SAGA SHOP - Haust I Fall 2019

72 Icelandair Stopover You’ve no doubt heard a lot of advice about packing for Iceland (key word: layers). Allow us to offer another essential tip: Keep your swimsuit at the top of your luggage, ready for action in one of the geothermal gems scattered around the country. The very best way to embrace the Icelandic hot-water habit is straight off the plane. Icelandair arrivals from the USA and Canada begin landing around 6 am. Disembarking passengers are generally experiencing a haze of sleepiness (it’s still 2 am on the East Coast!), but hotel rooms often aren’t accessible until 2 pm or later. What to do with all that time? Answer: the Blue Lagoon. It’s probably high on your bucket list (as it should be; it’s a photogenic wonder of steam­ ing, milky-blue water set in an ethereal volcanic landscape), so why not let it work some magic on your jetlagged self? To make things easy, Destination Blue Lagoon offers super-simple bus trans­ fers direct from Keflavík International Airport to the lagoon. Bus departures from the airport begin at 7:30 am, and the drive is about 20 minutes, getting you to the lagoon in time for opening at 8 am. Luggage is easily stored in a building by the car park. There are two choices of entry pack- age: towel hire, drink and silica face mask are included in both, while the Premium package includes a robe, slippers and a second drink. You can add treats as you need: in-water massage? Sure. Lunch at the high- quality, onsite Lava Restaurant? Why not? (And do feel free to wear your robe to lunch.) You can also opt for coffee, drinks and sandwiches from a couple of poolside café areas. The changing rooms are both a chance to freshen up after your flight and a place to learn the essential etiquette of Icelandic pools: Shower before entering. Lockers are provided, and there are private stalls for shower- ing and changing. Explore the steam rooms, the swim-up bar, and the swim-up hut that doles out handfuls of face masks (these are also available to buy from the onsite store as you exit—the signature silica mud mask is a bestseller). A favorite haunt for sleepy travelers is the relaxa- tion room, offering lounge chairs with a lagoon view. When your skin is in full prune mode and it’s time to dry off, there are hourly buses back to Keflavík Airport or to downtown Reykjavík, a 45-minute drive away. Hotel transfers are easily arranged when booking your bus ticket. So now you’re just half a day into your Iceland visit and you’ve ticked off one of your bucket-list items and eased away post-flight tensions in a thor- oughly unique locale. How perfect a start to your vacation is that? VISITING THE BLUE LAGOON ON ARRIVAL IN ICELAND Off the plane, direct to the Blue Lagoon —is there a better start to your vacation? Blue Lagoon Norðurljósavegur 9, 240 Grindavík Open: Aug 19–Jan 31: 8 am–9 pm Note: Dec 24 open 8 am–3 pm bluelagoon.com It’s recommended that you pre-book at bluelagoon.com — use the on-board Wi-Fi to check out your options. You can also make booking enquiries at the transfer desk at the arrival hall at Keflavík Airport. You also can do this trip in reverse, on your way to depart from Keflavík Airport. Buses will pick you up from your Reykjavík accommodation to take you to the Blue Lagoon, then on to the airport. Special Promotion