Hotels are considered our home away from home and so much more, thanks to all the luxury it can bring. It’s an accommodation that pampers us to the greatest extent, making us want to come back as often as we can. With this in mind, every hotel is ranked with stars. These ranks take into account the amenities, food, courtesy of staff, and so much more.
While the best of the best are given five stars, did you know that Iceland has a 5 million star hotel? Yup, you read that right! It’s like all others would pale in comparison to it, right? So what does this mysterious establishment have that others don’t?
The Appeal
Iceland’s Bubble Hotel takes the said moniker of being The 5 Million Star Hotel because it allows you to do just that – you sleep under a multitude of stars, literally! You are enclosed in a transparent bubble where you commune with the wild, not to mention the gorgeous and breath-taking night sky. It’s definitely a great destination for honeymooners!
But perhaps the biggest appeal of this bubble accommodation is the possibility of seeing the famed Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights. It is nature’s most magical natural phenomena, and chancing upon it is simply awe-inspiring.
How the Concept Started
You don’t see a hotel with clear walls shaped like a bubble everyday, so how did this unusual design come to be? Leave it to founder Robert Robertsson to take cues from customers and transform their wishes into reality.
It was around 2-3 years ago when he was helping travelers with their Northern Lights tour. It was freezing during that time, and one of the customers asked if there was a hotel with a glass roof so that they can simply lay down and watch the sky in the warmth of their own room. That’s when an idea sparked in his head.
Amenities You Can Enjoy
For starters, if you wish to book a room at the 5 Million Star Hotel, you need to act quickly! It has five bubble rooms, namely Una, Asta, Thorunn, Valdis, and Maria, which are kept inflated by a noiseless ventilation system. Moreover, considering we are talking about Iceland, it also has a heating mechanism that will keep you comfortable as you gaze upon the sky.
Meanwhile, as for other amenities like the kitchen, dining space, bathroom, and a lot more, you’ll have to go to the service house for that. There’s no WiFi in the area, and you handle your own food, but come to think of it, you came here for the scenery! Personally, I’d let go of all the excessive pampering just to have the Northern Lights brighten my evening.
Improvements are Underway
Given the rising popularity of the 5 Million Star Hotel, the management continues to add to its attractions by creating more bubbles. This way, more guests can be accommodated and marvel at the majestic view.
The proposed plan is to create 6 UFO Bubbles, meaning they are floating in air, and 5 completely transparent Bubbles. That’s 11 new rooms that will be welcoming visitors in the future! As for me, sign me up for the floating ones!
Best Time to Hunt for Northern Lights
Considering the Aurora Borealis is a naturally-occurring phenomenon, it is hard to predict when it appears, but when it does it is simply worth it. So instead of giving you a sure date, we’ll tell you the conditions you must meet to see it.
First, full darkness without bad weather, like rain and snow, is key to increasing the probability of seeing the Northern Lights. This usually happens around September to Mid-April, so those might be great times to book your stay.
Another factor is the timing. The Aurora Borealis is active around two to three nights, and then not so much for four to five nights. A safe bet would be to stay for a minimum of seven days, if you have the budget for it.
How to Get There?
By now, you must be itching to go and visit the 5 Million Star Hotel, right? But where is it exactly? Maybe we should look it up on the internet?
Try as you will, but finding the exact location is impossible. It is a 70-minute drive from Reykjavik, but other than that you will not know where the specific area is. This is how the management takes care of the privacy of its guests, so only those who have officially booked their stay can get the address. Come to think of it, you don’t want people to suddenly barge into your bubble, right?
For 28,900-29,000 ISK, you can book one of the bubbles and enjoy the exotic night sky, and hopefully you’ll be greeted by the Northern Lights! I don’t know about you, but I now know where to spend a romantic evening!
