We recently stayed at Vinland Hotel in Solvang and found it to be a quaint property with a comfortable bed and a few useful room amenities, including a large refrigerator and microwave. The location is convenient and the overall atmosphere fits the character of Solvang.
That said, several practical issues affected the stay. The first was finding a spider on the bed just before turning in for the night. These things can happen, but it was not ideal right before laying down.
The room also needs better power access. There were USB-A ports near the bed, but no USB-C ports, which feels dated for current devices. At the desk, the setup was even more frustrating. The coffee maker and desk lamp shared the same single outlet situation, and only one could be plugged in at a time. I had to unplug the desk lamp just to make coffee. For a modern hotel room, guests should not have to choose between lighting, coffee, and charging devices.
The bathroom looked like it had been partially modernized with a light-up mirror, but about 80% of the light appeared to be out. I assume that kind of fixture is not simple to replace, which makes the upgrade feel poorly planned. If the goal is to preserve an old-town feel, traditional materials may age better. But if the hotel is going to modernize with electronic fixtures in the bathroom, the same attention should be given to the rest of the room, including outlets, USB-C charging, and the television.
That said, the TV setup also felt dated. The hotel still relies on traditional cable service, and it would be helpful to have smart TVs that allow guests to log into their own streaming accounts.
The biggest issue during our stay was the internet outage. We received a text message several hours after arrival acknowledging the problem, but by then it had already affected our plans. After traveling all day, I needed to catch up on work, and the hotel Wi-Fi was unavailable our entire stay. Unfortunately, T-Mobile service in the area was extremely limited, leaving us with intermittent connectivity. Reliable internet is no longer a luxury amenity; it is an essential service for me.
Food options were another challenge. We became hungry around 9:00 p.m., but the bar menu leaned heavily toward items that are not exactly ideal late-night hotel fare: cheese plates, deviled eggs, Brussels sprouts, salmon appetizers, and meatballs. Several of those are also notorious gas-makers, which is not exactly what most travelers want before heading back to a shared hotel room. A few simple, Solvang-appropriate comfort options would help a lot, such as a Danish-style red pølse hot dog or even a playful take on a Bøfsandwich. Families traveling with teenagers would especially appreciate something more approachable than salmon slices on rye.
One other concern was the patio layout. Our room opened onto a shared exterior patio used by multiple rooms. While it was quiet during our stay, we were uncomfortable leaving only the screen door closed overnight since several rooms shared the same walkway. As a result, we kept the room closed up and ran the air conditioning all night. Some form of separation or gated partition between patios could provide added privacy and security.
One final disappointment was the arrival process. We booked through American Express Travel and still had to start much of the check-in process from scratch upon arrival. In an era where travelers increasingly expect a seamless and contactless experience, the process felt more manual than expected.
Overall, Vinland Hotel has charm and potential, and the bed itself was comfortable. However, several basic guest-experience items need attention: reliable internet, better outlet access, USB-C charging, updated TVs, better-planned room upgrades, expanded late-night food options, and improved patio privacy. The hotel has a strong foundation and a unique setting, but a handful of practical improvements would make a noticeable difference for future guests.
US
QA