What's New in Iceland

I have not visited Iceland, but I'm starting to feel excited about this exotic destination. In my previous blog post, I shared that I had done a FlyOver Iceland in Las Vegas - a unique experience for sure - and then I shared some insightful information from my friend Ignacio Maza who made the incredible journey there. You thought that was all I had to share, but no, he is sharing details about his travel with the Signature Destination Specials Nordic Luxury. Read on below!

Haifoss Waterfall, Iceland - Photo by Ignacio Maza

Ignacio Maza and Marina Safonova - Nordic Luxury - Photo by Ignacio Maza

Ignacio visited Iceland for a few days last month, on his way to Greenland. During his brief stay in Reykjavik, he met with Marina Safonova, Founder and CEO of Nordic Luxury (Signature Destination Specialist). Marina and her team deliver elevated itineraries and experiences in Iceland, as well as Greenland, Faroe Islands, Scandinavia, and Finland. Here are his notes from the meeting with Marina and what's new in Iceland!

• Travel to Iceland is booming. Hotels, tour companies, attractions & sites are experiencing very strong demand. Advance reservations are a must.
• Over the past few years, Iceland has become a year-round destination. Book ahead for fall and winter season, especially holidays. 
• Travelers are spending more time in Iceland, exploring the North/East regions, and exploring further. They are also upgrading every element of the trip and taking their Iceland itineraries to the next level.
• Nordic Luxury is seeing strong demand for private villas (complete with chefs and dedicated staff for adventures), private dining arrangements (including al fresco dinners in remote settings), and helicopter transfers to eliminate long drives. 
• Travelers are extending their Iceland vacation with visits to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both served by direct flights from Reykjavik. Nordic Luxury can arrange multi-country itineraries.​

Hotel News - SW Iceland:
Marina and her team have Iceland covered, with in-depth knowledge of every quality property in the country. Aside from The Reykjavik Edition (a SIG partner hotel, covered in a previous post), here are four hotels Nordic Luxury recommends in SW Iceland, outside of Reykjavik:

• The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon - (10 min drive from the airport, about 45 minutes' drive west of Reykjavik). Considered one of the best luxury hotels in Iceland, with a private section of the Blue Lagoon and superb accommodations/dining/spa facilities/service. Five stars, and prices to match (Over $1,500 US per day, without meals).
• Hotel Ranga, in Hella ( 1.5 hour's drive from Reykavik, heading SE). a Modern, 4 star, comfortable hotel near the coast.
• Skalakot Hotel, in Hvolsvollur (2 Hours' drive SE of Reykjavik, a working farm that has raised Icelandic horses for generations)
• Luxury Ocean Villas in the Vestmanneyjar Islands (SE of Reykjavik, reached by frequent ferry service from the mainland).

Two Restaurant recommendations in Reykjavik:
Marina recommended two great restaurants in central Reykavik with superb menus. I dined at both, and can report they are excellent. Very popular - book ahead for reservations. 

• Apotek (Austurstraeti 16) 
• Fish Company (Vesturgata 2A / Grofartog)

 
Why did he book his trip with Nordic Luxury?
He traveled with Nordic Luxury on his first visit in 2018, and again on this trip. Here are some of the reasons why he chose to book his trip with Marina and her team:

• Experience. Marina and her team have been in business for years. They are the leading luxury DS in Iceland, and have a superb reputation with hotels, guides, ground services in the country. 
• Advice. Marina and Nordic Luxury team stay current on all new developments and you can bank on their recommendations.
• Quality. The guides, drivers, luxury vehicles, and services, are all first-rate. 
• Reliability & Peace of mind. Nordic Luxury provides dependable services and takes care of guests, 24/7. 
• Creativity & Resourcefulness. Marina creates dream trips for her clients and comes up with unique ideas that travelers do not expect. 
• Custom-tailored arrangements. Every itinerary is built from scratch to the specifications of each travelers.
• Access. Nordic Luxury has built a portfolio of unique experiences, luxury villas, gourmet chefs, and five star guides that exceed expectations and work exclusively with Nordic Luxury. 
• The 'wow factor'.  Nordic Luxury surprises and delights travelers with amazing experiences, unexpected gourmet meals in remote locations, unique places to stay (tented camps, luxury villas, you name it), and itineraries that bring out the best of Iceland. 

Does that inspire you to book a trip to Iceland? I hope so! Norwegian Prima will be christening in a few days in no other place than Iceland. And that means that this beautiful ship will be doing some nordic cruising. Make sure to reach out to me 'Sheyla' when ready for your Iceland adventure. Schedule a time to chat or give me a CALL.

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Ignacio Maza joined Signature in April of 2004. He has been in the industry for over 30 years. Prior to his tenure at Signature, Ignacio worked at Virtuoso, American Express, TWA, and Pan American World Airways. Ignacio is responsible for Signature's Luxury Sales Development, as well as supporting Signature's Public Relations efforts, conferences and events, training, marketing, as well as other initiatives. Ignacio has a passion for travel and has visited over 100 countries and territories on 7 continents. When he is not traveling, Ignacio enjoys art and photography exhibits, reading, theater, film, hiking, yoga, and keeping up with all that is new In New York.

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