Hotel Glymur

In 2010, the Hotel Glymur opened with a choice of Executive Rooms, Suites and six Villas, within its rural grounds. The hotel is a mix of traditional and modern, and stands out among the surrounding scenery with the vibrant red color of the main hotel buildings. The lobby areas are muted, with natural colored tile floor and a mixture of wicker seats and wooden furniture, with potted plants, a range of artwork, and various accessories, which make it look a little busy. The main building houses the restaurant, bar, reception and rooms, while the villas are situated separately, between the hotel and Whale Fjord. This has the potential to be cumbersome when weather isn't great. Guests are largely vacationing couples -- the hotel also offers honeymoon packages -- but the size of the rooms and the privacy of the villas mean that families are also frequent visitors. 

Hotel Glymur has a remote countryside location close to Whale Fjord, a 60-minute drive from downtown Reykjavik. The setting is best for visitors with rental cars -- the hotel does have many tours on offer, where guests can be picked up and dropped off -- but sights and entertainment are not within a walking distance. Thingvellir, which is one of three stops of the popular Golden Circle -- is a 60-minute drive from the property. Keflavik International Airport is just over 80 minutes away by car. This journey will lead travelers through Reykjavik (60 minutes), though Arkanes is the closest town, about a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

The hotel has rooms, suites, and villas that are spacious and mostly decorated in neutral tones with color-coordinated accent walls, artwork, furniture, and accessories. Some are more modern, while others combine vintage, dated, and modern elements in ways that are generally attractive, though sometimes a little too homey (take a look at the suite that we visited, for example). The smaller rooms and suites are within the main hotel building, while the largest units are the separate villas. Some rooms have two floors. All rooms have seating areas and private bathrooms, while some of the larger units offer private terraces and hot tubs. Villas are completely self contained and have fully equipped kitchens. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric kettles come standard, and some rooms have extras like stereos. 

Bathrooms are mostly modern, with fully tiled floors and walls, however some of the more dated bathrooms won't be to everyone's tastes. Separate shower cubicles have large rainfall shower heads and larger units have corner whirlpool tubs. Counter space is limited in some, but wall-mounted shelving is available in most. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided, as well as robes in the larger units and villas. 

On-site dining is a highlight at this property, and the restaurant at Glymur is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It offers a variety of traditional Icelandic options. Breakfast is included in the rates and includes a variety of fish, fresh fruits and local breads. The restaurant is pricey -- not uncommon for Iceland -- but the hotel does offer to serve breakfast in bedrooms and staff are happy to prepare packed lunches for visitors embarking on tours (for a fee). The views of the fjord are spectacular. The bar is a cozy spot to relax with a drink and enjoy the surrounding scenery, and there are hot tubs outside with great vantages for taking in the Northern Lights (in season). The hotel offers a range of sightseeing tours for a fee. There's a computer terminal in the lobby and the hotel has excellent facilities for conferences, events, and weddings. Wi-Fi is free and ample free on-site parking is available without a reservation.