Iceland Travel: Review of Bus Hostel Reykjavik

This is my first accommodation review of a hostel and while a week ago I was confident it would be my last, now I'm not so sure.

I feel like a penny has dropped. Or maybe a whole purse of change has plummeted to the floor and spilled its coins everywhere. I get why people stay in hostels now. Yes, it's to save money, yes, it's to meet people, yes, it's to dilute the intensity of solo travel, but I now know there's so much more to it, thanks to a stay at the Bus Hostel in Reykjavik.

FURTHER READING: What to do in one day in Reykjavik and where to stay in Reykjavik - honest reviews of hotels, hostels and Airbnbs.

Review of Bus Hostel, Reykjavik

I wrote a full in-depth review of the Bus Hostel, Reykjavik for my good friend Kash's blog here. 

For now let me summarise some of my favourite features of the hostel. 

There are PRIVATE ROOMS! Yes!

The bathrooms are also private and huge.

There was always hot water.

The kitchens were incredibly well-equipped.

While yes, it was still a new hostel when I stayed there all the bedrooms had a definite Scandinavian whiff of calm simple style, aka pine wood.

The communal area was incredibly cool and laidback with its vintage furniture and finishings, it's great bar, sofa areas and huge table to sit at and play games or chat to new friends.

While a little way out of the city, the walk to Hallgrimskirkja and Reykjavik's main shopping street took me only fifteen minutes maximum. If you're fitter than me it will take you a lot less! 

The hostel is associated with the nextdoor SAD Cars car hire company so you can get a competitive rate and help hiring a car there.

As of my visit the Bus Hostel was home to the last Big Mac in Iceland. McDonalds left Iceland in 2009 so have a think about that... And then read this to understand what that means.

And for those of you who wrote to me saying "I simply MUST go to Iceland now," I have some giddily good news for you. Our trip was to launch a very special competition whereby you can win the chance to experience exactly what we did - flights, hire car, the volcano-hopping tours, dreamy visit to the Blue Lagoon and accommodation ALL included. Find out more here. (UPDATE - NOW CLOSED!)
Disclosure: I was a guest of Bus Hostel but my opinions and revelations about hostels are all mine. Though, let's be honest, they had me at "mid-century vintage sofa".