Short stay: Hotel Keflavik, Keflavik, Iceland /

We arrived at Hotel Keflavik prior to our return flight to the UK for which we had a very early start. (The hotel is only a 6-minute drive from the airport.) The building actually houses two hotels, both under the same management – the four-star Keflavik Hotel and, on the top floor, Diamond Suites Luxury Boutique Hotel. Many of the facilities are common to both hotels. We can give you details about both hotels as our sons stayed in a room in Hotel Keflavik, while we stayed in the Diamond Suites.

The welcome

Two large stone lions stand guard on either side of Hotel Keflavik’s main entrance. Parking close to the hotel entrance was free, with plenty of spaces available when we arrived.

Inside there was an airy foyer and an unexpectedly glitzy reception desk where we were effortlessly checked in before going to our respective rooms.

The room

The comfortable room consisted of 2 twin beds, a chair for relaxing and a desk.

An amalgam of muted tones was punctuated by a series of pretty lampshades that offered a pop of colour.

Icelandic artwork adorned the walls and the room also had a TV, telephone, safe and Nespresso machine.

The room overlooked a couple of guest houses and a fishing pier and a sheltered bay in the North Atlantic. The name Keflavik translates to ‘Driftwood Bay’.

We found it to be a quiet neighborhood so you should be assured of a good night’s sleep.

The bathroom

The bathroom of the room was compact, but with everything needed for a short stay: toilet, sink, shower and bath, hair dryer, bath mat, washcloths and hand towels.

A toiletry kit was provided complete with shower cap, bath salts, sewing kit, shoe mitt and shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shower gel and Diamond Suites brand soap.

The facilities

Dinner at KEF Restaurant, with an emphasis on fresh Icelandic ingredients, is a special part of any stay at Hotel Keflavik.

The lobster soup, flavored with chili, coriander, ginger, lemongrass and star anise, is a treat for the taste buds.

The standout main course for me was the monkfish with chorizo, olives, tomatoes, nut pesto, pearl onion, potatoes and yuzu hollandaise.

Meat eaters will love the grilled leg of lamb – served pink – with yellow beet puree, grilled yellow beetroot, rainbow carrots, herb crust, fondant potato, herbs and date demi-glace.

Sweet treats included this chocolate caramel brownie served with vanilla ice cream and forest fruits.

If you’re concerned about the pounds you’ve gained with the restaurant, the hotel also has a 7,000-square-foot restaurant. ft. fitness center complete with treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, bench presses and an assortment of free weights, resistance bands, flexion machines and weight machines.

Rent

Located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, just a 2-minute walk from the North Atlantic Ocean, one of the big draws of Hotel Keflavik is its location. The proximity of the hotel to Keflavik International Airport is a major plus. Whether you arrive in Iceland quite late at night or depart on an early morning flight, you’ll enjoy the convenience of being just a 6-minute drive from the airport.

cost

Standard double rooms start from around 25,000 ISK, including breakfast.

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The best bit

The best thing about the hotel is its location and in particular its proximity to the airport. It is only a short taxi ride away and close to a gas station should you need to return a rental car with a full tank. It is also a 20-minute drive from the Blue Lagoon and a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik.

The final verdict

Hotel Keflavik is a clean, funky and well located 4 star hotel with a good restaurant. For us it was the perfect place to base ourselves for our last night in Iceland, as we had to get up early the next morning to return our rental car and arrive at the airport in plenty of time for our flight, and meant that we didn’t have to get up as early as we would have if we were still based in Reykjavik. For an even more luxurious stay, consider Hotel Keflavik’s sister property, the Diamond Suites, which is located on the top floor of the same hotel.

Planning a trip to Iceland yourself? Watch a video of our trip to Iceland here:

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hotel Keflavik. Our trip to Iceland was also sponsored by Helly Hansen.