Steamy! We spent 10 days road tripping through the south of Iceland, battling hectic weather conditions, hiking snow-covered mountains and exploring various tourist hotspots. You will have to be flexible. Or just focus on the South East drive and spend last day in the Retreat. The contemporary bathrooms have heated towel racks and large walk-in rainfall showers. 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. 11 Shares. The amazing views of the sparkling blue ocean with the resort at its edge create a poster perfect setting for you to indulge in. I'd love it if someone who had stayed at both Silica Hotel and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Silica Hotel vs The Retreat 2 years ago Save How do the two hotels compare? Any thoughts on the two hotels mentioned? Never just stop by the side of the road, people have gotten killed that way, because the next driver didn't see them in the dark. Does this look realistic? They have a 4-course tasting menu which changes daily and features traditional Icelandic dishes. It was located as far away from the . 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. But the next morning there was no visibility and a lot of snow. Is it worth it. Culinary classics. However, if you are already staying in Reykjavik and you are keener on exploring Iceland and packing as much as you can into your trip, then I would advise against staying at the Silica Hotel. Take all of that stress off the table and purchase your passes in advance. Many people visiting the Blue Lagoon in the afternoon/evening stay for a meal after bathing. and our Some of the best reviewed hotels and accommodation in Reykjavik are: AirBnB is also a great option in Reykjavik and you can save $45 using our link to sign up! Are These 5 Trendy Destinations Still Worth Visiting? I wonder if we can make the Golden Circle and then do the South East drive (weather-permitting) in 3 days. We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link. Day 2: drive along route 1 towards Jokularson and see the stuff along the route. It has the unique mix of minerals and seawater algae that's found only in Iceland. The serene atmosphere makes the Silica popular with couples, as well as with those seeking treatments for a variety of skin conditions. Silica looks a little simple from the photos (though I am sure it is beautiful too). 240 Grindavk Silica looks a little simple from the photos (though I am sure it is beautiful too). 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 booked Retreat in the end as I know I will probably regret it not staying there. We Are Travel GirlsContributor Amanda Twineof FlyStayLuxe.com 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. There is also a great selection on the A La Carte menu. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-105369751', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight home. Admission varies from basic, comfort, premium and luxury. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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 never suggest anyone even drive a regular vehicle that time of year unless they are an Expert Arctic winter driver. I am a keen photographer so I do ned to plan extra time for photo stops. 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). 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! I still want to try and hire a 4x4 as my main goal is to stay flexible and see/photograph the Northern lights. Is the Golden Circle road generally more sheltered from winds than the South East road? For more detail, be sure to read our complete guide on the Best Time To Visit Iceland depending on what you would like to see and do! Combining sublime comfort at Silica Hotel and classic Icelandic cuisine at Lava Restaurant, this overnight experience opens a world of radiant wellbeing. It was very relaxing with the vast majority of guests swanning around the breakfast room in their bathrobes. It was much lower key and relaxing than what I saw of Blue Lagoon and the price is better to at $29 per person vs Blue Lagoon's $45. If you hold a Retreat Spa ticket, you will get to experience Blue Lagoon's three-step ritual. Would it not be worth it renting a small 4WD camper thingy just in case the weather might be reasonable (and book hotels along the route in case it is not). I would normally plan more conservative driving distances in winter. Answer 11 of 18: How do the two hotels compare? 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. What do you want to see and do en route? While the island country is temperate in the summer and fairly cold in winter, the weather can be unpredictable. 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. In any case, I will probably have to pick/reserve hotels on route (and hope I can make it to them otherwise it will be expensive). Subscribe to get access to our FREE eBook with top tips for saving money when you travel! Both options include admission to the lagoon and round trip bus fare to and from the Blue Lagoon from the airport, or from Reykjavik, the busiest tourism city in Iceland. Most review of each are fabulous, but with The Retreat being SO much more expensive I wonder if it's THAT MUCH better?? Day 2: drive along route 1 towards Jokularson and see the stuff along the route. We were really in need of some downtime when we arrived at the Silica Hotel. I highly recommend combining your visit with a night stay at the Silica Hotel, which is located just 10 minutes walk from the Blue Lagoon. Answer 11 of 18: How do the two hotels compare? In any case, I will probably have to pick/reserve hotels on route (and hope I can make it to them otherwise it will be expensive). Private Geothermal Hot Spring Lagoon. Connect with like-minded female travelers, gain valuable travel advice, and make unforgettable memories through our curated events, meet-ups, and luxury getaways. (aside from their price difference) I read that Silica's lagoon is more private and The Retreat's can get very crowded. book flight now or wait until Efling Strike is over? The Blue Lagoon pathway has many smaller pools along the path for picture opportunities, as swimmers are not allowed in them. You will have to be flexible. 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. The landscape was like nothing Ive ever seen before. 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. Thanks. This is all weather permitting obviously. 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. Norurljsavegur 7 Alternatively, you may use. DEFINITELY don't do a campervan in March! 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. That way you have a buffer day and you could just leave it out if there are weather problems. Not worth it at all. Explore the volcanic phenomena at Blue Lagoon's doorstep. You can see the Lights on the Reykjanes Peninsula, but your best chance to see them is on a tour, where you have a guide on the radio with a dozen other guides helping each other find the best show for the customers. We even woke up early and used the private lagoon one more time before heading to the airport. Thanks. That's service. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. During my time in Iceland, I never saw a breakfast spread quite like the one at the Silica Hotel. Travel has become more accessible to the global population, and The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimated that nearly 1.2 billion people traveled outside their, Modern life involves traveling often and for all sorts of reasons. Again, I recommend springing for the Premium access. Arrive at The Retreat blue lagoon in late afternoon. I am taking my SO to Iceland for 3 nights beginning of March and last night I wanted to. Want to ride horses with Fabio-style manes, Blue Lagoon Clinic Ive just returned from a last-minute jaunt around Iceland and as it turns out, the land of ice and fire is just as majestic as youd imagine. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. What do you want to see and do en route? The hotel provides a wake-up call service throughout the evening. 0. 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. a week, 3 days, 30 minutes? Correction: I may have to rethink the campervan idea in march as it might not be very safe. This is something you need to be aware of when making your plans. The Silica Hotel is a short walk from the Blue Lagoon with breathtaking views of the moss covered lava fields. We spent 10 days road tripping through the south of Iceland, battling hectic weather conditions, hiking snow-covered mountains and exploring various tourist hotspots. Answer 11 of 18: How do the two hotels compare? 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. Volcanic architecture. (aside from their price difference) I read that Silica's lagoon is more private and The Retreat's can get very crowded. (aside from their price difference). Whilst the Silica Hotel doesnt actually have a restaurant (they only serve breakfast), the LAVA Restaurant located at The Blue Lagoon is only a 10-minute walk away. The towel and/or robe are pretty valuable in the cold! A free continental breakfast is included, and is served in a bright lounge with a coffee machine. We arrive 11am on Day 1 and I thought to take the route up towards Gullfoss and down on Road 30 and stay first night somewhere around road 30 or 1 (need to find a place. Family-Friendly? Wall mounted flat-screen TVs come standard along with mini-fridges, but there are no tea kettles or coffeemakers. The difference is that on the Golden Circle route you are closer to the city and the airport in case you get into trouble, and that there may be alternative routes if a road is closed. We literally had the entire place to ourselves for at least an hour before one other couple joined us. Iceland is part of the European Schengen zone, which typically provides 90 days of free entry every 180 days to visitors from many countries. Love all the advice in the article. This is a major bummer not only because you traveled 40-minutes from Reykjavik for nothing, but also because you get to stare at the lagoon but not go in! Correction: I may have to rethink the campervan idea in march as it might not be very safe. The forecast starts being reliable about 48-24 hours ahead of time, but you will still have to check every morning before you start driving and if necessary change your plans. In any case, I will probably have to pick/reserve hotels on route (and hope I can make it to them otherwise it will be expensive). 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. 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. So if the elusive Aurora Borealis decides to show up, you are only steps away from hopping into the hotels lagoon and gazing away at the night sky. I would normally plan more conservative driving distances in winter. Thanks. This is all weather permitting obviously. Read Next. . Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. No, that's not a joke. Basically, you lie on a floating bed in the warm milky blue geothermal waters, while the therapist massages mineral-rich oil all over your body. Hilton Munich Airport is the nearest with a distance of 0.1 mi from this airport. 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 ? Others were wading in the hotels lagoon before sitting down to a hearty meal. 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. 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. The lagoon is in fact not natural, and was caused by a man-made structure for excess water from the power . This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I am a keen photographer so I do ned to plan extra time for photo stops. Youll also receive a robe and slippers for use while youre there and the hotel provides shuttle transfers to the Blue Lagoon if you dont want to walk. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The atmosphere at the Silica Hotel is very calm and serene and from the moment we arrived, we felt like we could finally breathe a sigh of relief. 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. Cookie Notice You will have to be flexible. This rate is available with Ferienwohnung Nfelt. While we're here we are staying at the hotel right next to the Blue Lagoon, the Silica Hotel! Your plans will depend on the weather and road conditions. You can also book a day tour to see the Northern Lights depending on the time of year you visit! I would not recommend camping in winter, unless you have Arctic winter camping experience and have contacted the campsite to verify that they are open. For our purposes, the Silica Hotel was 100% worth every dollar. 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. So timing your stay when you first arrive or on the last night before you fly out is a great option. And there aren't many nice hotels (from looks of it) until closer to skaftafell/jokulsarl on road 1 from what I gather. Free! 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