"We took advantage of IcelandAir’s free stopover program to stay for 4 nights in Reykjavik on our way to Europe. We chose the Exeter Hotel based on strong TripAdvisor reviews and decent prices, considering the generally high prices for hotels and everything else in Iceland. We were so glad we made that choice.
After our redeye flight arrived early in Reykjavík local time, we took the FlyBus from the airport KEF into town. Paying a bit extra for the local drop off (rather than getting off at the Reykjavík bus station and finding your own way to your hotel) proved to be a solid choice. Bus stop #4 is only a block away from the Exeter so it is very convenient for bus drop off and pick up, whether for the airport or for the day tours we took out of Reykjavík. (We found that all of the tours stopped at stop #4.)
At 8 am, it was too early for regular check in, but the front desk offered to allow us to check into an unoccupied room in the category I booked for a one/time $80 charge. We thought that was reasonable for the chance to unpack, freshen up, etc since sleep was hard to come by on our redeye flight. We had booked a Queen junior suite because the non-suite rooms generally seemed to be smaller than the American standard. The description did not promise a harbor view but the room we got was on the fourth floor and had a lovely harbor view that we really enjoyed throughout our 4 night stay. (See photos) The room itself was comfortable and functional — except it could have used some shelves or drawers so we didn’t have to live entirely out of our suitcases. There was a Nespresso-style coffee maker, a mini-fridge pre-stocked with drinks (for a fee), a safe, and adequate electrical outlets by each nightstand. The heating system allowed for some adjustments for more or less heat, but it is a manual adjustment rather than a thermostatically-controlled system. And there is no cooling component—other than opening the large, floor-to-ceiling door to let in cold Icelandic air. (The room did not have a balcony, but did have two narrow glass doors that open onto a railing.) Another notable thing is that the bathroom was stocked with two kinds of shampoos and conditioners, bath gel, liquid soap, and hand lotion in both the shower area and by the sink. There were also lots of individually-boxed amenities such as Q-tips, shower caps, toothbrushes, etc.
The harbor area of Reykjavík is very close to the downtown area so there are lots of restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions within a 5-15 minute walk. For example, the Harpo Concert Hall (a beautiful, must-see structure) is only 10 minutes away, and whale and puffin tours are basically across the street from the hotel.
Two other amenities worth mentioning. The zero floor of the hotel features two terrific businesses: a bakery called Deig and a small restaurant called Le Kock. The bakery makes very good bagel sandwiches (including for breakfast), pastries, and breads. The restaurant is open to hotel guests for a good buffet breakfast, and for lunch and dinner featuring mostly sandwiches/burgers. Breakfast was not included in our room rate but we did enjoy the nice breakfast buffet at Le Kock on morning. And, for one lunch at Le Kock, we tried both the Big Red Machine (Korean-style fried chicken sandwich with pickled cabbage) and the Priscilla (a vegan sandwich with shiitake mushroom patty and tofu bacon). Both were outstanding, especially with delicious locally-grown fried small potatoes. Both the bakery and the restaurant seemed to be popular with locals, not just tourists. What a convenience to have them available for hotel guests right downstairs.
The hotel staff was friendly and helpful. We couldn’t have asked for better accommodations for our first visit to Iceland."
