Alda Hotel Reykjavik

We walked to every place we wanted to see after parking the car, thanks to the handy location. There’s a Starbucks attached, which was convenient for morning coffee. The beds were comfortable, and the shower was clean and stocked with Loccitane products. I just wish the room had more lights. It was a really great first night in Reykjavik!

Our deluxe double had a balcony, and we sat outside each night to watch the aurora borealis. Shops, bars, and restaurants were only minutes away, but the area stayed very quiet, with plenty of bus stops close by too. The hotel was clean and nice, and the staff were friendly and welcoming.

The location was the one good part of this stay. There are other hotels around Reykjavik with good locations and much better service, and after staying at several during our Iceland trip, I'd recommend those instead. Getting there was awkward. The street is narrow and one-way, with hardly any space to pull over and unload bags. There’s no hotel parking, so we had to walk about seven minutes to an overnight lot. That might have been manageable if anyone helped with the luggage, but no one offered, and they apparently don't have staff for that. The front desk also felt cold and unfriendly. Our room was very small and average for the price. Then, when I asked about checking out late first thing in the morning, staff immediately said no, saying the housekeeping supervisor had denied it for that day. I've never had that happen at a hotel, and the response felt dismissive. I honestly can't understand the 4-star rating. The experience didn't come close, and the property needs to rethink what operating at that level should mean.

We were lucky enough to see the northern lights from the balcony, a memory we'll carry for a long time. The reception team gave us such a warm welcome, and the service was hard to beat. The location is perfect, and the rooms were just the right size for a city break. Thanks for a lovely stay. We'd happily book this hotel again when we return, and highly recommend it! ❤️