The hotel was clean and comfortable. Breakfast was outstanding, and the service from everyone we encountered was professional, and courteous - top-notch.
What made our stay, though, was Philip at the front desk. We had left a backpack at a museum earlier in our trip and only discovered it after closing time. Since we were staying a couple of hours away and wouldn't be back, we called the museum the next morning to have it shipped to our Oslo hotel later that week. They graciously overnighted it to make sure we'd get it in time and paid out of pocket with the expectation we'd reimburse them. Incredible, right? But that's Norway, where doing the right thing is second nature.
Anyway, the backpack was waiting for us at the Scandic, and front desk staff helped us locate the museum's bank in Oslo, only bank staff wouldn't allow us to make payment (it's a looong story). Back at the Scandic, Philip heard our tale of woe and went far, FAR beyond his job duties to help us get payment to the museum. We've encountered many incredibly helpful people in our travels over the years, but this was service above and beyond.
In the future, when we reminisce about our trip, his efforts on our behalf will be as much a part of our memories as viewing an Icelandic eruption, running the Stockholm marathon, seeing relatives, cruising the fjords, and standing atop the Kjeragbolten. We were gobsmacked at what he did for us.
Bravo, Philip! You and the Scandic Heksfyr epitomize customer service.