How to use hotel points in Iceland
Editor's note: This guide has been updated with the latest information.
Iceland has continued to be a very popular destination for tourists looking to visit Europe.
Icelandair has long offered various routes from the U.S. to Europe via its hub at Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport (KEF), and offers Europe-bound travelers a chance to stop over in Iceland for free.
Likewise, Play offers cheap flights from a handful of U.S. cities to Iceland. Between the two, it's not hard to find a flight to Iceland that fits your budget.
While Iceland's aviation industry is known for its low fares, the country itself becomes expensive to stay in the moment you step off the plane.
Lodging, food and excursions are quite pricey, leading to trips that can quickly break your budget without proper planning. However, by using points on your hotel stays, you can save money, enjoy Icelandic culture and experience luxury at wonderful hotels, both in Reykjavik and in the scenic wilderness outside the city.
In this article, we'll run through the best points hotels in Iceland. Use this as inspiration for your own trip to the land of fire and ice.
If you want more help planning your Iceland trip, use the new guided tour company Elsewhere (owned by TPG's sister brand, Lonely Planet). Elsewhere pairs travelers directly with local experts in destinations around the world, including Iceland.
Hilton Honors
Hilton offers three properties in Iceland, all within the capital city of Reykjavik.
Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection
Located in the city center, the Konsulat Hotel is inside a century-old building that was formerly a department store. The boutique property's interior is influenced and inspired by modern Icelandic design, and it features charming bookcases and couches in the lobby and dining area.
Points stays at the hotel range widely from 48,000 to 200,000 Hilton Honors points per night, depending on the time of booking and season of stay. Cash prices also have a wide range, from $160 to $630 per night.
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre
Also in Reykjavik's city center, the Canopy's building had a very interesting past life: Its website claims it used to house a "furniture factory, music venue, and arts hub." Its diverse history is reflected in its interior. Darker tones dominate the lobby and dining experience, while lighter finishes are saved for the hotel's rooms and suites.
Stays at the Canopy vary significantly less than its Konsulat counterpart. Points stays can cost anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 points per night, while cash prices range from $175 to $350 per night.
Related: My stylish Nordic friend: A review of Canopy by Hilton, Reykjavik City Centre, Iceland
Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
Although the hotel is just outside Reykjavik's city center, the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica still offers wondrous views with an Icelandic flair. Rooms vary from cozy single rooms to extravagant suites. The hotel's restaurant serves regional Icelandic cuisine.
Despite being under Hilton's namesake brand, the hotel offers discounts compared to the Curio and Canopy properties. One night at the Hilton can cost anywhere from 35,000 to 60,000 points, while cash prices range from $130 to $320 per night.
Related: Great hotel, not-so-great location: A review of the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
World of Hyatt
Unlike Hilton, Hyatt only offers one property in the entirety of Iceland. However, Hyatt's hotel is not located in the nation's capital.
Hotel Ranga
Situated outside Reykjavik in the Icelandic tundra, the Hotel Ranga — a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property — offers serene luxury in the wilderness. The suites have different themes pertaining to different continents and world regions. Unlike the suites at Hotel Ranga, the rooms offer Icelandic aesthetics and charm. The hotel offers not just incredible cuisine, but stargazing and land experiences as well.
Points stays range from 25,000 to 35,000 World of Hyatt points per night, or from $300 to $700 per night.
Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
IHG One Rewards
IHG offers two hotels redeemable for points in Reykjavik. Both properties are part of the Mr and Mrs Smith brand, which has a partnership with IHG.
Mr and Mrs Smith Sandhotel
Situated next to a pastry and chocolate shop, the Mr and Mrs Smith Sandhotel offers elegant rooms with an art deco style. If you want to enjoy sweets in your suite, the hotel staff will deliver desserts from the bakery next door straight to your room. The property also offers breakfast and a hotel bar.
Stays range from 25,000 to 37,500 IHG One Rewards points, or between $160 and $250, per night.
Mr and Mrs Smith Kvosin Hotel
Centrally located in the downtown area of Reykjavik, the Mr and Mrs Smith Kvosin Hotel opts for Scandinavian style over the art deco of its counterpart. Nearly every room is designated a suite, and each offers either capital views or garden views, depending on the direction the suite faces. There is also a restaurant and bar on the property.
Nights typically cost around 50,000 to 60,000 IHG points, or between $265 and $400. Note that points availability is harder to come by than at the Mr and Mrs Smith Sandhotel, however.
Related: A review of the Mr & Mrs Smith Kvosin Hotel in Reykjavik
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott offers three properties in Reykjavik proper and two outside the nation's capital. While two of its Reykjavik hotels are part of Marriott's Design Collection, the Reykjavik Edition is among the finest hotels in Marriott's portfolio.
Reykjavik Edition
The most luxurious hotel in all of Reykjavik, the Reykjavik Edition opened last year, bringing Edition's world-renowned luxury and modern, wooden decor to the country of Iceland. The hotel offers excellent fine dining, a multitude of drinking options and a serene spa. Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, rainfall showers and glacier views.
Points stays range anywhere from 70,000 to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, with cash rates varying from $400 to $800 per night depending on the time of booking and date of stay.
101 Hotel
Looking for a more boutique property complete with Icelandic art and minimalism? Check out the 101 Hotel, an independent property that's part of Marriott's Design Collection. The hotel takes the Reykjavik Edition's midcentury modern minimalism and puts a cozy, Icelandic spin on it. The hotel's spa is currently undergoing renovations, so in-room massages are offered instead.
Points rates range anywhere from 55,000 to 70,000 points per night, with cash rates varying from $280 to $430 per night.
Related: Your complete guide to Marriott hotel brands
Ion City Hotel
Ion, another Icelandic brand, has two hotels in Marriott's Design Collection. Ion City is Ion's property in Reykjavik. Although it lacks the amenities of the 101 Hotel and Reykjavik Edition, it offers city and mountain views, midcentury modern furnishings and well-lit, wooden decor in the rooms.
Points rates range anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000 points per night, with cash rates varying from $225 to $365 per night.
Ion Adventure Hotel
Offering incredible floor-to-ceiling windows, the Ion Adventure provides excellent opportunities to view lava fields and the aurora borealis. Visit the hotel restaurant and bar for nourishment before and after your Icelandic adventures, and enjoy a relaxing reprieve from the occasionally harsh climate. Similar to its city counterpart, the Ion Adventure offers great natural light and wooden paneling in the rooms.
Point rates range anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000 points per night, with cash rates being slightly pricier than the Ion City: $300 to $450 per night.
Courtyard Reykjavik Keflavik Airport
All Icelandic adventures start and end at the country's biggest airport just outside Keflavik. If you want to spend points on a hotel before your return flight or want some rest before kicking off your tundra travels, the Courtyard is a great option. Built just three years ago, the hotel offers new charm, large televisions and on-site dining options.
Points stays at the Courtyard range between 34,000 and 42,000 points per night. Cash rates are slightly more variable and range anywhere from $110 to $230 per night.
Related: Maximizing redemptions with the Marriott Bonvoy program
Bottom line
Hilton and IHG have some solid points properties within Reykjavik. While Hyatt does not have a hotel in the capital city, the chain does offer an incredible property in the tundra through its connection with Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Marriott offers an incredible selection of hotels, both with its main chains and with independent hotels in its Design Collection; options are situated not just in Reykjavik, but also in the Icelandic wilderness.
There are many redemption options that will save you money on lodging during your Icelandic trip, whether you're visiting Reykjavik or exploring the natural beauty found in the rest of Iceland.