101 Hotel, Reykjavik, a Member of Design Hotels

The room was nice and spacious, and the staff were nice too. But the sink was literally in the middle of the room with no doors to cover it. There were price lists tucked in the cabinet for all sorts of room items, including blankets, condoms, and toothbrushes. There was no water in the fridge, and there was no kettle or espresso machine in the room. You had to pay around 20€ per day if you wanted those. Late checkout cost 50€ for each hour. It felt obvious as soon as you came in that they were looking to make money.

The location is great and the staff were helpful, but the room design seems like nobody running the hotel has actually slept in these rooms. There were no light switches or sockets by the bed. The only sockets were under the desk by the window, down on the floor, so you had to get right down on your hands and knees to reach them. The toilet had no proper door, and the shower was just behind a glass panel, so someone in bed could watch the person shower. Fine for a couple, less so when you're traveling with friends.

Staff were friendly, and the WiFi was good. Most rooms have a limited view, though the park-facing rooms are nicer if you happen to get one. Rooms in the extension are larger than the small ones in the main building. The rooms were spotlessly clean, with turn-down service, but there were odd rules about charges for extra or misplaced keys, even though they're ordinary plastic credit-card-style keys. Towels were strangely tiny. Breakfast was very basic, and the amenities were sparse, including a tiny gym and a tiny spa that was hard to share with other guests.

The room was clean and the bed comfortable. It had the minimalist setup you find in many European hotels, with little storage and no bathroom door. So if you switch on the light for a bathroom trip in the middle of the night, the whole room lights up.