The property overall lived up to the expectations but not everything was perfect. On the plus side, the views were to die for! We were very lucky to have - initially - perfect weather and the sun rising over the frozen lake was just stunning. The kids loved playing in the snow outside and there was plenty of space for everyone inside. The cottage was well furnished and warm throughout.
However there were some drawbacks. On arrival we were told the hot tub was heating up and so it would not be ready until the next day. This was disappointing as when you are only staying 3 days I would expect it would be fully ready on Day 1. But annoyingly, when we came to later use the hot tub I found it was still cold and only half full of water. I did phone the owner and he said he would send someone out, but it was too late for our stay so we did not get to use it, which was a big shame as it was one of the selling points for us. The sauna did work so we used that, but the door did not close properly and so we had to hold it whilst in there! The only other slight issue was a smell of sulphur in the bathroom, which was quite strong initially but seemed to dissipate by the end.
Unfortunately we were very unlucky with the weather and a storm blew in on the last day which meant we got snowed in and could not leave the cottage. The owner was very helpful and arranged for a plow to come and unblock the driveway so we could leave. However we were told the road to Selfoss would be easy, so despite it being officially closed we decided to take the journey. In reality it was extremely dangerous and we had to drive through snow drifts in zero visibility which many cars would probably not have been able to handle. With hindsight we wished we had stayed put and waited it out as the owner was amenable to an extension.
I say the above just to advise that the cottage is located in a remote area, and far from any catering facilities or shops. I think our storm was a 'once in 5 year event' however we were totally unprepared for such an event, so be aware that in winter circumstances it might not be easy to travel around the area and to bring a supply of food in case.
Despite the above dramas we enjoyed our stay in the cottage and could not think of a more perfect location with such a stunning view. We would stay here again. However if you pay a premium price like we did, I would expect all the facilities to be working and checked before arrival.