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PBaruch: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=60568.0
Aurora, Storms, and Snowpants: An Icelandic Saga by Something Fishy, whYME, and ChAiM'l
@Yehuda
BrachaB
Ponash123
Airlines that fly to Iceland direct from NY:
1. Iceland Air
2. Delta
3. Wow Air
4. United (May 23 - Oct 4)
Hotels in the Reykjavik Area:
1. 101 Hotel (supposedly one of the best spas in Iceland)
2. Ion (set on a lava field and one of Iceland's newest luxury hotels)
3. Hotel Ranga
4. Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel (provides exclusive access to a private lagoon for hotel guests only)
5. Radisson BLU 1919 (Can use Club carlson points and in the middle of town) Will warm and store food for a nominal fee.
Camper/RV Rentals:
There are several places where you can rent a camper truck or motorhome, including here: http://www.campericeland.is/
Campgrounds:
The campgrounds in Iceland are large and never feel crowded. Many offer excellent facilities and amenities. You can drive in at any time of the day or night and pay the nominal fee whenever the office opens.
Kosher Food:
Kosher food is pretty much non existent in Iceland. Even many American brands do not have a hechsher. Some foods that have been found with a hechsher are Cheerios Cereal, Nature Valley Granola Bars, and Powerade. That being said, several DDF members have been able to bring in kosher food/meat without being checked or stopped. Just walk through the "nothing to declare" line.
Random tip of the day: if you are in the Reykjavik area and need to heat up a meal but don't have easy access to an oven, the Ikea food court has an oven for guest use. Right side, near the sandwich and pastry checkout.
Tons of great seating as well. (HT: SomethingFishy)
Language
Most of the populace speaks English and children are taught English starting in the sixth grade. It is rare but you might find some older folks that do not speak English.
Communications:
The Iceland Air Saga shop sells starter Síminn branded sim cards for a nominal amount. If you order in advance, they will even deliver the sim cards to you on your Icelandair flight (one of the cheapest options to get a starter sim card). You can also find stores in the airport that sell sim cards. Vodafone is the other major carrier in Iceland and also sells sim cards. You can purchase the Saga Shop sim starter here:
http://www.sagashop.net/men/detail/?id=57860-0009
GPS - Navigation
Garmin Nordic Maps includes Iceland and can be purchased here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BS4Q3I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Voltage
Iceland uses 220v. Most cell phones, cameras and laptops come with a multi switching power supply (verify by looking at power supply) so you will only need to buy a cheap adapter such as this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058EG0KC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01
Currency/Credit Cards
Credit cards are almost universally accepted in Iceland. As a result, you may find no need to exchange currency for the Icelandic Kroner (ISK). If you use a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees, you should be set. If you do decide to exchange currency, there are ATM machines in the airport right outside customs.
Activities:
1. The Golden Circle Tour is very popular and takes you to Geysir (lame compared to Yellowstone), Gulfoss Waterfalls, and Thingvellir (where the continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region. You can dive in a lake and touch both plates).
2. Inside the volcano tour to Thrihnukagigur Volcano. In this tour, you either hike ( a few kilometers) or take a helicopter charter from the Reykjavik airport to the volcano. Once there, you are lowered by a construction type lift into the magma chamber. The least expensive way to get a semi private tour of the magma chamber is with the helicopter, which takes you there in between the regularly scheduled tours.
3. There are various Super Jeep Tours (vans and SUV's with tractor tires), including a tour to Langjokull Glacier, where you drive onto the glacier. Private tours can be arranged.
4. Jokulsarlon - a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajokull National Park. Here, you can take a duck boat tour or a zodiac boat tour of the lake where you will see icebergs, seals, and various birds. Across the road from Jokulsarlon is a black sand beach where you can see icebergs on the beach.
5. The Blue Lagoon - the public lagoon gets very crowded and if you go it is recommended to get there when they open. If you can manage a stay at the Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel (currently 15 rooms but they are expanding to 30 rooms) you will get exclusive access to the private lagoon for hotel guests only. Since there are only 15 rooms at present, the private lagoon rarely has more than a handful of people in it at any time. Most people do not make a full day out of the Blue Lagoon and instead go on your arrival into Iceland or upon departure before the airport. All the Bus lines have stops to and from the airport. 3-4 hours is ample time.
6. Waterfalls abound including Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
7. Dog sledding in Skallafell.
8. Icelandic Horses - Horse back riding is extremely popular in Iceland. Most residents actually own a horse. Iceland is the only place in the world where you will find the Icelandic horse. It has 5 Gaits oppose to the 3 that most other horses have. They are gentle animals and very comfortable to ride.
PBaruch: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=60568.0
Aurora, Storms, and Snowpants: An Icelandic Saga by Something Fishy, whYME, and ChAiM'l
@Yehuda
BrachaB
Ponash123
Airlines that fly to Iceland direct from NY:
1. Iceland Air
2. Delta
3. Wow Air
4. United (May 23 - Oct 4)
Hotels in the Reykjavik Area:
1. 101 Hotel (supposedly one of the best spas in Iceland)
2. Ion (set on a lava field and one of Iceland's newest luxury hotels)
3. Hotel Ranga
4. Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel (provides exclusive access to a private lagoon for hotel guests only)
5. Radisson BLU 1919 (Can use Club carlson points and in the middle of town) Will warm and store food for a nominal fee.
Camper/RV Rentals:
There are several places where you can rent a camper truck or motorhome, including here: http://www.campericeland.is/
Campgrounds:
The campgrounds in Iceland are large and never feel crowded. Many offer excellent facilities and amenities. You can drive in at any time of the day or night and pay the nominal fee whenever the office opens.
Kosher Food:
Kosher food is pretty much non existent in Iceland. Even many American brands do not have a hechsher. Some foods that have been found with a hechsher are Cheerios Cereal, Nature Valley Granola Bars, and Powerade. That being said, several DDF members have been able to bring in kosher food/meat without being checked or stopped. Just walk through the "nothing to declare" line.
Random tip of the day: if you are in the Reykjavik area and need to heat up a meal but don't have easy access to an oven, the Ikea food court has an oven for guest use. Right side, near the sandwich and pastry checkout.
Tons of great seating as well. (HT: SomethingFishy)
Language
Most of the populace speaks English and children are taught English starting in the sixth grade. It is rare but you might find some older folks that do not speak English.
Communications:
The Iceland Air Saga shop sells starter Síminn branded sim cards for a nominal amount. If you order in advance, they will even deliver the sim cards to you on your Icelandair flight (one of the cheapest options to get a starter sim card). You can also find stores in the airport that sell sim cards. Vodafone is the other major carrier in Iceland and also sells sim cards. You can purchase the Saga Shop sim starter here:
http://www.sagashop.net/men/detail/?id=57860-0009
GPS - Navigation
Garmin Nordic Maps includes Iceland and can be purchased here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BS4Q3I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Voltage
Iceland uses 220v. Most cell phones, cameras and laptops come with a multi switching power supply (verify by looking at power supply) so you will only need to buy a cheap adapter such as this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058EG0KC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01
Currency/Credit Cards
Credit cards are almost universally accepted in Iceland. As a result, you may find no need to exchange currency for the Icelandic Kroner (ISK). If you use a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees, you should be set. If you do decide to exchange currency, there are ATM machines in the airport right outside customs.
Activities:
1. The Golden Circle Tour is very popular and takes you to Geysir (lame compared to Yellowstone), Gulfoss Waterfalls, and Thingvellir (where the continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region. You can dive in a lake and touch both plates).
2. Inside the volcano tour to Thrihnukagigur Volcano. In this tour, you either hike ( a few kilometers) or take a helicopter charter from the Reykjavik airport to the volcano. Once there, you are lowered by a construction type lift into the magma chamber. The least expensive way to get a semi private tour of the magma chamber is with the helicopter, which takes you there in between the regularly scheduled tours.
3. There are various Super Jeep Tours (vans and SUV's with tractor tires), including a tour to Langjokull Glacier, where you drive onto the glacier. Private tours can be arranged.
4. Jokulsarlon - a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajokull National Park. Here, you can take a duck boat tour or a zodiac boat tour of the lake where you will see icebergs, seals, and various birds. Across the road from Jokulsarlon is a black sand beach where you can see icebergs on the beach.
5. The Blue Lagoon - the public lagoon gets very crowded and if you go it is recommended to get there when they open. If you can manage a stay at the Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel (currently 15 rooms but they are expanding to 30 rooms) you will get exclusive access to the private lagoon for hotel guests only. Since there are only 15 rooms at present, the private lagoon rarely has more than a handful of people in it at any time. Most people do not make a full day out of the Blue Lagoon and instead go on your arrival into Iceland or upon departure before the airport. All the Bus lines have stops to and from the airport. 3-4 hours is ample time.
6. Waterfalls abound including Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss.
7. Dog sledding in Skallafell.
8. Icelandic Horses - Horse back riding is extremely popular in Iceland. Most residents actually own a horse. Iceland is the only place in the world where you will find the Icelandic horse. It has 5 Gaits oppose to the 3 that most other horses have. They are gentle animals and very comfortable to ride.
« Last edited by yelped on June 21, 2021, 11:36:59 AM »
