Svanøy Hovedgård

Simply put, Union Øye is the finest hotel myself and my fiancé have ever stayed at. The mountains, fjords, and broader landscape surrounding the hotel is singular in its majesty and beauty, and provides unequalled opportunities for exploration and adventure. For us, this included kayaking along Norangsfjorden and Hjørundfjorden, cold plunging in the fjord followed by a session in the glass-walled sauna on the dock overlooking the fjord, running / hiking in the mountains, and more. The hotel building was authentically historic and stunningly beautiful, with its historicity wonderfully captured in the decor, paintings and pictures, individually designed rooms, and the 10pm storytelling each night by a member of the staff telling the story of the hotel since its founding in 1891. The food was exquisite and over the course of four days we truly looked forward to each meal. In the interim between meals, we would talk often about how good the last one was. Above all else, the staff are utterly exceptional. We have never experienced better. Each member of staff was unbelievably warm, kind, friendly and helpful. It truly felt like you were being welcomed as a guest into a family's home, rather than just a hotel. The level of effort each member of the staff put in to proactively making our stay as exceptional and as special an experience as possible was truly something to behold. It was a true joy to spend time arou them. We were engaged here and plan to come back many times.