550 Guesthouse

The whole place smelled strongly of fish. We think someone had cooked it there. The chicken cooked by the guests before us and our curry smells cleared quickly, but the fish odor lingered, even in our clothes. There was a notice in the bathrooms about the unpleasant smell of the hot water, which I only experienced at this place. I wish it had also warned us to take off jewelry before showering. The water had so much sulfur that it changed the color of my silver jewelry. I hope I can save my rings.

Breakfast was served in the main house, which you could reach on foot or by car. There was a good, generous selection and plenty to eat. We spent one night in the guesthouse, a little way down the road, in a first-floor room. You could hear everything happening in the hallway and stairwell because the rooms weren’t well soundproofed. It didn’t bother us much, though, since things were quiet at night and there seemed to be very few other guests. We also had to push the two single beds together. We’ve run into that before after booking a double room through an agency, but it only took a couple of minutes to sort out. The village itself is tiny and quiet, with a fishing-village feel.

We found it quiet at night and early in the morning, even with several other guests around. The breakfast buffet at Hótel Tindastóll, where reception is, was good, with both sweet and savory choices. It’s about 500m from the guesthouse, and there are a few restaurants in town. The rooms were clean but a little cramped for two people with suitcases. The shared bathrooms were clean too, though dated. The kitchen had plenty of equipment and unrestricted Wi-Fi, but no extractor, so cooking smells could reach the upstairs floor. The narrow stairwell also made carrying bags up difficult. There are a few parking spots in front, with more along the main road. The guesthouse is small and in the center of Sauðárkrókur.

We slept really well here, thanks in part to the welcoming people and the location, even though the beds weren’t as comfortable as some we’ve had in Iceland. The staff at the guesthouse and restaurant were kind and helpful. Breakfast at the hotel a few blocks away was very nice, and our room had a TV with a couple of English-language channels. We didn’t watch it, but liked having the option. We also had a pleasant dining room with a couch, where my son and I could relax after a long day of driving. The kitchen made it easy to cook, and the place felt like someone had tried to make it homey. The only real challenge for me was the steep stairs to our third-floor room, since I’m in my late 60s. We shared a bathroom, but there were three for guests on the second and third floors, so it wasn’t a problem. Some guests left a mess in the kitchen and dining area, and someone had broken a toilet. My son and I cleaned up, washed, dried, and put away the dishes, and sorted the rubbish and recycling to spare the cleaners extra work. I reported the toilet and they quickly closed that bathroom to prevent more damage. Seeing how careless those guests had been, I can imagine they might have left a terrible mess around the broken toilet too. It’s sad how inconsiderate some people can be.