Dec 24, 2018 - HotPoint Blue Lagoon Evaporative Cooler VC1000 in great working condition Can be used with water or ice Manual is included,.
Iceland is a small, yet a beautiful and a resilient Atlantic island nation. A nation that is characterized by stunning waterfalls, breathtaking landscapes and Viking stories. Located in the continent of Europe, it has no railways and is considered as one of the safest places on earth, and yet has no armed forces. Talk about contrasts in the land of fire and ice. Icelandic people, horses and sheep are friendly. Their downtown (Reykjavik) is like no other capital cities of the world and where graffiti is financed and celebrated as an artistic contribution to the city’s charm.
Although one of the perfectly beautiful places on earth, Iceland travel tips are essential for a successful visit. This extensive travel guide will help you in planning your trip to Iceland. Tourism in Iceland has been blooming. A few years ago, the situation was different – Iceland was going through an economic slump when their national banks crashed.
There were huge protests including demands for changes in the constitution and referendum after referendum were passed. Governments changed. Then Iceland came out with an innovative way of tackling this economic crash. They didn’t bail out the national banks (like most countries do) – they let them fail, drafted a debt repayment plan, made it hard to borrow (whopping 18% interest rate) and instead, opened up domestic banks to sustain the economy on kronas. This happened in 2009 and look at them now – Iceland is economically growing, tourism is blooming. Iceland worked hard and its results are showing. Iceland Travel Documents & Airport Tips Info on Airport Iceland Reykjavik Iceland is serviced by Keflavik Airport.
It is also called the Reykjavik-Keflavik airport. All of the international flights depart and arrive here. It is located about 45 minutes outside of the capital city of Reykjavik. Although smaller then most international airports that I have been to, it is packed with awesome services.
Car rentals, tour services, souvenir stores, and restaurants; you name it and they are all conveniently located at the Keflavik airport. The airport also has a Dunkin donuts and you can also pick up your GPS, portable modem or SIM cards here. Keflavik airport is home to IcelandAir and WowAir (now a part of IcelandAir). Reykjavik has a domestic airport, to serve internal flights and flights to Greenland. Reykjavik Airport Transfer Here are your options from Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport and vice versa. By Car – Pick up your rental car and drive to Reykjavik – 45 minutes.
By Bus – Book a Flybus via Reykjavik Excursions. You can either request to be dropped off at your accommodation (extra charge) or BSI Terminal – central bus station. You do not have to book tickets ahead of time.
You will always get a seat in the Flybus, it is guaranteed. Drop off at accommodation still requires you to walk a few steps as buses can’t go inside the downtown area. But it is only like a 2 minute walk or less. Valdi in Reykjavik Iceland Tipping in Iceland Unlike other European countries, service providers do not expect tips or gratuities in Iceland.
It is not the norm and hence not considered rude. Restaurants – Your restaurant bill in Iceland will probably include a service charge of 10%. If it doesn’t, then a tip of 10% is good enough. Tour Guides – Tour guides do not expect tips either.
They do like genuine (and positive) online reviews that help other tourists. If you are really happy with your guide, feel free to tip. Hotel Staff – They don’t expect you to tip. Valdi’s in Reykjavik Iceland Packing Tips Iceland’s weather poses challenges at any time of the year you choose to visit. Essential items to pack for any season would be a windproof, waterproof jacket for the unpredictable climate and a sturdy, closed toe shoe for exploring Iceland’s wilderness.
In winter, layers are the most effective way to keep warm; thermal base layers, long sleeve tops and fleece jumpers under a coat will be more effective than one thick layer. Thin layers are less bulky to pack and can easily be removed as needed.
Pack leggings to wear under outdoor trousers, some warm socks and mittens are better than gloves for keeping your hands warm – or wear both! In summer, don’t forget to pack plenty of sunscreen and a sun hat as there is little shade on the Golden Circle or at the south coast tourist attractions.
By from What to pack for Iceland? As mentioned, layering is the key, especially when traveling to colder climates such as Iceland. Here is a handy list –. Long-underwear are essential for layering.
Don’t buy cotton; it’s a poor insulator, will drain heat dangerously when wet, and takes forever to dry when you wash it. Go with synthetic, wool, or silk.
T-shirts – Pack them in. M ake sure they are made of quick dry material (again, wool or synthetic). Also they are easily fold-able. Pants – Carry one pair of quick drying hiking pants. Perfect as they can be dressed up or down. Midlayers – Super important.
Carry lightweight, synthetic mid layers. (Think fleece, but thinner).
Jackets can be worn on the plane. There are 2 kinds of outwear jackets. The first is a lightweight, insulating layer.
These can also pack down into the size of soda cans, so they pack easy in day bags as well. The other jacket is a rain layer. In warmer weather this can be worn by itself as a windbreaker or rain jacket. In cooler weather, it was combined with the insulating layer to make a warm combination against cold, wind, and rain.
These are light weight and easy to roll up and place in backpacks. Toiletries – Toothbrush, travel toothpastes to share, deodorant, and a hairbrush (and/or make-up). Shoes – O ne pair of waterproof and sturdy shoes.
Trail running shoes have soles with grip for trail and rock, as well as a strike plate in between the sole and your feet. Great for long walks on city streets. Socks that are made of quick-dry wool.
Recommended socks include ones made of Smart Wool and Icebreaker merino wool socks. Single use laundry detergent packs. Hat and gloves By from What to pack for Iceland in Winters? Traveling in winter comes with its own challenges. Within the first few hours of our Iceland road trip, we experienced rain, sun, wind, snow, hail and even saw a rainbow.
For Iceland winter wear, it is a good idea to carry long-sleeved thermal top, and layer it with a t-shirt and then a 3-in-1 jacket (where the top waterproof layer can unzip off to reveal a fleece). Also consider wearing fleece-lined walking trousers with a woolly hat and gloves to beat the winter blues.
And don’t forget your sunglasses too for when the sun does actually breaks through, it is quite bright. Also ensure you take a backpack with you on hikes, so that when needed you can take your layers off. By from What to pack for Iceland in Summers? Iceland is a place of unimaginable beauty, but you’d be hard pressed to find a place that’s windier than Iceland. The temperature may not feel all that cold, but it’s the sort of cold that seems to have complete disregard for your clothing of choice, and it’s a biting cold. Regardless of the season – summer or winter, you need to pack warm. Of course, your wardrobe for the summer is going to look different from a packing perspective than what’d you bring in the winter, but the general idea is that it will, more than likely, be colder than you think, especially once it gets dark.
My travel tip, then, is to ensure that you pack warmer than you think. You’ll check the weather, and make a judgment based on that, but you just can’t underestimate the chill that will undoubtedly be in the air.
And no, it’s not Antarctica, but you need to respect the fact that Iceland’s weather is a tad unforgiving, and it’s better safe than sorry! Tips by Traveling Mitch Iceland Tourist Season & Traveling off season One way to help cut down on costs on a trip to Iceland is to visit off-season.
Iceland’s main tourist season is in the summer (July and August). During that time costs for accommodation and tours are higher, and attractions become more populated. However, visiting Iceland during the winter season is not for everyone, as the conditions can be extremely cold and may hinder road trip plans if there is a sudden change in weather.
For the best of both worlds, visit during September or October. This is the perfect time to visit Iceland, as you can catch the tail end of summer weather and still benefit from the reduced off-season costs of hotels, car rentals, etc., as well as less people at popular attractions. Keep in mind that summer weather can still be cold in Iceland, it was 12 degrees on average while I was visiting in October. Bring warm clothes and your camera for an epic trip you’ll never forget! By from When is the Best time to Travel to Iceland October is truly the best month to travel to Iceland. You will not only have the chance to see the Northern Lights, but also the beauty in the colors of the fall foliage that provide a surreal backdrop to (or perfectly framed up) the glacial waterfalls. Autumn or fall is a great time to visit anywhere really, but this is especially true for Iceland.
It’s typically before the arrival of heavy winters; however, be ready for winter anytime as it could be rainy, cold, windy, and occasionally snowy even as early as the first week of October. Icelandic weather is very unpredictable that way! Thingelliver National Park Iceland Tours & Related Tips The best way to explore Iceland at any time of the year is by taking guided tours. They are well organised, safe and a great use of time while you are in Iceland for a stop-over or a short trip.
The tours in Iceland are not intrusive and are a great way of meeting people if you are traveling solo. If you are booking multiple tours, you can score a discount. Try booking your tours online, to save more. This is also a great way to budget your trip to Iceland. Most popular tour is the, which covers an UNESCO World Heritage Site, a geyser and the beautiful Gulfoss Waterfalls. It is a day tour and can be undertaken at any time of the year.
The tour is for 6 hours and is ideal for your stop-over itinerary. Tours in lava or ice caves are conducted and led by a guide. You can reach the glacier or the park by car, but there is no way to explore the caves without a guide. Amazing tour in Iceland also includes multi-day tours where you can explore the length and breadth of the country is 8-10 days. Options are available to explore Greenland and Iceland together. Get all the scoop on What to see in Iceland and how many days do you need? On paper, Iceland doesn’t look a very big place.
However the reality is that the roads are often narrow and slow to drive. There’s also so much beauty along the way that if you allow yourself a very short time-frame to see everything, you’ll end up exhausted and feeling like you’ve seen nothing. By way of example, the famous Ring Road is around 1,332 kilometers (828 miles) and takes you all the way around the island. You could probably drive it non-stop in 24 hours. But that would totally miss the point. If you want to actually enjoy your holiday and stop at the major sights, you need a minimum of seven days.
If you want to get off the Ring Road, do some hiking and activities on the glaciers or visit more remote towns and villages, you’ll need more time. So our advice: if you’re short on time and have less than seven days to visit, consider skipping the Ring Road drive tour and instead base yourself in Reykjavik and doing some awesome day trips – for example the Golden Circle tour and the unmissable Blue Lagoon. By from Northern Lights Tips Seeing the northern lights is a bucket list item for many travelers visiting Iceland in the winter season. You know what’s not on most people’s bucket lists? Freezing themselves to death staring at an empty sky a few degrees south of the arctic circle.
In order to see the northern lights, it needs to be dark, the skies need to be clear, and there needs to be high solar wind activity. Northern Lights Iceland. Get and Aurora Forecast App -An aurora forecast app takes all of those factors into account and calculates the chance of seeing the Aurora at a given time and location. There are many such apps available for free: one good one is My Aurora Forecast.
By from. Hotel with Aurora Alarm – Another tip for seeing the Northern Lights is to stay at a hotel with a northern lights alarm! The northern lights are unpredictable and unless you want to go on an excursion every night to try and see them you may not have luck on one attempt! If you stay at a hotel with a northern lights alarm you will get a chance to see them every night of your stay! These hotels are usually outside of towns so there is low light pollution increasing your chances of seeing!
It also means that you don’t have to stand in the middle of a field in the cold but rather can stay tucked up in bed until the lights are spotted! By from Book your stay at a or book a Blue Lagoon Tips & a Plan B Visiting the Blue Lagoon is one of the greatest wish list items for Iceland for many. Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa located just 15 minutes away from the Keflavik Airport. The lagoon is powered by the nearby Svartsengi geo-thermal plant.
The water here is filled with minerals that are good for your skin, mind and body. As much as Blue Lagoon is a sought after place, many despise and avoid going there altogether for various reasons. The water in the Blue Lagoon completely renews itself every 48 hours. Blue Lagoon has been criticized for being crowded, too commercialized and overrated. It is a man-made lagoon and hence when there are many natural pools and oldest swimming pools in the country, there are some stiff competition in the market.
Anyhow, if you are visiting the Blue Lagoon, here are some helpful tips. (And a Plan B in case you don’t like the Blue Lagoon). Blue Lagoon website exclusively sells tickets for entry.
Many tour operators will include “Blue Lagoon transfers”, but that is just commute, not entry. Entry packages for Blue Lagoon starts at 55 Euros (with includes welcome drink and an algae mask).You also include a hotel stay with pool entry. Carry your towels and swimwear. You can also get them on rent at the Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon Hours. Summer Hours – 07:00 am – 11:00 pm (May to June), 07:00 am – 00:00 am (June to August).
Winter Hours –08:00 am to 09:00 pm. When to visit Blue Lagoon – Blue Lagoon is located just 15 minutes from the Keflavik Airport. So an ideal option will be to book an entry when you are arriving or departing from Iceland. Reykjavik Excursions via Flybus offers transfers from Airport to Blue Lagoon and return or Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik city for accommodation. When you purchase your ticket, it gives you a time stamp. Even if a paid (online) ticket, expect to see a line up at the Lagoon entrance.
Tickets sell out fast, so plan ahead Your Plan B options If Blue Lagoon tickets are all sold out or if you are unable to find a slot that works best for your schedule, then there are other options available aka Plan B. You can visit the Blue Lagoon and enjoy some time in the cafe, WITHOUT purchasing a ticket. If you just want to find out, what Blue Lagoon looks like and what’s the fuss all about, then you can still explore the place. Without a ticket.
You won’t be able to enjoy the pool, that’s all. Iceland is arguably one of the most unique landscapes in the world. Its staggering mountains, grand pastures, and striking beaches provide countless photo opportunities. Taking snapshots of Iceland through a camera is fantastic, but what if you could have a bird’s eye view of the landscape you can only see from the ground? Your angles, lighting, and even video opportunities just rose exponentially. Having a drone in your photography arsenal in Iceland is a must.
A few tips to know before droning in Iceland will help you plan your photography sessions. First, while it is obvious to some, it is critical to take out the drone one a few test drives before the trip. Familiarize yourself with its features and limitations as much as possible.
Doing so will help any headaches and maximize your battery and emotions while shooting. Secondly, many popular locations allow for droning but not all. Iceland’s designated national parks prohibit droning. If you have an itinerary, it would be worth researching where it is permitted. Iceland has a landscape unlike any other place in the world.
These four tips will help you make the most out of your flight time during the trip of a lifetime. By from Things to Avoid in Iceland There are so many great things about Iceland that you should not miss.
But here is a quick list of things to avoid in Iceland. Don’t buy packaged water – Water in Iceland is pure and pristine and safe to drink. So avoid buying bottled water and instead carry a water bottle. Don’t exchange currency – Use your credit card in Iceland, it is easier rather then getting Kronos or Euros. Credit cards are accepted everywhere in Iceland. Don’t carry an umbrella – It is so windy in Iceland, you will probably lose your umbrella. Carry a poncho instead.
Don’t print your vouchers, tickets – Almost all tour agencies, hotels, stores will prefer to scan at a bar-code on your phone or check your email, rather then keep a paper copy. Save the environment and help Iceland!. Don’t buy items Made in “X” – Check your souvenirs, Nordic style sweaters or Ice-Wear goodies, ensure they are made in Iceland. Don’t pay a hefty price for items that seem to be made in Iceland (but are actually manufactured elsewhere). Don’t just dive in – Always shower before getting in to a pool or Spa (like Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon).
Don’t Miss the Best – The best things in Iceland are actually free and marvelous. If you are visiting Iceland in summer, stay up and watch the midnight sun. If you are here in winters, chase those northern lights. Treasure those moments; they are priceless. Don’t get off track – Drive and travel responsibly in Iceland, whether you are on the road or exploring a natural sightseeing location. Use common sense and be safe.
I hope this post this got you all excited about planning a trip to Iceland and enjoying the beautiful landscape that the country has to offer. If you have further questions, feel free to drop me a message. Additional Reading Read Iceland Itinerary and Planning for Europe – tips and resources available on our travel blog.
and Last Update: December 03 2018 Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. Pin for Later – Planning a trip to Iceland – Travel Tips Iceland.