When planning our adventure in Iceland, I wish someone had just given me a list of places to stay— even if it wasn’t the exact hotels but the location of their evening stops as a point to focus on. So here it is, all the hotels we stayed in, and some general thoughts on them.
We arrived in the very early hours of the morning and needed somewhere to crash. We chose to stay at the Konvin Hotel by Reykjavik Kaflavik Airport. The staff was helpful, the parking was plentiful, and the rooms were large. We stayed in a ground-floor room. The Decor was modern and neutral. It had no bells and whistles, but it was perfect for one night of rest before our adventure began.
The Greenhouse Hotel
Nights 2-3 were at The Greenhouse Hotel; this hotel is one that I would highly recommend. It's ideally located for highland tours and the Golden Circle, but best of all, it has in-house food trucks offering a wide range of cuisines. The hotel also has a cafe, shop and local goods, including foods and handmade items from local artisans. This place is a must-stay, and if you are checking out the highlands, it's well worth the two-night option. The staff are welcoming, friendly, and happy to help with your tour and travel questions. The guests were a mix of young and old, small groups and couples. The atmosphere was warm and inviting; it was a place where you could cosy up in the public parts of the hotel and relax, work or unwind. This place might be my favourite. The location is also near a supermarket and a few petrol/gas stations. We felt really at home here.
Hotel Laki offers a budget option in its older part of the hotel, which is a great option if this is your second stop; it allows them to cater to different guests' budgets, and the newer rooms are more per night. We opted for the budget room type. Our room was older than the exterior suggested, though very well kept. The room was a good size, and the view from the room was lovely; we overlooked some smaller cabins. We had heavy snowfall overnight; however, we were warm and comfortable. The breakfast was delicious, a buffet style that catered to many pallets; this allowed for a good start to the day before a long day of driving. The staff were friendly, and the other guests were primarily small groups from a wonderful mix of home countries.
For night 5, we were in Hotel Hofn, a peaceful and quiet town that surrounded the hotel. It looks very corporate from the outside, but inside, it is warm, charming and inviting. The restaurant was busy with locals and guests. The room was large, modern and warm. The Hofn is comfortable, and the town is sweet, so it was the perfect stopover for us on our way around Ring Road.
Lake Hotel Gistihusid Egisstadir
Lake Hotel Gistihusid Egisstadir was night 6 for us on our journey around Iceland. This hotel was a little out of the way but perfectly placed for our itinerary. There was an on-site restaurant, and many groups stayed for the night. The atmosphere was vibrant, and the guests all seemed very happy. We stayed in a ground-floor room that overlooked the countryside. It was remote and peaceful. We had a lovely evening here.
Mývatn at the Berjaya Iceland Hotels
Night 7 was in Mývatn at the Berjaya Iceland Hotels; this hotel was European in design, has a wonderfully eclectic style and a personality that suits an experienced traveller or couple. The rooms are thoughtfully designed, and each item has been selected carefully for the ease of the guest. The space and features chosen made everything a little easier, such as enough room for a big winter coat and a shelf for your snow-covered boots. They were simple things, but thought has been put into these touches and I appreciated them. The restaurant and bar were modern, with a rustic charm. We sat comfortably for hours in the lounge and watched the sunset over the lake; it was stunning.
Hotel Akureyri Dynheimar
The Hotel Akureyri Dynheimar is a firm favourite; its charm and character have been preserved and enhanced by clever interior design choices. The rooms are generous and very well-fitted. Our room had a large desk, a comfy armchair, a beautiful bathroom, and a king-size bed. The heated timber floors were a nice touch. This hotel is designed for comfort, and I felt right at home as soon as I arrived. The hotel's location is neatly sandwiched between the old and new parts of the town. The hotel itself overlooks the water and is within easy walking distance of everything you could need.
After some serious rearranging, B2 Apartments by Heimaleiga seemed like the perfect place to settle for a few nights; it was advertised as a home away from home, and it didn’t disappoint. We did laundry, cooked meals, snuggled on the couch and watched movies. It was the perfect rest after being on the road for over a week. We loved this apartment; it was new when we stayed, but the finishes and furniture were carefully curated with design in mind. The apartment had blackout curtains, heating in every corner of the room and a very well-equipped kitchen. We had a wonderful time here in Reykjavik. With safe on-road parking, we could leave the car and walk into the town whenever we wanted to explore.
If you need more - check out a link to my Google pins here, broken into days, which line up with the hotels I have mentioned above, and all of this was booked and organised via Expedia. I have been traveling for nearly 20 years and for at least 15 of them I have used Expedia.
