Thon Hotel Polar

Thon Hotel Polar is at Grønnegata 45, in the centre of Tromsø, about a minute's walk from the cathedral and the Art Museum of Northern Norway. It has around 130 rooms, from small doubles and singles to superior, business and triple or family rooms, and many of them carry polar bear imagery in the decor. The hotel was recently renovated and is Eco-Lighthouse certified. A free breakfast buffet is served every morning, the Egon restaurant is attached to the hotel, and free Wi-Fi, a gym and a 24-hour front desk are standard. It is a practical, friendly base that does not charge for the things many hotels do.

Location and getting around: the hotel is central enough that you can walk to Polaria in about six minutes and to the Polar Museum in eight. The Airport Express coach stops about a hundred metres away, and the airport is a fourteen minute drive. Tours with hotel pickup can collect in the centre, and the hotel can book Northern Lights tours, snowmobiling and fjord cruises.

Rooms and facilities: rooms are practical and recently updated, and a superior room gives extra comfort if you want it. Hypoallergenic rooms are available, and pets are allowed in some rooms for a fee. Breakfast is free and served from 6:30 am on weekdays and 7:00 am at weekends, which is helpful on early tour days, and coffee is free in the lobby. The gym is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm for guests aged 15 and over. Parking is paid and off-site.

Who it suits: couples and families on a budget, solo travellers and anyone who values a free breakfast and a central address. A romantic package with drinks and strawberries on arrival is available for couples. There is no sea view to speak of, so this is a place to sleep and eat well rather than to stare at the fjord.