Friends of RG: Tore

I got to know Tore through us both being involved in the same non-profit organization and we hit it of right from the get go. Tore is one of the kindest, most generous people I know. He has a horrible sense of humor, which makes sense since he is from Norway. He is an avid runner and cross-country skier (did I say he is from Norway?) and no one can encourage you to feel like an amazing runner quite like Tore can. Even though I am running next to him panting like an old steam locomotive he makes me feel (and think) that I am an Olympic marathon runner. Above this Tore is an incredible photographer (I have “loaned” some of his photos for this blog) and just like me, Tore is a hotel-fanatic.

What hotel were you staying at when you first realised that you were a hotel-fanatic?

I am a late bloomer so it happened fairly late in life when I was staying at https://www.bonneesperance.com/ in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

We were a group of runners traveling together and we were planning to leave Stellenbosch for Port Elizabeth but we realized after spending the night in Mossel Bay that South Africa is slightly bigger than Norway and that the distance was a little too long. So we decided to return to Stellenbosch and managed to find vacancy at this small, idyllic guest house run by John Savage (not the actor from Deer Hunter) and his wife Sue.

I was taken aback by the individually designed rooms and cozy atmosphere. Having breakfast in the morning sun on the outdoor terrace more than made up for the disappointment from our disrupted road trip

What kind of hotels do you usually go for?

I don’t actually have any clear preference when it comes to hotels. I am usually lucky to get to travel with friends that have done extensive research on forehand, so I can just lean back and enjoy the ride. That is why choosing the people you travel with is just as important as the actual hotels you are staying at.

Small, intimate hotels are super cozy but at the same time I like to be around other people. To stay at a really luxurious hotel can be great but it can sometimes have the direct opposite effect. A feeling of not belonging that can make you feel uncomfortable and being out of place.

If the choice is only mine, I usually focus mainly on location since one of my favorite things to do is to do sightseeing with my running shoes on.

What has been your most memorable hotel stay thus far? And why?

A week at Patsy Christmas’ Guest House, right on the beach in Charlotteville, Tobago was reduced to only one night. What first seemed like it was going to be a cozy, intimate stay ended up being a night of no sleep. The waves from the Atlantic kept rolling in under our cabin, and the noise as the waves crashed against the shore was ridiculously loud. And since the window didn’t fully close the magic of staying on the beach quickly receded. Before breakfast we were in a taxi down to Sandy Bay, on the south side of the island to stay at the more generic and commercial Coco Reef Resort & Spa.

3 of your musts when staying at a hotel?

Clean bed linen, a comfy mattress, a great gym and a lobby café serving great coffee. Sorry, that was four.

If you have stayed at any of the hotels featured on SbRG, which one is your favourite?

Yes, I have and my favorite is Timber Cove in Jenner, California. The location is amazing, high on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The lobby/bar/lounge area is so cozy with a massive fire place and some comfy sofas to relax in with a great cup of coffee in hand. In addition, the drive to and from Timber Cove is so scenic. It is a scenery that stays in your mind forever.

*Timber Cove is Tore’s favorite out of the hotels featured by SbRG. And it is actually Tore himself that has taken this photo. Tore isn’t only a great friend, he is also a great photographer.*

Which of the featured hotels on Selected by RG are on the top of your wish list to stay at?

I am a real Italy-oholic and I also love the outdoors, so I think I would choose MyArbor in Bressanone, South Tyrol. Palazzo del Maggiore in Pigna, Liguria also looks really tempting, being located in the mountains but still close to the Mediterranean.

*Tore is dreaming of staying at MyArbor in the mountains, just above Bressanone, in the northern part of Italy.*

Are there any hotels you think should be featured on Selected by RG in the future?

I went to Boulder, Colorado some years ago and stayed at St. Julien Hotel & Spa https://stjulien.com/ and it had everything my hotel heart could ever wish for. I would also love to read a SbRG post about the Bolder Sky Lodge https://www.thebolder.no/ that is located high up above Lysefjorden, one of the most spectacular natural areas we have in Norway. Great views, modern architecture and amazing natural surroundings is the USP of this hotel.

Friends of RG: Tore