Herangtunet Mountain Lodge Norway

I loved how welcome we felt at Herangtunet. The location was beautiful, the staff were incredibly kind, and the way they interacted made us feel part of the family. Our guests were happy too. The chef and waiter were among the kindest people I’ve met, always smiling and warming the room better than the fireplace. We booked the whole hotel for our wedding weekend for NOK 100,000. We were also told we could bring our own alcohol to save money, and rented the party venue for NOK 4,000. With rentals, bar purchases and meals, including a buffet at NOK 1,000 per guest, I estimate the hotel made close to NOK 200,000 from our weekend. The day before the wedding, we were told there’d be another NOK 2,000 cleaning charge unless we cleaned the venue ourselves, so we did it ourselves. Before leaving, we asked whether all guests had paid and if anything was still due, so we could follow up ourselves. We were told everything was in order. We also offered to walk through the venue with someone, but were told it wasn’t necessary and they trusted us. While we were on our honeymoon, the owner sent a very unpleasant message saying she was disappointed and that we’d seriously damaged her trust. We were accused of taking nuts, snacks, soda, beer and a trash bin, and told the cleaning wasn’t good enough, although I’d offered that walkthrough. They also said one person hadn’t paid for dinner, which we’d specifically asked about before leaving. We accepted responsibility, but the invoice then listed 29 (!) beers and sodas taken from the party venue fridge. Guests had put their own drinks in that fridge because bringing alcohol was allowed, and we’d provided plenty of drinks ourselves. Nobody told us the fridge already contained hotel drinks. At a venue rented for private events, our guests naturally thought those drinks had been bought for the wedding. We didn’t know they were there, and were billed NOK 2,600 for them. Family later told me this was a common way some hotels “scam” guests. I’m not directly accusing anyone of that, but I still have questions about how much was supposedly missing, which sodas they were, and why they cost NOK 60 each, which seems insanely expensive for a soda. I got no clear answers, just vague replies, a change of subject and threats of debt collection. We’re going to pay and put it behind us. I don’t want to return after how this ended, despite the wonderful memories I’d had of the hotel. I’ve actually cried over not being able to go back to the place where I got married. Going there now would just feel uncomfortable.

The hotel felt vacant and unsafe at night when we were the only guests, especially as a woman in a huge, empty house in the forest with an unlocked front door. I told the owner, but got no reaction. The room was clean but basic, above the dining room, and smelled strongly of fireplace smoke when we arrived. We tried airing it out, then slept with the window open all night because we were afraid of carbon monoxide poisoning. The smoke coming into a guest room is a serious health hazard. Breakfast was the worst we had in Norway, with almost no choice and very basic food that didn’t seem top quality. On the second day we barely ate and went somewhere else. We’d booked dinner, but weren’t told the menu beforehand. It’s a set three-course menu each day with no option to change anything. The food was okay, though we expected more of a Scandic approach. My sister and I had booked two nights through the website. We were the only guests, and the hotel is very remote. It was snowing, and the parking isn’t next to the hotel.

Dinner was a real highlight. The dining room was peaceful, with fresh flowers and candles on every table, and the menu used local ingredients. The dishes looked like they belonged in a Michelin-starred restaurant and tasted just as good. We’ll be calling on December 23 when we inevitably panic trying to make your pork belly. When life gets so busy that even small decisions feel impossible, finding a tucked-away hotel in the woods with rooms available feels like a miracle. Thanks, Danielle, for taking our reservation on a whim. We weren’t sure whether to stay one night or two, but as soon as we got out of the car and saw Herangtunet Boutique Hotel, we knew we had to stay two. Anne-Mona, who runs the restaurant with her partner Jonasz, welcomed us warmly and was a truly world-class host. The rooms were cozy and stylish. Herangtunet is a cluster of old houses, and although we expected creaky floors and walls, our room was wonderfully quiet.

Danielle and the staff were friendly and efficient, and both dinner tapas and the breakfast spread were filling and satisfying. We stayed two nights in the Dutch room and liked the themed decor. It was a little tight, but comfortable, with a nice balcony. There’s a hiking trail nearby, as well as a Joker. Definitely recommend it.