Ulvik, Norway
Overview
Location & Accommodation
During our road trip through Norway we stayed at a few hotels between the nights we camped out in our car. One of these hotels was Brakanes Hotel in Ulvik. A large hotel with a beautiful location right on the water and close to Næroyfjord and Eidfjord. The day we arrived it was rather gloomy and slightly cold, but when the sun's out and the temperature is higher, the hotel offers a great place to cool off in the water with beautiful views surrounding you. The hotel is located in a small town where you'll find a cafe and a supermarket, but don't expect many dining options. However, the hotel also has a restaurant. There's a couple of different rooms to chose from, but when you're traveling with dogs they will provide you with a room that has garden access (at least in my case they did!). The hotel offers free parking on their spacious parking lot.
Overall experience
I stayed at Brakanes hotel for one night during our road trip and only booked it a day in advance. I really enjoyed this hotel as it felt rather peaceful and walking around outside with the dogs was a great experience. There's a large grass field surrounding the hotel and it's easy to go for a walk around the town. On top of that, the hotel has an indoor heated swimming pool, good wifi and a very delicious breakfast buffet with lots of options! During our stay, the dogs primarily stayed in my room or roamed around outside with me. I didn't bring them into any of the other areas of the hotel as I wasn't sure whether they would be allowed there (which is common for Norwegian dog friendly hotels). The hotel itself looked to be in great shape and has a very nice interior, my room specifically wasn't really up to date and the floorboards and bed were a bit squeaky. However, myself and the dogs slept rather good.
Rating
Accommodation details
Indoor space
I booked a single room which was perfect for one night with two dogs. It was spacious enough for the dogs to be able to walk around comfortably and Dunya even found a very comfy sleeping spot as she loves to sleep in somewhat tight spaces. The room had a single bed, a comfy chair and small coffee table and a desk/vanity with a simple wooden chair. On top of that, all rooms have private bathrooms. As I was staying with my dogs the hotel provided me with a room which had garden access which the dogs absolutely enjoyed. They were laying outside during the evening and were able to go outside first thing in the morning.
Outdoor space
The outdoor space is absolutely gorgeous. Incredible views of the mountains and the lake and a large garden to walk around in. There's lots to see and explore and I was even able to take the dogs to the small beach area. Although I'm not sure if that's also allowed on sunny days when people are sunbathing / swimming on the beach. You'll also find a decently sized wooden deck offering stunning views over the lake.
Dog friendly amenities
Facilities & area
We really enjoyed our short stay at Brakanes hotel. It was a simple stay, but perfect to get a little rest after a couple of days of camping in our car. It's a great hotel if you're visiting the Næroyfjord (which I really recommend, for more Norway tips click here). The views, garden access room, breakfast buffet surely made this a worthy visit. During our stay it was rather quiet which allowed us to explore all places outside, I'm not sure what it would be like on a warm sunny day in terms of access for dogs. And again, indoors dogs really only have access to the lobby and your room.
Pet policy
There is a rather expensive pet fee at this hotel. I paid 400 NOK per dog (per night), which is around €35,-. I don't think there is a maximum on the amount of dogs you're allowed to bring. I traveled with two of my huskies and they were comfortable in a single room (more I wouldn't recommend).
For more information about booking a room, please visit here.