Just watched the new Iceland episode and bought Rick’s guide, I’m a little confused…on the Iceland episode, Rick states Blue Lagoon overrated and too expensive, however, in the book, page 14, its a must-see, 3 star (or pyramid) experience. I did not get the impression he went there.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5785 posts
It is possible that RS has a different opinion than the person who researched the Iceland book or that he has changed his opinion since the book was written.
The Blue Lagoon is close to the airport. I thoroughly enjoyed soaking there before my flight back to the U.S. It was well worth it to me on a one night layover in Iceland.
There are other thermal pools in Iceland that are less expensive and are probably equivalent experiences. Had I spent a week in Iceland and gone to one of the other pools, I might have felt differently about the Blue Lagoon.
Posted by
Chicago
2991 posts
Cameron Hewitt updated the current Iceland book. I remember he did an episode of Monday Night Travel on his time in Iceland. He liked the Blue Lagoon.
If the link doesn’t take you right to it, the blue lagoon discussion starts about 42 minutes into the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh2WBi_LeDw
It will be interesting to see if the rating gets downgraded with the next edition of the book.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9135 posts
Didn't make it to the Blue Lagoon, but decided on a visit to Sky Lagoon instead which is also immensely popular. It just isn't blue. Their 7 step ritual was great, they have an eternity pool that looks out over the ocean and a huge sauna with plate glass window to see the ocean.
There are other smaller spa/thermal pools, and the guide book writers can't visit all of them. Rick has an opinion about a lot of things that others strongly disagree with and sometimes his opinion is not based on anything as he hasn't been there. Like the Blue Lagoon.
Posted by
Galt, CA
33 posts
We were just at the Blue Lagoon a week ago today. It is a little pricey just like everything else in Iceland. It is an experience you are not going to get just anywhere. Yes it is a bit “commercial” but nicely done. Once in the water you forget about that part and the price. The water is magical and all the people in the lagoon with you are smiling and happy which is an unusual experience in itself. There was such a feeling of peace while we floated around. My husband was apprehensive about going. Now he says if we go back to Iceland he wants to go to the Blue Lagoon again. I am the tourist who wants to see all the things I have heard about or read about in my 74 years of life. The Blue Lagoon was not what I had pictured in my mind all these years but it was an experience I treasure and would do again. I do enjoy Rick Steve’s books and TV shows. I take lots of his advice but whether he likes it or not is not how I make my decisions on what I want to see and experience.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
2468 posts
I enjoy all the lagoons/hot springs in Iceland. We have done the Blue Lagoon twice and it is nice. It is not my favorite, but there is nothing wrong with it. Sky is good too. We have done that several times as well. My personal favorite commercial one is Hvammsvik but the random natural ones are especially nice, IME.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7738 posts
It's very much a matter of personal preference. It's partly a generational thing, but I found (we only looked, did not go in) Blue Lagoon just too "Instagrammable". We did go into two other pools, Fontana and Krauma. We preferred Fontana, because it was the most "Rick Steves-y", with families that seemed to be local. Krauma had too many rich-looking tourists (including from Scandinavia, not just the USA), and surprisingly, [luxury-product ... ] Krauma was just "clean", while Fontana was "sparkling clean." Fontana also had a genuine huge-lake plunge, if you like that sort of thing.
I also think Fontana sold small samples of their Volcanic Spring Rubble Oven rye-bread, instead of making us buy a whole loaf to take away.