Iceland, anyone?

[aprilleigh]

Hi everyone! Has anyone been to Iceland? I think maybe oped has? 

We'll be going in June. It will be myself, my husband and our 8 year old son. My husband is a photographer and we will be meeting up with another photographer he knows that lives there. 

I'm thinking we should just be staying in Reykjavik the whole time? What are thoughts on going to Akureyri? We'll most likely rent a 4x4 vehicle so driving around won't be a problem, but we're not super big on serious hiking. 

Any suggestions on things to do, places to stay?

Thanks for any input! 

[Deleted]

I'll answer when I get home to a keyboard Although others might know better.

[Jaguar]

Icelandic Woman , is from there.

[NancysSummerSip]

A friend of mine is going there! He is attending a friend's destination birthday party (!) in November. Not the best month to go, but I told him he has to do it. He'll never come up with a reason on his own to just go there.

[cael]

I'll be here - Iceland is my next trip on the horizon in a couple years after Greece! I know several people who have been and have said it's absolutely fabulous.

[Icelandic Woman]

I haven't lived in Iceland since 1988 and have only been back to visit once since, in 2000. I know it has changed a lot since I was there last. I have talked to several people that have visited there and just loved it! There are so many places to visit like the Blue Lagoon, the glaciers and volcano sites. And you can drive around the entire country in 24 hrs.
I don't know when in June you are going to be there but their Independence Day is June 17 (my BDay) and the celebrations in downtown Reykjavik are lots of fun.
Sorry I couldn't be more informative, I think Google knows more about my country of birth than I do.

[Deleted]

Ok. Where to start. I looooved Iceland. I would definately like to go back. 

We did three days two nights in Reykjavik. When we do this type of thing, we go all out tourist mode. If i went again, i'd probably try to do more local. But the whole point of going somewhere in three days is to get the big overall view. 

We did not exactly do iceland cheaply. I'm sure you can do it much less expensive. We didn't. So take my individual reviews and recommendations with that in mind. 

We stayed here: rrhotel.is

It was wonderful. I accidently booked through another service and when i emailed them about switching to a two bedroom instead of one because my mom was joining us, they said if i went through them instead they would give me the 2 bedroom for the same price... and then when we go there bumped us up to a 3 bedroom. 

They offer a basket of breakfast foods. You want to either get a basket, shop the day before or hit the market if you are there on a day it is open. Stores do not open early, and tours do start early if you do one. You don't want to be without food. If you stay there, their basket is awesome. Order the night before and you get fresh bread too.  The apartment rooms have kitchens. 

I'll write this in groups, so i don't lose anything. 

[Deleted]

Hot and cold water are different in iceland. They don't have to heat water, it comes out of the ground that way. Hot water will have a smell. Crisp ice water does not and it tastes wonderful. 

We ate here for dinner one night. Not cheap, but if you can swing it, oh do... www.sjavargrillid.com/#!en-photos/c1rds      

Fish and lamb are staples in Iceland. The fish was devine here. they also do a taste of iceland thing i didn't do, but would have liked to do. 

You can definately find cheaper fish places though too, also hot dogs are big in iceland. And there are all kinds of restaurants and shops in Reykjavik. 

We went to a shop where everything was made or designed by icelanders. Great place for suveniers. I think its here... kraum.is/english/   

There are many places to shop though. My kids loved going in the shops. They also loved the graffiti on many of the buildings. 

Reykjavik is a very new town. Iceland has a very interesting history and in many ways it jumped over several decades of development the rest of the world had and went right to modern, which makes it a unique place. 

It is VERY easy to trade in your receipts to get any sales tax back that you spent before you leave the airport, so save your receipts.  

[Deleted]

When you get to the airport, you need to travel like 45 minutes to Reykjavik. The easiest way is on an Reykjavik Excursions bus. They are comfortable and have wifi and will either stop directly at your hotel, or transfer you to a smaller bus to go directly to your hotel. 

If you want to do the Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik Excursions does a to/from with the airport. So, for instance, we did this on the way to the airport on our return flight. We left the hotel in the morning, the bus dropped us at the Lagoon, we checked our bags there, went to the spa, a few hours later we took the bus the rest of the way to the airport. They do this on the way in, or on the way out routinely.  (They can actually also just take you to and from if you ever just have a layover in Iceland...)

The Blue Lagoon was ok. Its very commercial. I'm not sorry i went. I would probably not go again. You have a vehicle, you could find some of the natural springs that exist. Google them before you go, it would be an entirely different experience. That said, i am not sorry i went. We did all have fun. My son asked me to get some of the clay mask stuff because he said nothing worked like it on his face (Don't ever tell him i told you that!)

Reykavik Excursions does other tours too. We didn't do any others with them. I wish we had done Northern Lights, maybe. I found one that reviewed better, but it was overcast the two nights we were there and that tour company never even went out. Meanshile RE posted on their website that they had gone out and while the pictures weren't spectacular, they did view lights. I don't think this will be an option for you in June though!

[Deleted]

We went on an AMAZING Golden Circle tour. Iceland Horizons. Here are Tripadvisor reviews. We had the famous David, although he is not guarenteed. My mother told me after that when i said we were going on an 8 hour tour her first thought was, well, not positive, lol... but she was sooooo glad we did. Saw just about all the highlights of Iceland. He is an amazing guide. Funny, so much of the history and politics and geography that we never would have gotten if we hadn't taken the tour. For that reason, even though you have a vehicle, if you can, i'd recommend taking it. Soooo much information. It was actually not a very expensive tour for what we got, i don't feel, one of the best values for the money.  www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g189970-d1581470-Reviews-Iceland_Horizon_Golden_Circle_Tour-Reykjavik_Capital_Region.html


Plus 1) I'm not sure it would be easy to make the loop yourself the first time in all daylight. ETA:--- Wait, in June you should have plenty  
2) I'm not sure it will be an issue at all in June, but i'm not used to driving with spiked tires? ... And i'm not sure they will even be avialable any more for long? .... anyway, it might take some getting used to. Not that you won't drive obviously. But... Anyway, might want to research that more. 

Oh, I forgot to give you the RE website, but then are you renting the car at the airport? Then you wouldn't need them to get back and forth i guess... www.re.is

[Deleted]

The falls has a great lamb stew in their cafeteria. 


Trying to think of more things.  With a car you will be able to get off the beaten track, but honestly, in iceland even the beaten track is not worn. Their falls and guysers still look like they are out in the middle of nowhere, even though they are set up for tourists and lots of people visit. 

I'm not sure what else i can help with, if i've been a help at all

[Deleted]

Oh, my mom found her conversion app very helpful here.  They really don't use cash money, although we got some for souveniers. Their lowest denomination is like our penny, so think as if you were saying somethi that is $20 is 2000 penies. Convrsions are crazy. $1 equals 140 Krona... BUT, things are more expensive than here, so you can easily spend 20,000 ... ie. they use credit cards and not a lot of cash. My mom used her app especially here because she found it difficult to keep track of the math. 

[Icelandic Woman]

Wow oped it sounds like you really had a fabulous time and did a lot. Great posts!
Yes I agree best drinking water in the world!

[ken a.k.a OMK]

I went there 6 times with the Naval Air Reserves in the 70's. I didn't have a lot of free time, but loved what I got to see of the country. I watched an outside  chess match in Reykjavik Where the board was like a patio, the pieces were about 4' high and we sat in a sports like stand. The players stood on stands then got off to make their move. Meaning they dragged the pieces off the board. Also saw wonderful art, glaciers, falls and a geyser.  I don't remember where everything was. Wonderful people and landscape.

[Icelandic Woman]

oped you didn't say whether you liked the Icelandic hot dog with everything on it? Best place to get it is a little trailer downtown that has been there since the dawn of time called Bæjarin´s Besta.

[Icelandic Woman]

One of the things I miss the most from Iceland is the food. Especially the candy.
If you like black licorice it is the best anywhere. Apollo Lakkris the best of the bunch. If I could afford the shipping costs I would be having it shipped to me on a regular basis.
I am not a chocolate person but I will eat Icelandic chocolate. They make it with cream not milk.
I am not a fish person but I do like good lamb and Iceland has good lamb! I won't eat lamb here in the US. Rack of lamb or leg of lamb with a good gravy is to die for!

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Icey, I had a hot dog in Iceland and I think it was lamb.

[Icelandic Woman]

Mar 11, 2015 15:56:01 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Icey, I had a hot dog in Iceland and I think it was lamb.

But did you get it with all the fixins? That is the only way to eat it. The wonderful sinnep (mustard), fried onions, remoulade sauce and the sweet ketchup. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

[Icelandic Woman]

I found a wikipedia page for the best hot dog place!!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A6jarins_Beztu_Pylsur

[ken a.k.a OMK]

The galley on base (Keflavik) had fried fish at every meal. It was good.

[Deleted]

I did not get a hot dog myself  But i know they are a big thing there. Like I said, loved the fish and the lamb stew and the breakfast basket stuff. trying to remember what else we ate? Remember too, i have lots of allergy/intolerance issues, so i dont always eat what everyone else does, i mean i have to be more careful. 

[Icelandic Woman]

Mar 11, 2015 16:03:55 GMT -5 oped said:

I did not get a hot dog myself  But i know they are a big thing there. Like I said, loved the fish and the lamb stew and the breakfast basket stuff. trying to remember what else we ate? Remember too, i have lots of allergy/intolerance issues, so i dont always eat what everyone else does, i mean i have to be more careful. 

If you mean bakery goods in the breakfast basket then yes! Their bakeries are some of the best in the world.

[Icelandic Woman]

Mar 11, 2015 16:02:22 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

The galley on base (Keflavik) had fried fish at every meal. It was good.

Did the fried fish have breading on it? Like I said I am not a big fish person but breaded fried Haddock with lemon is delish! I am getting homesick.

[Deleted]

     Food porn from the Fish place.

[Deleted]

  Lamb Stew at the Falls .... (Not my best falls pic, oh well...)

[Deleted]

A few odds and ends... then I'm done

 

   

[aprilleigh]

Thanks, oped, that was awesome! 

How did you do with the language? 

Is it correct that merchants only / mostly accept the Chip & PIN cards? My Capital One has no foreign currency conversion fee, but it's not Chip & PIN. My BofA Visa is Chip & PIN, but I'm not sure of the fee (I'm sure there is one). 

I'll admit, I'm a little concerned about the food. I'm definitely not an adventurous eater, and I'm not the fond of seafood! LOL! This will definitely be stretching!

I feel like the Blue Lagoon is something that you just have to do, you know? I'm not crazy excited to go, but your description sounds nice!

I booked our apartment yesterday through Airbnb! Thanks mostly in part to the thread here. It was great to hear everyone's awesome experiences. Hotel prices were pretty high, and I tried like 8 and none were available for the week we're there.  I found an adorable place, and pretty much knew that was going to be it.  

We are going to drive the Golden Circle... my husband's a photographer and I'm sure would be begging the bus driver to "just pull over, I'll be real quick!"  

Your pictures are great. This is so exciting!! I don't really feel like I can talk about our trip with anyone else IRL or on FB... it's such an outrageous trip, and some of our friends and family are struggling financially, so it feels awkward... 

[Icelandic Woman]

Mar 11, 2015 21:47:06 GMT -5 aprilleigh said:

How did you do with the language? 

april English is mandatory in Icelandic schools so you will find that most Icelanders speak very good English.

[Icelandic Woman]

Great pictures oped! Thanks for sharing.

[spartan7886]

Mar 11, 2015 21:47:06 GMT -5 aprilleigh said:

Is it correct that merchants only / mostly accept the Chip & PIN cards? My Capital One has no foreign currency conversion fee, but it's not Chip & PIN. My BofA Visa is Chip & PIN, but I'm not sure of the fee (I'm sure there is one). 

Chip & PIN or chip & signature? Pretty sure my BofA Visa is chip & signature. Shouldn't make a difference most places, just sometimes at automated kiosks.