**Unfortunately, the FlipKey platform has permanently closed since my last visit to Iceland**
There are different types of accommodation for every type of traveler, but I have to admit, apartment rentals have become my favorite. There’s something special about traveling abroad while having all the comforts of home.
Even if it isn’t exactly your home.
While traveling in Iceland with fellow travel blogger Matt, of Expert Vagabond, we partnered with FlipKey to share our experience of staying in a local’s apartment in Reykjavik.
We browsed the FlipKey website for an apartment that would fit our needs. When searching for the perfect apartment in Reykjavik, we considered a few options:
Location: I wanted to be within walking distance of the city center
Size: We needed two bedrooms
Amenities: Washing machine and fast WiFi were essentials for me- bathtub was a huge bonus!
Parking: We were renting a car, so this was another essential
Matt and I ended up finding the perfect apartment on FlipKey that met all of our needs and was available for the duration of our trip in Reykjavik.
I absolutely fell in LOVE with this apartment!
You really couldn’t beat the location. We were in a cute little neighborhood that was about a 10 minute walk from the city center of Reykjavik.
After a full day of exploring Iceland, I cannot express how nice it was for us to return “home” to a warm and cozy apartment and kick our feet up on the couch. It felt like our own space and made our stay in Iceland so much more comfortable.
We stocked the fridge and would cook a homemade breakfast with a nice big pot of coffee every morning before hitting the road. We definitely saved money on our trip by being able to cook one of our meals on our own, which is one of the nice things about apartment rentals. I was also completely swooning over the kitchen in this apartment too. Isn’t it cute??
I’m not a huge cold weather person, so I took full advantage of a hot bubble bath each evening. Because of the geothermal water in Iceland, it was like having my own sulfur bath each night right in my own apartment. While sulfur doesn’t smell so nice, it’s SO good for your skin.
Interesting Fact: Iceland obtains 100% of its electricity and about 85% of its heat from domestic renewable energy sources.
Cool, right?
I highly recommend renting an apartment in Reykjavik with FlipKey. It could easily have accommodated 2 couples (or 4 travelers) comfortably. Split between a group, an apartment is an even less expensive option than a hostel.
Plus you get all the comforts of home!
- Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
- Accommodation: Apartment
- Price Range: $183/night
UPDATE: In response to some concerns regarding the legality of renting an apartment in Reykjavik, FlipKey requires owners to represent that they can legally rent out their home to travelers in the terms and conditions that owners agree to prior to registering on FlipKey.
i was in Reykjavik in August. While there, the police “raided” several apartments that were being rented to vacationers. The government claims these rentals are illegal and said the raids would continue. I think travelers need to be aware that in certain locations these type of rentals are tenuous and there is a possibility that they will be without even if they have a reservation. That might not be a problem in the off season when hotel rooms would likely be available, but during high season, it may be an expensive gamble.
Renting isn’t illegal. But, a special permit is required to rent a property to tourists and renters are required to pay taxes on rental income. The ones they raided were likely people operating illegally, without a permit or not paying taxes. It’s a big risk to take, so I would assume anyone publicly listing on a site like FlipKey has their permits in order and are aware of rental laws in their city 🙂
Just to pipe in on this conversation, illegal renting is a huge issue in Reykjavik and this is the first year the government is really cracking down and trying to stop this. I agree with Kiersten that you would hope anyone posting on public sites would have a permit but that has not been the case for many places. Now that the laws are getting stricter though I expect more people will not take the risk and will get the permit.
I would never assume that anyone renting their propertiy has gotten the proper permit and/or is following the local laws. It would be nice if the listing companies were up front about the laws and would obtain copies of proper documentation prior to allowing a listing.
Looks suuh-weeet (and swanky!)
It was a dream!