Eidsbugarden Hotell

For a hiking trip, this place makes sense: it’s full of other hikers, the scenery is lovely, and they provide bags for your free packed lunch. If hiking isn’t your plan, I’d skip it. The rooms are bare, just a bed, shower, and toilet, with no TV or dark curtains. Wi-Fi only works by reception, and staff barely speak English or explain what activities are available. Getting there means an hour on rough roads in the middle of nowhere. You can find more accessible hotels with the same lovely view.

The location is great, but I’d choose the DNT cabin across the road next time. I stopped here for breakfast during the "Vinjerock" festival, and for nearly 200 NOK it just wasn’t worth the price.

The best part of our stay was the help we got at Fondsbu hut. Solbjørg welcomed us warmly, found us a cozy two-person room across the hall from the bathrooms, arranged a nice meal, and even called the hut we’d been heading for to say we weren’t coming. She saved our day, and next time we’ll stay at Fondsbu hut. We’d stayed at this hotel from Saturday to Sunday on the first weekend of September. The location is lovely, but it’s pricey for what you get. The rooms and food were okay, though the rooms and meal portions were small. The employees didn’t seem very knowledgeable about local hiking conditions or professionally trained as hotel staff, and seemed more like young adults hired for the season. On Sunday my son and I set out over the mountain pass toward Gjendebu hut. I was injured, so we had to turn back, and the hike ended up taking eight hours. Exhausted, we returned to find the hotel closed for the night because of an employee party. One employee said we could stay, though there was no menu available because of the party. We only needed a room to rest and sleep, and said we wouldn’t disturb them. A few minutes later another employee arrived with a very unwelcoming, almost hostile attitude and told us we had to leave, without explaining further. She said we could try a hotel 3-4km farther on, or a nearby DNT hut that might have room. My son explained about the injury and that I’m 75 and need a bathroom close by at night, but it made no difference. We were turned away.

Fantastic location, but the rooms and service don’t live up to what you’d expect at this price. Really overpriced!