Check In (August 29, 2018)

DailyMail, Wednesday, August 29, 2018 SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT SUPPLEMENT Page 2 DailyMail, Wednesday, August 29, 2018 SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT SUPPLEMENT Page 3 NE OF Iceland's biggest exports, Bjork, put it best: it’s all so quiet. And that’s no more evident than in the Nordic Neverland’s Golden Circle – a call of the wild for independent travellers looking for adventure out on the open road. But don’t be fooled by the eerie stillness of this epic landscape; Europe’s most sparsely populated country may be short on people, but it’s big on packing a punch in the nature stakes. Iceland is volcanically active, meaning it’s a wonderland of literally earth-shaking phenomena – from lava fields to glaciers and geysers. This road trip is more drive-view than drive-thru. The beginning of a memorable road trip is all in the planning, and for a great escape on an island which sits just outside the Arctic Circle, you certainly need to be prepared. Your journey on the Golden Circle will start in the capital, Reykjavík, and, of course, at a car rental agency. Iceland is full of places where you can hire vehicles – but as you will be heading out into a vast wilderness, it’s best to choose a reputable company that will provide quality cars with insurance and breakdown cover. STARSOF THE SHOW DEPENDING on your plans and preferred pit stops, your Golden Circle adventure can take from four to ten hours, covering around 300km (190 miles) in a loop from the capital to the southern uplands and back again. Not only does this road trip mean you can take your time and soak up the staggering scale of the scenery in all its glory, but you can also easily fit it into a weekend getaway. This road trip boasts three jewels in its golden crown; Thingvellir (spelt Þingvellir, in Icelandic) National Park, the Gullfoss waterfall and Haukadalur. First stop: Thingvellir. Its name meaning ‘thing field’ in Old Norse, the rift valley is 40km (25 miles) from Reykjavík. With everything from spring-water-filled canyons to the largest natural lake in the country, it was favoured by the earliest settlers and marked the spot where the Althing, Iceland’s parliament, was founded over 1,000 years ago. Back in the car, you’ll head to the furthest point on your trip, Gullfoss. The waterfall plunges into a canyon of the Hvítá River in two stages, the biggest drop being 11 metres. Now a A To book into Hotel du Vin Brighton, or to find out more about any of 19 UK properties, head to hotelduvin.com or speak to a friendly adviser on 0330 016 0390. THE INFO Get away to the seaside in style at Hotel duVin Brighton, a luxury sanctuarywith all the colourful characteristics of its vibrant host city P E E K S A nation of islanders, we certainly do like to be beside the seaside. And with staycations becoming more fashionable than ever, our coastline communities have been given an equally stylish makeover. In these enduring bastions of Britishness, rickety B&Bs and questionable cuisines are no longer the catch of the day, especially in Brighton. Known as London-by- the-Sea, the resort is a cosmopolitan hub of culture, history and design. And nowhere incorporates these three aspects like the Hotel du Vin. Just a stone’s throw away from Brighton beach, this boutique sanctum is nestled in the narrow cobbled alleyways of The Lanes, one of the oldest parts of the city. As you make your way past designer stores and artisan coffee shops, you’ll arrive at the welcoming Tudor archway of this Gothic-style hideaway, built by a wine merchant in 1695. Fast-forward over 300 years and there’s still plenty to raise a toast to. In the 49 deliciously decorated rooms and suites, you’ll find character and style are always at Hotel du Vin’s heart, from the super-soft Egyptian cotton linen on every bed to a roll-top bath you can make a splash in. After you’ve freshened up, head down to the bar to enjoy a perfectly mixed cocktail as you relax in one of the leather armchairs, before dining alfresco under a vine-wrapped pergola in the hotel’s pleasant courtyard. Local and seasonal products are integral to the hearty evening menu, where you can make the most of being by the sea by indulging in a fruits de mer platter creaking under the weight of fresh oysters, lobster, crab and squid. Make the most of the rest of summer by selecting dishes from the elegantly curated Rapide summer menu, which runs until the end of September. While Hotel du Vin focuses on quality, it’s no stranger to value for money, no more so than in its prix fixe menu, where guests can dine on three courses for just £21.95, including a glass of wine, before 7pm. The quirky courtyard is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway, but, just like its host city, Hotel du Vin Brighton knows how to party. From newlyweds and their congregation fresh from a ceremony at The Dome to a birthday bash to remember in the Cave du Vin snug, this amazingly central venue can cater for celebrations of any kind. Hotel du Vin has a history of making celebrations happen across the country. Choosing charming buildings with roots deep in a city, it knows how to make guests feel good, thanks to its own special kind of laid-back luxury. If you’re looking for a British break, treat yourself to a stay at any of the 19 properties scattered everywhere from Cheltenham to Cambridge. The latest jewel in its already impressive crown is the 46-bedroom Stratford- upon-Avon retreat, where hundreds of years of history have been respectfully renovated to create a central sanctuary in the heart of the Shakespearean town. Now, that’s certainly something to write home about. Unwind in style: Make a splash in one of the hotel’s roll-top baths Forget Route 66: if you’re looking for a drive on thewild side, Iceland’s GoldenCircle is as cool as it gets O THE excitement of an adventure behind the wheel is, in part, the destination, and while you’ll be making pit stops at some of the most wondrous attractions in the world, no road trip is really complete without an overnight stop off. For those reminded of Jacuzzis after their trip to Haukadalur, book into the aptly named Hot Springs Hotel – a hideaway which offers a wide range of spa treatments, including an on-theme mud bath. Or really get back to nature by pitching camp along the roadside. Make Lake Laugarvatn your home for the evening and breathe in the fresh air as you cook up a feast under the stars. WHERE TO STAY ON THE WAY Golden moments: On the road, Icelandic style, left; waterfalls such as Goðafoss, far left, are an unforgettable sight of any trip Gushing tribute: Strokkur geyser in the Haukadalur Valley provides a 30mwaterspout every ten to 15minutes TRIP R AD protected piece of the landscape, this awe-inspiring site has inspired Icelandic artists and literary greats for decades and will be familiar to fans of Echo & the Bunnymen from the cover of their 1983 Porcupine album. DEPENDABLE GEYSER MAKE sure you have an anthemic playlist playing as you cruise to your third and final stop – an explosive finale. The Haukadalur Valley is home to some of the island’s most spectacular sights, including a geyser called Geysir. This geothermal giant isn’t very dependable – but visitors can rely on its sidekick, Strokkur, to deliver its eruptive goods up to 30 metres into the air every ten to 15 minutes. Driving in Iceland is an experience, no matter when you choose to visit. During summer, daylight stretches well into the evening, with the sun never setting in the north during June. And during the dark of the winter, road trippers have the chance of catching Mother Nature’s most magnificent show – the Northern Lights. Whether you make a day out of your road trip or decide to pitch up camp along the way, the memory of a rally around Iceland’s Golden Circle is something you’ll always treasure. ROAD-TRIP TIPS l Make sure your rental car is covered for breakdowns l Download step-by-step directions fromGoogleMaps l A full tank of petrol should be enough to see you through the Golden Circle l Make themost of the food en route; try the delicacies on offer at the greenhouses at Friðheimar l Take time to snorkel at Silfra, a glacier-water-filled fissure at Thingvellir l Packwaterproofs! Inspired to tackle the Golden Circle? Flights through Air Iceland from London Gatwick to Keflavik International start from £145pp in October. THE INFO