Note: the Fosshotel Hallormsstadur is no longer part of the Fosshotel chain. It was bought out in 2008 and uses the name Hótel Hallormsstaður.

This area has Iceland’s biggest forest which would be small by any other country’s standards. Indeed, the forest consists of low birches and fir trees that cannot be more than a few years old. The rooms are fine. The especially attractive downstairs restaurant serves an exceptionally good dinner buffet (it mainly seems to cater to tour groups). The food had plenty of variety and was very well cooked. So often buffets have that warmed over, tired appearance but not in this case. The breakfast buffet was well above average as well with UK/US items such as bacon and eggs in addition to a wide variety of smoked fish and everything else you expect on an Icelandic breakfast buffet. This is an excellent hotel with friendly staff in an attractive location near Lake Lagarfljót.

During an organized bus tour through Iceland, I stayed at this hotel for one night.

The room was in the new wing, very modern and spacious. However, when our group arrived around 4 p.m., we found the room doors open, the chairs and rubbish bins on the table and the staff still running around with the vacuum cleaner. When I entered the room, I found the floor of the bath room to be quite dirty, there was hair lying around and it looked like somebody swiped the floor and afterwards stood on it with dirty shoes. Towels, beds and the rest of the room was very clean though.

The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the buffet dinner was excellent, as was breakfast. The room was also very quiet and the bed comfortable, so I slept really well. Wifi was not available in the room though, I had to take my laptop to reception.

Overall, I'd stay in this hotel again since I think most of the issues I encountered where due to our early arrival, so I'd give them a second chance because there were definitive advantages as well.

We came in early season (primo june) and were one of the first guests to stay in the new hotel wing. Internet was not installed yet.
The dinner buffet was a surprise, good choice of sallad.
Lamb fillet was tender and delicious......