Having given the Elite Linköping just three stars, I should perhaps start by saying that I actually liked this hotel and, in the highly unlikely event of my being in Linköping again, would be happy to stay there, though I would set my expectations a bit lower. The hotel is an old building, a bit faded but with a quirky charm. Stairs and corridors seem to run in every direction though the signposting is good (it needs to be!) The staff are friendly, efficient and helpful in that formal way one expects of Swedes. The reason for the three stars comes down to the room. I do not know if my room is typical, I hope that it is not, but if it is, as a four star, the hotel needs to get its act together. Where to start? My room was one of just six or so on the top floor. It seemed to be above the level of the main roof. The lift only goes to the third floor so getting to the fourth involves climbing a short spiral staircase, something that could be a problem if one was carrying heavy luggage or was unsteady on one’s legs. I arrived at 1.30 in the morning after a nightmarish 36 hours in Amsterdam airport and the first problem I encountered was that the room light did not come on when I pressed the switch inside the door. This was not surprising as (as I soon discovered) there was no light in the socket in the ceiling. So I had to use the light on my iPhone to find one of the table lamps. The room was well equipped and the bed comfortable enough, though with those single person duvets that Nordic hotels seem to favour. I have never been a fan of these. Apart from the main light, the television gave up the ghost on the second day. There is an option to “go green” and volunteer not to have your room made up at all – a good idea in my opinion, though it would not suit everybody. The real problem was the bathroom. There was a tiny sink with no plug. Nor were any facecloths supplied. Trying to shave in such circumstances without getting water everywhere is a challenge. The shower was fine, but the shower gel bottle refused to cooperate. It took me about two minutes to extract the soap from its wrapping (I was, to be fair, running on about 2 hours sleep in the preceding 24) and was so sharp at the corners that I actually succeeded in cutting myself on it thus bleeding onto the floor – a first in my long experience. The towels were thin and worn and need replacing. On the plus side, the room was blissfully quiet and I slept well despite losing the duvet overboard a couple of times. The breakfast is OK with a reasonable choice except in the fruit department and there was no hot chocolate option for us chocoholics, but there was a waffle maker and some local delicacies for the brave. There is a sauna and gym (on the same fourth floor), but I did not have time to try either of them.
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