I had a couple of nights here following a business trip. I asked for, and got, a room overlooking the waterfront. There are no balconies though, and the view is somewhat resttricted due to thick walls and small windows. The room itself was very small and disappointing. The 'bathroom' was behind a glass partition, with no bath. Apart from the bed, there was only a simple, hard chair to sit on. Clothes storage was very limited, comprising 4 hangers, 1 shelf, and no drawers. The hotel is spread across two buildings, and access from one to the other is impossible for anyone who cannot manage stairs. It is very central though, and a few minutes walk will get you almost anywhere in central Alesund, not that there is a lot to see there. The town can get very crowded when cruise ships arrive, up to 5 at a time. Eating opportunities in town are very limited, and the hotel restaurant is very expensive.
Breakfast is a simple buffet taken in what might be described as a refectory, with long wooden benches. Although not extensive, the buffet is more than adequate, and several trips with the rather small plates will set you up for the day. One feature that I had not come across before was a free meal after 6pm. One one day it was lasagne, and on another day it was fish pie. Bread and salad are also available as is water, with everything on a help-yourself basis.There is a bar, but be warned! It is not electronically connected to the hotel system, so you cannot charge drinks to your room. It is also very expensive, even by Norwegian standards. Two beers, each less than a pint, cost me over £23!!
The reception staff are very friendly and helped me to arrange a day excursion to Gerainger fjord.