While it was fun and romantic, we both agreed if we were to come back to Iceland, we would simply book a half-day trip from Reykjavik to The Blue Lagoon and purchase our own Premium access passes. Also the difference in price as well. A large, warm, outdoor geothermal lagoon was created close to a large geothermal power plant that generates a large portion of southwestern Iceland's electricity, and what luck, it's also a hypnotizing blue color! Several travel companies within Iceland offer various Blue Lagoon experiences, including both vacation day-trips as well as quick lay-over trips to the lagoon. Read the The Retreat Hotel at The Blue Lagoon, Iceland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. Steamy! We used the private lagoon for hours up until it closed at midnight, and went to the larger public lagoon earlier in the day using the two included Premium admission passes. Booking the half-day trip to the Blue Lagoon will allow you to return to Reykjavik for exploration, other tours, or the shopping/bar scene, while also keeping some extra ISK in your pocket! Buses run about every 45-60 minutes to and from The Blue Lagoon. Retreat is located at the main Blue Lagoon. Again, I recommend springing for the Premium access. Most campsites are closed in winter, nights could be msierably cold, condensation could make eberything inside the vehicle damp, and taller vehicles are very vulnerable to sudden wind gusts on icy roads. It is a one-time experience worth paying for, but repeats are totally not necessary. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals. Entrance to Silica Lagoon; Creating an environment of modern simplicity, relaxing comfort, and sublime serenity, Silica Deluxe rooms are enhanced by the enchantment of the mineral-rich waters bordering the terrace. Offering daily guided group hikes and yoga sessions as well as afternoon Icelandic coffee in the shared lounge, this hotel has a 24-hour front desk, concierge service and valet parking. Hopefully you already purchased them days ago, as they sell out rather quickly and many families take the bus all the way there only to find out that they will not sell them passes. However, I will say that we probably would never stay there again. Again: A Camper in March is a horrible idea. I did the South East route a few years back by myself and it was very memorable (also in March but it may have been later in March). Book spa treatments maybe and walk around hotel grounds (if they have any). That's service. Not worth it at all. Day 2: drive along route 1 towards Jokularson and see the stuff along the route. If you did not purchase bus tickets yet, you can walk inside the terminal and buy them there; it is very easy. DEFINITELY don't do a campervan in March! Personally, I waited until our last day and only got one-way bus tickets to The Silica Hotel, and then paid for a one-way bus ticket from The Silica Hotel to Keflavik International Airport. Silica Hotel & Retreat Spa. First two nights we are renting a campervan and driving around the south coast towards Jokulsarlon. (aside from their price difference). This hotel isn’t budget-friendly, but we decided to book a stay there. The bill for The Silica Hotel is not a cheap one, costing me just a little over $530 for a one night stay. Unlock the door to a wonder of the world. Arrive at The Retreat blue lagoon in late afternoon. Offering daily guided group hikes and yoga sessions as well as afternoon Icelandic coffee in the shared lounge, this hotel has a 24-hour front desk, concierge service and valet parking. The hotel may be built into a lichen-coated lava flow that traces its origins to the 13th century, but it'll be far more modern in design. Paths lead through the natural terrain to the main facilities, and guests should be aware that they will have a 15-minute hike to the hotel if they're dropped off at the main resort area. It is both comfortable and affordable. You get a couple more bells and whistles but at an intense mark-up in cost. We spent 10 days road tripping through the south of Iceland, battling hectic weather conditions, hiking snow-covered mountains and exploring various tourist hotspots. Correction: I may have to rethink the campervan idea in march as it might not be very safe. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-105369751', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight home. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-105359385', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland for 3 nights beginning of March and last night I wanted to stay somewhere special and want to make the right choice. Tip: If you’re flying in from the USA and plan on staying at Silica, book your room for the night before your … I personally stayed in Iceland for eight days and seven nights, with my last night at the alluring Silica Hotel; a luxury hotel only a 5-minute walk away from the Blue Lagoon via a path through the surrounding moss-covered lava fields (a beautiful walk, especially at sunset, by the way). The hotel used to be a spa clinic (hence the name Silica), and you certainly feel like you’ve checked in at a luxurious spa when you arrive. How do the two hotels compare? They also have a spa. Take all of that stress off the table and purchase your passes in advance. When I traveled to the Blue Lagoon, I was surprised to find that there was only one hotel there, the Silica Hotel. This was a tricky one since we did not rent a car. However, if you are already staying in Reykjavik and you are more keen on exploring Iceland and packing as much as you can into your trip, then I would advise against staying at The Silica Hotel. I still want to try and hire a 4x4 as my main goal is to stay flexible and see/photograph the Northern lights. Day 4: flight is late in the evening so not sure what to do on this day. An à la carte breakfast is served each morning. Retreat is located at the main Blue Lagoon. I assume you are experienced drivers on potentially icy roads in strong winds, will monitor weather and road conditions frequently and stay put if there are weather warnings or closed roads. We arrive 11am on Day 1 and I thought to take the route up towards (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? In my case and I'm sure most cases, the hotel concierge will even call them for you to coordinate your pick-up This company will send a shuttle to your hotel to scoop you up and bring you to the bus terminal in Reykjavik, which will have a bus that can bring you to either The Blue Lagoon or The Silica Hotel for around $20 one-way or $40 round trip. I figured it wouldn't be too bad since that $530 includes your night at their very nice hotel, breakfast buffet the next morning, Wi-Fi, two Premium admission tickets to The Blue Lagoon itself, and of course access to the private lagoon at the hotel. No legitimate company that cares about it's customers would offer that due to the dangers of winter plus the ridiculously small percentage of campgrounds that are open during winter. We have family who have visited recently and others who are planning on going. I saw a few of those few years back in March and they looked so cosy...I wanted the flexibility to hunt for the northern lights but I suppose I could do it with the car just the same. Spa. Private Geothermal Hot Spring Lagoon. If you are staying at a hotel, simply ask your hotel concierge to give you the number for the bus company Reykjavik Excursions. An à la carte breakfast is served each morning. Their milky turquoise water snakes around the building like a protective moat, steam rising eerily. The lagoon around the hotel is separate from the public Blue Lagoon, ensuring peace and privacy. The bill for The Silica Hotel is not a cheap one, costing me just a little over $530 for a one night stay. (aside from their price difference) I read that Silica's lagoon is more private and The Retreat's can get very crowded. If you want to go ahead and try for both the Golden Circle and Jökulsárlón with the time you have I would do the cave tour and start driving South on arrival day and plan the Golden Circle for day 3. We went with the booking combo to eat at the Moss restaurant at The Retreat with a 7-course fixed menu, which was a great deal! The Blue Lagoon pathway has many smaller pools along the path for picture opportunities, as swimmers are not allowed in them. How long in advance can the weather forecast be considered 'reliable' more or less? The same company offers both tickets, so be sure to ask them if that is also your plan! Any thoughts on the two hotels mentioned? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-105360642', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Golden Circle and then do the South East drive (weather-permitting) in 3 days. I am a keen photographer so I do ned to plan extra time for photo stops. That HAS to score some points, right? I closed my eyes and clicked "Book", trying to pretend that if I didn't see it, maybe it would cost me less. However, the hotel has their own smaller lagoon which is lovely and also has silica mud masks available for free. They also have a spa. The larger Blue Lagoon is open to the public, but believe me when I tell you it is packed with tourists all day. Day 3 drive back route 1 and do a cave thing in the morning. Built on an 800-year-old lava flow on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Blue Lagoon complex also has another 35-room hotel, Silica Hotel, in addition to the Retreat and public bathing area. Thanks. The Retreat – a 62-suite spa hotel – sits in a private extension of the lagoon, its interconnected pools cascading and meandering through lava canyons. The Retreat Hotel is an exclusive luxury accommodation, offering only private suites, 62 of them in total. 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