Hotel Fredericia

Laid-back pampering in the heart of Fredericia

TEXT: LOUISE OLDER STEFFENSEN | PHOTO © HOTEL FREDERICIA

As the days darken and the cold approaches, many dream themselves away to far-off locations on the other side of the world. For most of us, that is not quite possible. A relaxing mini-break away, however, is much easier to fit into most of our lives and can be just what is needed for a bit of a reboot. Hotel Fredericia offers luxurious facilities within easy reach of most of Denmark – and a host of deals and mini-breaks to accommodate almost all types of daydreaming, from spas to golf.

“We’re lucky to have a lot of great partnerships with local businesses that allow us to offer all these great combination deals,” says Hotel Fredericia’s manager, Einar Kring. “There’s a lot to do in Fredericia itself and in the broader region – we’re close to Legoland and just down the road from Madsby Legepark, which will satisfy the needs of most young souls. Our theatre breaks are among our most popular – Fredericia Theatre is one of the biggest in Denmark and is currentcurrently premiering the new Beatles Musical. We’ve got Michelin restaurant breaks, bridge-walking breaks and, of course, our relaxation breaks.”

Putting and pampering

For those looking for a bit of relaxation, the golfing weekend includes access to the three very different courses at Fredericia Golf Club, Golfklubben Lillebælt and Birkemose Golfklub, and also treats guests to breakfast, dinner and two nights at the hotel. “One of our favourite deals is the Girls’ Weekend spa pampering package, where a small group of friends or family spend one or two nights in luxury here and with our neighbours at FIC,” Kring explains. Fredericia Idrætscenter (FIC), one of the largest indoor leisure facilities in the country, lies just 50 metres from the hotel. Access to the gym and indoor waterpark is free for guests of Hotel Fredericia, but the Girls’ Weekend deal also unlocks the wellness facilities at FIC, including the sauna and spa as well as treatments such as salt peeling and full-body massages.

“People are sometimes surprised that Fredericia includes many cosy, old shopping streets and a beautiful rampart dating back to the 17th century,” Kring remarks. “Going out for a bit of exploration makes for a very nice break amidst all the pampering – at least I think so – and there are plenty of good lunch spots to be hunted down around town too.”

Among other treats, the one or twonight spa breaks also include the hotel’s lavish breakfast buffet and three-course dinners at the hotel’s excellent restaurant. “We have quite a lot of range in our restaurant, with the breakfast buffet, lunch tapas and an extensive dinner menu,” Kring explains, “so there’s something for everyone. And our chefs sometimes do themes too, like our fish and shellfish festival in March.”

Comfort and quality – with a bit of sparkle

Hotel Fredericia’s current owners and management took over in 2011. “We’ve worked really hard to make the hotel as great as possible for our guests since then. We knew the hotel had a lot of potential and that it could be something special, so we’ve put a lot of resources into realising that.” Hotel Fredericia is part of Best Western and is a four-star Best Western Plus hotel, which requires particularly high-quality service, rooms and amenities, down to details such as larger towels and a choice of pillow.

Since 2011, the hotel has undergone both extensive renovation and expansion. The recent addition of a new wing resulted in the hotel offering a total of 118 spacious en-suites. Work has been done to most other areas as well. “The only thing we haven’t changed at all is this rather dope 1980s disco floor, which we just couldn’t bear to get rid of,” Kring admits. “It has a proper disco ball and everything.”

The hotel’s newly renovated conference facilities hold up to 250 people and come equipped with all the latest technology. Several sizes of light and airy meeting rooms are also available for smaller get-togethers. Most importantly, perhaps, experienced staff are on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly on the day and to help with every stage of the planning process, to ensure that every need for each particular event and client is met.

The hotel is proud to hold the Green Key Certificate – proof of their commitment to environmentally friendly tourism. In order to be approved and to retain the certificate, Hotel Fredericia must make a considerable effort to reduce waste and implement initiatives to improve sustainability overall. “We like to challenge ourselves and keep developing with the times in order to keep pleasantly surprising our guests. The most important thing to us is their comfort and welfare,” Kring concludes. “We’ve just received Best Western’s quality award – it’s difficult to get and means a lot to us, because it’s based mainly on guest satisfaction and visitor feedback. It’s very gratifying and proof that we are managing to do what we set out to do!”

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