CJA guesthouse

We booked just a day ahead, and my family arrived very late. The host patiently explained everything and made a real effort to help us. Thanks to him, we got to watch a fantastic aurora in the sky around an hour into the night. We won't forget the hearty breakfast either.

After some cold, wet nights in a tent, I really needed a comfortable break, and the CJA Guesthouse was one of my favorite stops on my Ring Road trip. The price is hard to beat for what's included and the lovely scenery. Aðalsteinn welcomed me himself and made sure I was comfortable throughout. He and his wife put real care into making the place hospitable. The rooms are very clean and recently updated, and it looks like they're already working on more options. Breakfast included a wonderfully varied selection of local food, with plenty of gluten-free and vegan choices too. I've already been thinking about another trip to Iceland, and now I know I'd make the CJA Guesthouse a home base for more than one night.

What bothered us most was the host. We made a mistake by preparing sandwiches for our hike without asking permission first, and he accused us of being disrespectful. He verbally attacked us in front of other guests, then kept talking about us behind our backs after we'd returned to our rooms. The host himself writes in the Google reviews that he struggles to control his manners when guests don't follow his ideas about proper behavior. In our view, at his age he ought to have found more peace with himself and learned to manage those triggers. We wish him inner peace and growth. All the best to him. The accommodation itself was clean and well maintained, but one shower and two toilets didn't seem enough for four guest rooms. I can't recommend this place because the host was so unpleasant.

Adalsteinn and Cornelia gave us the best hospitality we've had anywhere so far. Right when we arrived, they showed us around and offered their personal geothermal hot pool beside the greenhouse in the photo. The rooms were small but cozy, and there was plenty of shared space for cards, reading, watching the sunset, and breakfast. Adalsteinn kindly provided breakfast and topped it up several times. The shared bathroom is modern, with two sinks, two private toilets, and one shower. The outside looks unassuming, but this has been one of the best value stays we've found in Iceland.