Hotel Ranga

Get out of the City and have fill your bucket(list)....food was amazing, staff was just as good. Travel and Leisure got this right!

We had a phenomenal time at Hotel Ranga - everyone there was friendly, helpful, and so accommodating of our toddler. It is a great location that allowed us to go see waterfalls and the Lava exhibit without having to keep our kiddo in the car too long. The food was excellent, my only regret is that we didn't have the lamb more than once. We got a wake up call for the northern lights and were not disappointed when we got outside and go to see them without having to be out all night. This was an excellent home base for our whirlwind trip to Iceland!

For our first-ever trip to Iceland (over two weeks in January, no less) we had booked several nights at the Hotel Ranga based on positive reviews. Some of our friends called us crazy for visiting Iceland in winter, but we were trying to avoid crowds and hopefully see aurora during our trip. Hotel Ranga was our third lodging location as we worked our way along the entire south coast. It proved to be an astonishing gem in the middle of nowhere. The location is just off the Ring Road, on a flat plain along a river, far from any mountain scenery. At first we were surprised that such a highly-rated hotel would be found in such a nondescript setting, but we were wrong. From the moment we stepped into the lobby, until we drove away several days later, the welcoming and caring service and attention to detail was outstanding. After popping into the convenient hot tub (just steps from our room) after a long icy drive, relaxing in our very roomy and comfortable room, and enjoying a convivial cocktail and fine dinner in the hotel restaurant, we felt pampered and appreciated by all of the staff. Meeting the friendly owner for a brief chat was a highlight, as he clearly cares about making guests feel welcome and cared for. There are many thoughtful touches, such as turning off all of the hotel's exterior and parking lot lights when the northern lights are imminent, having staff clear the snow from guests' cars after overnight snowstorms, and offering outdoor evenings with an astronomer to learn about stars and planets. These are simple things, but serve to separate Hotel Ranga from other hotels. After staying in a wide range of hotels from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón, all within the same price range, we felt the Hotel Ranga offered the most value and was worth every Króna.

Dinner at the restaurant was outstanding. The staff offered great service. We got to see the northern lights on two nights and a knowledgeable astronomer showed us great views through two powerful telescopes.

We stayed at the Hotel Ranga for five nights and loved our stay here. The staff were excellent, both at reception and in the restaurant, which served incredible food. We had a Deluxe bedroom which was right by a geothermal hot tub, and we could step outside at night to either do some stargazing or if we got lucky, see the Northern Lights. For the first part of our honeymoon, we felt this hotel was perfect for a romantic getaway. Definitely recommend staying here!