Panorama Glass Lodge

FAQ

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about our lodges and our services.

Booking Information

Which location has the best northern lights chances?

It absolutely does not matter which location you chose, both of them have exact the same chances to see the northern lights. Only around 24 hours prior it is clear to know where the clouds will be, and the northern lights obsvervation is mainly dependent on the clouds - if the sky is overcast, you won't see northern lights. The chances and likelyniess of cloudy skies are the same on both location. You should chose the location which fits better into your travel plans or the view you like better.

What do I need to know about the Premium/Family Lodge?

Our brand new Premium Lodge is perfect for Families, couples travelling together or friends. It sleeps 5 and has a second bedroom with an inbuilt bunk bed. There's a bigger table, bigger kitchen, bigger bathroom, bigger terrace and bigger pool. Plus you get the Sauna completely to yourselves, it is a private Sauna. It also features the best view of all, over the ocean and the Snaefellsness mountain range. The Premium Lodge is wheelchair accessible and we pay also attention to make our smallest guests happy, therefore we have toys, puzzles, board games and much more in the drawers in the second bedroom. Parents will appreciate the highchair and the changing table provided. The second bedroom has a lovely starlight LED ceiling, like the Sauna has. A comfortable window bench invites guests to relax and enjoy the views from the second bedroom. Installed in the bunk bed are also reading lights and electrical outlets. The kitchen features a dishwasher and all other amenities like the other Lodges, just a tad bigger.

How can I book multiple Lodges in one booking?

Select your preferred date and then the search function will show you all available Lodges for the chosen timeframe. Click on "book" and a text will appear which says that the Lodge has been added to your reservation. Proceed with the next Lodge you want to book for the same timeframe and click again on "book". Once you're finished with the selection, click on "confirm reservation" and you'll be directed to the next step with entering guest information and proceed with payment.

What is the difference between all the Lodges?

South Iceland: They're all the same style of House and on the same property in Hella, south Iceland. All of them do have a private hot tub and hammock nets and a sauna to share with one other Lodge. ALVA is closest to the parking lot and on the upper part of the property.  The Alva Lodge is super nice for the scenery to view at from the upper platform and a great panorama is visible. If you have reduced mobility, Alva is your best choice. FREYA is more secluded and closer down at the river.  It is perfect for taking photos and feel more isolated, the Lodge is closer to the river and has view on the Hekla volcano. Freya Lodge is more away from the parking lot to walk and has some stairs to walk up and a pathway to walk down to get there. It is approximately a 250m walk. ODIN Lodge is on the left side of the property, with a beautiful view on volcano Hekla and on the river. It is also rather easily accessible and a bit closer to the parking lot. THOR Lodge is the one on the outermost left side, more secluded with great privacy and with view on Mount Burfell and Bjolfell and the highlands. The river is of course also visible. It is a bit down the hill, if you have reduced mobility we recommend booking the Odin or the Alva Lodge. All cabins have good privacy and are not visible to eachother at the glass parts. West Iceland: All Lodges have a hot tub and a hammock net. FRIGG is our Premium/Family Lodge, you can read more about it in the FAQ in the special tab about Frigg. It is the first lodge closest to the service house with the best view. Frigg Lodge comes with its private sauna. It is wheelchair accessible. Please contact us if you arrive with a wheelchair so we can make your stay even more comfortable. HEIMDALL is a standard size lodge for two persons, it is located on the left side of Frigg lodge in the distance. It also has ocean view. There is a sauna shared with one other Lodge. NJORD is a standard size lodge for two persons and located on the left side of Heimdall Lodge in the distance. It has ocean view and shared sauna with Heimdall Lodge.  

Do you have a waiting list for booked out dates?

We do not have a waiting list. The best is to book at least 7-9 months in advance. In case we get cancellations, we will always announce it In our Instagram stories and also In our FB posts at the same time. This way we can reach the most people and there are always a lot of people waiting for something becoming available. It is first come, first serve. Many cancellations reach us around 30 days prior to the event, as this is the timeframe where guests can cancel without paying a fee.

Do you have Lodges for more than 2 Persons

Our new premium/family lodge is ready to book and sleeps 5 (or even 6, if you count an up to 3 year old in with a baby travel cot). The new premium lodge will be located on our new location near Borgarnes. It features a second bedroom with an inbuilt bunk bed and a bigger bathroom, bigger kitchen and bigger hot tub/terrace. Also you have a completely private sauna. Every standard lodge is made for two persons only but if you are several people you could book several Lodges. They are in walking distance from each other. There’s no space for a 3 rd person in the cabins, it’s very tiny and we do not have a spare mattress. Also, we do not have a license to accommodate a 3rd person in our standard Lodges. But we can provide a travel baby cot for the very little ones up to 3 years of age.  

We want to book two Lodges at one time – which ones should we choose?

If you are travelling as a family or with friends and want to stay close to each other with a shorter walking distance, we recommend booking Freya and Alva Lodge together or then Odin and Thor Lodge, all at our south location. Those Lodges are closer to each other and share one parking lot together. For the west location, the lodges Heimdall and Njord in walking distance, too, and share one sauna but have their own parking lot behind the Lodge.

Can I book a stay more than 2 years ahead?

We don't open bookings more than 2 years in advance. Usually it is open to book around 1.5-2years in advance. We open up new time frames 2 times a year. Thank you for understanding. We will always send out a newsletter when we release the next few months of booking dates, so be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to be informed straight away.

How much $ or £ is the rate per night?

Our prices are listed in € (Euros). We do not display $ or £ prices as the exchange rates vary a lot week to week (or sometimes even day to day). Please check your exchange rate before booking. The booking will always be fully paid in € via your card automatically, you get charged in your currency in the end.

Inside the Lodges

Am I allowed to fly my drone while staying at the Lodges?

Yes it is allowed to fly a drone, but our rules are very strict. As long as you stay in the radius of 10meters of the Lodge you are staying at (meaning not flying near the other Lodges or up high in the sky) and the times where it is possible to fly your drone are from 10AM until 8PM. The most important is to secure the privacy from the other guests and therefore we kindly ask you to please respect the privacy of all other guests, too. No one wants to get waked up from a drone or have the feeling that they get filmed, it is very important that everyone is respecting these rules.

When can I use the Sauna?

The Sauna is shared with one other lodge (except FRIGG lodge has its own private sauna). So two lodges share one sauna. There is a timetable for each lodge when it is possible to use the Sauna, with 2 hours blocks each. So that we can make sure that all guests get their private timeslot at the saunas. You can rent bathrobes & slippers additionally for a small fee if you want to, either upon booking or later through our online store.

Are there curtains on the windows?

Yes we do have pull up rollerblinds on the side around the bed for that extra little bit privacy in case someone feels uncomfortable :). But there are no curtains on the rooftop windows, means there will be light from the sun or moon if it's fullmoon and we recommend to bring your sleeping masks with you if you are light sensitive. During summer months we provide sleeping masks for our guests (from May to August).

What can I expect from the bathroom?

Our bathrooms do have a very beautiful design which you can see in our gallery or on the booking site. We provide organic cosmetics from a local brand called Sóley Organics, which is made out of 100% icelandic ingredients and made in Iceland. We use only refillable products for the bathroom. We privide shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, hand lotion, hand soap. Also there are complimentary additions like cotton rounds, cotton buds, earplugs, sewing kit, dental kit for emergency and shaving kit. Everything that one might need when it didn't come in your toiletries bag when leaving your home :). We've got you covered in this case. All our bathrooms have floor heating and a towel heater and a window to open after showering. There's also a ventilation system.   There is a huge rainfall shower from the brand Hans Grohe. The whole area around Hekla volcano does not have hot water access, therefore we need to heat it up electronically. We ask our guests to use the water economically. For Freya and Alva Lodge: Please note that our water boiler only provides hot water for around 7-9 minutes (depending on the outside temperature). Due to the compact size of the house, it is not possible to have a bigger water boiler. The other Lodges have a new heating system which provides a much longer hot water flow.  

What are the kitchens equipped with?

Our kitchens do all have two stoves, a fridge with little freezer, a toaster, a nespresso coffee machine and a kettle plus a microwave. We do have basic food supplies like: Pasta / Rice / Cereals / Herbs and spices / Salt, Pepper and Sugar / Tea assortment / Coffee / Vinegar and Oil  / Jam   / Ketchup / We have pans, pots, dishes and cutlery and glasses for champagne and wine of course. Also a bottle opener is provided. If you however want to use fresh products (such as vegetables, fruits, bred, milk etc) we ask you to bring them yourself and buy on your way to the Lodges.

How private is the land?

South Iceland: The land is completely private as there are only our four Lodges on this property which is almost 50’000sqm big. We have built up hills between the Lodges for more privacy. The road on the other side of the river leads to a little summer house area and therefore there are sometimes cars driving on that road to these summer houses. The houses you can see in the nearby area are all not regularly inhabited and only in use as summer houses for locals. The little house that is located on the other side of the river is not inhabited and only used as a storage house. We do have black out pull-up side curtains for that extra bit of privacy 🙂   West Iceland: The land plot is 20.000sqm big and it is private land. Infront of the land is only the ocean. We put up hills between the Lodges for more privacy. There's one old pathway which is protecte from the naturereserve and this pathway can be theoretically used by hikers. But there are not many of them and they usually walk around the area where the Lodges, are to not disturb anyone.

Are the Lodges heated?

Yes they are heated with floor heating plus an additional wall heater.

Is there enough space for our luggage?

We do not have much space inside the Lodges but however it will fit for two medium sized suitcases. We recommend to only take a backpack or a bag with you inside or only what you need. We do have a cupboard where you can store things but other than that on the floor area is not much space to leave any bigger baggage.

Is there a reception / staff on site?

As we are no Hotel we do not have a reception or any staff on site. It is self check-in and check-out and one housekeeping staff is only on site between 11:00 and 16:00. In case of any questions during your stay, we're available via email usually from 9:00-21:00. We strongly recommend to arrive to the property before it gets completely dark in Winter as it is really pitch dark at night and we have not installed additional outdoor lights to not cause any light pollution for sky viewing. Though we have torches in the box on the parking space to find your way to your cabin.

Arrival

Are the sites illuminated?

No, our locations both are intentionally not illuminated, to guarantee a completely light pollution free environment so every guest gets to enjoy the night sky (if applicable). There are some very weak solar lights on the pathways but they do not provide light for all night long. Also there are outdoor lights at the lodges, which we ask you to turn off if you are not on the terrace or in the hot tub. The saunas have an outdoor light as well, which should be shut off, too, when finishing the sauna session. During winter months when it gets dark soon in the day, we recommend to check in at 16:00 to find your lodge, or then check out our digital guest guide (which you get sent 5 weeks prior to check in) with all the driving instructions with photos to navigate. You can also use our site maps to see where your lodge is located at (you find it in the gallery of each lodge, same as our 360° virtual views).  

How do I get to the Lodges?

You find both of our locations on GOOGLE MAPS, simply type in "Panorama Glass Lodge South" or "Panorama Glass Lodge Akranes" to get exact GPS data. You'll find a blue sign with yellow letters "panorama glass lodge" where you have to turn into our road.  More information with photos on driving instructions are in our digital guest guide, which you will receive 5 weeks prior to check in. It is only possible to get there by car or helicopter. No public transport is available. You can rent a driver with icelimo luxurytravel for example or also order a taxi in RVK.

When do I get the door opening code?

You will get the electronic code for the door one day before check-in via email (latest in the evening before check-in day). We have an electronical smart lock and you need no key to enter the Lodges. It's a non serviced area, there's no staff on location.

Do you organize pick-up and/or tours?

No, it's accomodation only, we do not organize any tours nor provide pick-up.

How long is the drive from/to the international airport KEF?

South Location: 159km, 2h10min.   West Location: 112km, 1h30min.   Please calculate more time if there’s snow and ice on the roads or a storm going on – road closures are always possible in Iceland, inform yourself before your journey via www.road.is about road conditions.

Do I need a 4WD to drive there?

Yes, in winter (October until March) you can only drive there with a 4WD as it’s out of the main road and road administration services are clearing the snow not as frequently as on the main roads. Make sure to rent a 4x4 if you plan to get out of the capital. In summer, no 4wd is needed and the location is easily accessible also with a commond 2WD. Please always check www.safetravel.is and road conditions on www.road.is before you go on a journey, they also have webcams where you can see the conditions of many roads. You can find weather forecast and storm warnings on www.vedur.is

General Information & Sightseeing

When can I see the northern lights?

You can only see the northern lights during winter time when it's dark outside (from around late August to late April). Also you only see them if it's cloudless, not raining and not snowing. There is no certain time when they appear the most - they can appear from early evening to early morning. Just don't forget to look up in the sky frequently when it's dark outside. Also check our aurora forecast and cloudcover forecast every 15min to see how big your chances will be. Sometimes they are not very active and you do not see them even on a cloudless night. You also need a bit of luck to see them :). Generally you can say, if you can see the stars and are patient and staring into the sky for hours, your chances are high that you see some. December and January are usually the months with the heaviest storms and there are a lot of storms, so we would say these months the chances are a bit smaller that you see the Auroras (but not impossible), but every year is different.

Where is the next grocery store?

South Location: The closest possibility to buy food is in Hella, which is a 25 minutes drive away. There is a grocery store (Kjörbudin) and a petrol station. The petrol station is open until 23.00 every day. If you want to get alcohol there’s only one store chain in Iceland. It is called vínbúðin and is closed on Sundays and holidays and also closes at 18:00 every other day. The closest of these stores is in Hella. West Location: We recommend stopping in Borgarenes to get grocieries, there is a bakery, a Bonus and a Netto store. If you are arriving late, the N1 petrol station is open until 21:00.

What do I have to know for my summer stay (May-August)?

If you booked a stay with us in Summer you'll be lucky for sure to experience the amazing midnight sunsets out of your bed or the hot pool if the weather is good. Tough Summer also has his side effects ;). There are a lot of flies around waters outside and they also love our glass cabin like everyone else does. You find 2 fly swatters in our Lodge so you can catch these little friends together and have some fun :). One annoying phenomenon is new in Iceland and these are the Lúsmý. They're insects and almost transparent and so tiny that you can't see them properly and they are always outside and also inside houses (mostly in evenings or mornings) near waters and go thru clothes and leave you with dozens of itchy bites. You don't feel anything when they bite you, only a few hours later you discover the itchy small bites. The best to do after you got attacked by them is getting into the hot tub with at least 42 degrees and soak in there for 5 minutes. It will help to reduce the itchyness. Also there's no need for heaters in Summer as it gets quite warm anyway through the sun in the Lodge. Heaters are always off during summertime but of course if you need them you can turn them on, but please put them off again before check-out. On hot days (for icelandic conditions at least) we recommend to leave the balcony door open while you are in the cabin. For light sensitive people we recommend taking your eye masks with you to get full darkness at night as the sun never sets during summer. We have blackout curtains available for the side windows but the ceiling has no curtains, means it is still not completely dark.

What do I have to know for my winter stay (October-April)?

Winters in Iceland are mild but very windy. So pack enough warm clothes and a hat, waterproof gear is always recommended. There can be violent and dangerous wind and snow storms in the winter months which reach its peak in January and February with sometimes closed roads and difficult driving conditions. If the roads are all closed to our Lodges, we have to cancel the booking as it's not allowed for anyone to drive (and therefore also not possible for us to go and clean the Lodge) and you also shouldn't go outside during a violent storm. But no worries, this happens maybe 2-3 times a year and not frequently. The most important of all, you must rent an apropriate 4wheel drive vehicle to get to our Lodges during the winter months - otherwise you risk to get stuck in the snow. The roads beside the main road are not cleared frequently and the road administration services have less priority for the side roads unfortunately. Of course it can be a mild winter with not much snow, but we recommend to not take a risk and rent a proper car if you plan to go on roadtrips out of the capital. We recommend staying your last night before your flight back NOT in our Lodges as it could be possible that there are interruptions on the way back (for example the mountain pass to the capital). Make sure to spend your last night before your flight in the nearby area of the airport. We also recommend before your stay at our Lodge, stay somewhere in the south as it could be possible that the mountain pass is closed and then you have to drive a longer detour to reach us. The main interruptions are mountain passes that can be closed due to snow or storm. There is one mountain pass right before Vík, and one mountain pass between Reykjavík and the south of Iceland. It is advised to purchase an additional insurance from the car rental company for road assistance in case you get stuck somewhere in the snow or land besides a road due to super slippery roads (which can happen here, we've all been there several times and it is nothing unusual :). Then you have a towing service paid getting you out. Otherwise in case you get stuck in the area of Hella, this is the number from the local towing service: +354 8611662 If you are at the Lodge during a storm, please don't use the hot pool as it can be very dangerous and make sure to secure the pool cover firmly before the storm approaches. Do not leave anything outside the terrace during a storm, wind gusts can reach up to 60m/s and blow everything away. We have a storm information listed in our digital guest guide. Take weather warnings always serious! You should always check www.vedur.is for weather forecasts and storm alerts. Also before you go on a journey, please check www.safetravel.is or

Do you offer jobs?

We only have housekeepers working in our company, so this is the only position you can apply for. Applicants must have housekeeping experience (preferably in the luxury sector) and must be able to work absolutely independantly. Housekeepers need to have a car as our location is very remotely. Unadressed emails with CV's won't get answered. Good advise: Please inform yourself about the company you want to work before you apply for a job ;). We don't need any cooking chefs or waitresses or barkeepers. There are only cabins and no need for these positions. Thank you and good luck.

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