The Scandic Plaza Hotel in Boras Sweden

I was fortunate enough to have the time of a lifetime in Sweden last year. I was also fortunate enough to know a Swedish native, so I stayed in a very nice apartment for a majority of my stay. However the day before I came home I traveled to a town closer to the Gothenburg Landvetter Airport. I had pre-booked a room on the internet the night before at the Scandic Plaza Hotel in Boras.

Once I arrived in Boras I found the Scandic Plaza Hotel fairly quickly and easily. It is located in the heart of the downtown area on Allegatan. A large, prominent building with 135 hotel rooms, a bar and restaurant, and a spacious lobby, the Scandic Plaza is very easy to spot. Parking is a very small walk from the hotel door, but with luggage this can be a hassle. However, for this reason a small loading area is available right by the front door with 15 minute parking.

When checking in I found the staff quite agreeable. Although I was with a Swedish native, they greeted me in English and were very friendly and helpful.

Over the internet I had requested a smoking room. I was not able to book one however, but I did not find out until my check-in. Smoking rooms go much faster than non-smoking rooms in Europe. Every time one of us smoked we had to go into the elevator go down six floors and go outside the hotel in the rain.

Upon first entering my room at the Scandic Plaza Hotel, I was slightly disappointed considering I paid about 900 SEK which is equivalent to 125 US dollars. The room had queen size bed, a sofa sleeper sectional, a desk and dresser, cable television, and internet availability, but it was not as elegant as I had expected. However my disappointment quickly dissipated when I discovered that the room had a bathtub. This may sound odd, but most homes and hotels in Europe have showers only. After ten days of no long hot baths, I was really missing them.

Although I did not dine at the Scandic Plaza Hotel's restaurant, its menu was extremely tantalizing. I did have a drink at the bar after restaurant hours and would recommend it to anyone seeking a soft intimate setting without any distraction The bartender was friendly and extremely accommodating and the bar was quiet and classy. Once the bar closed, the hotel lobby continued to sell cold beers and wines after hours which was a plus.

In the morning, I received a complimentary European style breakfast delivered to my room. It was more than sufficient and it included soft and hard breads, butter and marmalade, cheeses and breakfast meats, and coffee and tea. Checkout was simple and uneventful.

All in all, I would recommend this hotel to anybody planning a stay in the area. You will find the room comfortable. What really made the Scandic Plaza Hotel a good place to stay was all the extras. After hours drinks, free room service breakfast, and a friendly staff put this hotel high on my list.