Grande Fjord Hotel: Luxury boutique hotel with a view of the fjord

On a hillside overlooking the picturesque Geirangerfjord, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, you will find the luxury boutique development Grande Fjord Hotel. Here, in the south-west of Norway, you can relax and unwind, while taking advantage of everything this cosy hotel has to offer. 

Geirangerfjord is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations. With peaceful surroundings near the famous fjord, and a view of the cruise ship fairway, Grande Fjord Hotel is the perfect setting for your holiday. “One of our main goals is to make our guests’ stay as pleasant and relaxing as possible, with a touch of luxury,” says hotel manager Aleksander Grande. The hotel has been in his family for four generations, and the young manager took over two years ago, when he was only 21. “The site our hotel is located on used to be a farm in the mid-1800s. After the Second World War, Norway saw a rise in visitors and my great grandmother used the opportunity to start renting out rooms,” Grande explains. “In early 1960, my grandfather took over and added extra space, so as to focus 100 per cent on tourism, before my dad eventually made it into a fully functional hotel in 1996. So, you can say every generation has made its mark on how the hotel has evolved to
what it is today.”

Cosy atmosphere

Having undergone a total renovation in 2017, the hotel now consists of 46 rooms, and each is a fusion of traditional Nordic design and modern comfort. Fjord-view rooms offer spectacular views over the stunning fjord and surrounding mountains, while standard rooms are slightly cheaper, with either a limited view or no balcony. “We do pride ourselves on making sure all of our guests get to experience what they come here to see – the view of the fjord,” Grande smiles.

While the interior has a more contemporary yet homely look, with darker wood features and fireplace, the exterior is typically Norwegian, with characteristic white wood. “We are very orientated towards the local area and wanted to create a cosy, ornate boutique hotel, which reflects the traditional local style, a bit like a modern cabin,” says Grande. In fact, most of the furniture is designed in-house and produced by a local furniture and interior manufacturer called Slettvoll.

A new fitness room, lounge and Jacuzzi have also recently been added to the establishment, while the bar and lounge area is open every evening and is beautifully situated on the sixth floor. Here, guests can enjoy the view from either inside or outside on the terrace, while sipping on a delicious drink. “We offer different kinds of local beers and wines from all over the world, as well as craft cocktails and homemade liquors made by our master barman,” Grande adds.

Excellent local Nordic cuisine

On the top floor, you can also taste excellent Nordic cuisine at the hotel’s own restaurant Hyskje – a brand-new kitchen, which offers modern Scandinavian-style gastronomy. Focusing on local, high quality ingredients, the restaurant has quickly become popular. “Almost everything here is made from scratch with passion, from local produce from the area around Geiranger. Meat from Ole Ringdal in Hellesylt, salmon from Slogen, cod from the coast around Ålesund, and potatoes and vegetables from local farms are just a few of the things we proudly offer,” says Grande. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an à la carte menu and impressive buffet, Hyskje is an idyllic place to dine while taking in the spectacular panoramic view.

Activities

Grande Fjord Hotel is currently only open during the summer months, but plans to expand its offering. The hotel also collaborates with a local cabinrental service, making it possible for guests to participate in kayaking, boat trips and various other activities. “We are also working on a new concept with guided kayaking tours on the fjord,” says Grande. “These trips will culminate with a hike up to a historic mountain farm called Skageflå on the steep mountainside for lunch, which we think tourists will really enjoy.”

http://www.grandefjordhotel.com