Highland Lodge

Cleaning was the big problem for us. We hadn’t realized this was a pet-friendly hotel, and the room wasn’t clean at all. There was dog hair all over the sofa, beds, and floor, and the smell was awful. It’s disgusting to have dog hair all over your clothes.

We got good value and a fine room with a balcony. It was easy and efficient to check in ourselves. There’s a full-service restaurant and bar on the first floor, a pizzeria with a few other dishes, and a bakery. The outdoor patio was open. Our balcony looked mostly onto the parking lot, though if you leaned your head at an angle you could see the river and mountain. Nothing special, but it was nice to get fresh air.

The staff, and most people we met, seemed friendly and spoke enough English to be understood. I don’t speak Norwegian, so that worked out fine. Still, I wouldn’t call this a hotel. It felt more like a self-catering apartment complex. I asked for a ski locker and was told those were for the owners, so I should just leave my skis anywhere in the ski room. There was no room service. They said rubbish left outside the room would be cleared, but at the end of the day I put it in an outside bin myself.

Elsa and Chad handled the day so smoothly. We’d planned to marry by Caspian lake, but the weather changed that, and they quickly turned the tent into a warm, romantic spot. They then shifted it from ceremony to dinner and dancing through the evening without fuss. We’d booked the whole Highland Lodge for the weekend so everyone could enjoy the lake and nearby hikes. The staff were so welcoming, and dinner was a hit with our guests. A dream wedding, and I can’t recommend the Highland Lodge enough.