With my mom having recently passed, I now have a bit more time for travel, and also feel like I need to get out and just enjoy the outdoors and clear my head. So along those lines, Iāve just booked a quick adventure for Ford and me to go to Iceland at the end of the month, and would like to share what Iāve booked, and also get some feedback.
Why weāre traveling to Iceland (sort of) off-season
Back in 2014, I visited Iceland for a few nights, traveling alone in the peak of summer. I absolutely loved it, and Iāve been meaning to return ever since. While I was close to planning a trip several times, life always ended up getting in the way.
Well, thatās no longer the case, and rather than putting it off, I just decided to book the trip, as the stars sort of aligned in terms of our schedules (including childcare), flight and hotel availability, etc. Let me share some background, what flights Iāve booked, what hotels Iāve booked, and then Iād love some thoughts and feedback.
Usually Iām someone who avoids cold weather whenever possible, perhaps aside from our once annual ski trips (Ford skis ā for me itās more of a once annual apres-ski trip). š However, Iceland in the off-season has always interested me a bit, for a variety of reasons.
For one, I still have never properly seen the Northern Lights, and Iceland is a great place from which to do so. Furthermore, living in Florida, itās just kind of cozy to go to a cold and dark climate every once in a while.
I havenāt visited Iceland in over a decade
Iām finally flying Icelandair Saga Class again!
First letās talk about the flights. Iām not sure if the flights I booked make me the best husband (for putting Ford on a better flight) or the worst husband (for putting Ford on a better flight and then abandoning him), or if they just make me a good blogger (for taking one for the team)ā¦ you decide. Long story short, Ford and I are flying separate itineraries.
Ford has a very nice journey to get there ā heās flying Delta One from New York (JFK) to Keflavik (KEF), as I redeemed Flying Blue points for him. So heāll be enjoying the Delta One Lounge and the industry leading Delta One product on the Boeing 767-300ER. š Then on the return, heās taking Icelandairās brand new nonstop flight to Miami (MIA), so while it might not be that luxurious, it sure is convenient.
My situation is a little different. Long story short, Iāve been meaning to review Icelandair for a long time, as I last flew the airline in 2014, and it has an all-new fleet.
Iāve written about the general challenge of redeeming points for flights to Iceland, though fortunately the airline often has attractive Saga Class ares, including if you have a stopover in Iceland when traveling between many points in North America and Europe.
So what I did is book New York to Keflavik on the Boeing 737 MAX 8, and after a stopover in Iceland, Iāll be continuing to London (LHR) on the Airbus A321LR. I found a reasonable paid Saga Class fare (around $1,200 total), so that works for me.
Whatās my return flight going to look like? Well, Iām actually using this trip as a jumping off point for a larger review trip, which Iāll share the details of soon. I think some of you will be very happy with my choices.
Iāll be flying the Icelandair Airbus A321LR
The four hotels we booked for Iceland
In total, Iāll be on the ground in Iceland for six nights, and Iāll be staying at a total of four hotels (Ford is on the ground for five nights, and staying at three hotels). So, whatās the plan?
Weāll be staying at the Reykjavik EDITION for a couple of nights, which is probably the cityās most luxurious property, and itās also one of the points hotels thatās most on my radar. So thatās easy enough.
The Reykjavik EDITION
Speaking of Reykjavik, does anyone have any dining tips, for restaurants that are worth checking out? I know the city has a great dining scene, so Iād appreciate recommendations for any ācanāt missā meals, either for one or both nights. Weāre open to anything from fine dining to casual, as long as itās good! And if there any activities or other sights yāall recommend there, Iād love to hear it as well.
Next, weāre going to do a couple of nights in a more secluded area, which perhaps maximizes our chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Deplar Farm is without a doubt the most luxurious adventure property in Iceland, though itās a bit more than Iād like to pay, so we wonāt be staying there (maybe next time?).
We then tried to decide between the following three options:
Based on a past post where I asked OMAAT readers which of those properties is best to stay at, Torfhus Retreat was the most widely recommended, so thatās what I ended up booking. Does anyone have any tips on how to best spend two days driving around the area from there, taking in as many sights as possible?
Next, I was going back and forth about whether to stay at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is one of Icelandās biggest tourist attractions, and arguably itās a bit of a tourist trap. When I visited the Blue Lagoon in 2014, it was one of my least favorite parts of my trip to Iceland.
However, Iām intrigued by The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. I could never decide if it looks like itās worth it or not, given how expensive it is. So Iām taking one for the team, and weāre staying there for one night. Iāll be sure to report back!
Lastly, on a less glamorous note, Iāll be spending a night at the Courtyard Keflavik Airport, simply because I have a very early morning flight (and Ford flies out the evening before, so Iāll be alone).
Bottom line
It has been over a decade since Iāve last visited Iceland, and Iām excited to finally return. To be honest, I booked this as a pretty last minute adventure, as the stars sort of aligned, in terms of wanting to get out, finding decent value flight options, and being able to tie it into a bigger review trip.
Iāve been putting off this trip for so long, so am hoping for the best. Iād certainly appreciate any feedback OMAAT readers may have.
How will Icelandair be (I know itās more like premium economy than business class)? Did we make the right choices with the hotels we booked, and any things to be aware of with them? Any restaurants we canāt miss in Reykjavik? What are our odds seeing the Northern Lights in late October? Will I have issues driving as a Floridian, or will conditions still be fine? Thanks!!