My parents and I went here today and at first it seemed a bit deserted because we came in the off…read moreseason in November. But after we went through the entrance gate we found the animals. We came on a Monday and we only passed about 3 other people. Then when we got to the leopard exhibit they were being fed and it was very entertaining watching the leopards run over and eat. The animals I enjoyed seeing the most were the Tigers, wild dogs, the snow leopard, the Wolverines and the red panda. Furthermore, I really liked how much space each animal got in their enclosure. It's nice to see that these endangered animals get so much space in these very natural enclosures.

This is a hotel in transition!…read more The negative bits; The room I have is not quite finished! There are bits of it which need painting or the cupboard putting in. The toilet has the smell of sea water about it, which I have only ever experienced in a hotel which recycles the water it used to flush the toilet. The free wifi is hit or miss and the receptionist will tell you it is working or you can 'buy' a 24 hour access code to another network within the hotel. It is a combination of an older building to which they have added a new building. The workmen are still visible in certain areas of the building and I guess dependant upon where your room is this could be an issue if you should desire a late wake up. That said the staff have been helpful with trying to solve minor issues. The food has been good and the view from the upper observation deck, of the Uddevallabron bridge, is quite spectacular (on a sunny day) if you don't look to far right that is as that is where the working docks are as opposed to the view across the fiords.

ROOM WITH A PAST The Thorskogs Slott (Thorskogs House) is an…read moreauthentic castle built in 1892. The castle had experienced some twists and turns over the past centuries, from the home to the royals to an mental asylum (according to the receptionist) and whatever in between to the now hotel. Due to it's old age, this place does not have an elevator, so probably not ideal for people who need extra assistance or strollers and such. The rooms are all named, ours was Thor, and everything inside is probably older than any piece of furniture I've ever owned. Due to its architecture, the room has an extremely high ceiling, multiple large windows, and a beautiful chandelier hanging from the top. The curtains, pillows, and bedcovers all match, which really shows the precision in detail from the owners. There is no TV, water cooker or a mini fridge, but then again, people from the late 19th hundreds probably didn't need that. Also, quite a few well known people have stayed here, from politicians to celebrities. So if you are looking to sleep like a royal, even just for a night, this is definitely the place to be.