Hvammur Apartments

We paid €240 for a room that felt like a broom closet, and when we complained at 10 PM, the host told us to find somewhere else in a town that was fully booked. Her response showed no consideration or manners. The room seemed to be a former hallway and was left out of the photos. There were ants on the ceiling, a torn curtain, hair on the bathroom floor, and a strong smell of fried food, mold, dust, and air freshener. The house looked nothing like the pictures, and sounds from the shared bathroom echoed through it. Even the facade seemed worn down by time.

I was nervous after reading some recent reviews, but the place was much cleaner than I expected and felt welcoming inside. We stayed upstairs in a family room and had no noise issues. The room was lovely, with a glass balcony door opening onto a small table and chairs. Tea, cups, and a kettle were thoughtfully set out on both floors. It was affordable for such an expensive town.

I've stayed in more than 500 hotels, guesthouses, and hostels around the world, and this was my worst experience for safety and staff behavior. I wouldn't return and would advise others to avoid it. A guest on the second floor had been given a key by management that could lock the stairwell door, trapping the other residents on that floor. The emergency exit was the only way out, but it locked behind you, so even going to your car meant you couldn't get back to your room. Nobody answered when I called the emergency contact. I explained this to the manager the next morning. She was rude and accused me of lying, despite the other guest showing me the key and demonstrating how it worked. This felt unsafe and unprofessional.

We watched Icelandic documentaries on YouTube in the little TV room. The place was clean and pleasant, with a beautiful brand new kitchen and complimentary tea.