B&B Geisler

5-nights stay in the single room in mid-March 2019. This was my first B&B stay & I really didn’t know what to expect. However, given Ilulissat’s limited room availability in winter, even in the ridiculously expensive hotels, I decided to bite the bullet. Things to be aware of: • B&B Geisler is located near the power plant at the western edge of town (literally, the last residential street). The nearest supermarket is a 10-minute hike, while the town centre is a 20-minute hike. And I mean hike, because Ilulissat is really hilly. However, this is not a deal breaker, just something to be aware of, because in all probability you’re in Ilulissat to do some hiking anyways. Also, if you book organised tours (which you should), you’ll probably get complimentary pick-up and/or drop off. And you’re very close to the start of the beautiful Yellow hiking trail • The B&B is an apartment on a single floor, with one single and one double bedroom for paying guests. The owners, Mona & Hans, are in the 3rd bedroom. That means the bathroom (and kitchen, and common areas) is shared between a maximum of 5 people • You pay for your stay upon arrival, are given a house key and a quick tour of the apartment, and told the house rules (breakfast times etc.). After that, it’s up to you to decide how much you want to interact with Mona & Hans, and any other guests in the apartment • The whole house, including bathroom & kitchen, is spotless (and was kept that way for the duration of my stay) • Breakfast is typical cold continental fare - coffee/tea, muesli, rye bread, buns, cheese, and salami • Not that I even tried, but I think the kitchen isn’t for guest use, so you can’t cook there. On the other hand, Mona insisted I leave dishes I used in the sink, because she was happy to wash them • Most (but not all) tour operators have heard of B&B Geisler (Ilulissat is a small town), so it’s not a problem arranging pick-ups and drop-offs etc. • Only non-refundable bookings were available, and availability was showing only on a single OTA (online travel agency) platform [I checked over the course of almost 6-months. However, this might be season dependent] The above information can help you decide whether B&B Geisler is for you or not. The house share might be a deal breaker for some, but that has to be weighed against the high cost of hotel rooms in Ilulissat. The location is both, a pro and a con. Some specifics from my stay: • The single room has a west-facing view - power plant (surprisingly colourful), ice bergs, some breathtakingly beautiful sunsets, and a crazy snow storm the morning I was leaving • The room could do with a closet or somewhere to hang clothes. I ended up living out my suitcase, which wasn’t ideal, but not a deal breaker either • Bring shower gel, I’m glad I did • Although you can pay for WiFi/internet access, I suggest doing so at Café Iluliaq in town (that was the cheapest WiFi I found in Greenland, by far) Mona and Hans are absolutely lovely and, after the initial awkwardness, they really made me feel welcome and at home. They’re Greenlandic, which means they’re not chatty, but they’re warm and caring e.g. I had an early flight on the day I left, but Hans insisted I call the taxi 15 minutes later than I wanted to, so I could eat breakfast before leaving. They also got up early on a Sunday to feed me before an early morning tour. On the other hand, they didn’t ask me about my plan for the day even once, so I insisted on telling them before I left the house & regaling then with tales of my (mis)adventures when I returned. The other guest was a Spaniard visiting Ilulissat to fish. The Geislers offered us beer one Friday evening & the 4 of us had a lovely conversation late into the night. Another evening, the Spaniard brought home cod that he’d caught & Mona made us Greenlandic dinner. Mona’s English is limited, but we all managed to understand each other & got along really well. In summary, I had a great stay at B&B Geisler and am thankful to Mona & Hans for making me feel so comfortable and at home. Despite all my misgivings about my first B&B stay, this was an enjoyable and a memorable experience. I would definitely stay there again, and am happy to recommend it.