Nina - there are no real hotels in the southeast region that I am aware of.  However, there are guesthouses and some farms that have rooms for rent. The Guesthouse Hali is one of them, and is close to Jökulsárlón: http://www.hali.is/.  We were there about ten years ago, but I imagine it is still good!  The road to Jökulsárlón from Reykjavik is (or was, and I imagine still is) a lot of lava paving and gas stations/restaurants are scarce (so pack some snacks!).  It is beautiful country, though! Totally worth the drive.

Posted Aug 22, 2011

Selfoss is a fairly generic town, but a very convenient stopping off point for discovering the southeast.  If you drive ~30 km south, you'll reach two small villages, Stokkseyri and Eyrarbakki.  Both are off the southern coast, so it's quieter and personally, I thought they were far more quaint and beautiful.  You may want to consider staying in one of those villages.  I stayed for a night in Stokkseyri at the Guesthouse Kvoldstjarnan.  It was very clean and comfortable, with a common kitchen and living area, and great breakfast.  Lobsters at Fjorubordid!!  So good and right across the street!!    

If you are going to Skaftafell, I stayed in Svinafell, which is about 5-10 minutes east of Skaftafell.  There is both a campground and a guesthouse; I camped for a night and stayed in the apartment for two nights, which consists of three separate rooms that share a kitchen and bathroom.  Well worth the price and incredibly comfortable but nothing luxurious by any means.  

In a non-lodging related aside, at Skaftafell, don't miss the Skaftafellsheidi Loop.  It's a 6-7 hour hike, and you'll reach a lookout point where you're surrounded by mountains to the south and two glacial outlets splitting off at the point.  After reaching the point, the cool air coming off the glaciers feels amazing.    

Posted Aug 25, 2011

Hotel Hofdabrekka in Vik is an excellent location for exploring this region. My family and I stayed there for 3 nights while sightseeing at Dyrholaey Point, Skaftafell and the Jokusarlon lagoon. Staying in Selfoss and Hveragerdi are also options, but neither town is extraordinarily impressive and the scenery around Vik is outstanding. In terms of things to do, don't miss dogsledding on the Myrdalsjokull glacier just north of Vik, which was wonderful. Others have mentioned the Golden Circle tour, which is also fantastic. Gulfoss is the most beautiful waterfall I've ever seen, with a glorious backdrop of the Langjokull icecap. Iceland is my favorite place in the world, and this region is a highlight of the country. Enjoy!

Posted Aug 30, 2011

I haven't stayed there myself, but Smyrlabjörg is a guesthouse between Skaftafell and Höfn that is supposed to have the best breakfast buffet in Northern Europe, according to my friend who is a tour guide.  I believe they also have snowmobiling trips on Vatnajökull.  If you are willing to rough it, Bölti guesthouse is actually a farmhouse in the middle of Skaftafell National Park and gives you the best possible experience of Skaftafell.  It will be the smallest room you have ever stayed in in your entire life, with a shared bathroom (unless you get one of their coveted cabins), but worth it.  Both of these places are fully booked all summer (I tried to stay there this summer but no luck), but you should be okay travelling in September.

When you stop at Seljalandsfoss, be sure to follow the path that leads away from the big waterfall to the right.  You will walk past a bunch of little waterfalls until you reach a little river that seems to issue from a crack in the middle of the mountain - until you look closer and discover Gljúfrabúi, a really cool hidden waterfall inslde the crack.  There's a huge rock next to it that you can climb up to look down into the falls.

If you want to stay in one of the nicest/most luxurious hotels in Iceland, Hotel Rangá is in a great location for travelling in the South.  And if you want to try Ethiopian food in Iceland, there is a new restaurant in Flúðir, pretty near Gullfoss and Geysir.  I was pretty impressed with the food, but they don't seem to be able to get the grain needed to make injera, so it was more like crepes.  You can also get amazing lobster/langoustine in Höfn at Humarhúsið.

Posted Aug 31, 2011

Hi--Beautiful green country along that southern part of the Ring Road.  Be sure to stop to see all the waterfalls!  We stayed in Vik (Hotel Hofdabrekka) and Hofn (Gistiheimili Hvammur).  Both basic, but comfortable and inexpensive.  check out TravelPod.com / FletcherClaytor blog for more about the trip.  It was a blast!

Posted Aug 22, 2011

I would highly recommend Frost and Fire Guesthouse in Hveragerði (http://www.frostandfire.is/english/home.html). I stayed there a few months ago and really loved it. The rooms are clean and modern, and there's a heated pool, hot pots, and steam room on the premises. The best part is that it's right by a geothermal field so you can see the steam vents from your room. 

Posted Aug 22, 2011

Hi Nina....I was in Iceland in the fall of 2009, and had a WONDERFUL TIME!!!  It is my most favorite country probably to date.  If you are going to spend any time in Reykjavik, I would recommend the Hotel Holt, http://www.holt.is/

It was soooo close to the center of town, and yet on a quiet little street with a WONDERFUL BAKERY that smells glorious every morning when you walk down the street!  The staff of the hotel is super helpful, and they have art all over the hotel, because it is also an art gallery.  I would hands down stay here again and again when I go back.

I would also recommend Cafe Babalu.  It is a very cozy and quaint cafe nearby.   Also, Austur Indíafjélagið is a TERRIFIC Indian restaurant.  Though a bit touristy, definitely go to the Blue Lagoon.  I went during Thanksgiving week of 2009, and it SNOWED.  It was not crowded at all, and the scenery was spectacular.  Bathing in a lagoon of blue milky mineral water with black volcanic rock, and a snowfall is DEFINITELY a memorable experience.  I also recommend seeing the Northern Lights, and perhaps the Golden Circle Tour, where you get to see beautiful countryside, Gulfoss and Geysirs.  Have a WONDERFUL TRIP!!

Posted Aug 29, 2011