Unfair treatment of paying guests, hostile environment, and breach of contract
UPDATE (October 6, 2026): responded to their email. Waiting for the refund.
NO refund as yet... even though on the 5th of October in this very review they have stated "we have NOW REFUNDED" - i have the screenshot to proof.
UPDATE (August 20, 2026): Following our forced early eviction, management (Andrea) explicitly confirmed in writing that a 3-night partial refund was being processed. To date, absolutely no funds have been received. I am not communicating with the merchant directly due to the hostile nature of our departure. I will update the rating and text of this review only when the promised funds safely arrive in my bank account.
Original review:
I booked this retreat as a fully paying customer. Unfortunately, there was an immediate disparity in treatment between paying guests and those on the subsidized artist-in-residence program.
Fully paying guests were expected to perform heavy communal cleaning chores, despite paying full price.
The food dynamics were highly disorganized. After another attendee became sick from the provided dinner on the first night, I chose to cook separately out of caution.
When I offered to prepare fish later in the week, it caused immediate hostility and arguments from a resident artist closely connected to the organizers.
Because of these basic boundaries, we were unexpectedly evicted and asked to leave the island early. Management offered zero assistance with heavy suitcases to the pier, leaving us to wait for an hour in freezing Arctic conditions for the boat.
They refused a full refund (or any refund in fact, though they did offer it in their original eviction letter) for a completely breached and ruined experience, and no actual assistance in paying (from our money) for the next accommodations.
Highly unprofessional and hostile environment for anyone paying full price.
Reply from Thearctichideaway
We're sorry this stay ended as it did, and would like to clarify a few points for future guests.
The Arctic Hideaway is a communal place. All guests, whether paying or on our artist residency, are asked to help prepare a shared dinner (typically once in a week-long stay) and to help tidy up afterwards. This is explained on our website and in our pre-arrival information.
A few days before arrival, the guest wrote that she would not be cooking or cleaning for the group. We made an exception, agreeing in writing that she need not cook and that her and her daughter's contribution to tidying could be as light as helping to set and clear the table.
Asking a guest to leave early is extremely rare in our ten years of operation, and we do it only when necessary for the other guests and the functioning of the Hideaway. When we did so here, we offered to arrange and pay for accommodation in Bodø, including breakfast, for the remaining nights, or to reimburse the three unused nights.
The guest is right that we confirmed the reimbursement was being processed. Later that day she wrote that she did not accept it and was instructing her bank to reverse the full charge. To avoid refunding a charge that was also being reversed, we paused the payment and sent her a short document to sign if she wished to proceed, explaining that we would pay on receipt. We received no signature and no reply.
We have now sent the guest a reminder that we will reimburse the three unused nights in full to the original payment method once the document is signed.
Andrea
The Arctic Hideaway