You'd expect much more from the Strand, being a Rica partner hotel. Located near the Fisketorget (the fishmarket) with views of Bryggen from its terrace and breakfast room, this is an average choice for a short stay in Bergen. However, you MUST ABSOLUTELY insist on a torget-facing room (while negotiating hard on the tariffs)- the rooms facing the inside courtyard are uncomfortably small, dull and rather uninpsiring.

We went to Hotel Strand for four nights in July, and we were quite disapointed. The first room we got was to the backyard - overlooking the 8 noisy airconditions of the neighbours. Since there was no aircondition in the room we had to have the windows open wich made it impossible to sleep. We complained and got a room overlooking the other backyard - with only 5 neighbouring airconditions. Still to noisy to sleep we complained again and got a small room overlooking the fishmarked. We could hear traffic, but we were afterall in the middle of a city and traffic is much, much better to the endless roar of 8 aircondotions. However - the room was dirty, there were clothes left over from the previous guests, the bathroom was mouldy and smelled like an old, moist basement.
The only pluses of this stay was that about 10 in the morning each day we were woken by a large seagull knocking on our hotel window. That was fun. And the breakfast was ok.

The hotel was in a perfect location right on the waterfront overlooking the Bergen Fish Market and across the harbor from Bryggen. The Bergen information center was a half a block away and public transportation was very accessible. The elevator was very small but it did function. The buffet breakfasts were very good (price was included) with a mix of cold and hot dishes. The front desk staff was friendly and helpful. However, because of the location, the noise was horrible. Never silence between 9:00pm and 4:00am. Unfortunately for us, the hotel was full, we could not change rooms. If you want location and overlooking the waterfront, you will pay dearly with your lack of sleep.

The hotel was in a perfect location right on the waterfront overlooking the Bergen Fish Market and across the harbor from Bryggen. The Bergen information center was a half a block away and public transportation was very accessible. We always have a hard time finding hotels that can accommodate us without getting two rooms. The room (fifth floor) was huge and overlooked the water. We had a queen bed for my wife and I, my 4 & 5 year old daughters shared a couch that opened to a full size bed, and my 12 year old son slept in a roll-away bed. There is no air conditioning which was not a problem in the area. The elevator was very small (family of five plus luggage was very cozy) but it did function. The buffet breakfasts were very good (price was included) with a mix of cold and hot dishes. After living in The Netherlands for eight months, it seemed like warm soft sourdough bread was the best bread I have had in years. The front desk staff was friendly and helpful, even recommending several children friendly restaurants.