Kimkim Trip Reviews for Iceland

This "hotel" is a collection of different apartments across a few different streets in the area. The unit we had was a 3 bedroom upstairs apartment. in a really great location except that it was a very busy street in the shopping district. We had the windows open to keep the apartment cool and it was very loud. We could also hear the downstairs neighbors/tenants (and smell their cooking). While the apartment had been renovated and had a lot of charm, the age of the building also showed through in several places (very squeaky floors, low ceilings, finicky hot water), and the outside seemed run down. It was very nice to have off-street parking included behind the building, as it would have been hard to find other parking in this area. Walking distance to MANY restaurants and shops.

This apartment is managed by the nearby hotel and was a great layout for our family with two bedrooms and even an in-unit (2-in-1) washer/dryer machine and dishwasher. Location couldn't be better for Vik, with a grocery store and several restaurants across the street. We enjoyed having the extra space to spread out a bit after some smaller rooms earlier in our trip.

We had one of the 2-bedroom "houses" at this location (there are several different types of rooms available), complete with it's own hot tub. This layout worked great with our two teenage kids as they had their own room. The kitchenette was nice but not necessary for the one night we stayed there, as the on-site hotel bistro/restaurant had lots of good options too. The included breakfast was very good and had something for everyone. My wife with celiac was comfortable eating here and did not get sick.

This was a very nice boutique hotel, located right next to the marina. Really cute decor and friendly staff. Well-located for whale watching and close to several restaurants. Our room had king-sized bunk beds, which our teenagers really enjoyed and thought were awesome. Everything was clean and well-thought out. Included breakfast buffet was excellent. My wife has celiac and was comfortable with the choices as long as we got to the breakfast early before anything was cross-contaminated with gluten. We would definitely return!

We had a great experience on the Elding Whale Tour. The weather ended up being perfect, and although they can't guarantee that you will see whales at all, we ended up seeing LOTS of humpback and minke whales surfacing and breaching! The guide and the captain were both clearly experienced and knowledgeable and knew exactly where to go. At one point we had so many whales alongside the boat that we had to stop and wait for them to leave before we could head back to the docks. We saw a number of seabirds as well, including Atlantic puffins which was a highlight for our kids.

This was a great experience from start to finish. The guide was very laid back but full of information and humor. The lava tunnel itself was very impressive and well-lit, and held a few surprises that none of us expected (I won't spoil it here!). We learned a lot about how the lava tunnels are formed (and found) and it changed the way we looked at the Icelandic landscape for the rest of our trip!

Our guide Kamil was very knowledgeable about the glacier, the caves and the surrounding areas. We spent an amazing afternoon with a small group of people traversing the lava fields in an offroad van, hiking up the glacier, and exploring the ice cave.

This place is beautiful and very relaxing and not touristy (like Blue Lagoon is). We really enjoyed the lagoon itself, which feels very natural and part of the landscape. If we were to do this again, we would skip the package that includes the meal, because the timing constraints of the restaurant interrupted our flow at the spa (the food was delicious though, and on the fancier side - our children struggled finding something). The locker room was very clean and nice. The staff was not particularly friendly but it didn't bother us. Overall a very nice experience.

Great location, nice staff, very nice breakfast included. Room is a bit noisy.

Scenic location by a black sand beach. Close enough to town to go to restaurants. Large comfy room.

Large, comfortable rooms. Hot tub, restaurant on sight with a very nice breakfast included.

Boutique like hotel in a gorgeous but remote location. Staff was excellent.

The Blue Lagoon Premium Admission was an incredible way to start our trip. Initially, I was hesitant about visiting right after our flight, but it turned out to be rejuvenating and the perfect way to unwind. We didn't want to leave! The warm waters were soothing after the long journey, and I'm really glad this was included as part of our itinerary at the start.

The glacier lagoon and ice cave tour near Diamond Beach was absolutely fantastic! Despite being underdressed for the cold, the experience itself was awe-inspiring. The guide was incredibly accommodating, picking us up even when we mistakenly went to the wrong parking lot, and shared so much insight about the ice caves and local area. This was one of the few opportunities we had to interact with a local, and it added a personal touch to the adventure.

Our guide was super awesome and we had a great experience!

It was pretty tight, and there was no lounge so you were stuck in the room. The room also wasn’t as clean as the previous two hotels, and it had an odd smell. The restaurant was good, but I wouldn’t stay there again.

What an experience! Incredible remote location that was so beautiful. The lounges and staff were a real highlight, and the rooms were beautiful and so clean.

Great location, room was perfect.

This wasn’t the best tour, and the building is under construction

Make sure you specify that you want to stay in one of the cottages. They apparently have a studio apartment above a garage that isn’t clearly noted when you make a reservation.

The hotel’s bountiful leather seating in their common areas is the highlight. The art is eclectic and bountiful, too. The hotel is a bit dated but overall comfortable for a short stay. And they have free parking for guests, which was a nice benefit.

The individual cabins are very nice and comfortable. Great views! They have staff onsite and the small lounge area is open and serves drinks until 10 PM or so.

Beautiful setting and very nice room with a view.

Had the skies been clear and the aurora visible this would’ve been a great stay. 😉 The bubble is comfortable but bare bones. The bed is comfortable and the heated blanket was nice (until it stopped working during the night). Bathroom facilities require a walk and sometimes a wait. So just be aware if this is a potential concern.

How many groups can you fit on a glacier at one time? A lot! There were at least two dozen vehicles and a hundred plus tourists tromping around the ice.

I ended up being the only participant. So i appreciated that we went ahead with the trek! My guide was fantastic.

Getting to see the black sand beach and the waves up close via an ATV is a wild and fun experience!

Hotel was in a perfect location. Our flight wasn't until 5pm and the hotel allowed a late checkout until 2pm for a small fee. This allowed us to do an activity during the day and go back to shower before leaving for the airport. It is 7 minutes from the airport and its in a little town with restaurants close by. The room had everything we needed and the lounge area is nice. The restaurant was fine. It was too rainy and cold to use the roof top hot tub, but it was a nice amenity.

Hotel was nice. The room was great and we enjoyed the lake view. It was very windy and rainy during our stay so we didn't get to enjoy the outside. The breakfast was good. There is no hot tub and no lounge to sit in outside of the room. We didn't spend much time in it, so it was fine. Everything was clean and orderly.

I really liked this hotel. The rooms are in clusters of buildings and you can either walk or drive to the main building for the restaurant. We had 2 hot tubs for our building. They were empty upon arrival, but they quickly filled them after a call to the front desk. The breakfast was excellent. Room was one of the largest we stayed in and we appreciated the lounge area with kitchen so we didn't have to sit in the room all evening.

This was my favorite hotel of the 5 we stayed in. It was beautifully decorated and in an absolutely stunning location. The room was perfect and we had a perfect view of the black church from our window. There's a lovely lounge with fantastic views for having a drink or playing cards at night. The restaurant was fine but we were there for 2 nights and the menu was the same both nights. The chocolates at the front desk are a nice touch!

Hotel was great. Breakfast was lovely and it's in a great location to explore the city.

We only saw one whale and we pretty much followed him around for 2 hours. The weather was very cold, windy and rainy, so the dry suits helped us stay warm and dry. Rough seas were expected due to the weather and the tour operator helpfully offered sea sickness pills for free. The tour did a good job - we just didn't see much and returned to the marina an hour early.

The weather was very rainy and our van got stuck in the snow/slush 3 times on the way to the glacier. Other vehicles had to tow us out. The driver worked very hard and ended up shoveling tires out several times, but didn't provide us with much in the way of updates on what was going on. This turned the trip out to the ice cave into 2 1/2 hours. There was no bathroom available and the entire trip took 5 hours. By the time we got back to the parking area, it was 9pm and all of the restaurants were closed and we still had an hour drive to our hotel. Thankfully, the lovely people at Kronen (the grocery store), allowed us to dash in and quickly buy something right as they were closing. The ice cave was also very small. The guide said that it was usually longer, but the recent snow had closed part of it off. I honestly don't think it was worth it under the conditions, but the hike on the glacier and being inside the ice cave was cool and a unique experience.

We really enjoyed the lagoon. We went to 3 different ones during our trip and this one was unique in that it's in a forest-like setting. The locker area was clean and the process was very organized. Unfortunately, lightening cut our visit short. They offered us a return visit the next day, but we were getting back on the road and could not take them up on it.

The tour was interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable and gave a great tour.

By far our best activity. We had never experienced anything like the ice caves. And the quality of the tour with Siggi was so special. Would highly recommend adding this to your trip!

Great location! Right across from a grocery store. Go to Skool Beans!! You won’t be disappointed

Loved the bartender Melina from Poland!! She was so nice and we had a great chat!! I wish her the best of luck getting her farm with chickens to make her Polish cake. I hope she sees this (from Natalie!!)

Wonderful place in the city. Close to everything. Staff was excellent!

Great hotel and lived the jacuzzi. We missed our second morning of breakfast so we were bummed as I knew we paid. We were promised a bagged breakfast with sandwich, fruit, pastry and juice. Just make sure you check your bag. All we got was a sandwich and juice. But the hotel is beautiful!!

Truck got stuck multiple times. They didn’t let us stay long in the cave. Wish it would have been cancelled and refunded for the time and experience

Great experience. I was nervous to go but it was well worth it and not as hard as I thought. Garreth was an amazing guide!!

BEST STAY OF THEM ALL

Neat hotel for 2, but had a pull out oversize chair (cot) for third person. Would have preferred two double or two queen beds

Great for a couple, but not for 3. Third bed was a cot rolled into the room

Great room with huge windows. The loft gives extra space with privacy.

Wish we had more time at this one. Again, heated floors in Iceland just hit differently. The washer and dryer was heavenly

We planned on 2 nights here but due to weather, only got to stay for 1 night AND we didn't arrive until 1 am. The staff waited on us, directed us personally to our cabin, made sure we got in and verified we were ok before leaving

Due to weather, we almost has to skip this stop. With some alterations and flexibility, we made it to Sigló and it was more than worth the trip.

The beds here were amazing. The hosts at the desk were kind and helpful. This was our first Iceland breakfast. As a picky eater I was concerned but they had so many options for me to get a wonderful breakfast to start my journey on the ring road

We almost canceled this event and are so glad we went. This was absolutely amazing.

Great rejuvenation after a long flight.

Well we got to see the Northern Lights while we were there. The staff directly alerted us. Made it fun.

Very Uniy

Centrally located. Clean and all the employees were very friendly.

I can only say our guide through Sarah truly tried to find spots in the sky hoping to see a glimpse of the Northern Lights. I for Mother Nature had its own ideas.

If you like a spa retreat this is highly recommended. Extremely relaxing.

This was a great experience. Our guide through the tunnel made it special

This glacier walk was one of our favorites. Exhilarating

This was a favorite. Very Blue clear water

Great location, clean and spacious room with breakfast included. no hotel parking....limited paid parking within the vicinity.

This Hotel was in a small remote village...beautiful scenery, hiking. 3 restaurants and a general store rounded out the stay. Room was clean and spacious.

beautiful setting clean spacious room . lighting was very low within the room.

clean attentive with a good breakfast, but turned a king size room into a triple leaving little floor space. **front desk did offer an aurora phone call to the room upon consent**

Great guides, short trail ride but the scenery and the horses were beautiful.

Wonderful look inside a lava tunnel. Our guide was fun and informative, safety first!

A great Foodie experience...for the tourist.

Our driver/guide Siggy was amazing...making sure ever part of this tour was informative fun and safe.

A must for those seeking a little R&R

a hike into a snow covered canyon with minimal bath time and limited rustic facilities.

We stayed two nights at the Blue Hotel. Our room was nice, clean, and comfortable enough for two people. They offered breakfast, which they called continental-style, but it was definitely more than that. They had a great coffee machine that served everything from lattes to espressos to hot chocolate. They also had bacon, beans, and a scrambled egg station for hot food. The breakfast included the usual cereals, yogurt, meats and cheeses, along with a variety of breads and mini pancakes with different toppings. There were hot tubs outside, and many guests used them. The hotel provided each guest with a fluffy robe and slippers, which was a nice touch.

Our room was sufficient and offered enough space for two. It was clean and comfortable. I still can't get over not having a top sheet or washcloths. It must be a European thing, and I will remember to pack washcloths. The staff was excellent. When we needed a cab, we just went to the front desk; they pressed a button, and a cab driver arrived in the lobby to pick us up within minutes. Breakfast was included with our stay. There was a variety of cereals, yogurts, meats, and cheeses, wonderful bread including their rye bread, a tasty tuna salad, and I happened to like pickled herring, which was available every morning. They also had hard-boiled eggs and some fruit. It was definitely enough to start your day and get you through.

Close to everything- we could walk the whole city.

Great for seeing the northern lights, very comfortable cabin.

Very comfortable for the family and everything that we needed.

The guide was wonderful really engaging with the kids and tailored it to make it something special and unique for them.

Kids loved swimming around- it wasn’t too crowded and Th water was perfect.

We loved this hotel! It is beautiful. The decor is fabulous. I would definitely stay here again. The view of the waterfront from our room was amazing. We delighted in watching the boat traffic and seeing the mountains off in the distance. Thy do offer parking behind the hotel. The lounge was lovely. The staff was friendly and helpful. They do not include breakfast with the room but the cost did not seem unreasonable.

We mostly enjoyed this hotel but I have some mixed feelings about it. The rooms were dated and dark but comfortable. The surroundings were beautiful. The staff at the desk were competent and efficient. They were not rude. There were a couple of things that seemed more difficult and frustrating than they needed to be but nothing that wasn't manageable. For instance, the lock on our door was difficult to engage. It took us a minute to lock and unlock our door. It's not something I think about normally during hotel stays. Entering and exiting is normally effortless. This was a bit of a hassle and I still remember. Hotel parking was ample and convenient. The breakfast buffet was wonderful. It offered a wide variety of delicious food. One of the buffet staff from Romania talked with us comfortably. We liked her a lot. We did glimpse the Aurora Borealis here. There is a wonderful sauna and a huge hot tub which accommodates a lot of people. We met other tourists while taking a soak.

Great location in the Golden Circle near Selfoss. Our hotel room was lovely and comfortable. The staff was very friendly and offered to call us if the Auroa Borealis appeared. Not all hotels will offer this amenity.

Beautiful view of the harbor and the ferry that travels to the western fjords from our room. The clerk at the desk was the friendliest and most helpful clerk we encountered. The Hotel Fransiskus Stykkisholmi was one of our favorite hotels in Iceland. We loved the town, the restaurants, the waterfront, and the people. If I go back to Iceland I will definitely return to Stykkisholmi and the Hotel Fransiskus. Also, the breakfast buffet was so tastly. The hotel used to be a convent for Catholic Sisters. We were told the hotel preserved the original Chapel per the request of the town's residents as it held a special place in their hearts and in their history.

Great view. The room was very comfortable. The beds were comfortable.

the landscape around Vik is exceptional. The town itself is very small and depends on tourism.

My husband and daughter participated in the Glacier Ice Cave Experience and loved it. This was a highlight for them. They loved their Guide, the hike, the glacier, everything.

Geysir was another one of my favorite places to visit. I've been told it is like Yellowstone Natl Park. I loved seeing the steam escape from the ground and the holes filled with boiling water. The big geysir was fun to watch. I thought it was a really cool place.

Breathtaking. A must see. If you could only see 1 waterfall in Iceland I recommend Gullfoss.

Beautiful and stunning.

Stunning. So interesting. We also saw a herd of reindeer on our way there. They like to graze in the SE part of the country in winter. I wasn't expecting to see them so it was a treat. Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon were amongst our favorite places.

Absolutely stunning. I recommend paying the fee to see the historical exhibit located in the visitors' center. Having that background knowledge made the experience more meaningful and memorable.

Clean, new and sparkly. A little boring in the winter. I would pass.

Interesting and quick activity demonstrating geothermal power.

We saw these waterfalls from the car due to time restraints. They were mostly frozen but still very beautiful

Cute little city. I would go back. There is a ferry to the western fjords. We didn't see whales because it was winter.

We loved the Cliff Walk in Arnarstapi. The landscape and ocean views were so beautiful. We planned to hike the entire trail to Hellnar but it was snowing pretty hard. We decided not to. Crampons are recommended in the winter.

Clean, friendly, easily walkable city. Just a really sweet place. I would go back again even in the winter. The snow made the city look very quaint.

We went to 3 lagoons and the Sky Lagoon was our favorite. The showers and changing rooms were clean and included a swimsuit dryer and plastic bags to transport your damp suit to the car. It was soooo beautiful and magical. To enter the lagoon one walks down a ramp to enter the warm water and then swim between what looks like small fjords to enter the main pool. There were plenty of rock benches to sit on to lounge. The waterfall cascading into the pool added a special element. One long side of the lagoon overlooks the ocean. We had dramatic views of the clouds rolling in. We stayed here about 3 hours. It snowed giant, fluffy snowflakes, then it sleeted before snowing some more!!! It did not seem crowded. We ate a delicious lunch in their cafe.