Alva Hotel Brautarholt

Our stay here was extremely disappointing. The television in my room didn’t work, and management already knew about the problem but left it unfixed throughout my stay. I asked for help directly and nothing was done. When I complained, I was told they wouldn’t respond once I had checked out. I never even got a basic apology. I’d strongly advise against staying here. It felt much more like a poorly run guesthouse. I’d seen earlier negative reviews about guests being unable to enter with the access code management provided. During my stay, I saw other guests run into the same problem and unable to get into their room. The place seemed unprofessionally managed, with little regard for guests. There are plenty of other hotels and guesthouses that are cleaner, cheaper, and run much more professionally, so I see no compelling reason to stay here.

The price made me a bit skeptical at first, since it was economical compared with conventional hotels in central Reykjavik. But the stay went well beyond my expectations, and I’m very happy with it. The room was comfortable, and the toilet was very neat and clean, with a TV, fridge, and coffee maker. Self check-in was the easiest I’ve ever had, and the staff were very responsive and quick. It’s in a calm, quiet location, about a 10-minute walk from the center and 5 minutes from the marine drive. I rate and recommend it very highly if you’re looking for a hotel in Reykjavik at decent rates.

I’ve stayed here more than five times, and it keeps getting worse. The keypads are very wonky, so expect to try again and again. Customer service can be helpful if you’re lucky, but otherwise you get someone really rude who doesn’t bother to help. There’s no staff on the ground, so good luck if something goes wrong. The rooms are small, some stink, and they’re definitely noisy. Parking is very difficult, and breakfast is crappy. It isn’t really cheap, and it definitely isn’t good. Stay away. You can find a better guesthouse even in Reykjavik.

I stayed three nights on my own and found it a fantastic, clean, quiet place to crash at the end of the day. Everyone has their own experience, but I didn’t think the negative reviews I saw were worth much consideration. The self check-in was uneventful, and I had no trouble using the keypad. I appreciated being able to do my own thing after a long flight or a full day outdoors without needing to talk to anyone. The website and booking options explain the room sizes thoroughly, so I chose a larger room mainly for the extra bathroom counter space. I’m used to European sized rooms and bathrooms, but this bathroom was incredibly spacious and thoughtfully designed. The listing also makes it clear that cleaning during your stay is optional. I’d call this a perfect Reykjavik stay for solo travelers or couples.