Rey Apartments: Reykjavik's BEST Kept Secret (Stunning Views!)
Rey Apartments: Reykjavik's BEST Kept Secret (Stunning Views!)
Rey Apartments: Reykjavik’s BEST Kept Secret (Stunning Views!) – My Reykjavik Rhapsody (and Rants!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Rey Apartments, and my brain is still buzzing like a caffeinated Viking. Forget the usual travel brochure clichés – I'm here to give you the REAL lowdown, and trust me, it's not always pretty. But it's definitely memorable.
First things first: The Views. The Views. The VIEWS! They aren't kidding. Honestly, from my apartment window, I felt like I could reach out and hug the Northern Lights (which, let's be honest, is probably illegal). The city sprawled beneath me, a twinkling jewel box against a canvas of infinite blues and purples. Just… breathtaking. Seriously, book the highest floor you can afford. You won't regret it. The "Stunning Views!" claim? Absolutely, positively, undeniably true.
Accessibility &… Well, Let's Untangle This Mess:
Right. Accessibility. This is where things get a little… Icelandic. Rey Apartments do advertise “Facilities for disabled guests.” I didn’t need these services, but I did take a peek. They have an elevator, which is a massive plus. Reykjavik isn't exactly known for its easy-peasy terrain. However, I couldn't find specific details on room accessibility (like wider doorways or accessible bathrooms) on their booking site. This needs serious clarification. It's a major oversight. (Accessibility Rating: C - Room specific details needed!)
The "Getting Around" Giggles & Gruffs:
- Airport Transfer: Yup. They offer it, and honestly? Use it. Reykjavik is a charming city, but getting to it without a pre-booked transfer after a transatlantic flight? Let's just say my luggage and I had a spirited discussion about the definition of "off the beaten path."
- Car Park [Free of Charge]: Bless them! Free parking in Reykjavik? Sounds like a unicorn sighting! Very handy if you're going all Icelandic adventurer with a rental.
- Car Park [On-site]: They do have one. Convenience, but there’s a catch: the parking spots can be a bit… snug, but hey it's Reykjavik!
- Taxi Service: Available, of course. But be warned, Icelandic taxis aren't cheap.
- Bicycle Parking: Yep, they got it. This city is pretty bike-friendly.
- Car power charging station: A nice touch for the environmentally conscious traveller.
- Valet parking: Well isn't that fancy!
Cleanliness & Safety – My Obsessive-Compulsive Side Approves (Mostly):
Okay, as a self-confessed germaphobe (yes, I’m that person), I was thrilled with their commitment to hygiene. The whole "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Daily disinfection in common areas," and "Rooms sanitized between stays" deal? They were serious about it. And the hand sanitizer? Everywhere! I almost felt too safe. (Cleanliness & Safety Rating: A+)
- Staff trained in safety protocol: I felt reassured to see it.
- Hand sanitizer: Abundant.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Excellent, of course.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Very thorough.
- First aid kit: Always a good thing.
- Safe dining setup: It felt safe to eat there.
- Individually-wrapped food option: Smart move.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They seem to be enforcing it.
- Rooms sanitization opt-out available: A nice gesture.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: I appreciate that.
- Hygiene certification: That's a good start.
- Cashless payment service: Smart move.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Excellent, of course.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Always good to have access to.
- Essential condiments: I'm glad they're there.
- Shared stationery removed: A smart move.
- Sterilizing equipment: I can't knock that.
- CCTV in common areas: Good and secure.
- Check-in/out [private]: Very convenient.
- Check-in/out [express]: Speedy and efficient.
- Exterior corridor: No problem,
Dining, Drinking & Snacking – Surviving the Icelandic Food Scene (With a Few Tears):
Okay, let's be real. Icelandic food is… an acquired taste. But Rey Apartments actually did a decent job of catering.
- Breakfast Service: The buffet was alright – the usual continental suspects plus some Icelandic specialties (fishy things, mostly). Don't expect haute cuisine, but it's fuel for exploring.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: I liked my breakfast.
- Room service [24-hour]: A life-saver, especially after a long, cold day. The menu wasn't exactly gourmet, but hey, it was warm and delivered to my door.
- Coffee shop: Always love a bit of coffee.
- Poolside bar: Oh yes!
- Restaurants: There are a few, even Asian cuisine.
- A la carte in restaurant: Options, yay!
- Alternative meal arrangement: I always appreciate it.
- Western breakfast: More options.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: More options, yay!
- Bottle of water: Very pleased to have it.
- Desserts in restaurant: The desserts were amazing.
- Happy hour: Nice touch.
- Soup in restaurant: Warm and filling for a cold day.
- Salad in restaurant: I need this.
- Poolside bar: Convenient.
- Snack bar: Good to have.
- Asian breakfast: Some variety.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Variety is the spice of life.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Always a good option.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Always nice to have.
The "Things to Do" & "Ways to Relax" – Okay, Let’s Get Serious Here:
Here’s where Rey Apartments earns some serious bonus points.
Fitness Center & Gym/Fitness: Not the biggest I’ve seen, but clean and well-equipped. (Yes, I worked off those Icelandic pastries. Don't judge.)
Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: Bliss. Pure, unadulterated bliss. After a day of exploring, sinking into the sauna felt like my muscles were singing. The steam room was great too. Just do it. Believe me.
Pool with view: I went for a dip in this pool and all my stress washed away.
Massage: After the sauna, I treated myself to a massage. The masseuse was a goddess. I left feeling like a rag doll in the best possible way.
Things to do: I also really enjoyed many things to do around the area, like the whale watching or the Blue Lagoon.
Foot bath: I really enjoyed this.
Body scrub: Excellent, of course.
Body wrap: That sounds amazing.
Swimming pool [outdoor]: That sounds cool.
Pool with view: That's great.
Rooms - Where the Magic (and the Minor Annoyances) Happen
My room was… cozy. Let's call it "efficiently designed." Everything was there, but space was at a premium. The Stunning Views more than made up for it.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Praise be! It worked like a charm, especially important for uploading all those Instagram shots of the Northern Lights.
- Air conditioning: Thank goodness.
- Additional toilet: Always handy.
- Alarm clock: Fine.
- Bathrobes: Fancy.
- Bathroom phone: Um… why?
- Bathtub: Excellent.
- Blackout curtains: Essential for those midnight sun situations.
- Closet: A bit small.
- Coffee/tea maker: Crucial for a caffeine addict like myself.
- Complimentary tea: Sweet.
- Daily housekeeping: Kept the place spotless.
- Desk: Good for writing postcards (or, you know, working… blegh).
- Extra long bed: Always appreciated.
- Free bottled water: Nice touch.
- Hair dryer: Essential.
- High floor: Score!
- In-room safe box: Secure.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Good.
- Internet access – LAN: Old but okay.
- Internet access – wireless: Crucial.
- Ironing facilities: Needed them.
- **
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned travel itinerary. This is ROUGH and REAL, Reykjavik edition, from the heart (and the slightly rumbling stomach) of yours truly, currently residing at Rey Apartments and trying not to spend all my krona on Skyr.
Reykjavik Rhapsody: A (Probably Flawed) Adventure
Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread (aka "Why Did I Book This Apartment?")
- Morning (08:00): Landed at Keflavík Airport. The wind nearly took me straight into a glacier. Dramatic. Already regretting the lack of a proper hat. Finding the FlyBus was… a saga. Turns out, I'm directionally challenged even with GPS.
- Morning (10:00): Arrived at Rey Apartments. Or rather, attempted to arrive. The key situation was a comedy of errors. Hidden in a box, behind a barely-there bush. Felt like a spy. My inner James Bond is, however, very much a budget Bond.
- Midday (12:00): Apartment acquired! It's…fine. Clean, basic, and, crucially, has a functioning coffee maker. Which is an immediate win after that travel day. Slight existential dread settling in: "Am I really supposed to be here? Do I even like Iceland? I forgot my favorite socks…"
- Afternoon (14:00): Exploration! First stop: Hallgrímskirkja church. It's HUGE. And you know what? It looks a bit like a rocket ship. Or maybe I'm just tired and need to eat. The view from the top, though? Glorious. Made a vow there to be less judgmental of the "tourist hustle" and more appreciative of the beauty in front of me. Then I promptly judged that couple taking selfies for 15 minutes straight. Hypocrisy at its finest.
- Afternoon (16:00): Wandered down Laugavegur street. So. Many. Wool sweaters. Every shop smells like sheep. I loved it. And hated it. I bought a slightly silly, but undeniably cozy, hat. Victory!
- Evening (18:00): Dinner at a recommended restaurant, Messinn (the Pan-Fried Fish restaurant). HOLY MOLY the fish was delicious. Seriously, best fish I've ever had. Also, I spilled red wine on my trousers. Classy.
- Evening (20:00): Attempted to see the Northern Lights. Was a total fail. Saw a slightly green smudge in the sky that might have been them. Or maybe it was just the afterglow of the wine. Head back to the apartment.
Day 2: Viking Saga and Seafood Overload
- Morning (09:00): Woke up feeling slightly less jet-lagged. Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!
- Morning (10:00): Visited the National Museum of Iceland. Learned about Vikings. Realized I know very little about history. Also, they really liked making things out of bone. Interesting.
- Midday (12:00 - 14:00): The Blue Lagoon. Okay, so I know this is cliché. And expensive. But it was AMAZING. The water is unreal, the silica mud mask is a revelation, and I felt my whole body unwind. Spent way too long in there. Like, pruney finger time. Worth it. Totally. Absolutely worth it. Don't skip the Blue Lagoon…it's magic!
- Afternoon (15:00): Realized that I haven't eaten since 9 AM. Hangry mood incoming.
- Afternoon (16:00): Walked down to the Harpa Concert Hall. It is gorgeous; the architecture is striking. Thought I saw an Orca on the exterior design. The photos did not do it justice.
- Evening (18:00): The Search for Soup. Wandered aimlessly, starving, until I found a little place with a soup that was heaven in a bowl. So good.
- Evening (20:00): Trying to plan for tomorrow, which is proving difficult because I am very full and tired.
Day 3: Golden Circle and Geothermal Goodness (Maybe a Volcano?)
- Morning (08:00): Breakfast at the apartment (Skyr with berries and a side of feeling slightly intimidated by everyone else's Instagram-perfect breakfasts.)
- Morning / Midday (09:00 - 13:00): A Golden Circle tour. Geysir was amazing. The Strokkur erupting is a must-see. The Gullfoss waterfall… massive! And powerful. I got soaked. Worth it. I went to Thingvellir National Park. The geological formations were impressive and the history was interesting. The landscape is breathtaking.
- Afternoon (14:00): Tried to find some real "Icelandic" food. Heard about "fermented shark". Nope. Not for me, not today, not ever. Tried Hangikjöt (smoked lamb). Okay, this is actually good.
- Afternoon (16:00): Returned to Reykjavik. Got some ice cream. Needed some sugar.
- Evening (18:00): This is where things get messy. Planned on going to a local restaurant but the mood just wasn't there. Ended up ordering pizza to the apartment. Comfort food is key.
- Evening (20:00): Contemplating whether to book another Northern Lights tour (probably not after the first letdown) but there's something about the idea of another try. Then again, the bed is calling…
Day 4: The Peninsula, The Plan and Packing (aka "Please, No More Sheep.")
- Morning (09:00): Awoke. Found that my luggage was half-packed.
- Morning / Midday (10:00 - 13:00): Planned to visit the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The views were spectacular and the drive was gorgeous. The light in Iceland has a way of making even the most ordinary things seem extra special.
- Afternoon (13:00 - 16:00): Tried to get a taste of the "authenticity" of Iceland.
- Evening (18:00): Tried to get some final souvenirs, realized I spent all my krona, paniced.
- Evening (20:00): Finalize packing, and start the process of trying to remember everything I've forgotten.
Day 5: Departure (aka "Until We Meet Again, Iceland")
- Morning (06:00): Wake up and depart for the airport.
- Morning (10:00): Fly back, and start to already miss the Iceland.
Important Considerations (and Ramblings):
- Food: Eat EVERYTHING. Try weird things. Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations. And, for the love of all that is holy, stock up on Skyr.
- Weather: Be prepared for anything. Pack layers. Embrace the wind. Accept that you will probably get wet.
- People: Icelanders are lovely. Embrace the helpfulness but don't expect them to tell you what to do, get out there and find it yourself.
- My Feelings: Exhausted, exhilarated, and filled with an overwhelming urge to return. This trip was a beautiful mess. Bring more socks.
- The Apartment: My apartment has been a sanctuary. The kitchen is functional. The view is of a brick wall but I'm inside so therefore the view is of the inside.
- In conclusion: Iceland, you beautiful, expensive, windy, fish-smelling, magical place. I'll be back. And next time, I'm bringing a REALLY good rain jacket. And maybe some extra socks. And more money. Lots more money…
Rey Apartments: Reykjavik's BEST Kept Secret (Stunning Views!) – Let's Get Real, Shall We?
Okay, spill it. Are those views REALLY as good as they look in the photos? (Because, let's face it, Instagram lies.)
Alright, buckle up, because I'm about to get completely honest. The views from Rey Apartments… they're a *thing*. Yeah, the photos are beautiful, but they somehow *understate* the reality. I vividly remember walking into my apartment (I snagged the one on the top floor – more on that later – total mistake, also, total win.) and just… stopping. Like, mid-stride, mouth agape. The expanse of the city, the ocean stretching for days, with the snow-capped mountains looming in the distance – it's Iceland in your face, right there in your living room. One morning, I swear I saw the Northern Lights dancing over the city from my balcony. My jaw hit the floor. Granted, I was also hungover from the previous night, so my memory might be a *little* fuzzy, but still... it was mind-blowing.
What's this "best kept secret" business? Is it actually secret? Or just… good marketing?
Honestly? Probably a bit of both. Rey Apartments are lovely, but they are on the internet, afterall. They are not *completely* secret. But… they're definitely not the usual tourist trap. You're not crammed in with a zillion other people. The atmosphere is more… chill. I stumbled upon them by chance (a friend of a friend recommended them) and, honestly, felt like I'd won the Icelandic Airbnb lottery. It felt like discovering a hidden gem, which is half the fun, right? That feeling of "I know something you don't!" Anyway its great you should book it if you can. But seriously get in there. Or i will.
Let's talk about the apartments themselves. Are they comfy? Modern? Do they smell of damp wool?
Comfy? Yes. Modern? Mostly. Damp wool? Thankfully, no. The interiors are stylish - clean lines, Scandi-chic, all that jazz. (Although I’m not sure what “Scandi-chic” actually means… it's probably just expensive wood and minimalist furniture.) Look I am honestly no design expert. But I do know what I like. The best part is that the rooms are all so unique. Some have balconies, some have floor-to-ceiling windows – each apartment seems to have its own personality. My only, *minor* complaint (and I'm being nitpicky here) is that the living rooms are like, a tad bit smaller than they appear in the pictures. But hey, you're not spending your time inside. The views are the showstopper, regardless. As for the damp wool… nope. Thank god, everything smelled fresh. Except for my laundry by the time I left.
Location, location, location! How easy is it to get around? Is it walkable?
The location is *excellent*. Seriously. You're right in the heart of Reykjavik, walking distance to everything. The main street, Laugavegur, is a short stroll away. Restaurants, bars, shops, museums – it’s all on your doorstep. The Harpa Concert Hall is also close, and you can practically hear the music at night (depending on the wind and how many pints you've had). I walked everywhere. No need for taxis unless you're lazy (guilty!). It's perfect for exploring the city. And, if you're planning day trips to explore the Golden Circle, you're well-placed to get on your own adventure.
Tell me about any downsides. Be brutally honest. Because nothing is perfect, right?
Okay, brace yourselves. Here's the truth, the *real* truth. First, some apartments are smaller than others. So ask about the size before booking. Second, the top-floor apartment I booked, had no elevator. And, after a full day of hiking, trust me, those stairs felt eternal by the end of my stay. Also, some apartments have thinner walls than others. On one occasion, I *may* have accidentally eavesdropped on my neighbour's heated, late-night phone call (I didn't mean to, I swear!). And another issue, the windows don't have curtains. So get an eye mask, unless you want the sun to wake you up before 5am!
What Should I pack?
Pack layers! Weather in Iceland can change faster than you can say "Vikings." Also an eye mask, is a must. And while not exactly "packing" - prepare for the cost. Iceland is expensive. So budget, and budget again. Seriously. I went way over, and spent most of my trip eating noodles.
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