Iceland Hotel Choice - Please Help
 

My message disappeared from yesterday. I'd like to know if anyone can recommend the nicest hotel in Iceland. I want to take my wife for a ROMANTIC weekend during the winter. Want to get cozy and stuff. Which hotel and what room is best - Borg or Saga? Anyone who can help, please do. Dave

<BR>check: http://www.icehotel.is/<BR><BR>I've been in the Loftleidir and found it very convenient.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Hi, Dave! I have not been in Reykjavik, but i am planning to go. So, I cannot give you first hand advice. BUT I have in my hand a brand new brochure of a Finnish travel agent. The brochure is open from Iceland pages and now I am going to give you a rough translation what it says on both those hotels:<BR><BR>BORG: A stylish first class art deco -style boutique hotel on Austurvollur squire, near the very center?s shops and cafes. A restaurant and a bar. 50 rooms with heating (humh, I wonder what it would be like without), bathroom, phone, TV, video, cd-player, safety box, coffee maker and minibar. <BR><BR>SAGA: First class hotel in center, near university and a walking distance from shops and cafes. Restaurant and a bar, fitness center, inside parking. 216 rooms with air-conditioning, bathroom, hair dryer, phone, TV and minibar. <BR><BR>So, reading those, I would say BORG it is! But check their pages: www.hotelborg.is and www.radisson.com

I responded yesterday...here's what I recommended:<BR><BR>Nicest - Hotel Borg. Book the Tower Room - it's a large bedroom (by European standards - huge) with a separate living/dining room, 1 and a half baths. The king bed is great, with down comforters, etc. Service is great. Breakfast is great. Location can't be beat.<BR><BR>You will have to haul your bags up to the room as the lift only takes you to the top guest floor. So fun!<BR><BR>Also, how often can you say - we go the nicest hotel room in the country? Go for it. <BR><BR>Definitely go to the Blue Lagoon for some mineral baths - take your bathing suit!<BR><BR>Your post yesterday said that this weekend is important for your marriage - good luck. Let us know how your trip goes!

Dave - BTW, your original post has just scrolled to the next page of posts...

Dave,<BR>I responded yesterday too. I gave you excerpts from a glowing review of the Borg, but Jennifer has given you a personal account, much better. <BR>I've seen the Saga; it takes many Iceland Air tour groups, including people in our package, and it looked fairly "cookie cutter" to me-nothing special, just functional. We stayed at the Esja which reminded me of a Holiday Inn. We did like having drinks in the cozy Art Deco bar at the Borg, and it has a dead center location. Since you'll be there over a weekend, I'd ask for a room not overlooking the square so as to avoid the all night party noise.<BR>We found the food in Reykjavik unexpectedly terrific-had a lovely, leisurely dinner at Lakjarbrekka (pretty-great lamb) next to the tourist office downtown. The restaurant atop the Perlan is romantic at night with its killer views, and the Vid Tjornina has great seafood and is a unique experience. It's in a "quaintly" decorated house near the square, but tables are hard to come by on wkds. We finally snagged one, but it wasn't easy. Have the Borg concierge call ahead to reserve at any of these 3. <BR><BR>Food & Wine, Sept. '00, C.N. Traveler, Feb. '01 and the Travel section of the Phil Inquirer, 2/27/'00 did some very good articles on Iceland, if you can access them. <BR>Have a wonderful weekend!

Thanks to everyone who replied. Sorry I posted twice, I'm a novice here. I will let you know how it goes. I did decide on a suite at the Borg though I don't think it will be the Tower suite.<BR>Thanks again.

I've been to all of the hotels mentioned here, Borg, Esja, Loftleidir, and Saga. Loftleidir is definitely not so convenient compared to Borg. (unless you are flying within Iceland) Loftleidir is about the same convenience, and probably near to the feel of Esja only Esja is smaller.<BR><BR>As for Saga vs. Borg, I have never been impressed with the rooms of the Saga, Borg wins there. But then I like the roominess of the Saga's lobby and a room near the top has a view the Borg will definitely not get you. The Borg is definitely good food, but a better bar. The Saga's restaurant at the top is better food. So here's what I would do - unless you want a view from your room, stay at the Borg, but at least one night make a reservation for the restaurant at Saga.

Hotel Borg has to be your choice. In the heart of downtown square, great restaurant, try the Pork Tenderloin. My best meal ever.

Am I correct in assuming that the Borg closes down for Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr? I ask because their website pricelist does not include those months. I am thinking of pouncing on one of Icelandair's great deals (if they offer them like they did last year) and going in February or March.

Joseph - I'd e-mail them...I was there last March, and friends of ours were there last February. It's wide open those months. They just might not have posted rates for those months yet.<BR><BR>As for Icelandair's deals - they have them every year, so have a weekend picked out in advance - have a great time!

I was in Iceland the beginning of November and stayed at H&oacute;tel Skjaldbreid located at Laugavegur 16<BR>in downtown Reykjav&iacute;k. The telephone numbr is +354 511 6060. The hotel is located right in the middle of the main shopping district and is surrounded by great restaurants. It is just a few blocks from the main tourist office, the waterfront, and many museums. The rooms were very nice -- decor is Ikea like. It also has a nice restaurant attached called the Vegamot (great food and prices).<BR>