I’m traveling in Iceland right now, and I despite doing lots of touristy things (while trying to be a respectful tourist), I’ve had nothing but amazing experiences with every Icelander. This ranges from tours to cafes to shopkeepers, among many others.
One of the best all-around experiences I had was at the Blue Lagoon hotel springs outside Reykjavik. My good impressions started at the entrance, a winding walkway lined by piles of volcano rock. It created a literal passage between the rest of the world and this relaxing escape.
At check in, we’re were each given a multi-use wristband. It gave us access to the faculty, it unlocked and linked to any available locker (as well as a panel that would remind you of your locker number if you forgot), and a quick scan informed the bartender of any drinks for which you prepaid (it also created a frictionless checkout if you wanted to add anything extra).
The hot spring area itself was essentially a massive wading pool through otherworldly milky blue warm water. I’m someone who greatly prefers land to water, but this felt really nice just to walk around in. There were a few interconnected pools, saunas, and other areas, as well as mud mask stations (another part of some prepaid packages; a quick wristband scan was all it took). The sheer volume of compatriots whose faces were also covered in green paste made the made for a delightfully silly shared experience.
At the end, there were swimsuit drying machines in the locker area and of course a gift shop to walk through on the way out (in case we wanted to buy more fancy mud). It was well positioned but not pushy.
I’ve heard there are many variations of this type of geothermal spring experience in Iceland, and I went to something similar (but much smaller) at a ryokan in Shibu Onsen in Japan a few years ago. I’m curious if you’ve tried anything designed to relax and rejuvenate while traveling—what stood out the most?
Anmelden
