Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Surrounded by wide meadows and craggy hills, everything about Hotel Katla feels remote. The traditionally designed buildings blend well into the location and the interiors have a rural, countryside look, with simple wood or leather furniture, and pine-board walls. The lobby has had an update, with a more stylish rustic-chic vibe, anchored by a handsome, reclaimed wood front desk. Tables made from shellacked stumps and timber logs are paired with old leather couches and chairs. The hotel caters to couples and tour groups, but despite the simple atmosphere, we discovered that even the cast of Star Wars stayed here while shooting scenes in Iceland.

Hotel Katla is surrounded by rugged hills and meadows on Iceland's southern coast. There's nothing within walking distance and the closest bit of civilization is the small town of Vik, where guests can find a few restaurants and bars a five-minute drive away. It's a convenient location for visiting some of Iceland’s more remote natural wonders, such as glaciers, volcanoes, hot springs, and black-sand beaches (the easiest access is in nearby Vik). Mt. Reynisfjall is an eight-minute drive, it takes a little less than 30 minutes to drive to the seafront Dyrhólaey nature reserve, and slightly more than 30 minutes to reach Skógarfoss waterfalls by car. Reykjavik is a good two hours and 20 minutes away by car. Expect a three-hour drive to Keflavik International Airport (KEF).   

Most of the hotel's guest rooms have contemporary decor, and the Standard rooms are rustic, with pinewood-paneled walls. Superior rooms are much larger, with small seating areas that have a table and chairs, but they lose the wood paneling in favor of plain white walls and have considerably less character. The bathrooms have tiny walk-in showers, and they come equipped with hairdryers and toiletries. Suites are completely different, with modern, monochrome decor and bathrooms with large walk-in showers. Some add whirlpool tubs. Work desks, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, and electric kettles are in all. Free Wi-Fi is included. 

The hotel's main feature is an outdoor spa area with a sleek-looking geothermal hot tub in the middle of a terrace. There's a classic Finnish sauna, a standalone wood building, just a few feet away. There's also a small fitness room with free weights, an elliptical, and a couple of cardio machines. The lobby bar provides drink service out to the hot tub, and there's a traditional restaurant in a lodge with vaulted wooden ceilings that serves local cuisine. A dinner buffet is available for an extra charge, but breakfast is free. Free on-site parking is also available.