Our adventure through the magical land of Fire and Ice and what it was like to work with 4 amazing hotels.
Ever since I found out that Iceland existed, it immediately made its way onto my “Top 3 Places I want to Travel To” list and sat there for a long couple of years. So, when I was texted out of the blue that a ticket was booked in my name for a flight from New York to Reykjavik the following month, I already knew that this was going to be one of my favorite adventures to date. Contrasting being placed in a busy bustling city, exploring the unreal landscapes of Iceland provides the epitome of traveling that I crave. Reimagining the waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches, and cliffs in my mind, I already knew half-way into the trip that I one day need to make a return to Iceland. I had so much fun researching the island and getting to know it before going, but of course no trip is ever going to be perfect no matter how much planning is done. Whether it was the weather or poor estimation of time, we had to deter from our original itinerary quite a bit, just as we found our 4x4 off the main road for much of our journey. Regardless, this first trip as a WANNAB Team trio resulted in one of the best weeks of my life, just as I predicted. Read on for my unfiltered ups and downs (like literally almost getting trapped in a snowstorm type of down) of exploring Iceland.
A Warm Welcome from Midgard Base Camp
Midgard Base Camp creatively combines the comfort of a hotel with the community of a hostel that results in a place that simply fuels adventure. Finally entering Hvolsvöllur, a quaint and quiet town in South Iceland, after driving what seemed like forever after a long day, Jesse and I arrived to Midgard pretty late in the night. It felt so nice to be gestured in by such a warm atmosphere upon entering the hotel’s lobby/lounge area. With the space playfully decked out with swinging chairs, a foosball table, and glowing string lights, I could immediately tell that this hotel encourages its guests to mingle with fellow travelers staying the night in a dormitory-style fashion. It was cozy and everything we needed after a day one in Iceland. The receptionist who met us at the front desk was incredibly friendly and we ended up talking with him for a good while, even though it was after hours, and he was only still there to have some drinks with some colleagues. He answered our questions about the Northern Lights and gave us a tour of Midgard Base Camp, showing us the room that we were staying in, where guests could have breakfast, and the outdoor jacuzzi and spa. It was evident that the facility was very well-kept. I was so tired but so happy that this hotel welcomed us with such open metaphorical arms.
We only stayed at Midgard for one night but before leaving, we made sure to grab some photos and videos. With the sun up and the curtains open, we were able to appreciate the spread of land right outside the window of our room on the first floor. Jesse then told me he had asked the lobby receptionist if they could fill up the hot tub, which obviously meant I’d have to get in. The views of the landscape were beautiful from the hot tub and the contrast of the steamy hot tub with the crisp Iceland morning in the background were super aesthetic. I also tested out the sauna and got so cozy that I couldn’t get myself to leave! Although we were in a time crunch and couldn’t get the chance to mingle with other guests present in the lobby and dining area, Jesse and I really admired the youthful and lively vibe of this hotel. We left our first stay in Iceland with such positive spirits, ready to conquer everything that was to come!
Tusen takk Midgard Base Camp!
- Alyssa Tanchoco, Marketing Manager
Making Memories with Hotel Klaustur
Its casually modern aesthetic made Hotel Klaustur such a gem to work with, featuring such an intricately-shaped building with the exterior of the restaurant lit up with string lights. The perfectly convenient location in South Iceland was an additional plus and we were able to have such eventful days with two nights of stay here. After we checked in and got settled into our very spacious and comfortable rooms, we decided to ring in our first night in Iceland as a team with some drinks at Klaustur’s bar. Being able to stay in the hotel to do this was so nice and convenient because we didn’t have to set back out into the cold night. If it’s of any interest, our drinks were pleasantly strong and worth the money! The friendly staff at the front desk were always available to answer our questions and we had such pleasant nights here.
In the morning, we woke up bright and early to grab the included breakfast at the Klaustur Restaurant and to grab some shots. I plated some food, trying to get a bit of everything, and really appreciated the range of food that was provided. The glass surrounding the restaurant let in such a beautiful morning atmosphere with hilly mountains and a blue sky. The open landscapes around Hotel Klaustur made our job so easy to capture great pictures both inside and outside of the facility! The vibe of the restaurant completely changes at night from an inviting breakfast buffet to a classy and intimate spot for dinner. We were provided dinner to sample and take pictures of their new Game Menu, featuring reindeer arancini, trout, cured goose, lamb, and a wild berry tart for dessert! The presentation of the food was most definitely upscale and I could tell that the chefs behind the scenes worked tirelessly to experiment with these unique flavors. If I preferred a gamey taste, I would have been very impressed with this menu. The WANNAB Team heavily appreciates Hotel Klaustur for letting us have a taste of their amazing food and beautiful vibes - our Iceland trip would not have been without it!
Tusen takk Hotel Klaustur!
- Alyssa Tanchoco, Marketing Manager
Snowed In at Vogafjós Farm Resort
Featuring guesthouses and a restaurant/café on a farm, Vogafjós Farm Resort proved incredibly accommodating, especially with us getting caught in a snowstorm on our way there. Although we almost decided not to show up, we decided to slowly drift our way over and arrived at the guesthouses at around three o’clock in the morning. We couldn’t have been happier to make it to our warm guesthouse that looked like a charming log cabin in the woods. The interior of the room was very cozy, and we were all able to sleep in peace while the snow continued to fall outside.
In the morning, the sun reflecting off of the white of the snow that covered Vogafjós in its entirety was actually quite beautiful - a blessing and a curse. Although aesthetically-pleasing, the snow totally threw us off our groove as we were exhausted from the long car ride from the night before and woke up late, missing the included breakfast. We still needed to grab food and some shots, so we stayed for lunch at the Vogafjós Restaurant, which was conveniently right down the road from the guesthouses. In the restaurant, there was actually a huge glass window where guests could admire the lineup of adorable cows on the farm. Although a bit expensive, the lunch was delicious! We first enjoyed coffee as we admired the snow through windows that surrounded the restaurant’s space. We were then so excited when the food arrived and weren’t disappointed; this is as “farm to table” as it can possibly get and the ingredients were so fresh. Shoutout to the cows for some amazing fresh mozzarella!
Tusen takk Vogafjós Farm Resort!
- Alyssa Tanchoco, Marketing Manager
Our Luxurious Stay at Hotel Keflavik & Diamond Suites
In all honesty, it really can’t get better than a stay at somewhere like Hotel Keflavik. Although luxury is absolutely not a necessity for me personally, I’ll humbly take the opportunity to feel like a princess any day. We got to Hotel Keflavik late in the night where I had to be shaken awake when we finally made it to the parking lot, so let me tell you, walking into the lobby then our suite and room felt like a literal dream. From first entering the lounge area of the Jón William Suite, we were met with such a grand area with impeccable décor and gold details. You know, the vibe that just screams expensive. A glass dining table against a wall of mirrors and contrastingly black chairs and doors filled the space. Making it through to our two separate rooms, we were met with two sleeping quarters decorated very differently but nonetheless so incredibly impressive. One room was decked in white, its feminine features creating a very royal honeymoon aesthetic. The bathroom was most definitely the highlight, housing a heated toilet seat and more importantly a rain shower system over a jacuzzi bathtub. All of the lights in the room (and even the shower) were on a touchscreen where you could change the color of the lights and other different settings. The other room presented a much moodier vibe, with an Andy Warhol-inspired piece of artwork of Marilyn Monroe over a modern black couch to provide the taste of this room. Connected to this room as well as the lounge area was a long balcony with hot tubs on both ends. Sure, it was almost overdone and too dramatic, but at the same time, our stay provided us with memories that I’ll never forget.
I think the most astounding part of our stay at Hotel Keflavik was not the intricate and over-the-top rooms but the breakfast we were presented with the next morning. We might have underestimated the amount of food that we checked off on the menu the night before (maybe blame it on delirium from lack of sleep?) because although Jesse, Will, and I have impressive appetites, the spread of food looked ridiculous. It was plated and presented like it was ready for a magazine shoot or a movie to emphasize a dramatic dining scene. We felt so unbelievably grateful and privileged to be put in such a position and stomached all that we could, of course after grabbing a bunch of shots. The three of us then went into the lobby and different rooms that they had, including their beautiful restaurant surrounded by windows that let in beautiful streams of light. We found so much entertainment playing around in all the beautiful spaces of this hotel that we ended up spending around four total hours grabbing photos and videos for them. Because of how stunning the hotel was, it made our job not only so easy but so much fun. After popping a bottle by the hot tub to not only say goodbye to Hotel Keflavik but bring a close to our time in Iceland, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. Hotel Keflavik is truly the place where luxury meets comfort. If it’s within the price point, treat yourself to a stay here; you won’t regret it!
Tusen takk Hotel Keflavik & Diamond Suites!
- Alyssa Tanchoco, Marketing Manager
