Svalbard Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Spitsbergen Hotel: Very relaxed

by foona

The hotel was originally built as accommodation and representational area for employees at the Mining Company; Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. Effort has been made in preserving its special history and combining it with modern hotel facilities.

When we were there, most of the guests were Norwegian and everyone shared tips and stories.

The atmosphere is very casual and laid-back. Guests walking around in thick woolen socks and fleece-pants, making waffles in the lounge, picking a book from the library and read in front of the fire.

Svalbard Lodge: Nice Appartments in Centre of Town

by seaouk

Svalbard Lodge is brilliant for mid to long stay as it allows you to cook your own food, saving a lot of money on eating out each night.
It is not the cheapest accommodation in Longyearbyen but it is one of the most central. You wont get the same atmosphere like you would in a guesthouse, as we never saw our neighbours, but we did not find this a problem.

The only down side is the bar that it sits upon. This got very loud on a Firday and Saturday night, but if you can't cope just go down and join in.

It is run by the Snow Scooter hire place

Radisson: The finest hotel in Longyearbyen

by georeiser

Radisson SAS Longyearbyen is the finest and most expensive hotel in Svalbard. It's located at the end of the walking street.

several hotels...: Weekend offers

by Saagar

There are three main hotels in Longyearbyen, and occasionally they offer weekend packages. The smaller guest houses do not really offer packages as such, but there are off-season offers that are considerably cheaper than during the main season.

The packages from Spitsbergen Hotel http://www.rica.no/index.cfm?oa=hotel.display&con=585 , Radisson Polar Hotel http://www.radissonsas.com/g_no_sk_brand_lyrzh
and Fangstmannshotellet of Basecamp Spitsbergen http://www.basecampexplorer.com/svalbard/About/no are advertised online, in newspapers, by event organisers, by tour operators and by airlines.

There are a number of events that draw crowds as well as weekend offers and spin-off advertisements: the Polar Jazz festival, the pre-Christmas food festival, Christmas and New Year's, Mid-Winter and other more or less important festivals and events.

Sports and activity offers are often linked to flight and accommodation discounts. You just need to watch out and be ready to jump at the occasion.

Longyearbyen camping: Camping site near the airport

by Saagar

I have never stayed here and I do not intend to. The camping site is far out of town and in a dusty, desolate site - in my opinion. It makes sense, however, if you are on an expedition/trek/tented hike of Svalbard and that this is your starting and finshing point near the airport. You can just walk up to the airport from this site.

It is a designated campground with a small service building with washing water, drinking water, toilet etc.

The web site gives all necessary info and gives booking info etc.

Close to the airport, and as some flights take place at night the location might cause you to wake up around midnight and again at 3:30 and 5...
In principle, this site is in a polar bear risk area, but as many persons normally are present and the airport is nearby, the risk is limited. There are gun rules laid down for the camping site. Basically, no loaded guns on site.
The airport tower provides polar bear watch 24 hrs.

All accommodation: Generally on accommodation in Longyearbyen:

by Saagar

There are four categories of accommodation for visitors to Longyearbyen:
1) Guesthouses, the cheapest available accommodation in Longyearbyen. There are two of them located at Nybyen section of town; Nybyen Guesthouse 102 and Spitsbergen Guesthouse.
2) Cheaper hotel/pension: there is only one in this category - Mary-Ann's Polarrigg at Sjøområdet/Skjæringa part of town.
3) Hotels; of which there are three: Radisson, Funken, and Basecamp. Overpriced.
4) Flats for rent; various categories, good for several persons and for long-term stays.

In addition, there is a camping site between Hotellneset harbour area and the airport.

All accommodation in Longyearbyen is overpriced. Transport cost of goods counts for the main excuse. Check if breakfast and perhaps lunch packet (if going hiking) is included in the price.
All booking can be done by internet, and the best portal is the main Svalbard tourism portal www.svalbard.net
There are high and low-season periods. The high season starts late January and ends in August.
Some accommodation is closed during low season; parts of the guest houses and hotels are shut down.

Longyearbyen Campsite: Cold, but comfy campground

by JeanineSheep

Svalbard campsite is a good, basic campsite for those who want a real (or, sort of real) Artic survival experience. Warning - it is cold, even in summer. When we were there, the sun shone on the first "day", then it rained most of the time (so much for a desert environment) but the rain was relatively light. In mid July, the outside temperature was around 5oC, and that is COLD to most people. We hired a nice big tent (2.8 m tall tee-pee, 4 m base) - it was wonderfully roomy, but not warm. We also hired "American army" sleeping bags - narrow at the base, with a kind of hood - to reduce our luggage. There were bicycles for hire too - at 100 NOK's per day, cheaper than in town (200 NOKs) but most not in a very good condition. Mine was fine, but the guys complained about theirs. The walk to town is long (4 km) although we did it several times just to enjoy the atmosphere. You can also take a taxi to town - around 90 NOKs, warm, and worth it if you're in a hurry. The showers were mostly nice and warm, but needed forward planning to buy a shower token for 10 NOKs.

It was wonderful to meet the variety of characters who frequent the campsite. The cooking room has hot plates, and a good variety of cooking utensils. The fewest people I ever saw there was around 2, and it was often pumping with 20 or 30. People may also leave unwanted food behind, and so a great variety of basic stuff like oil and spices were available (some however, only named in Russian). It was amazingly international. It's also just next to the airport (although the path is not very user-friendly, or visible from the airport at 01h00). I recommend taking tea and coffee and thermoses for comfort, as well as back-up toilet paper. Air mattresses may be hired, but quality not guaranteed - I recommend taking your own, for both comfort and warmth. Note also that due to the sensitivity of the artic vegetation, you're not allowed to camp on it (a wierd rule to foreigners) so don't expect any comfort or warmth from this source. There was a lot of loose soil in our tent (my husband thought it a lot like copy toner) because the ground mat didn't cover everything - a lightweight additional groundmat would have helped.

Radisson SAS Polar Hotel: Expensive Accommodations in the Artic

by maryellen50

To travel to Svalbard, the only route is from Oslo to Longyearbyen. Accommodations in Longyearbyen are very sparse as most operate only during the tourist season of June/July/August so prices are very expensive. The Radisson was adquate however it is not considered a luxury hotel despite the $150/night room rate.

Professor Molchanov

by tini58de

12 days on the ship - and I loved every single day!!!

If you take the Professor as a hotel/accomodation - let me tell you my impressions:

We had booked the smallest and cheapest cabin: 3 beds (1 bunk bed and a single bed), but we even had a sink in our cabin, a sofa, a wardrobe and a desk. I must admit that it was small, but most of the time we spent outside or on the bridge, so we did not really need a larger cabin!

The toilets and the shower cabins were just a few steps across the corridor and were as clean as you could possibly hope for.

The restaurant was small, actually there were two small restaurant rooms with the kitchen in the middle. The food was excellent (and I mean excellent) and we were served breakfast, lunch and dinner. Besides that there was always coffee, tea or hot soups available for us - and the bar was high quality!

You could even have your laundry done on the boat!!

The staff (mostly Russian) was very nice and helpful - so that is why this was the greatest experience ever!!!

Guesthouse 102 in Longyearbyen

by tini58de

This place used to be a miners' home - now it is a guesthouse with single, double and dormitory rooms. It has been renovated in the 1990s, so the standard is very nice. The showers and rooms are clean, there is a shared TV room and a kitchen for self catering.

Breakfast (very yummy!) and linnens/towels are included in the price.

Very helpful staff, clean and most reasonable, although Svalbard/Spitsbergen is very expensive!

The shared dormitories have both men and women mixed - (I still feel sorry for the guy who had to put up with us three ladies....)!

Explore the World

Svalbard Hotels

5 Hotels

Other Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Spitsbergen Hotel: Very relaxed

Svalbard Lodge: Nice Appartments in Centre of Town

Radisson: The finest hotel in Longyearbyen

several hotels...: Weekend offers

Longyearbyen camping: Camping site near the airport

All accommodation: Generally on accommodation in Longyearbyen:

Longyearbyen Campsite: Cold, but comfy campground

Radisson SAS Polar Hotel: Expensive Accommodations in the Artic

Professor Molchanov

Guesthouse 102 in Longyearbyen

Explore the World

Ask a Question