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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.
« Last edited by yelped on June 21, 2021, 11:36:59 AM »

Author Topic: Iceland Master Thread  (Read 220581 times)

Offline Ergel

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #200 on: July 17, 2015, 01:16:53 PM »
Unless my math is off it's more like $1.50
My bad, using the wrong Kroner (I knew something was wrong)
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #201 on: July 17, 2015, 01:24:15 PM »
If I am correct in my calculations, 211 ISK equals $1.55 USD.  That makes a gallon of gas almost $6.00 USD.  Plus, the beast I drove had a massive fuel tank.  That being said, no regrets.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #202 on: July 17, 2015, 01:26:26 PM »
I ignored it the first time, but now I'll comment. Is it really necessary to tell everyone that you have a trick that you don't plan on sharing? ::)

I have many tricks I don't plan on sharing.   :-X
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline EJB

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #203 on: July 17, 2015, 01:47:01 PM »
I have many tricks I don't plan on sharing.   :-X

PB PM

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #204 on: July 17, 2015, 01:56:32 PM »
I have many tricks I don't plan on sharing.   :-X
As you have made very clear here before. I just don't see the point of posting it.

Offline JS69

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #205 on: July 17, 2015, 02:19:07 PM »
Great TR!! Wife and I did Iceland last July and this TR brought back many great memories. The Inside the Volcano tour is probably one of the coolest tours anyone can take anywhere. sad you didn't do the walk though but with the baby it probably would have been pretty miserable.

Glad to see you had a blast.


Offline Emkay

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #206 on: July 17, 2015, 02:19:57 PM »
Great TR, how much did the camper van cost?

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #207 on: July 17, 2015, 02:21:52 PM »
Great TR!! Wife and I did Iceland last July and this TR brought back many great memories. The Inside the Volcano tour is probably one of the coolest tours anyone can take anywhere. sad you didn't do the walk though but with the baby it probably would have been pretty miserable.

Glad to see you had a blast.

Not doing the walk (if you mean the hike to the volcano rather than taking the helicopter) had nothing to do with the baby.  I chose the helicopter tour only because it was the least expensive way to get a semi-private tour of the magma chamber.  With the hike, they bundle you with up to 15 people in total.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #208 on: July 17, 2015, 02:22:54 PM »
Great TR, how much did the camper van cost?

With extras (second driver, unlimited miles, 0 deductible insurance, end cleaning fee), the total cost came out to about $750 USD per day.  The reason I picked this camper truck is because it is the only one available (that I could find) with an automatic transmission.  They do rent other larger motorhomes but they all come with manual transmission.  For some reason, these other motorhomes are cheaper than the camper truck.
« Last Edit: July 17, 2015, 02:39:56 PM by PBaruch »
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #209 on: July 17, 2015, 02:23:51 PM »
Awesome TR! Brings back good memories :D. Maybe I should get started on mine now...
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #210 on: July 17, 2015, 02:24:21 PM »
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

Offline Emkay

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #211 on: July 17, 2015, 02:24:46 PM »


With extras (second driver, unlimited miles, end cleaning fee), the total cost came out to about $750 USD per day.  The reason I picked this camper truck is because it is the only one available (that I could find) with an automatic transmission.  They do rent other larger motorhomes but they all come with manual transmission.  For some reason, these other motorhomes are cheaper than the camper truck.

Did I not read that correct or did you say $750 a day?

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #212 on: July 17, 2015, 02:25:02 PM »
Awesome TR! Brings back good memories :D. Maybe I should get started on mine now...

And you were bugging me about mine?  Look who is talking!!!!  C'mon man!
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Offline whYME

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #213 on: July 17, 2015, 02:26:08 PM »
Maybe I should get started on mine now...
lol that's what I was thinking

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #214 on: July 17, 2015, 02:26:22 PM »
Yes, $750 (seven hundred and fifty dollars a day).  If you figure out what a car rental costs plus the cost of a hotel, this really isn't much more expensive.  I have no regrets and intend to rent one of these for 2 weeks at some point.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #215 on: July 17, 2015, 02:26:37 PM »
And you were bugging me about mine?  Look who is talking!!!!  C'mon man!

Well you did do things we didn't... For example, although Skogafoss was high on our list, we didn't end up going (we only saw it from a distance).
Check out my site for epic kosher adventures: Kosher Horizons

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #216 on: July 17, 2015, 02:28:01 PM »
Yes, $750 (seven hundred and fifty dollars a day).  If you figure out what a car rental costs plus the cost of a hotel, this really isn't much more expensive.  I have no regrets and intend to rent one of these for 2 weeks at some point.

Our camper cost $880.04 for three days. The highland-capable version would have been $50-100 more.

Where did you rent from?
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Offline Emkay

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #217 on: July 17, 2015, 02:28:50 PM »
Yes, $750 (seven hundred and fifty dollars a day).  If you figure out what a car rental costs plus the cost of a hotel, this really isn't much more expensive.  I have no regrets and intend to rent one of these for 2 weeks at some point.
Well you can keep your free flights and I'll keep my reasonably priced vehicle rentals

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #218 on: July 17, 2015, 02:29:48 PM »
Our camper cost $880.04 for three days. The highland-capable version would have been $50-100 more.

Where did you rent from?

First off, I am really surprised you fit in the camper you rented.  That must have been like a circus act between you and they guys you went with.   :P

I rented from this place:

http://www.campericeland.is/
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Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #219 on: July 17, 2015, 02:30:36 PM »
Well you can keep your free flights and I'll keep my reasonably priced vehicle rentals

I just said what it cost - didn't say how it was paid for.   :P
What do you do after your dreams come true?