Reykjavik Marina Residence

I don’t want to be unfair with the hotel because my experience was good though I felt some details were a bit dissapointing. I'm giving it 5 stars because the positive things were definitely more than the negative but I’d still like to point them out as a friendly comment on things I would improve. We booked a room for 4 in the residence as we were staying with two children 13 and 9. I'm not 100% sure if this was it because I made the booking a long time ago but I'm almost sure we got an upgrade to the Aðalbjörg suite which of course, was impressive. I'm normally happy with a clean room and some space to move when I travel with my kids so this was definitely more than I expected. The room was impecably clean (and as said, as someone who is in the same business that’s the main thing I value in an accomodation) but also the whole design and quality of everything was perfect. I didn't found the room noisy at either side of the streets (we got both) and the shipyard view for me ar least, is relaxing and lovely. The large bathtub with a view was priceless. I know the city well, and this room was the size of an apartment in town which is definitely not common with hotels in Iceland. The children slept on the second floor which may not be a good option for people with mobility issues but I'm sure they can address this, just keep it in mind if you plan to book, the stairs to get there are old icelandic house style, more like a ship stairs than a normal one. My children and us were fine but even so, they are steep. The kitchenette was very useful even though we didn’t ate there and the coffee/tea machines are a must for me. Overall the room is as stylish, modern, carefully designed as you can get. The artwork was wonderful and the furniture was quality one and not the cheap things you find at some "boutique" hotels. Parking is easy, most of the time we could park just at the door. It's expensive, yes, but I've stayed at many places in Reykjavik and definitely this one didn't feel overpriced being what it is compared to most hotels in town. Now my negative points, which as said, are not something to make me avoid the hotel in the future, just wanted to note them in case they are useful for the management or other future guests. Check in was extremely easy but the door that goes to the residence building does not work with the cards they gave me. They tried to fix them but they didn’t work through our stay. We had been 3 weeks in Iceland before and had a lot of lugagge with us, so walking up to the main hotel entrance each time was not pleasant. Is not far but I don’t see the point to have the door there, and not being able to use it. Cleaning was extremely good when I arrived but I don’t think the following days they took as much care. We are tidy and don’t mind to reuse towels for a few days but we felt they didn’t do more than making beds and put new bathroom carpets (a necesity as some people pointed out, it's all in the same room and it gets messy. Our bathroom was huge but I can see this being a problem on a smaller one). Also, the cleaning crew came really early to ask if we needed our room cleaned which put some preassure on us to leave so they could do it. The tag on the door didn’t have the usual "come later/ready to clean” options) I'm an early riser but both times I had to tell the girls to wait an hour so we could get ready and we felt like we were rushed out of the room or wouldn't have no service. Then the thing that I was most dissapointed about is that the ”private” lounge they advertise in the website were they show this cozy room were you can have a drink in the afternoon, the independent breakfast space and common areas were inexistent. No fireplace was on and we didn’t have anyone taking care of that apparently separate and more exclusive part of the hotel. The breakfast area was closed. The living room was there but no lights, no staff and no drinks at all. I was expecting to meet some friends there for drinks so it was very dissapointing. Also, didn't seem that people from the main hotel had any restrictions to the building (I don't mind but if it was open and everybody can enter, then does not make sense to advertise it as "exclusive") Breakfast at the main hotel was good, not large but enough variety, sometimes crowded, sometimes not. The staff was not particulary kind ( again, not that I expect servants but if you politely ask to sit in a table they are cleaning there's nicer ways to tell you to wait). And last, I told at the main desk we would be checking early morning, at 5. When I went to check out with my son, We saw there was take away breakfast for early check outs ready on desk and my son triend to take one but you had to order them the day before. Nobody told us and there was no info in the room. I missed the old printed file that all hotels have explaining all of this and it would’ve been nice if they had told me at reception when I told them I would be leaving early. Maybe you can have 4 or 5 ready for people who didn’t know, like us. The restaurant at the hotel is not owned by the hotel and the food is good but you have many other options close by. Worth a try once. Also a small detail that I found a bit out of place. I know many american tourists arrive very early in the morning and the hotel offers storage for lugagge but all mornings, the hall and main living room was full of people sleeping in sofas, laying down, no shoes, all spread over the place and definitely not inviting for the guests who are already settled. On one side I think is kind of the hotel to allow this but on the other. They should have a separate place to do it. The place smelled dump and not clean. All this said, this is a Hilton owned hotel, I find insulting to a degree that you offer me a discount of 1000 kr/around 6 euros or 6 $ in the bar if I opt to clean myself, is absurd. If I wanted to do cleaning myself I would choose to stay at another place. The towels are fine but cleaning is something a 4 stars hotels should not be asking guests to skip. If it was a family owned place I would understand but not here. Overall I would come back. Love the area. Loved the room and the decor/details were perfect. Just the little things stained the experience a bit, which otherwise would've been perfect.