It has the unique mix of minerals and seawater algae that's found only in Iceland. Read more about the Lagoon's history and healing here. Thanks. It is a one-time experience worth paying for, but repeats are totally not necessary. Arrive at The Retreat blue lagoon in late afternoon. We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link. If you want to go ahead and try for both the Golden Circle and Jkulsrln 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. Built into an 800-year-old lava cliff on the west bank of the Blue Lagoon, Lava Restaurant brings together dynamic cuisine and remarkable views to create unforgettable dining experiences. How long in advance can the weather forecast be considered 'reliable' more or less? This is all weather permitting obviously. Custom-made facades and screens within the spa and hotel feature a. For me, I liked the fact that it had a lagoon bit that only belongs to hotel as the photos for main lagoon that is open to public look horribly crowdedI can't imagine the retreat not having a private part for hotel guests only but I am not certain this is the case. Day 3 drive back route 1 and do a cave thing in the morning. I figured hey, why not try to stay at the Silica Hotel for Valentine's Day? Your email address will not be published. The risk of losing money on bookings already made is just something that you need to accept when you are making self-driving plans for winter. This rate is available with Ferienwohnung Nfelt. Last time I skipped the golden circle (as I only had 2 days) as I wasn't sure Golden Circle as varied as South East drive. I wonder if we can make the Golden Circle and then do the South East drive (weather-permitting) in 3 days. I am taking my SO to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? From culinary journeys to extended holidays, our exclusive offers and special events will elevate your Silica experience. If you plan it like this and bad weather moves in while you are on the South Coast you risk forfeiting your Retreat reservation or worst case your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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). For our purposes, the Silica Hotel was 100% worth every dollar. Or just focus on the South East drive and spend last day in the Retreat. Reykjavik is about 40 minutes away by car, and Keflavik International Airport is a 20-minute drive to the north. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently. They also had a huge selection of hot food, espresso coffees and even champagne! Wooden footpaths cut through the rock connecting the buildings to the natural lagoon pools, where a faint odor ofsulfur mingles with anever-presentmist. I am a keen photographer so I do ned to plan extra time for photo stops. Or just focus on the South East drive and spend last day in the Retreat. There is also a great selection on the A La Carte menu. Does this look realistic? Because of its popularity, tourists arrive at the Blue Lagoon by the busload and it is literally packed from opening time, until close. 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. If you want to go ahead and try for both the Golden Circle and Jkulsrln 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. You will have to be flexible. 11 Shares. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance! First two nights we are renting a campervan and driving around the south coast towards Jokulsarlon. The cheapest price for a room in Gunzenhausen found in the last 7 days is $32/night. Culinary classics. The current exchange rate is approximately 1 USD to 125 ISK. 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. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Sunset over the lava field walking to the Blue Lagoon from the Silica Hotel. The risk of losing money on bookings already made is just something that you need to accept when you are making self-driving plans for winter. Indoors or outdoors, tiny plunge pools to epic infinity oneshotel, Iceland doesnt exactly have one perfect season to visit. I am taking my SO to Iceland for 3 nights beginning of March and last night I wanted to stay somewhere special and want to make the right choice. And there were people everywhere! Enjoy a variety of tours and activities during your stay. Book spa treatments maybe and walk around hotel grounds (if they have any). We even woke up early and used the private lagoon one more time before heading to the airport. The larger Blue Lagoon is open to the public, but believe me when I tell you it is packed with tourists all day. It features light woods, stone and natural fibres. This is something you need to be aware of when making your plans. How long in advance can the weather forecast be considered 'reliable' more or less? The caf offers a complimentary breakfast and take away meals. The hotel has its own smaller private lagoon, so that guests need not compete with the public for space in the touristy medicinalwaters. I think planning the Golden Circle and Jkulsrln and back in 3 days in winter is ambitious, but possible if weather and road conditions cooperate. I never suggest anyone even drive a regular vehicle that time of year unless they are an Expert Arctic winter driver. Correction: I may have to rethink the campervan idea in march as it might not be very safe. Where should I stay when visiting Blue Lagoon Iceland? 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. This was a tricky one since we did not rent a car. Premium entry to the Blue Lagoon is included with your stay. Stay at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Steam billows from the rugged landscape all around the hotel, which was built on an old lava flowdown a gravel road from the main Blue Lagoon resort. I think planning the Golden Circle and Jkulsrln and back in 3 days in winter is ambitious, but possible if weather and road conditions cooperate. The main resort facility has a restaurant that serves contemporary Icelandic cuisine, as well as a cafe, and a lagoon-side bar. Day 2: drive along route 1 towards Jokularson and see the stuff along the route. 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). That way you have a buffer day and you could just leave it out if there are weather problems. Will ask the hotel. There are regular bus shuttles between the airport and the Silica Hotel. We Are Travel GirlsContributor Amanda Twineof FlyStayLuxe.com But from photos, Silica looks a lot simpler with its interior (but very nice also). The towel and/or robe are pretty valuable in the cold! 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. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Take all of that stress off the table and purchase your passes in advance. Also, how many nights would you recommend? I would normally plan more conservative driving distances in winter. Both of our flights are early in the morning. However, I will say that we probably would never stay there again. Get answers to your questions about Iceland, Wild camping with a vehicle is illegal in Iceland, What ,,not to do when traveling in Iceland", Taxi/Bus costs from KEF Airport to Reykjavik. Here at Oyster, we embrace just about any excuse to hit the road, but what really, Pool at Sicilys Hotel Avalon Sikani After checking into the hotel, dipping into the pool is high on the vacation agenda. The worst weather I have ever driven thru was on the road from the city to the Golden Circle. Last time I skipped the golden circle (as I only had 2 days) as I wasn't sure Golden Circle as varied as South East drive. Admission varies from basic, comfort, premium and luxury. Thank you We Are Travel Girls for featuring my article! If you hold a Retreat Spa ticket, you will get to experience Blue Lagoon's three-step ritual. Whilst the lagoon at the hotel is pretty amazing, and in my opinion, just as good as the real thing, you probably still want to experience the actual Blue Lagoon as well. Again: A Camper in March is a horrible idea. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Again: A Camper in March is a horrible idea. Does this look realistic? 11. The risk of losing money on bookings already made is just something that you need to accept when you are making self-driving plans for winter. All of the 35 spacious and light-filled . If you plan it like this and bad weather moves in while you are on the South Coast you risk forfeiting your Retreat reservation or worst case your (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It was very relaxing with the vast majority of guests swanning around the breakfast room in their bathrobes. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. is a crystalline silica, whereas the silica which is incorporated in plants is amorphous. We also always travel with a portable battery pack which is great to keep your phone charged on long journies. Silica Hotel and Retreat Hotel are the two . Connect with like-minded female travelers, gain valuable travel advice, and make unforgettable memories through our curated events, meet-ups, and luxury getaways. If youre planning a trip to Iceland, the Blue Lagoonis sure to be high on your list of must-see places. I saw a few of those few years back in March and they looked so cosyI wanted the flexibility to hunt for the northern lights but I suppose I could do it with the car just the same. Specifically what amenities come with the room between the two hotels? Dining options at Silica Hotel and Blue Lagoon Iceland. (aside from their price difference) I read that Silica's lagoon is more private and The Retreat's can get very crowded. Book spa treatments maybe and walk around hotel grounds (if they have any). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I remember I liked it a lot when i stopped there for a break from driving. Lego 79015 - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. The Silica Lagoon is open from 9:00 to 22:00 every day, and premium access to the Blue Lagoon is built into your stay at Silica Hotel. It was most natural setting of the 3 and the most non-frills. As well as a private lagoon (complete with swim-up direct access to the bar), the spa includes access to the Blue Lagoon Ritual, a three-step face and body routine utilising the silica, algae and mineral elements of the lagoon in a nourishing . Iceland Hotel 360 looks nice but I am not sure I can get to it during winter). I am familiar with the weather changes but perhaps was lucky then. Its quite expensive so you want to allow plenty of time to enjoy yourself. Is the Golden Circle road generally more sheltered from winds than the South East road? I read that Silica's lagoon is more private and The Retreat's can get very crowded. From black sand beaches to natural hot springs, from lava fields to Icelandic ponies, this country offers a huge variety as far as what to, Grindavik, Southern Peninsula 240, Iceland, http://www.bluelagoon.com/accommodation/silica-hotel. I would normally plan more conservative driving distances in winter. I saw a few of those few years back in March and they looked so cosyI wanted the flexibility to hunt for the northern lights but I suppose I could do it with the car just the same. Otherwise, I am not sure how else to break the journey up; first day on arrival, we obviously won't make it very far in any case, whether the weather is good or poor. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g608874-d643977-Reviews-Silica_Hotel-Grindavik_Reykjanes_Peninsula.html, https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g608874-d14070242-Reviews-The_Retreat_at_Blue_Lagoon_Iceland-Grindavik_Reykjanes_Peninsula.html. Replication can only be made with prior agreement by quoting the source with a link to the site, whether it's text, picture or video. Remember the 6 Ps! What are the opening hours for Silica Lagoon? The hotel provides a wake-up call service throughout the evening. more. Silica Hotel is a just ten-minute walk from the Blue Lagoon. 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. What do you want to see and do en route? Read more about Iceland before you go! 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). While traveling, our number one tip is to use a free Charles Schwab Debit Card which gives unlimited worldwide ATM Fee Refunds and the true exchange rate. I would normally plan more conservative driving distances in winter. They would then make use of the hotels lagoon the next morning after breakfast. You can check the latest EUR exchange rate on Google. Is the Golden Circle road generally more sheltered from winds than the South East road? I am a keen photographer so I do ned to plan extra time for photo stops. a week, 3 days, 30 minutes? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed). For the Northern Lights, plan to visit between November and April, or between June through August for the longest days. Correction: I may have to rethink the campervan idea in march as it might not be very safe. I am a keen photographer so I do ned to plan extra time for photo stops. This is a country bordering the Arctic Circle in winter. (aside from their price difference). I was also so confused that I drove for about 40 mins in the wrong direction with no spaces to turn around, water on either sides of the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Silica Hotel vs The Retreat 2 years ago Save How do the two hotels compare? Day 4: flight is late in the evening so not sure what to do on this day. Private Geothermal Hot Spring Lagoon. I managed to secure a last-minute reservation (which basically came down to me refreshing their website on my cellphone every 1520 minutes for about two weeks, haha). 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Hot food, espresso coffees and even champagne November and April, or between through... People visiting the Blue Lagoon Iceland with your stay pools to epic infinity silica hotel vs the retreat, Iceland doesnt have. Similar technologies to provide you with a better experience seawater algae that 's only. The South East drive ( weather-permitting ) in 3 days more conservative driving distances in.! Bordering the Arctic Circle in winter Hotel was 100 % worth every dollar whereas the Silica which great... Lagoon is open to the Golden Circle your plans will depend on the South coast towards Jokulsarlon to... Cheapest price for a break from driving all of that stress off the table and purchase your passes in.. Included with your stay the Golden Circle road generally more sheltered from winds than the East...