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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 220667 times)

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #660 on: July 02, 2018, 02:04:39 AM »
Read my post again...
My bad.
Although to my knowledge any milk in the EU, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia is considered chalav STAM

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #661 on: July 02, 2018, 02:05:52 AM »
My bad.
Although to my knowledge any milk in the EU, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia is considered chalav STAM
That's not necessarily true, I'm not sure about the rest of the world but definitely in the EU it is country dependant.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #662 on: July 02, 2018, 02:08:09 AM »
That's not necessarily true, I'm not sure about the rest of the world but definitely in the EU it is country dependant.

I heard that directly from a kashrus expert that knows Europe.

I would rely on him and my rav was sitting right next to him as he said it.

Feel free to pm me if you want a name or continue the conversation.

Offline Yehudaa

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #663 on: July 02, 2018, 06:38:20 AM »


I heard that directly from a kashrus expert that knows Europe.

I would rely on him and my rav was sitting right next to him as he said it.


+1

I was also there when he said that :)

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #664 on: July 02, 2018, 06:56:56 AM »

+1

I was also there when he said that :)
Shame we didn't have DO after

Offline Yehudaa

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #665 on: July 02, 2018, 07:03:27 AM »
Shame we didn't have DO after
Lol I'm sure we weren't the only ones.

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #666 on: July 02, 2018, 07:07:17 AM »
Lol I'm sure we weren't the only ones.
No doubt.

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #667 on: July 09, 2018, 12:51:34 PM »
http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=49396&alias=history-chabad-opens-in-iceland
has anyone stayed at Chabad for shabbos (details on minyan?/food?) they did a good job putting up a basic website, and thinking of going for thanksgiving. https://www.jewishiceland.com/programs

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #668 on: July 09, 2018, 01:14:11 PM »
has anyone stayed at Chabad for shabbos (details on minyan?/food?) they did a good job putting up a basic website, and thinking of going for thanksgiving. https://www.jewishiceland.com/programs

Great to see Chabad is offering kosher food now as well.  This will definitely make a return trip more palatable.  Hopefully someone will report soon.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline deal catcher

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #669 on: July 10, 2018, 05:14:45 PM »
Great to see Chabad is offering kosher food now as well.  This will definitely make a return trip more palatable.  Hopefully someone will report soon.
i
No doubt.
just got back from Iceland, after speaking to chabad, they just arrived about a month ago to Iceland, when i was there last week they had a minyan one day during the week. they said they have a minyan every shabbos. trip report coming soon.

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #670 on: July 10, 2018, 05:15:34 PM »
i just got back from Iceland, after speaking to chabad, they just arrived about a month ago to Iceland, when i was there last week they had a minyan one day during the week. they said they have a minyan every shabbos. trip report coming soon.
Wow wonderful news

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #671 on: July 10, 2018, 05:20:34 PM »
That's really great. How do they get a Minyan together every week? Is the Rabbi the only one out of 10 who is Orthodox? Unless he does good organizing of the frum tourists.

Offline Yammer

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #672 on: July 10, 2018, 05:27:09 PM »
That's not necessarily true, I'm not sure about the rest of the world but definitely in the EU it is country dependant.
I heard that directly from a kashrus expert that knows Europe.

I would rely on him and my rav was sitting right next to him as he said it.

Feel free to pm me if you want a name or continue the conversation.
Did he mean those countries as well?

Bulgaria ()
Croatia ()
Cyprus ()
Estonia ()
Greece ()
Latvia ()
Romania ()
Slovakia ()
Slovenia ()

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #673 on: July 11, 2018, 12:12:09 AM »
My bad.
Although to my knowledge any milk in the EU, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia is considered chalav STAM
Very hard to believe about South Africa. There is very little rule of law there
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Dawie

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #674 on: July 15, 2018, 02:36:59 PM »
Very hard to believe about South Africa. There is very little rule of law there
-1

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Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #675 on: July 15, 2018, 02:55:03 PM »
Did he mean those countries as well?

Bulgaria ()
Croatia ()
Cyprus ()
Estonia ()
Greece ()
Latvia ()
Romania ()
Slovakia ()
Slovenia ()

I didn't ask him specifically about these countries and he didn't mention them specifically.

However he did say EU multiple times and I would feel comfortable relying on that for any country in the EU (I believe most of the countries listed are in the EU)
« Last Edit: July 15, 2018, 03:01:51 PM by moisheyb »

Offline Yammer

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #676 on: July 15, 2018, 05:39:59 PM »
I didn't ask him specifically about these countries and he didn't mention them specifically.

However he did say EU multiple times and I would feel comfortable relying on that for any country in the EU (I believe most of the countries listed are in the EU)
1) I hear
2) all are part of the EU

Offline eandd

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #677 on: October 30, 2018, 09:51:11 PM »
Just went through this entire thread, decided to add Iceland to a Europe trip. Plan is for four days/three nights at end of November.
Would really appreciate if all you Iceland experts out there could answer a question.

From what I read in my research, driving this time of year can be very dangerous mainly due to extreme winds. I'm leaning towards leaving the driving to the experts and booking tours, but those are so much more expensive and then you can't just pull over to the side of the road when you want to (I'm pregnant, need I say more...) Anyone have experience driving this time of year?

Really don't want to risk our lives driving through whiteout conditions/ gusts etc (we drove in New Zealand through a terrifying storm-really don't want to repeat that experience.)



Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #678 on: October 30, 2018, 10:10:20 PM »
Driving isn't bad the vast majority of the time. But when bad weather shows up (and it most likely will), you need to be comfortable with the conditions. When I was there we drove through some pretty hairy situations, but there came a point where we decided it wasn't safe to continue and hunkered down for the night. Easy to do in a camper; not so much in a car (plus you'll have the pressure of wanting to get back to your hotel, which doesn't make for good decision-making).

I say go with tours if you can afford it. FWIW, there aren't a lot of bathrooms along the road anyways, and where there are, it's a reasonable assumption that a tour will be able to stop. See if you can discuss it with them beforehand.
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Offline eandd

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #679 on: October 30, 2018, 10:15:30 PM »
Driving isn't bad the vast majority of the time. But when bad weather shows up (and it most likely will), you need to be comfortable with the conditions. When I was there we drove through some pretty hairy situations, but there came a point where we decided it wasn't safe to continue and hunkered down for the night. Easy to do in a camper; not so much in a car (plus you'll have the pressure of wanting to get back to your hotel, which doesn't make for good decision-making).

I say go with tours if you can afford it. FWIW, there aren't a lot of bathrooms along the road anyways, and where there are, it's a reasonable assumption that a tour will be able to stop. See if you can discuss it with them beforehand.

Thank you so much for your reply, as well as your contributions up thread!
Is it possible to be aware of bad weather beforehand (from the road condition/weather sites) or will it just pop up? Definitely not planning on renting a camper and risking being upside down the next morning  ;D and big cars usually have more problems in the wind.
Also, if there is bad weather can one pull over and wait it out, or does it usually last a while?
I keep going back and forth-I would so rather have the freedom of self-driving!