Hellishólar Hótel Eyjafjallajökull

Our travel group had to change plans because of the Icelandic weather, and the hosts managed to fit us in for another night with very little notice. The Northern Lights came out that evening, which was a lucky bonus. The hosts were so kind and welcoming, and the place was clean and comfortable. They even introduced us to their very sweet little dogs. I'd stay again on my next trip.

The view across the golf course was lovely, and breakfast in the main building had a good mix of hot, cold, sweet, and savory choices. It was a one-night stop between the Golden Circle and South Coast. Check-in is at the main building, where you get a key code, then you drive to the dorm buildings. The grounds are huge, with camping, golf, and dorms. A short paved path connects the room area to the main building. My room smelled strongly of air freshener when I arrived, so I opened the windows and it gradually aired out. The bathroom was clean with lots of counter space, but bring your own toiletries. The bed was fine, and there was a kettle. The room was cramped, and on a sunny evening I wished there were picnic tables, lounge chairs, or some other outdoor seating by the dorms. Town, including gas and groceries, is about a 10-12 minute drive away.

We nearly had the place to ourselves since we arrived very early in the season. The owners, Viti and his lovely wife, were natural hosts and made us feel at home the whole time. Their homemade breakfast was fresh, varied, and easily the highlight. The room was clean, comfortable, and very nice, with a great shower: hot water straight away and a strong flow. The Wi-Fi was excellent too. We hadn't noticed when booking that there's also a golf course, which was a lovely surprise. You can rent all the equipment, and it's a nice challenge. I'm going to stop writing and enjoy one more day here!

We caught the Northern Lights on our first night, with beautiful views of Eyjafjallajokull glacier. The room was small but worked well for us. Dinner at the restaurant was delicious. I'd recommend the Rainbow Trout with a tall Gull draft.