Thinking about summer hol’s and Mrs Seadog wants Iceland. Totally out of the blue, really didn’t expect her to choose such a place being more of a city break type of girl.

Any recommendations? and just as important – what to avoid or watch out for.

Sister was in Reykjavik, said it was an amazing place. Great food. Cultural things to see. Lots of options for trips from there, couple days at the blue lagoon. 4×4 tours etc.

There’s an old thread I kept bookmarked for when I went.

linky 1

It’s a great place. I’d love to go back.

What do you want to do? E.g. serious biking / hiking, driving tour, low cost camping, nice hotels etc?

I’ve been a couple of times for biking, bursting to go back.

I love the place. There is more wilderness than you can shake a stick at. It’s cheap and easy to camp in every village or town and there are amazing swimming pools everywhere.

Things to watch out for – car hire and anything involving service is quite expensive. The weather is crap.

Get the buses. They rule.

A guy at work went with his GF last year. They hired a camper van and toured round and spent a few days at the end in Reykjavik. They loved it, sounded like a bit of an adventure. They didn’t say it was particularly expensive (apart from the Reykjavik part), but I guess that’s relative. I was itching to go back in my Scuba days. I’ll drag the family there one day.

WE really have no idea what sort of holiday to go for. Just looks an amazing place (might also trigger some new camera bits buying!).

Unfortunately biking is out as Mrs Seadog not keen on two wheeled shenanigans.. 😕

Gentle adventuring, and some driving about to places to see stuff and do stuff, but open to suggestions.

We are going this year.

One night in Reykjavik to start, then round Route 1 in a 4×4 over seven nights.

Finishing again with two nights in Reykjavik.

Our local travel agent came up with some good ideas.

I fly out on the 18th.
Love the place.
Taking the cameras as the Borealis forecast is really good.

Had a work trip and managed to tag on a holiday many years back, did that famous walk and a few other things. Lovely place and we were v v lucky with weather in late June.

Typcial reason to go is a nature / adventure trip, see the hot springs, ice, volcanic stuff etc. Have had a few friends who’ve done these trips with their kids and another who did a 4×4 long weekend as a stag do. What is expensive there is meat, if you eat veggie and fish its not too bad. Its very much on my to do list, we see it as a closer version of Alaska

If you enjoy the outdoors, Iceland is great, especially in summer. I cycle toured half of it a few years ago. Lovely long days in the summer, beautiful scenery and lots to see and do. If you find car rental too pricey, then the buses are a great way to get around, you can stick bikes on them too. Lots of camp sites along the way, all with hot showers. Every town has a swimming pool too. Petrol stations sell most things for camping too.

The weather can be pants, windy and rainy during the summer, but so long as you’re prepared for it. And if the aurora activity is high, you might get lucky and see the northern lights. I did in July for about 20 mins, was magic!

For car rental I used SAD cars, cheap older cars with higher mileage. Works out well as they aren’t precious about the bodywork and the prices are cheaper.

It’s worth realising that it’s a really big place, we drive from Reykjavik to Akyeri (spelling) in the North, it was a comfortable 6 hour drive and even in September there was snow falling in the North.

The Iceland air hotel in Reykjavik is great, Kaffainabarin was a fun night out too, but don’t go out till late, like 11/12 late as you’ll be out way too early!

The weather can be pants, windy and rainy during the summer, but so long as you’re prepared for it. And if the aurora activity is high, you might get lucky and see the northern lights. I did in July for about 20 mins, was magic!

Just like the UK, then… 😉

just like the UK, then…

On steroids…

Thinking about summer hol’s and Mrs Seadog wants Iceland. Totally out of the blue, really didn’t expect her to choose such a place being more of a city break type of girl.

Suspicious indeed. Don’t stand with your back to her near one of those boiling hot geezers!

😆

Amazing place, like no other country I have had the pleasure of visiting. The wildlife, especially the birds is something else. We saw white tailed Eagles which were like 8’x4′ sheets of ply flying around. The geology and geothermal activity is unlike anything I experienced in New Zealand or anywhere else. The 24 hour daylight (May/June)is a bit weird at first but you soon get used to it. The fish and other seafood is the best I have ever tasted. I could go on and on, go there, I promise you will enjoy it!

Going in Feb. One night at the Icelandair hotel, so it’s nice to know it’s a good un; three nights in country including Eyjafyallajokull volcano, hopefully clear sky and some solar activity for at least one night, then back to Reykjavik for a final night at the same hotel
One of my friends went just before Christmas, said the sun didn’t get up until about 10am! Lazy sun

FWIW there is no need whatsoever for a 4×4 on Route 1, the ring road. If you are hiring a vehicle you will not however be able to obtain any insurance if you take it onto any of the ‘F’ roads.

So, unless you are planning a crossing of the interior, eg via Kjolur or Sprengisandur I would bear the above in mind, it can make a big saving.

When all is said and done though I have seen many ‘normal’ cars (2wd) on the F35 (Kjolur). I would happily drive in a Golf or whatever to Hveravellir https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@64.8658825,-19.5525048,366m/data=!3m1!1e3. There is but a single simple ford to manage. The last mie or so, from the F35 main drag, to the hot springs is the most testing but take it slow and easy- no probs in my experience. But no insurance available, so a risk you need to weigh up.

Do not attempt to drive the Sprengisandur without a 4wd. I was escorted across a thigh deep ford by the Mountain Rescue guys once, right by the Nyiadalur Hut. Yet another time though it was barely ankle deep.
http://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/plofin_sprengisandur.htm

There are so many ‘iconic’ place to visit- but try to get away from the main tourist drag. My best experiences have always been in places seldom known. Try a cup of coffee in a quayside cafe in a tiny southern fishing port. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g608874-d2264342-Reviews-Bryggjan-Grindavik_Southern_Peninsula.html

or the best campsite in the world, very difficult to reach but well worth it. Pakgil. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@63.5303455,-18.8987267,4127m/data=!3m1!1e3

We went last Christmas and both loved it, not the time of year to be doing self drive exploring but we still got to see and do loads in a week, looking to go back in the next year or two for sure. Can recommend Hotel Fron, not overly luxurious but decent, cheap and brilliantly located in Reykjavik. And use the Appy hour app for cheap drinks.

2nd the high mileage car rental. We used blue island rentals. Picked us up in keflavik and sorted us out.

I prefer Lidl when I’m on holiday.

Wow, thanks folks, positive remarks mike it looks like there’s no turning back now! Flights are cheaper than I expected, and direct from Manchester and Aberdeen.

I think brief stay in Reykjavik, and then figure out a round about route to visit the best and most interesting sights.

Getting a little bit excited TBH :o! but it’s months away… 🙁