby or a beer at sunset), while the other 15 rooms are in the rear, up against a mountain dotted with houses (for a lesser cost). Most rooms can be configured depending on the guest's preference, and extra beds can be added if a bigger group is needed. Two rooms with extra space can accommodate four people for larger groups or families. All rooms have carpet and are sparsely decorated except for white duvets and small seating areas; bathrooms have showers, tub/shower combos, and basic bath products.