Reykjavik Iceland: Bolholt Apartments

If you’re looking for a nice hotel to stay in while in Reykjavik, Iceland you may want to stay at another accommodation. But if your goal is to save some money, have a decent place to sleep and have a great view, then welcome to the Boholt Apartments.

Notice that the name “Hotel” is not in the title. That’s because this is an apartment building, and up on the fourth floor is an open door with all of the “hotel rooms”. It’s not a hostel by any means. But there are no workers here (well a cleaning person, but you never see them). This cuts down on costs, with the room costing 426 NOK per night ($74 per night….compared to the Hilton [$158] or Hotel Reykjavík [$121]). Honestly, the Hilton is amazingly nice, but it is double the cost. Hotel Reykjavik though–is not nearly as nice at Bolholt–from a room perspective.

 

That means that your key is sitting on a desk with your name written on it. The internet username and password are on the inside of the door to your room and should anything arise, there is a phone number that you should call posted in the “lobby.”

When I was first dropped off by the bus, I walked in and didn’t know where to go. I aimlessly started up the stairs, as it was the only direction to head. I started to panic, wondering where I’d sleep that night, because I didn’t notice that I had to go to the fourth floor. But I found it!

The room was more than accommodating, having four beds, a sofa, a kitchen, and bathroom. I immediately noticed a smell coming from the water, and later learned that Icelandic water (although boasted as amazing and pure) often as a rotten-egg-like smell to it. This isn’t true in the airport, but seemed to be true in several other places that I visited and was even commented on by a tour guide who said she doesn’t even notice the smell anymore.

The Boholt has amazing views, much like the other hotels in the area–so why pay more for similar views?

 

Overall, the stay was quite pleasant, and everything worked (keys, internet, cleanliness). The only negative was that I heard people coming in later at night who talked in the hallway. Thankfully people are pretty respectful and go to their respective rooms so it wasn’t so noisy.

See my other posts on Iceland by checking out Reykjavik Iceland, The Blue Lagoon, The Golden Circle, The National Museum of Iceland, and Accommodations in Reykjavik (Boholt Apartments mainly).

I attended a conference called the Nordic Educational Research Association (NERA). See the Keynote Speakers or my research on Preschool Teacher Retention.