Trip to Iceland

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olddoll

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Two middle aged ladies will be travelling to Iceland in October for a few days. We would appreciate any advice, recommendations on places to eat, places to see etc. while there. Would weather at that time be equivalent to our winter? What type clothes should we bring.
Many thanks for any info
 
fantastic place to travel but I would say quite hard to get around unless you are with an escorted tour, I would recommend looking into this option for when you arrive and try everything, plenty of attractions, glaciers, blue lagoon, waterfalls, whale watching and puffin island etc very expensive to eat and drink to so get saving !! the perlan restaurant is an experience, like a revolving glass house www.tripadvisor.com will not steer you far off the track though... would love to go again
 
I was there last Nov. its very very expensive there Ireland seems like a good value for money incomparsion.€12 for a glass of wine :eek: so getting merry isn't an option. Bring warm comfortable clothes especially for the day you do the gyser tour its very cold outside the capital can be -15 I now know what thermal underwear is for now. We didn't get to see the Northern Lights and not many do you need prefect weather conditions the Blue Lagoon is a must and I was sorry we didn't do it on Sunday aswell as there is nothing really to do on the Sunday put just hang around. 3/4 days is plenty there and you must try a hot dog there the best in world especially with the crispy onions.mmmm
 
I travel back and forth to Iceland quite regularly. Was there last in March. October will be cold, so dress like Irish winter, expect temperatures to hover around 5 to 10 degrees, but its the wind that makes it cold.

The tourist season runs from May till September so you may find lesser visited attractions to be closed. If it is your first time in Iceland I would recommend doing the 'Golden Circle' bus tour where you get to see Geysirs, Waterfalls and Craters. If you're more adventurous I'd recommend getting a 'Super Jeep' tour. You can do this as part of a group of 4-6 people or as a private tour. I recommend http://www.natureexplorer.is. The jeeps can go off road into the mountains and onto glaciers. Great fun.

Try and get to the Blue Lagoon, its a bit touristy but worth the trip, very surreal. Also try and visit the area in the Reykjanes Peninsula. You pass this area on the way from the airport and everybody overlooks it.

The Icelandic economy has taken a major dip in the last year so that it is now no more expensive than say going to Paris, London or even Dublin. The value of the Icelandic kronur has dropped, I remember when 1 euro would get you 84 kronur, 1 euro is now worth 118 kronur. Iceland is much cheaper now.

There are a lot of good restaurants and bars downtown and you should be able to find something to suit your pocket. As well as the hotdogs you have to try a Nonnabiti sandwich. Delicious fried bread sub style sandwich, you can find them on Hafnarstraeti downtown.
 
Many thanks for your replies. They are very helpful. The 'Super Jeep' tour sounds good. Really looking forward to trip.
 
Following on from what Majik mentioned about the economy.

I have a few mates going to Iceland in September and they have been keeping a close eye on the exchange rate which has varied quite a since they booked (6 months). Might be worth looking at this and changing cash in advance when it looks good.
 
Good idea. On checking the rate is Euro1.00 to ISK124 so it appears to becoming more attractive.

Many thanks
 
Me personally, I would love to go to Iceland but wouldn't touch it with a bargepole as they continue to illegally hunt and kill Whales to meet a "demand" that infact doesn't exist in Iceland !:confused::mad:

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My advice ?, don't go to Iceland and write to the minister for tourism to advise him why you decided against.
 
I was in Iceland last year for Valur v Cork City in the Intertoto Cup. We found a cheap bar (called Belly's) where the beer was the same price as in Ireland and stays open 'til stupid o'clock in the morning. Weather-wise, I walked around topless in the evening (yes, I am a male :D), it was fantastic weather. 24 hour daylight was surreal.

Tourist-wise, I drank at night and slept during the day so can't really help you on that. One tip though - if you're going to claim your tax back at the airport, DO NOT have it put on your credit card, claim cash. I asked for it back on my CC and I never received it!

Have a great trip!
 
Candy said:
I was there last Nov. its very very expensive there Ireland seems like a good value for money incomparsion.€12 for a glass of wine :eek: so getting merry isn't an option. Bring warm comfortable clothes especially for the day you do the gyser tour its very cold outside the capital can be -15 I now know what thermal underwear is for now. We didn't get to see the Northern Lights and not many do you need prefect weather conditions the Blue Lagoon is a must and I was sorry we didn't do it on Sunday aswell as there is nothing really to do on the Sunday put just hang around. 3/4 days is plenty there and you must try a hot dog there the best in world especially with the crispy onions.mmmm
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Has the value of the Icelandic currency fallen dramatically against the Euro since the recent banking scandals? Would it be a good value destination now and would you recommend bringing Euro rather than local currency?
 
According to Universal Currency Convertor (http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi)

1 Euro now equals circa 150 ISK

Its been widely reported in the press that the currency due to credit crunch issues has lost significant value

Seem to me like its the time to visit going forwards..
 
Hey Olddoll! You wouldn't be one of these middle-aged dollybirds, would you?;)
 
Its been in the press for the last few weeks
but here is an article as of today..

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Had a wonderful trip to Iceland. It is well worth a visit. The Blue Lagoon is surreal.

We bought Kroner before going and found we get good value that way. Some of the trips were priced in both kroner and euro but depending on the value you got for the kroner any trips you went on could be Euro10 - 12 cheaper by paying in kroner.

The travel agent wanted payment in euros for any trips they organised at the hotel.

A cup of coffee averaged at ISK350 which cost about Euro 2.

Some of our group did not buy any currency until they arrived in Iceland and found value varied considerably. One bank offered 120 to Euro another offered 160. (That was a couple of weeks ago so). One of our group got ISK160 to Euro in Thomas Cooks, Grafton St.

We also used our credit card and believe we got good value thay way.
 
It was an organised package and originally the flights were booked with Futura airlines. When that company collapsed the flight to Iceland was with Czech Airlines and the return with Icelandic Airlines. Both of which were were very satisfactory and on time.
 
Glad you had a nice trip. One of my mates from Iceland who has travelled over here to Canada for work was telling me that tourist numbers have skyrocketed since the financial collapse. Prices are so good he says, that people from Denmark are going there to shop.
 
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