Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [266]
Approximately 140 farmhouses are members of Ferðaþjónusta Bænda (Icelandic Farm Holidays; Map; 570 2700; www.farmholidays.is; Síðumúli 2, IS-108 Reykjavík), which publishes an annual members’ guide. Twenty-five are wheelchair accessible – see the website for details.
Guest Houses
The Icelandic term gistiheimilið (guest house) covers a wide variety of properties from family homes renting out a few rooms to custom-built minihotels. These places can vary enormously in character from stylish, contemporary options to those overwhelmed by net curtains and chintzy decor. Most include a buffet-style breakfast in the price (expect to pay about Ikr1000 if not), and some also offer sleeping-bag accommodation and have guest kitchens.
As a general guide, sleeping-bag accommodation costs Ikr2500 to Ikr4000 (not including breakfast), double rooms from Ikr10,000 to Ikr14,000 and self-contained units from Ikr11,000 per night.
Some Icelandic guest houses open only from June to August; others take in students in the winter months – especially in Reykjavík.
Hostels
Iceland has 33 excellent youth hostels, administered by the Bandalag Íslenskra Farfugla (Icelandic Youth Hostel Association; Map; 553 8110; www.hostel.is; Sundlaugavegur 34, IS-105 Reykjavík). All hostels offer hot showers, cooking facilities, luggage storage and sleeping-bag accommodation, and most offer private rooms. If you don’t have a sleeping bag, you can hire sheets and blankets for Ikr800 per stay. Many hostels close for the winter, so check reviews in this book or online for information on opening times.
Members of Hostelling International (HI; www.hihostels.com) pay Ikr1900 to Ikr2200 for a dorm bed; nonmembers pay roughly Ikr500 extra per night. Single/double rooms cost roughly Ikr3800/6000. Children aged five to 12 years pay half price. To become a member you should apply in your home country before travelling.
Hotels
Every major city and town has at least one business-style hotel, usually featuring comfortable but innocuous rooms with private bathroom, phone, TV and sometimes minibar. The hotels also have decent restaurants serving international/Icelandic food. Summer prices for singles/doubles start at around Ikr13,000/18,000 and include a buffet breakfast. Prices drop substantially outside peak season (June to mid-September), and many hotels offer cheaper rates if you make your booking on the internet. Two of the largest local chains are Fosshótels ( 562 4000; www.fosshotel.is), and Icelandair Hotels ( 444 4000; www.icehotels.is), which also runs the Edda chain (see below).
SUMMER HOTELS
Once the school holidays begin, many schools, colleges and conference centres become summer hotels offering simple accommodation. Summer hotels open from early June to late August and are run by local town or village councils or by Edda Hótels ( 444 4000; www.hoteledda.is). All 13 Edda hotels have their own restaurant, and many have geothermal swimming pools. The four Edda PLUS hotels are three-star places where all rooms have private bathroom, TV and phone. Expect to pay Ikr2500 to Ikr3200 for sleeping-bag accommodation, Ikr8000/10,000 for a single/double with washbasin and Ikr14,600/18,300 for a single/double at an Edda PLUS.
Mountain Huts
Private walking clubs and touring organisations maintain sæluhús (mountain huts) on many of the popular hiking tracks around the country. The huts are open to anyone and offer sleeping-bag space in basic dormitories. Some also have cooking facilities, campsites and a warden. The huts at Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk are accessible by 4WD, and you can get to the huts in Hornstrandir by boat, but most are only accessible on foot. Even so, it’s a really good idea to book with the relevant organisation as places fill up quickly.
The main organisation providing mountain huts is Ferðafélag Íslands (Icelandic Touring Association; Map; 568 2533; www.fi.is; Mörkin 6, IS-108