Oslo Guldsmeden - Guldsmeden Hotels

The Carlton Oslo Hotel Guldsmeden is part of a small, family-owned hotel chain that is dedicated to environmentally and socially conscious practices. The hotel uses energy- and water-waving appliances and uses only organic ingredients for the free breakfast, among other measures.
Though the chain only comprises a handful of properties, one of them is in Bali -- which helps explain why the decor here is a blend of Scandinavian and Asian influences. The generous use of wood and stone is also eco-friendly, since these materials require less frequent replacement.

The Carlton Oslo Guldsmeden is located in a quiet, mostly residential area to the northwest of Aker Brygge. The hotel is unassuming and might be mistaken for one of the adjacent apartment buildings upon first glance.
Oslo is Norway's largest city, and is centered around the thoroughfare of Karl Johans Gate, which leads from the Royal Palace to Oslo Central Station. Visitors can expect to find shops, cafes, and bakeries along this route, and in the summer can watch mounted police officers and a military marching band lead the royal guards to the palace for the changing of the guard ceremony, which takes place daily at 1:30 p.m.
The waterfront Aker Byrgge area is also a popular area. In nice weather locals and tourists alike can be found strolling up and down the Stranden, lining up at the ice cream and hot dog stands, sitting on the benches to watch the boats, and dining at the outdoor restaurant tables along the street. The restaurants here, as in all of Norway, are astonishingly expensive -- though visitors trying to keep costs low will be able to find more affordable ethnic eateries (Indian, Thai, and Chinese) elsewhere in the city.
Most visitors should expect to walk quite a bit to get around, and to rely on the tram and bus system. Taxis, like everything else, are very expensive, and most tourists use them sparingly.

• 8-minute walk to Aker Brygge
• 11-minute walk to the Royal Palace
• 11-minute walk to the Nobel Peace Center
• 16-minute walk to Oslo City Hall
• 19-minute walk to Frogner Park and the Vigeland Sculpture Park
• 20-minute walk to St. Olav's Cathedral
• 13 minutes by foot and tram to Oslo Central Station (or a 7-minute drive)
• 21 minutes by foot and tram to the Opera House
• 28 minutes by foot and tram to the Edvard Munch Museum
• 30 minutes by foot and ferry to Bygdoy, the peninsula that's home to the Viking Ship Museum, Kon-Tiki Museum, Fram Museum, and Norwegian Maritime Museum
• 30-minute metro ride from Oslo Central Station to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump

The beds are the most prominent feature of the rooms, and the rustic-chic wooden four-posters exemplify the hotel's Asian-inspired Scandinavian decor. The delicate white curtains tied with bundles of shells are pure Bali, while the fur throws (many of which are reindeer skins) are definitely Norwegian.
The 27-inch iMacs hooked up to the Internet are also notable; the hotel offers them in lieu of TVs so that guests can stream their shows and music rather than watching a set selection of channels. Only Norwegian public broadcasting is included, however, which some may find annoying, but guests can hook up their iPads to play any movies or shows they might already own. Movies can also be purchased on the iMac for a fee.
Standard Single Rooms, meant for only one person, are seriously tiny, but rooms get larger as you go up in price category. Most bathrooms lack shower curtains or doors, which is common in Norway, but means water will spill out onto the rest of the floor. Some of the higher-level rooms have luxurious standalone soaking tubs, sometimes at the foot of the bed rather than in the bathroom.

• Organic cotton sheets and animal skin throws on the beds
• Gorgeous rustic-chic four-poster beds with white curtains
• Organic bathroom toiletries
• 27-inch iMac monitors in lieu of TVs; Norwegian public broadcasting streams for free, but movies are for an additional cost
• Windows that open
• Bathrobes and slippers provided in most room categories

The Carlton Oslo Hotel Guldsmeden has several room types that can accommodate families or groups -- namely, the Family Room, with two bedrooms and three beds, and the Double Connecting Room, with two bedrooms and two beds.

The food and drinks at the morning breakfast are made with entirely organic ingredients. The spread includes meats, cheeses, homemade vanilla yogurt, dried fruits, nuts, scrambled eggs, bacon, and pastries.

This small family-owned chain is in the process of getting all of its properties Green Globe Certified, and a number of eco-friendly practices are employed at the Carlton Oslo Hotel Guldsmeden.

• Lots of natural materials such as stone and wood used in the decor, since they are long-lasting
• Energy- and water-waving appliances, such as energy-efficient light bulbs
• Breakfast made with entirely organic ingredients
• Recycling initiatives
• Organic cotton sheets and towels
• Sheets changed only every three nights, unless guests request otherwise