My stay at Hótel Blönduós was one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve had in Iceland. Everything started badly: I received a message informing me that the hotel had been rented out to a private company and that I had to choose between two alternatives. I picked Hotel Laugarbakki, their “sister hotel,” which unfortunately felt more like the neglected, poor relative of the family.
The property itself had an unsettling atmosphere, almost like a budget version of the Overlook Hotel from The Shining. The “luxury” room I was given was dirty, the bathroom door was a smoked‑glass panel that let in every bit of Icelandic summer daylight, and the blackout curtains were completely ineffective.
To make things worse, the towels were dirty and even torn, and the room clearly hadn’t been cleaned properly.
The whole situation felt misleading and unprofessional. I genuinely believe neither of the options they offered is worth considering.