A Wren Says

From the moment I narrowed in on Copenhagen as the place I wanted to go for my European vacation, there was one hotel that I knew I wanted to try: Coco Hotel. Much like the reason for my trip overall, I had read somewhere that it was nice so I thought I should go.

It’s located in the Vesterbro neighborhood and less than 10 minute walk from the major train station, if you don’t get completely turned around while carrying your luggage and surprised by the sun. When I walked inside I was greeted by the appeal of quaint hotel. Quaint, in the way that there was no easy to find elevator and they still used real keys for the door. Check-in was easy and required a chat with a real human being.

The reception area was essentially an extension of the restaurant and bar.  That made it very easy to accept the offer of a complimentary happy hour glass of wine or nonalcoholic beverage. (I foolishly accepted the wine after a whirlwhind travel day that left me dehydrated and underfed. The stairs up to my third floor room became a journey. I opted for sparkling lemonade on the next go rounds.

Speaking of the stairs, walking up those stairs revealed little touches of décor like flowers and books.

My room was equivalent in size to a reasonably priced New York hotel room. Just enough room for the bed, a chair, dresser, and a bathroom. I feel like not really noticing any details about the bed is a good sign.

Special touches in the room included a couple of books that I poured over to learn a bit more about the culture and history of the area and a very enticing “minibar” with snacks that called to me.

The bathroom was simple.

One thing that I have seen nowhere else was a notecard beckoning me to drink the water, proclaiming the tap water in the area as among the safest in the world.

With this being my fun carefree European summer vacation, I didn’t even think about a possible lack of air conditioning. As a spoiled American, I definitely felt the heat. Luckily the windows actually opened. Unfortunately, my window overlooked the courtyard. On occasion I had to choose between stomaching the heat of the plumes of smoker from the cigarettes below me. The courtyard was also host to DJ sets until at least 10 PM most nights.

Now, even with the lack of air conditioning and the party outside my window, I would not hesitate to book a stay there again because of the people who worked there. Each person who worked the front  desk was thoughtful and kind, despite it appearing they were responsible for the job of three people. When I accidently booked a reservation for 9:30 PM because I just don’t get 24 hour time, they were there to help me find a solution. When other guests had an issue and weren’t being nice, I watched them remain professional during the encounter and with the guests who followed. Each time I returned, I was greeted in a way to indicated that I was remembered and I was valued.

Coco Hotel provided me the experience I was truly looking for, even if I didn’t know it. Location and amenities make for a great stay, but the most refreshing part was the people who made it great. Those are the encounters I want to have on a vacation, and they are reason why I would love to make it back for another stay.