First Camp Gol Hallingdal

The cabin was hot, with windows that didn’t all open, and the layout felt awkward. A single bunk sat directly above the double bed at an uncomfortably low height for whoever was sleeping below. The river had a wall in front of it that you couldn’t get around, so access was difficult. The place felt tired and unimpressive. I couldn’t see an upside to staying here. Maybe it could do for one night if you were desperate and struggling to stay awake while driving across Norway. For a family holiday with a pool, decent amenities, easy river access, and staff you can count on if something goes wrong, I’d strongly suggest looking elsewhere. We chose this campground because it advertised a heated pool on Booking.com, and we wanted to swim with our kids. When we arrived, the pool was already closed, and swimming wasn’t possible. The website never said it would be closed during our Aug 15-17 stay. We asked staff about the closure and whether we could check out early with a refund. They said not to rely on Booking.com for accurate information and that we should have checked the campground’s own website. They also said no refund was possible because the reservation was “non-refundable,” despite the advertised amenity being unavailable. Staff blamed Booking.com for not updating the listing instead of providing clear pool season dates themselves. The only closure information that had appeared on Booking.com referred to 2021. After I showed the staff the website, they said there was nothing they could do because they weren’t allowed to make decisions, and blamed Booking.com again. The 2021 dates were later quietly removed from the listing, with no updated information for future guests. The girl at the desk said it was my fault for not calling before arrival to confirm the pool was open, and pointed out that they had no advance email from me asking about it. I asked for the manager’s name so I could discuss leaving early and getting a refund. The onsite staff said someone named Edith Babben would contact me. We checked out early anyway, but nobody offered anything in return, and neither Edith nor anyone else in management ever called. Through Booking.com, they continued to insist I wasn’t entitled to a refund. This was really unacceptable and disappointing. To me, the business falsely advertised an amenity and treated customers without ethics. They relied on a printed non-refundable clause while dismissing the fact that the same reservation advertised a heated pool, which they’d arbitrarily closed early. They wouldn’t take responsibility. If you’re booking because you expect a pool, beware. What we found was entirely misleading, and management refused to accept responsibility or offer a refund. Based on their behaviour, I wouldn’t trust the rest of the ad either. I think the whole ordeal could have been avoided, and we wouldn’t have bothered leaving a review, if they’d just let us leave early and refunded one day because of the pool issue. Buyer beware. This place seemed willing to set aside customer service and honesty for short-term profits, even when they were so obviously in the wrong.

The check-in SMS finally arrived after more than 30 minutes on the phone, but the key box it let me open was empty. I’d arrived after reception closed and booked for the night using the QR code on the sign. The text with the check-in information hadn’t come through at first. I drove away and luckily found another place to stay. Cancel my booking and give me my money back!

The staff were a big help, sharing plenty of information about the area and things to see and do. The toilets and showers were clean and tidy, and the facilities were good for a campground of this size. You can rent bikes and ride into town, which takes about 10 minutes. It’s a great place to stay. My only concern is that the busiest part of the season might get hectic with lots of people and kids, especially once the pool and water slides are open. Otherwise, it’s great.

The location was amazing, tucked into a peaceful valley between the mountains. Our cabin had four bunk beds and a little kitchenette with the things we needed to cook and clean for one night. The beds were comfy, and the heating was on when we got there. The ceiling light didn’t work, but the two lights over the beds were enough. The cabin was right beside the service building, where the toilets and showers were clean and had music playing for a nice atmosphere. The cooking building was great too, with two ovens, a microwave, sandwich toaster, and coffee machine if you wanted to use them. The wifi worked well, which kept the kids happy. The pool wasn’t open even though the booking information said it would be, but with the recent snowfall I could understand that. The one thing I’d change is the bedding information. I assumed it would be in the cabin, but it wasn’t, so I had to walk about 10 minutes back to reception, crossing a busy highway. Maybe they could mention that at check-in. Otherwise, it was a very comfortable night in a superb spot. Thanks First Camp Gol!