If you’ve been thinking of visiting Iceland, now may be the time.
Starwood acquired one of the most mind-boggling properties and Icelandair is offering an incredible deal that you will definitely want to consider, even if you weren’t currently planning to stop in Iceland on your way to/from Europe.
When you package the hotel with the flight deal, you have yourself a perfect Icelandic adventure!
The Hotel
A few months back, Starwood unveiled its new brand of Design Hotels, one of which being the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel in Nesjavellir, Iceland, about one hour’s drive from Reykjavik. The hotel is built with you in mind. Most tourists traveling to Iceland want to experience the incredible landscapes, unique cuisine, and of course, the Northern Lights. Luckily, the ION Hotel is positioned and designed perfectly to have a front row view to the Northern Lights show with it’s massive front windows.
Looking for good eats? The ION has you covered. Larry Olmstead of Forbes recently stayed at the ION for a few days and specifically pointed out the ION’s Silfra restaurant:
“A highlight of the property is the upscale three meal a day Silfra restaurant, showcasing local ingredients, especially Iceland’s famed lamb and seafood, particularly arctic char, along with excellent soups and homemade breads. Light food is also served in the bar.”
This hotel features 42 guest rooms, split evenly between Standard and Deluxe layouts.
The ION is not cheap, however. You’ll be looking upwards of ~$400 per night during high season (June-September) and ~$300 per night in low season. If you have Starpoints lying around you can expect to pay 20,000 Starpoints per night as the ION is a Category 6 property. The ION’s prime location coupled with the growing attraction to Iceland as a destination makes this hotel pretty exclusive, thus available dates are sporadic, so be sure to book well in advance!
Getting To Iceland
Unfortunately, Iceland is fairly difficult to get to using points and miles, but fear not! Icelandair has a pretty amazing stopover offer. They allow you to stop over in Reykjavik on your way to Europe for up to 7 nights both outbound and inbound for free.
I priced out a trip in June from JFK to LHR with a free stopover both ways in Reykjavik, Iceland.
If you want to skip the final leg to Europe and just visit Iceland, your money may be better spent on another carrier like WOW Air or Delta, which often publish fares in the ~$500-600 roundtrip range.
Iceland is an incredible destination. The shear beauty and natural wonders leave me flabbergasted at how this country hasn’t been a tourist hotspot for decades.
Have you ever visited Iceland? What did you think?
