Name: Galaxy Pod Hostel
Address: Laugavegur 172, Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Reykjavik, 0105, Iceland
Rating: 9

Elevator/lift

Smoking areas

Smoke-free property

Heating

Security guard

Express check-in/check-out

Fire Extinguisher

Dishwasher

General

Hairdryer

Flat-screen TV

Shower

Alarm clock

Rooms

Accessibility features

Wheelchair Accessible

Accessibility

Safe-deposit box

Concierge services

Services and amenities

Common kitchen

Restaurant

Kitchen

Microwave oven

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Spanish

Russian

English

Italian

French

Languages Spoken

Free parking

Parking nearby

Parking

First Aid Kit

Beauty and wellness

Playroom

Kids

Personal protection equipment for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Personal protection equipment for guests

Contactless check-in and/or check-out

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the hostel

Rooms description

Reykjavik International Airport

Keflavik International Airport

Galaxy Pod Hostel

Reykjavik

As far as hostels go, this is definitely the best one I've stayed in. I stayed in a double pod one night then a single pod for 2 nights. So I'll be reviewing both. 

Pros:
The kitchen and bathroom are kept super clean, everybody is so lovely and there's just such a lovely sense of community there. It's nice that you can leave your mark on the walls by writing a message or drawing something. One thing that really stood out to me was that the luggage was kept in a room that only the receptionist could access which was great for making sure your items stayed safe, as I've been to a few hostels where it's a room anyone can access at any time, and this can lead to things being stolen. So for peace of mind, this was great.
The double pods are the most futuristic looking ones where you can control the aircon, mirror light, ceiling light etc with dimmers. You can also turn it onto sleep mode where there are no lights, and there is an emergency option too should anything go wrong. They are quite spacious inside too. 
The single pods have similar functions but no dimmer setting, emergency setting or night mode. They still offer aircon and lighting. But these are written in either cantonese or mandarin so you need to just go by the pictures for the meaning if you can't speak these. The room the single pods were located in were actually much more spacious than the double pods so this was a bonus. From personal experience, I'd actually choose the single pod over the double pod next time. 
The living room area is super chill. There are sofas, plugs and there's even a bed type thing to lay down on. The views from there are so stunning too with a view of the harbour and mountains.
Being on one of the most popular streets, it is only a 15 minute walk away from the high Street and attractions such as the rainbow road.
There was also lots of food left by other people staying there which was great to prevent food waste (last photo). 
The receptionist at the hostel was also kind enough to phone me up a taxi as well, you could ask them for help about anything and they were always happy to assist you.

Cons:
I thought that with the pods being so futuristic, that maybe they would be soundproof. But it is super noisy and wakes you up whenever somebody gets in or out of their bed. It sounds like a van door sliding open and the pods themselves just feel like big empty industrial drums. People come to hostels to sleep more than anything else, so it's a shame that this was the hardest thing. So I'd make sure to bring ear plugs with you but even with my earplugs in, it would still wake me up since the movement and vibrations were felt with my whole body rather than just my ears. Rather than having the big noisy sliding doors, I think curtains would've been a much better option.
What was also super noisy and would wake me up, was the storage units. You could only open them with an electronic key card and they would make a pretty loud noise once you opened them then again a few seconds later. When people were waking up at 3am, 4am for their flights it would wake people up. It would've been much better to be given a key instead or for the storage lockers to not be so noisy.
The layout of the double pods was also something that bothered me quite a bit. The room the pods were in was rather claustrophobic, as soon as you'd walk in the steps to the first pod would be right next to you. The steps into the pod were also quite awkward to use as the first step was quite far off the ground and the top step was a bit of distance away from the bed. The storage lockers were also either underneath or on top of the pod, and this was just quite difficult to angle, especially given that I have a bad back. So if you're claustrophobic or if you prefer to have lots of space to go through your things and unpack then repack your luggage every day, then a single pod hostel would be better as it was more like a big room; the double pod hostel was too small and the layout too difficult. 
Another con was probably the women's bathrooms (first 2 pics). For some reason the toilet cubicles didn't offer total privacy as when you were sitting on the toilet in the 2nd or 3rd cubicles and turned to the side, you would see the other person on the toilet in the next cubicle! So it would be ideal to fill this in with silicone or something so that people can have complete privacy. Until then, the first cubicle is the only one that doesn't have this issue.

So despite the cons, I still very much enjoyed my stay here. As long as you bring ear plugs, choose a single pod if you're claustrophobic, and choose the first cubicle in the women's toilets, you should still very much enjoy your stay here :)

Best hostel I've ever stayed in

We stayed here overnight and enjoyed our time here. It was very clean and quiet, even in the day. The walls are cool with everyone’s signatures. There is a kitchen to cook/store your food or leave it for someone else.  The common area has a great vibe. Free wi-fi. There are small lockers for carry-on sized bags, but checked bags sit unlocked in the room. Our stuff was safe and nobody messed with it. The pods are lockable from the inside. Bathrooms clean and can accommodate a fair number at the same time. Three showers in the women’s bathroom. I’d definitely stay here again.

Coolest Hostel, Comfortable and Quiet

I stayed at Galaxy Pod Hostel for 4 nights in June 2022. Galaxy pod is clean and comfortable overall. The facilities are good and it’s just a short walk into the city centre. There’s plenty of nice places to eat nearby the hostel. The hostel was really quiet and you could defiantly get a good nights sleep. Sometimes it’s a little too quite though, and striking up conversation with other guests wasn’t always easy. Perfect if you want complete privacy though.

Hostel life in Privacy

What a dumb place. I was stuck in Greenland for 15 days due to weather. Took the first flight from nuuk to RKV. Got in at 8:30p rushed to hostel by 9:10p not a single person there. Called the number, sorry we are closed at 9p. This place doesn’t care about you. Had to walk in the freezing cold to HOTEL ORKIN. 24/7 staff that were more than helpful. STAY AWAY FROM THESE TOOL BAGS!

STAY AWAY FROM THESE LOW LIFES!

Staff at the hostel were quite helpful and accommodating. It's a small hostel so great place to stay if you wanted a bit less hustle and bustle in the evening and can have the living area to almost yourself.
This hostel is slightly outside the centre (like 4 to 5 mins walk).

Lovely staff

Staff was helpful and accommodating ( i need it an extra locker for the night and they gave it to me with no problems)
All the installations ( bathroom, pod…) where clean
Pretty decent location 
The pods are actually cozy and have privacy 
Better than any other hostel i have been at

Super nice

One of, if not, the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in - super sociable - I met some great friends and we travelled the island; from volcanoes to glaciers.

Amazing staff, super clean kitchen and bathroom facilities - would definitely stay again.

Fantastic Find.

I myself as an Icelander will definitely recommend this dreamy like hostel. But not only that but mostly the great people that make the clock work. Always familiar loving faces of beautiful spirits around.

A place I called my home at a turning point in my life,
it delivered and produced, thankful Team GPHostel.

Sincerely,
Fannar Már

Unimaginable before you experience it

Big shout out to Xavier for being the most welcoming host/reception person you will ever meet at a hostel ever!  The vibe in the common area is so warm and welcoming and it’s a great mixture of young and older travelers as well. I love sleeping in the pods. The location is great too as it’s walking distance to the center of town but has free parking if you rent a car.

Galaxy Pod Hostel has awesome vibes

I wanted to stay in a location that was both convienant and quirky. I had researched online about these Pod Hotels being in other countries though never expected to find one in Reykjavik. I traveled solo back in March prior to lockdown and my stay did not disappoint. The excellent greeting by the staff and the service on the bar I could not fault and was made to feel most welcome. They helped and suggested places to visit in the town while also sourced several tour companies that I could use to visit various places across Iceland. I ended up booking two tours, one of the north and Golden Circle and then one to the South visiting the Black sands etc.

Value for money is key in a place like this and I am quite fully aware that you can pay a lot to stay in central Reyjavik. However, here the price was reasonable and the facilities suited exactly what I wanted. At the time I had breakfast at the hostel and the Pancakes are indeed as excellent as everyone on here raves about. The Bar had a surprisingly wide and varied selection for such a small place. The lobby was more of a communal area with sofas and a TV with access to video games and VR on request. The VR room was fun though not as excellent as the stunning view across the bay at the mountains on a clear day. I being a photographer mostly found myself staring out at the scenic view while enjoying a beer during their happy hour service times. Traveling alone I was able to meet several other travelers on various nights to which we ended up visiting a Comedy Club and Open Mic night place  across in the town. This place being suggested by a very nice woman who had recently moved to Iceland herself.

The Pods were an interesting sight though was quite pleased with the separate showers and toilets which offered plenty of room. No doubt if you are not used to Iceland then you will have to get used to the rather interesting smell of sulphur which comes from the hot water. Truth be told I was surprised to find out that a lot of the water comes naturally from the various geothermal pockets across the country. The pods offered a TV with access to YouTube, Netflix and internet connection etc. Single pod size was fine for myself and I was happy with how cosy it was. Couples should easily book the double size pods for much more room. 

Overall I would visit again, the hotel is a clear stand out to the good few that I have visited elsewhere purely because it's uniqueness and relaxed vibes. 5/5!

Galaxy Pod Hostel

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