A Luxury Travel Review
We found this gem of a hotel while planning our 11 day Icelandic Ring Road Itinerary. Being explorers at heart, we were planning to deviate off the traditional route after leaving Mytvan, stopping at the Beer Spa north of Akureyi and continuing around the coastal region of Siglufjordur. This area is incredibly beautiful and with many photo opportunities. So since my husband is a professional landscape photographer, I knew he’d love the Siglufjordur. We are also hybrid travel lovers. Which simply means that although we revel in the idea of a good rugged day of outdoor activity, we also enjoy a bit of occasional upscale luxury at a nice hotel a the end of it. On this trip, we mixed our accommodations by staying at Horse Farms, small bed and breakfasts, as well as some really nice hotels. And Hotel Siglo was one of the best we had experienced.
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The hotel is beautifully designed and well-located – central to the waterfront and walking distance to restaurants and shops in this quaint fishing village. Its luxury appeal is understated. The exterior is obviously contemporary in design but not ostentatious in any way, fitting nicely into its surroundings. The main sitting area is very comfortable with a fireplace and velvet, tufted chairs and offers a nice water view. The bar area is quite beautiful with a eclectic mix of modern lighting and more traditional patterns in the furniture décor. And the outdoor hot tub, although situated in public view along the entrance to the hotel, faces the harbor and is a quiet place to enjoy a soak and a glass of wine.
The Rooms
We had spent the previous six days battling or dodging the intermittent wind and rain that the country is known for. We had stayed at some wonderful farm-stays, cottages and bed and breakfasts. We had been on the go, getting up early and staying up late to see as many sites as we could in order to maximize our visit. So when we got to Siglufjordur, we were ready for a few nights of indulgence and relaxation. This hotel did not disappoint. We booked a deluxe double room and it was the largest we had stayed in yet in Iceland! And finally, we had a King size bed – not an easy find in this country. The room had nice windows which opened onto the harbor and we had plenty of space to re-sort and re-organize all of our camera equipment and clothing. The walls were tastefully decorated with old photos from the local museum and I liked that they provided a kettle and a small Keurig type espresso machine in the room. The WiFi was strong and provided at no extra charge.
I look for quality in four areas when I go into a hotel room with expectation of luxury: the pillows, the bath robes, the bath towels and the shower water pressure. To pass my personal ‘luxury criteria’, the pillows must be large and plump, the robes soft and comfortable, the bath towels large (preferably bath sheet size) and non-abrasive and the shower must have strong water pressure. I am happy to say that Hotel Siglo met them all. The bed was extremely comfortable and with very plush linens. We had a hard time getting out of it the two mornings that we were there. The walk-in shower had a nice rain shower head and great water pressure. The water got hot very quickly. I enjoyed the hair and skin products they offered as well.
The Restaurant
Hotel Siglo offers three restaurants, one in-house and two off property but walking distance from the main building. We only ate Restaurant Sunna one night as we wanted to try others in the village. The meal we had was delicious - well presented and perfectly prepared. They offered a nice price fixe two or three course offering, of which I selected a lobster bisque, and the local fish of the day. Both were fantastic.The breakfast buffet, which is included with your stay, was plentiful and offering both hot and cold items, fresh pastries, coffee, juice and tea.
The Staff
We stayed at Hotel Siglo two nights in low season. On one night, I think we were the only guests there. But the staff interacted with us just as professionally and promptly, as if they were fully booked. Everyone was very cheerful and quick to help us in any way.
The Takeaway
We paid ~$315 USD per night for a Deluxe Double room, which was simply a larger square foot/meter version of their Classic Rooms, which otherwise look about the same. Their Junior Suites and Suites look gorgeous for those looking for an even more luxurious experience or need even more space. But I felt that the price we paid for the quality of the room we selected, the excellent service and the included amenities was on par with what I would have paid for in the USA for the equal experience.
Hotel Siglo is lovely. And I highly recommend it as you pass through or explore this area. It will provide wonderful relaxation and comfort, regardless of your length of stay.
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See more recommendations from this area here: Iceland’s Ring Road – an 11 day itinerary for Photographers and Explorers.
Discover more Epic Journey itineraries here
Find out What to Pack for Iceland here
And How Expensive Iceland really is? here