Parts of the hotel have not been refurbished since the 90's. Very worn down. Major parts of the rooms close to restaurant with loud music keeping you awake all night long!

This feels like an older hotel - the decor is 70s/80s (our room still had built-in radio by the bed) but it's clean and well-maintained, with friendly staff. The hotel was quiet, except on Saturday night/Sunday morning, when the breakfast room was overloaded.

You can park for free on the street right outside subject to space (and if you move the car by 9 - or 10 if you have one of those clocky things for your dashboard).

The town is more pleasant than it may appear when approaching from the main road - the hotel is right on the river, and a stroll from the falls, and other nice features. There's not the greatest range of food options, especially on a Sunday night, but enough life about the town to compensate.

Scandic hotels are usually basic but ok. But Scandic Swania takes the hotel business to a new dimension by locating a large number of Polish workers seemingly more or less permanently in its property.

I have nothing against Poles, but spending a weekend with my wife among a large number of seemingly bored Polish male workers (could it be the SAAB-factory?) hanging around the lobby, outside the entrance and permanently washing clothes next to the fitness room and pool, was an unusual experience.

The rooms and corridoors are rather shabby, they look like they were last renovated in the late 80's. Only the reception area and the fitness room belong to this side of the millennium.

If you want to eat in the hotel a friday evening...well, don't. On Friday's the hotel restaurant is reserved for locals having a drink ("Sweden's largest After Work" according to the hotel). Hotel guest have to eat in a tatty conference room, complete with overhead projector and other meeting room necessities.

As usual, this is a typical Scandinavian hotel without aircondition, so be prepared for tropical temperatures inside in summer.

On the positive side the food is ok, and the employees are friendly - although hopelessly understaffed.

This was a short, though rather pleasant stay at the Swania. The room (5th floor), even though smallish, was in a nice, retro Scandinavian style. The bed was small (a single), but I has a good sleep. Bathroom was old-fashioned.

I did try neither the sauna nor the pool. Breakfast was good, with a nice choice of Wasa knäckebröd.