We’re at the moment wrapping up an superior journey to Iceland. Whereas I’ll after all have a full evaluation upon returning dwelling, I’m sharing just a few “stay” highlights. I already wrote about our expertise on the Reykjavik EDITION, which is a stable Marriott resort.
Nonetheless, the property I used to be most wanting ahead to testing this journey was The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, which is the 60-room ultra-luxury resort situated on the Blue Lagoon.
I’ve to be trustworthy, I wasn’t essentially anticipating all that a lot (regardless of the excessive worth level), however I used to be so pleasantly shocked. Let me share some preliminary ideas, after which upon my return dwelling I’ll after all publish a brilliant detailed evaluation.
Why I used to be skeptical about The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Only for some background, the Blue Lagoon is certainly one of Iceland’s most well-known points of interest, and it sees near 1,000,000 guests per yr. It’s superb how geothermal spas like this exist, however there’s no denying that the precise visitor expertise feels a bit like going to a water park. I imply, after all it does, given the quantity of individuals, and the truth that everybody goes there to get within the water.
I keep in mind visiting the Blue Lagoon round a decade in the past, and whereas I used to be impressed, I made a decision it wasn’t one thing I needed to return to. There’s a lot different stunning nature to take pleasure in in Iceland.
In 2018, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon opened as an extension of the advanced, because it’s primarily a really costly resort that provides entry to a separate a part of the lagoon. The rationale I used to be skeptical is as a result of I assumed the principle draw of this might merely be the particular entry it will get, and I questioned in the event that they’d actually put effort into the hospitality portion of the expertise.
Clearly they’ll command excessive charges merely due to the unique entry, similar to there are additionally methods to get VIP entry at Disney. However that doesn’t instantly make it some unbelievable expertise. Including to the intrigue, I’ve seen nearly no “actual” opinions of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, and photos are additionally restricted (as they’re type of banned… I’ll cowl that in a separate submit).
So hey, I figured we needed to take one for the group, and see what was actually occurring right here. I used to be anticipating to say “yeah, it was good, however save your cash and go elsewhere.” However as a substitute, I form of really feel like this was simply amongst my 10 favourite resort stays ever, regardless that we weren’t even there for twenty-four hours.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is a hospitality masterpiece
We ponied up an eye-watering $1,600(ish) for our one evening keep, and my expectation was that I’d say “yeah, it was good, however save your cash for one thing else.” Effectively, unhealthy information (in your checking account)… in case you love nice luxurious properties and might abdomen the price, I’d extremely suggest placing this in your checklist.
The factor to grasp is that once you e book a keep at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, you’re actually paying for 2 issues. Not solely are you getting a resort keep, however you’re additionally receiving entry to the Retreat Spa, which is the resort’s spa (and that’s what the non-public lagoon belongs to).
Day passes to the Retreat Spa can be found to the general public, and price $631 per individual. So a pair can be paying over $1,250 only for day passes to the spa. By comparability, paying somewhat extra to truly keep at The Retreat doesn’t seem to be a foul worth.
Let me after all acknowledge that that is an outrageous sum of money to spend on a day cross to a spa, however the entire level of this facility is that it’s tremendous unique. Whereas hundreds of individuals use the principle lagoon every single day, solely dozens of individuals use the non-public lagoon.
The Retreat Resort is flawless in and of itself
Forgetting the spa for a second, the precise resort portion of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is world class. From the second we checked in till the second we departed, service couldn’t have been higher. We have been greeted earlier than we even obtained out of the automotive, we have been provided something we needed to drink throughout check-in, and it was simply such a fantastically choreographed expertise from begin to end.
The resort can be simply stunningly stunning. The construction is sort of easy, in order that nature can do the heavy lifting. They put a lot thought into visitor expertise, from how home windows are framed for one of the best views of the lagoon, to the music taking part in within the foyer.
Critically, how stunning are these rooms?!
Meals and drinks have been superior as effectively, from the included breakfast (each a small however prime quality buffet, in addition to an a la carte choice), to the included afternoon tea, to the complimentary minibar, to the spa restaurant, to the Michelin-starred restaurant.
This was actually what shocked me most, as a result of the service degree right here was on par with a number of the greatest luxurious properties I’ve stayed at.
The Retreat Spa is definitely form of superb
The primary purpose you keep at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is to get entry to the Retreat Spa. Footage aren’t allowed in your entire advanced, they usually’re fairly militant about that, so let me largely use phrases, and a few photos that the spa receptionists shared from their telephone (once more, extra on that in a separate submit, and I can’t affirm or deny if I’ll have extra photos within the full evaluation). 😉
One of the best a part of the Retreat Spa is that you just get entry to the non-public lagoon. Consider it as being someplace between a lagoon and a lazy river by way of design. Phrases actually can’t do justice to how particular that is. On our one evening keep, we spent over six hours within the water. I’m like a prune at this level, TBH. Nevertheless it was oh-so-worth-it.
You might have entry to the lagoon from 8AM till 10PM, and for a lot of the time we have been within the water, we have been fully alone. It was undoubtedly a kind of “pinch me” moments. May this be any extra stunning?!
The one factor that might get us out of the water was this view (okay, now I’m gifting away one thing else I’ve to put in writing about… grrrr).
Past the lagoon, the spa as such is definitely essentially the most spectacular facility I’ve ever seen. It has each amenity you possibly can need in a spa, and even every kind of facilities you wouldn’t need. We’re speaking saunas, steam rooms, chilly plunges, rooms with fireplaces, rest areas, rooms the place there’s someway water dripping onto a glass ceiling, and many others.
I’m not normally a kind of individuals who says “oh, you want to keep at X resort as a result of it has an incredible spa,” as a result of I don’t just like the economics (I hate paying loads for a resort, solely to then pay an arm and a leg to make use of the spa). However I’ll make an exception… you want to keep at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon to make use of the superb spa!
Backside line
I’m so grateful I had the prospect to remain at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. I’ve lengthy been intrigued by the property, and the dearth of opinions made me wish to examine it for myself. I need to admit, the expertise exceeded all expectations, each by way of the resort and the spa. The non-public lagoon you get entry to is superb, and the hospitality expertise past that’s superior as effectively.
For many who like making an attempt out nice luxurious motels, I can’t suggest this property sufficient. And if this resort isn’t inside your funds (truthful sufficient!), hopefully you no less than discovered it fascinating to get some insights into what this quite secretive property is like.
What do you make of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon?
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