Topic Wiki

Trip Reports:
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 220543 times)

Online Something Fishy

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #780 on: November 25, 2019, 11:40:19 AM »
Is March too cold to go to iceland and can you still see the northern lights then?

No
Yes
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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #781 on: November 25, 2019, 11:40:40 AM »
Can a pair of young women do an Iceland trip?  Are there tours they can get originating in Reykjavík, or they'll need to drive themselves around?

Yes
Yes
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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #782 on: November 25, 2019, 11:46:07 AM »
Women can totally do an Iceland trip, and if you look in the TRs in the wiki, 1 or 2 of them involve a group of female friends. You can definitely base yourselves in Reykjavik and take day trips from there if you're more comfortable. You'll get to see more if you do drive - navigation there is really, really easy, unless you're going in the winter - but if you're more comfortable with someone else doing the driving, it's very easy to do and shouldn't stop you from going.

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #783 on: November 25, 2019, 12:41:23 PM »
Thanks
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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #784 on: February 08, 2020, 10:22:49 PM »
FYI, the Orkan right by the KEF car rental return (map) accepts US credit cards normally (Visa, at least), unlike most gas stations. No need to deal with gas cards or search for an open manned gas station when you're rushing to catch your flight.
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Offline Ellen

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #785 on: February 10, 2020, 05:13:45 PM »
Is it worth it to stop here for 24 hours? Is it possible to get to any of the nice (not tourist trap) places in such a short time? or rather skip it and visit Iceland when have more time there?

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #786 on: February 10, 2020, 05:20:12 PM »
Is it worth it to stop here for 24 hours? Is it possible to get to any of the nice (not tourist trap) places in such a short time? or rather skip it and visit Iceland when have more time there?

Longer trips are obviously better, but you can definitely do a ton in 24 hours.
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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #787 on: May 13, 2020, 01:02:16 AM »
https://grapevine.is/news/2020/05/12/breaking-iceland-to-open-to-tourists-again-on-june-15th-with-conditions/

Quote
Tourists visiting Iceland after this date can make a choice: go into immediate 2-week quarantine, get tested for the coronavirus, or present a clean bill of health from the health authorities in their home countries. Visitors will also be asked to install the Rakning C-19 contagion tracing app.
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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #788 on: May 13, 2020, 07:02:44 PM »
https://grapevine.is/news/2020/05/12/breaking-iceland-to-open-to-tourists-again-on-june-15th-with-conditions/
It's nice to see that there is a plan and option for visiting safely. Now visitors get to decide if they want to go with those conditions.

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #791 on: June 29, 2020, 09:37:11 AM »
Wow there the 2nd country after Italy to do this.
Any official word when they will open up to US travelers?

Nope, but it appears to be tied in with the EU's opening.
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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #792 on: June 29, 2020, 09:43:59 AM »
Nope, but it appears to be tied in with the EU's opening.
That's the rumors although Iceland, Greece and Portugal have all claimed July 1st they will allow in Americans as well but there haven't been any updated info on that.

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #794 on: March 16, 2021, 08:24:06 PM »
https://www.icelandreview.com/travel/iceland-to-open-borders-to-all-vaccinated-travellers/

Massive news

Definitely an exciting development! Any estimates of when the policy change will go into effect? And do you think they'll be satisfied with those little CDC cards given out at the time of vaccination, which look so unofficial and easily forgeable?

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #795 on: March 16, 2021, 08:25:24 PM »
Definitely an exciting development! Any estimates of when the policy change will go into effect? And do you think they'll be satisfied with those little CDC cards given out at the time of vaccination, which look so unofficial and easily forgeable?

Supposedly an official announcement coming within days.

Unfortunately I doubt they'll make it as easy as using those cards... we shall see.
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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #796 on: March 20, 2021, 08:31:09 PM »
https://youtu.be/akWlYHj0ymk livestream of Volcano eruption. Been over 800 years since the last one I believe.

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #797 on: May 12, 2021, 06:18:16 PM »
Does anyone have recommendations for a good tour guide in Iceland?
I would like to go at the end of May for 4 traveling days.

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Re: Iceland Master Thread
« Reply #798 on: May 14, 2021, 07:05:56 PM »
Does anyone have recommendations for a good tour guide in Iceland?
I would like to go at the end of May for 4 traveling days.

Yes @Something Fishy

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Re: Iceland Master Thread - Covid testing before return to US
« Reply #799 on: May 27, 2021, 03:33:49 PM »
I know that the rules might change between now and July but I'm stressing over the covid test you have to take before returning to the US.  Looks like the testing sites are mostly in Reykjavik but we will be there less than 24 hours before returning to the US.  The day before we are on an all day jeep tour out of Selfoss (as far as I can tell their clinic is only open for a half hour mid-day), and the day before we will be near Vik but there are no clinics there.

Any recommendations?