Three neat young people have purchased this hotel past year…read more It is a real diamond in the rough; clean, low key, down the road from the square. Very reasonable rate.:. We will be back.

Balestrand, Norway...population 2000 approximately...small but delight for a couple nights…read more Price: 1200kr/$155 night. As good as it gets in Balestrand with only about 4 hotel choices. Location: Awesome! Ok, its a short walk into "town", but its easy.If you came in by boat, the owners will pick up you and your luggage up at the boat dock. Cleanliness: Awesome! I think this is cleanest hotel I've ever stayed at. EVER! Staff: Wonderful! The Mom and daughters team. Not sure if Dad did much helping out. But it was the most personable hotel experience I've ever had. Room: Small for American standards, but normal for Europe. Cleanest hotel room I've ever stayed in. Quiet. Nice bed. No TV, but that was fine by us. I wish I had paid the extra $50 for a fjord view room. Breakfast: Good enough. Hard and soft boiled eggs. Various breads, jams, cheeses, juices, cereals, yogurts. No meats though. Free coffee and tea available all day, which is greatly appreciated in a country where a coffee or tea runs $3-5 a cup! Nice common living areas on the main floor with lovely fjord views. Board games and a small library available. No bar, but you can buy draft beer or glass of wine for 50kr or a wine bottle for 250kr. I would absolutely stay here again! (Note: At time of this review, the US dollar was up 50% against the Norway kroner...$1 = 7.5kr vs $1 = 5kr just a couple years ago)

"You're going to disappoint the children. They expect a fat Santa." ~Mrs. Claus, Rudolph the Red…read moreNosed Reindeer When travelling close to Flåm, a restorative and quaint side tour for regular humans (or pit stop for fjamous men in red suits needing to fatten up before a worldwide tour) is a trip to Fjaerland by passengerboat. Fjaerland is a fjolksy village of about 300 people, sitting along the Sognefjord where it meets the Jostedahlsbreen glacier. The town, dubbed "Norway's Book Town", is known for its secondhand bookshops...some even set in old cow sheds and pigpens! If you haven't come for the books, you are likely there to see and experience the surrounding magical scenery by kayak or by hiking through the mountains or glaciers. Whether you've worked up your hunger by hiking, bumming around bookshops, or delivering presents, you'll eventually be fjamished for lunch. There is no fjiner choice than to dine at Fjaerland Fjordstove. Fjabulously situated overlooking the fjord and glacier, Fjordstove hotel and restaurant charms with its amazing setting and shabby chic décor. At the reception desk, we met the fjastinating and hospitable hotel owner, Bard Huseby, who promptly guided us to a seat outside on the wrap-around deck. We felt like we were sitting in the middle of a live postcard with unbelievable views in every direction! Bard was quick to make us feel at home and ensure that we swiftly had beer in our hands to help us cool down and relax. We had grown so fjond of Hansa beer that we all ordered it without a second thought. Unfortunately though, we all regretted that choice later once we found out that Bard makes his own craft beer, Fjaerlands Ale. Hansa glasses in hand, we considered ourselves very fjortunate to enjoy such a tranquil spot where time seemed to stand still. The scene almost fjelt fjictitious, but our hungry stomachs quickly brought us back to reality. While looking over the menu, we appreciatively noticed that the hotel procures its ingredients locally (beef will come from grass-fed cattle in fields close to the hotel), including the reindeer meat in the burgers we ordered. Let's hope none of that meat came from everyone's favorite reindeer, or there will be a lot of sad boys and girls (and adults) this Christmas! So what is reindeer meat like? Our burgers were very flavorful and juicy with no hint of reindeer game-iness or tinsel at all. There was a fjaint aftertaste of wrapping paper, but that quickly crumpled away. I wouldn't say the meat glowed, but it was very lean and tender--definitely a burger that would go down in history! Our lunch and the great views at Fjordstove were some of our fjavorites from our trip! Though we likely won't be back in the fjorseeable fjuture due to the remoteness of the village, you should definitely pop in for fjeast here if you are in the area. If you're lucky, maybe you'll get to peek at Santa's "Naughty or Nice" list!

Amazing dinner - way more inventive and delicious than anyone would expect to find out here in…read morebeautiful, remote Fjærland. Three course dinners are served here each evening with seasonal, local ingredients at 7:30 sharp. This charming hotel has a farmhouse feel overlooking the water and nearby glaciers, and the setting is intimate with about a dozen tables. We weren't guests at the hotel but we decided to make a reservation as this was a quick walk from where we were staying. It was a relaxed fine dining experience, definitely one of the best meals of our Norway trip and worth a detour if you are wandering the fjords. I would recommend making a reservation in advance using the contact number on their website, note the price for dinner was 550 kr per person as of Aug 2017. Tonight's menu was smoked fish to start with a lovely beetroot creme, a hearty plate of braised ox and cabbage, and finally a creative dessert of rhubarb topped with ice cream and a delightful sweet wafer. This was the type of food we hoped to enjoy in Norway!

Wonderful view, glad to know of this place just a short walk from the more touristy spots around…read moreFlåm Fjord tour, Highly recommend!

Best food since we've gotten here. I got the vanilla milkshake and it was so good I forgot to take…read morea photo ahead of time. The Caesar salad was phenomenal. The dressing was a tiny bit like ranch, but I still found it delicious. The fries were the perfect amount of crispy to soft, and the garlic sauce we got on the side went really really well with them. The views were gorgeous out the windows. Absolutely would return!

This spot had amazing views The food and service was great! Just be mindful the portions are large…read moreand we over ordered! Definitely recommend this place!

Absolutely beautiful views! Great customer service! And a gastropub on site too! Wow wow wow!read more

If you're taking the ferry, you MUST stop here! This is a lovely hotel with a spectacular view and…read morecharming service from the husband and wife (I'm assuming their the owners). The food is delicious, the setting is convenient. We literally watched the ferry come in and hopped the in the car to cross towards Bergen after lunch. No doubt, park and have a glass of wine while enjoying the fjords! What could be better?

From the owner: - 10 comfortable hotel rooms - day's meny…read more - a la carte restaurant with fjordview - beautiful terrace with fjordview - meeting facilities - free parking - free Wifi - catering - bicycle rental - activities in cooperation with Sogn Tours

The Gloppen Hotell is easily the best in Norway. Not only are the rooms comfortable and the staff…read morevery friendly and accommodating, it has great views and a lot of history! Additionally, the food is absolutely incredible. I have been to the Gloppen many times and the food never disappoints. They serve a a lot of traditional Norwegian cuisine which is fun to experience the culture. One of my favorite meals here is the white fish. It is so fresh and always cooked to perfection. Last night I had the scallops with a tomato compote for an appetizer, steak served with potatoes and a raspberry sorbet with a molten chocolate cake for dessert. I was in heaven. See the attached pictures. I will absolutely be back and recommend everyone travel to experience Sandane and the Gloppen Hotell!

This place is wonderful and we would highly recommend it. The staff are amazing and the hotel is…read morebeautiful. We have been traveling through Norway, enjoying the nature and food. Gloppen Hotel has served as a wonderful base for exploring the fjords, mountains and wonderful countryside. We spent yesterday in Lovatnet and today hiking in the mountains. It was perfect to come back to the hotel and relax on the front lawn and look out at the fjord. The food is amazing and will not disappoint. The menu is all local ingredients prepared on site. Even the beer is made here! The decor is tasteful and reminds you of the fishing history and strong people who have lived in this village for generations. Thank you to the wonderful staff, we will be back!

Flam can be hard to find a hotel/accommodations during the summer, so we were not sure when this…read morewas our only option, but we were pleasantly surprised at this hotel. The check-in was a breeze and the rooms were modern and well maintained with modern bath and comfortable bedding. Our refrigerator was not working properly and they replaced it efficiently. The breakfast buffet is large and plentiful, but note it gets crowded, so best to go early and/or get a reservation. The onsite brewery/restaurant is quite good but you should also book a reservation there for dinner during busy season.

As quaint as they come! The Flamsbrygga Hotel is in the immediate center of the little hamlet of…read moreFlam, with proximity to the tourist excursion piers, restaurants, shops, and cultural/eco walks. The rooms on the front feature balconies with chairs and table, offering wonderfully scenic views of the main fjord harbor. The baggage-stow area is unlocked and does not offer tags or other security, but other than that, the hotel is a total delight!

Conveniently located only 200 m from the Håreina stop, and a lot less expensive than the hotels in…read moreFlåm, where most people book. So glad I booked this place because it was a nice break away from the stressful and crowded Norway in a Nutshell tour. It's a 2 mi / 45 min scenic walk to Flåm, where you can explore the small town that includes a free museum, some seafood places, a Coop grocery store, and a nice view of the head of a fjord. It's around $7 to take the Flamsbana from Håreina to Flåm. I would suggest walking to town and then taking the train back, or if you're up to it - walking both ways. This place is a great escape from tourists (and society, in general). It was so peaceful, tranquil, and completely unreal to be able to walk outside and read a book on a hammock with the cleanest air around me and the mountains as a backdrop. Our host was incredibly wonderful and sweet. She even fed us some of her homemade flat bread. She was considerate enough to send us a message saying that she wouldn't be in when we arrived, so she made arrangements for us to check in otherwise. The apt is so cute and was perfect for my girlfriend and myself. I think it'd be a great getaway for a small group or family of 4. The beds are queen-sized, and there's even a small kitchen if you ever want to cook your own meal. Plates, glasses, and eating utensils are provided. There was even tea bags, instant coffee, and a kettle for use. The laundry machine isn't very user friendly, but the user manual is provided. It definitely works, but can take a while. Linens and towels are not provided and can be rented. She just asks that you wash your dishes and throw out the garbage before you check out. Also! Her daughter has a forest cat that roams around the front of the apartments. She's sweet, friendly, and not afraid of people. Just a warning for those who are allergic.

Our bus from Gudvangen to Voss stopped by the Stalheim Hotel to give the riders an opportunity to…read moretake in the views and use the restrooms. This review only covers the amenities accessible by us. The restrooms here were pretty awful smelling inside. Significant improvements needed. The views from the back of the hotel down into the Nærøydalen valley would've been nicer on a clear day. One could just make out the old winding road below us. Too bad as others have posted some beautiful photos on a clear day. We did a quick walk through of the hotel and found the decor was of an older style with a mixture of antique statues, furnishings and other items. A gift shop also sold drinks and snacks so it was good opportunity to grab a quick snack before continuing on the bus to Voss.

Came here as a coffee and pastry break during a tour…read more Highlights: * the back terrace is the place to sit back and relax as it has amazing views of the Nærøy Valley * there is a rather larger gift shop that is split into multiple levels * the restrooms are located on the lower lever, and there was an elevator for those who couldn't use the stairs * they was a mini museum that was made of of various items from the previous hotel owners collection *the did off a nice gluten free brownie ***the main road getting into the hotel is narrow and two way, though really wide enough for a single car in a section, so there might be a brief queue when tour buses arrive/depart