There are quite a many attractions in the city center of Reykjavik. The heart of the capital city of Iceland is centralized around the downtown area. Downtown Reykjavik is easy to explore by foot. The main shopping street of Laugavegur offers many shops for all kinds of travelers. Read the full story

When planning a trip, hotels in central Reykjavik are surely the most practical option for anyone hoping to get a real flavour of the city without the hassle of taxi rides, waiting at bus stops or having to get back by a specific time. Read the full story

“Iceland is obviously quite a bit cheaper than it was this time last year, mainly because the whole country went bust.” This is how a text in an article at the Times Online today and goes on saying “But is Iceland really the sort of place you want to go for some cheering winter sun?”. Then the Times Online reporter Matt Rudd writes about 20 hours of darkness and cheap vodka.

Iceland might not have the cheering winter sun but it has the beauty of its nature, the Northern lights, geothermal heating, great (now cheap) restaurants and a nightlife well worth exploring. Then there are the shops, not only is it much cheaper to shop now but you also get the VAT back, not the whole 24,5% but close.

We at IceNews looked at the possibilities for flights and accommodation in Reykjavik Iceland and found that there are two airlines flying to Iceland www.flights.is and www.icelandair.co.uk  and for hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavik try Hotels Iceland.

We might also want to say that Iceland has much more daylight than four hours, it’s close to that in Manchester at the moment; and finally the country has not quite gone bust: Icelanders are still standing tall.

South Iceland has secured an important advantage in the battle for tourist attention in the form of the new All Season Hotels website.

The company, which operates a number of quality hotels in South Iceland, has launched a new informative website, which not only advertises the hotels, but also offers an interesting insight into southern Iceland with dramatic photography and an extensive activity guide.

The four All Seasons Hotels are very different from each other and together offer a very diverse cross section of South Iceland – all within easy reach of Mount Hekla, Geysir, Gullfoss and Landmannalaugar for example.

The company’s Hrauneyjar Highland Centre is a guesthouse and service centre on the very edge of civilisation, where roads and electricity give way to total Highland wilderness. Hotel Highland offers the same stunning vistas and Highland solitude, but with a twist of luxury, including à la carte dining, spa and helipad.

Hotel Skogar is an intimate, friendly hotel, right next to the world famous Skogarfoss waterfall and Hotel Ranga offers four-star luxury in stunning countryside and boasts membership of the prestigious Special Hotels of the World organisation.

For more information on All Season Hotels and South Iceland in general, visit www.allseasonhotels.is

One of Iceland‘s most popular hotels has re-opened its doors to guests for the busy summer season.

Hotel Skogar is a small luxury hotel located by the 60m Skogarfoss waterfall near Vik in south Iceland.

The hotel is popular with both foreign and Icelandic guests and is a favourite location for writers and travellers escaping to the countryside. It is also often used a wedding and honeymoon destination and a romantic retreat for couples.

For most of the year, Hotel Skogar is only available for groups and tours, but from 1st May to 1st October the hotel opens to individual members of the public. The hotel has 12 en-suite rooms, an outdoor sauna and hot tub area and a gourmet restaurant.

South Iceland is one of the most-visited areas of the country due to its proximity to Reykjavik and the number of activities on offer. Popular attractions include bird watching at the spectacular Dyrholaey ocean cliffs, walking or windsurfing on the black sand beaches at Vik and visiting the Myrdalsjokull glacier with a snowmobile, jeep or ice climbing tour.

Skogar is also one of the starting points of Iceland‘s most famous hike – the Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork walk – a 4 day route that takes hikers through some of Iceland’s most spectacular scenery.

Visit www.allseasonhotels.is for more information on Hotel Skogar and other luxury hotels in south Iceland.

One of Iceland’s most popular luxury hotels, Hotel Ranga in south Iceland, has become a member of the group ‘Special Hotels of The World’.

Members of the global organisation, which number around 50 in total, are some of the ‘finest in the world’ and occupy a unique market position in their respective country, according to the Special Hotels website.

Hotel Ranga is a luxury 4 star hotel near Hella in south Iceland and has earned a reputation among both its Icelandic and foreign visitors as a premier country retreat.

The luxury hotel, which is 96km from Reykjavik, is currently finishing a refurbishment project and has introduced new designs inspired by the surrounding landscape. There are views of three glaciers and the volcano Hekla from the hotel, as well as one of the best salmon fishing rivers in Iceland, Eystri Ranga, which is just 40 metres away.

Because of its remote position in the Icelandic countryside, Hotel Ranga has become a popular destination for people hoping to see the Northern Lights. It is also located close to famous landmarks in south Iceland, such as Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall and Thingvellir national park.

Hotel Ranga has 38 rooms, many with jacuzzis, outdoor hot tubs, a bar & lounge, wireless Internet and a restaurant renowned for its international cuisine. The hotel even has its own brand of beer, Hrammur, which is named after the 10-foot polar bear which stands in the lobby.

“We have a little bit for everyone, said hotel manager Björn Eriksson. “We are in the middle of nowhere but we are in the middle of south Iceland – relaxation, pleasure adventure or business. We can accommodate all of these needs.”

The hotel’s conference room is also being enlarged and the restaurant will be able to seat 110 people once completed this year. 2008 will also see the introduction of massage and relaxation facilities and there are plans to open a luxury spa as well as a conference and trade centre in 2009.

For more information on Hotel Ranga, visit www.hotelranga.is