The Connect Hotel is a utilitarian hotel near the airport that offers a free shuttle bus (every 30…read moreminutes from about 4:00am to midnight) to and from Arlanda. For those who book cheap fares with long layovers like we did, Connect Hotel is perfect.
There is nothing fancy here but it is quite nice. My traveling companion actually described it as "Ikea like." The hotel is clean, comfortable and quiet so we got a good night's rest before the last leg of our journey.
There is a full bar in the evening -- which is great for a weary traveler. Their restaurant service exceeded expectations. You make your selections, pay at the bar and soon the food is delivered to your table in the commons area. You can eat it there or retreat to your room if you prefer.
My traveling companion is vegan and though the menu did not offer vegan dishes per se, several items, including a hearty bulgar salad, were easily adapted to a vegan diet simply by omitting the cheese.
I ordered a shrimp sandwich. The small shrimp (probably 36-40 size) were piled high on an open face sandwich dressed with mayo and garnished with a pickle and fresh veggies. Along with a side of fries it was a satisfying meal.
Breakfast is served starting at 4:00am in the morning -- a definite plus for those with early flights. The breakfast buffet includes a selection of breads, cold meats and cheese, hard boiled eggs, yogurts, fruit, cereals, juices, coffee and tea. They also offer gluten free and lactose free options for those on special diets (which also worked well for my vegan companion).
We ate our fill and caught the 7:00am bus to the airport, getting there with plenty of time to leisurely work our way through security and to our gate. So if you have an itinerary like ours, you'll find that the Connect Hotel should serve your needs well.