Rica Hotel Kungsgatan - Stockholm, Sweden     

I totally agree with the previous article which gives a very good summary for this hotel. Very positive is the location near the Old Town and the train station. The rooms are clean and have a decent standard but I would not recommend to book the cheaper rooms without window if you should tend to be claustrophobic. It is a bit unpleasant not to get the impression whether it is still in the middle of the night or already bright sunny day. And I definitly prefer to have the possibility to open a window for fresh air instead of the air conditioning. I also have to mention that the hotel and its rooms don't have a very special or individual atmosphere. But if you look for a decent and not to expensive hotel which is in a good location the Rica Kungsgatan is a good choice.

Spent three nights at Rica Kungsgatan with the wife in July 08. Location: The hotel is very centrally located - only a 5-10 min walk from the Arlanda express train (which set us back 240 SKR, a summer special). H?torget metro station is very close (once you figure out the metro system, it is a very convenient way to get around town. 24hour pass = 100 SKR). Old town is a 15 min walk. Plenty of shopping / eating / drinking opportunities nearby. There is a large market and several movie theatres in the immediate vicinity. Rooms: Booked a 'superior room' at a slightly elevated price. Room was a large corner-room with three windows. Very comfortable bed with quality pillows. The flushing system was a bit noisy, as several others have noted, but nothing that really bothered us. There was a small TV set with about 15 channels. The minibar in our room was out of order (effectively removing that particular temptation! Even I as a Scandinavian thought the prices were brutal). The bathroom was the main drawback - small and cramped, with a rickety shower, suspect-looking curtain and a funny smell. Not what I had expected from Rica (having stayed at several previously in Norway). Apart from the plumbing system, could not hear a sound from anywhere, and slept like a baby. Staff: Friendly and helpful, with one major exception: Came in at about 11pm for a drink in the hotel bar (open from 7pm - 1am) - the youngish night watch/barkeeper was very rude to everyone present (about six or seven sitting there). Apparently some argument with the second staff member on duty, or whatever. Should not be taken out on the guests, in any case. Breakfast: Included in the price. Large and varied. Not the eating orgy I had expected after reading the other reviews, but on the whole very good. Breakfast hall appears a bit to small for the hotel, as it was smack-full every morning. No particular problems in getting a table, though, but you will probably have to share. Other: Two pc's with free internet access in the lobby. Ice machines on every floor - comes in handy. Lobby area tends to get choked with travellers checking in / out, especially when the large tour buses arrive. The hotel seems popular with Southern Europeans and Scandinavian families. In all, a stay pretty much as expected. No big surprises, either positive or negative, about the hotel. A few words about the city: Stockholm is a nice destination for a weekend getaway. Old town is charming (but take pains to avoid the most tourist-congested streets). Make sure to visit Djurg?rden (beautiful park district east of old town) and S?der (literally 'South'), which has a laid-back style with plenty of cafes, bars and good shopping. Stockholm is quite like other Nordic cities - safe, well-ordered, clean (and expensive). You will have no problems getting understood in English.