My sister and I stayed at Johann's adorable flat for a week in mid-February. Although he was not able to meet us, we were able to access the flat with no problems, and the little notes he had posted around were very helpful (especially on how to use the washer/dryer, and work the lights). I was really happy with my communications with Johann prior to, and during our stay, and would absolutely stay here again.
I think the description he has listed, as well as the pictures were quite accurate...the flat is small by American standards, but very comfortable by European standards. He had one electricity converter available, but I would recommend bringing your own in case it is not compatible (3 prong US plugs may not have fit, but 2 prongs would have been fine). Also his wifi was fast and reliable, and there were other nice touches like a book exchange, stereo, CDs, etc.
The living room area is conveniently divided by curtains which can be moved if you want privacy. The sofa bed and bed were very comfortable, and we had enough pillows and blankets. The flat seems to retain heat very well, so we were never cold; in fact we had to turn off the heaters and crack the windows every so often because the place warms up very quickly, especially when running the washer/dryer. The weather was pretty cold while we were in Iceland, so we didn't hang out in the backyard, but it was very cute and safe.
The kitchen was very well appointed, and we appreciated the implements and non-perishable food that had been left by Johann or previous guests. Since eating out in Iceland gets expensive fast, we cooked most of our meals at home. We had everything we needed (plates, bowls, utensils, tea kettle, saran wrap, tupperware, spices, sugar, etc) and found everything easy to operate. We also paid it forward and left contributions of peanut butter, tea, mayo, etc. =)
The bathroom was a bit tight if the two of us were both in it, but otherwise it was great. There was ample soap, bath tissue, laundry detergent, etc, as well as a hair dryer which was very thoughtful. He had plenty of towels, which came in handy since we went to the Blue Lagoon once, and a public hot springs/swimming pool, Laugerslaug. My only minor nit with the place is the shower. You kind of had to work at it to get the water to the right temperature and pressure (slowly turn each handle to the left...), and also the detachable shower head didn't stay up/attached to the holder, so we usually ended up just holding it.
Johann's place is in a fabulous location. It's not in the middle of downtown, which we saw as a good thing since it was quiet, but an easy 5 minute walk to the heart of downtown Reykjavik. We did tours each day through Iceland Excursions, and they picked us up/dropped us off at the Best Western which was about 3 blocks away. Also, there is a great grocery store about 2 blocks down Laugavegur towards downtown. There is also a bank with an ATM right around the corner as well; most places took credit cards, but we ended up getting cash twice.
Last, we found the Reykjavik public bus system to be very easy to use - its very well signed, and everyone spoke English. Fortunately the main bus station, Hlemmur, is about a block away from Johann's apartment and we could get wherever we needed direct from there (Laugerslaug, the Pearl, downtown, the harbor, the petting zoo, etc). Highly recommend getting the day/24 hour pass instead of paying for rides a'la carte. The station was super clean, safe, and as young single women, we were perfectly comfortable using the bus system even late at night.
Had a great stay, and would definitely like to stay here again the next time I am in Iceland. Thanks Johann!
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