Apartment K

The room was much bigger than I expected, more like an apartment, with a hot plate, microwave, dishwasher, kettle, French press, washer and dryer, plus dishes and cutlery. The bed was really comfortable, too. Staff were friendly and, even though I arrived well before check-in, they did their best to get the room ready so I could rest. They also helped me find what I needed nearby. The walls are thin, so noise may be a problem, but otherwise I had a great stay.

We were able to leave our large bags after check-out and spend the rest of the day exploring Reykjavik, which was very handy. Our one-bedroom apartment was beautiful, well maintained, and just what I expected from the website, with lots of amenities close by. Before we arrived, Apartment K promptly answered my questions and sent us transfer information from the KEF airport. The staff were friendly and knew Reykjavik well, always happy to help and share information. Getting checked in was easy: from Bus Stop #3, it was a short walk into downtown, since larger vehicles cannot use the narrow main street. The main office was easy to find, and after a quick check-in, a staff member walked us through the downtown core to our apartment and explained everything we needed to know. We felt at home right away. I would strongly recommend Apartment K to anyone visiting Reykjavik.

The bed itself was pretty comfortable, but that was the one bright spot in a disappointing four-night stay. We couldn't get a good night's sleep any of those nights because it was so noisy. The walls were paper thin, and ventilation holes seemed to connect our so-called bedroom to the neighbors' bathroom. It was barely more than a bed squeezed between three walls. The toilet door was see-through glass with no sound isolation, so you could sit there and watch people walk past the apartment. The house rules only ask guests to keep the noise down if possible between 1am and 8am, which seems fine if you want to party. Cleaning staff never came during our stay, and we got no fresh towels or toilet paper. The hotel is close to the shopping street, but there's a messy construction site behind it, and the place could use renovation. They were still holding our 30.000ISK deposit a week after we left, though they hadn't complained about the room, and they haven't answered my emails either.

I liked the location, and the room had a small kitchen that was handy for making meals, saving money, or dealing with dietary needs. It was warm, and the radiators helped dry our wet coats and hats. My only complaint was a loud buzzing that woke us several times one night. It might have been coming from outside and had nothing to do with the hotel. The walls may be a bit thin, so light sleepers might want to try earplugs.