Our goal was to break up the drive from Oslo to Stockholm. The Hotels.com deal was attractive because of free wi-fi, breakfast, and parking besides the hotel being close to E18. When we arrived at 8:45 PM, we were told free dinner was available until 9 because that's the Clarion way. While it wasn't gourmet, it was good home cooking that was greatly appreciated after a long day. The in-room brochure says free dinner is available every night. The building was a prison long ago; our room on the 4th floor had exposed wooden beams but was thoroughly modern. The staff couldn't have been nicer or more professional. The breakfast was more than the traditional Swedish cold cuts and yogurt. The hotel is approximately 1 kilometer from a family-themed park on the lake that was free and included a beach, wheeled train ride through the woods, and a long boardwalk around a marsh that included an observation tower for birding. There is nothing similar in northern New England. It was just great fun. There are several Clarions in Karlstad. This hotel, and Karlstad, are gems.