Iceland megathread

fionny · 08-07-2016 8:41am

My wife and I have booked a trip for Sept to Iceland also, we have a rough self drive itinerary but wanted to reduce the stay in Reykjavik to one night as we hear its only alright. Looking for suggestions to move nights around, whether we go north up to the penninsula or continue east past Vik.

This is what we CURRENTLY have provisionally

Day 1: Arrive - Reykjavik - Explore City
Day 2: Reykjavik - Whale Watching Tour
Day 3: Golden Circle - Stay in Hella
Day 4: South Coast - Stay in Hella (considering moving this to Vik)
Day 5: Blue Lagoon - Stay in Grandvik
Day 6: Fly Home

Ideally we would change up day 2 and keep much the rest of the itinerary, I have heard the whale watching is hit and miss from Reyjavik.

PS. Sorry for piggy backing OP but maybe this will help you too!

cowboyBuilder · 08-07-2016 8:44am

Myself and wife are
Planning the same - but for next summer sometime , I would have thought summer would be perfect for Iceland with the long days - jeeps expensive to rent ? Like 100 a day ir more ?

fionny · 08-07-2016 8:46am

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

Myself and wife are
Planning the same - but for next summer sometime , I would have thought summer would be perfect for Iceland with the long days - jeeps expensive to rent ? Like 100 a day ir more ?

Best place I found was CarsIceland.is they include all the gravel insurance etc... for 5 days it was like 415 for a Suzuki Jimmy 4x4

cowboyBuilder · 08-07-2016 10:01am

fionny wrote: »

Best place I found was CarsIceland.is they include all the gravel insurance etc... for 5 days it was like 415 for a Suzuki Jimmy 4x4

Pretty decent actually.

fionny · 08-07-2016 10:21am

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

fionny wrote: »

Best place I found was CarsIceland.is they include all the gravel insurance etc... for 5 days it was like 415 for a Suzuki Jimmy 4x4

Pretty decent actually.

Ya I dont think its that exhorbitant.

I wonder though if you are staying south do you really need a 4x4 or would a bog standard car suffice for the "popular" things

Sh1tbag OToole · 08-07-2016 10:24am

fionny wrote: »

Ya I dont think its that exhorbitant.

I wonder though if you are staying south do you really need a 4x4 or would a bog standard car suffice for the "popular" things

If you stay along the coast you'll get away with a bog standard one. The link I put up before shows the roads where you need 4x4

BailMeOut · 08-07-2016 10:30am

Think before renting a '4x4; to go off road. You see loads of these tiny Suzukis which are allowed on the F type roads but 99% of your driving will be on long open roads where it will completely suck being stuck in one of these.

I did 4 days in Iceland in June and want to go back again with my wife and kids next year. We are going to rent a motor home and drive around entire country.

Make sure you add the US Navy DC-3 plane wreckage to your list as well worth the hike from main road to see.

Enjoy - it's a fantastic place.

fionny · 08-07-2016 11:25am

Good to know on the car we plan on only driving Golden Circle and South Coast, maybe a little of East Iceland but not a huge amount...

Are Jimmy's really uncomforable?

BailMeOut · 08-07-2016 11:34am

fionny wrote: »

Good to know on the car we plan on only driving Golden Circle and South Coast, maybe a little of East Iceland but not a huge amount...

Are Jimmy's really uncomforable?

This is a Jimmy!

suzuki_jimny_for_sale_in_lahore_5920132412052455162.jpg

fionny · 08-07-2016 11:35am

I know but I didnt think they'd be super uncomfortable on normal roads.

Not my real name · 10-07-2016 8:30pm

Just looking at flights end of Sept and they a really cheap from Belfast.

If we base ourselves in Reykjavik is it realistic to get the following tours done in 3 days.

Blue Lagoon
Golden Circle (read on other thread that its 8-9hrs)
Northern Lights

Anything else a must see/do for the third day?

(sorry for hijacking thread)

liam7831 · 10-07-2016 9:21pm

Hi Guys, I was in Iceland last Sept for a week. The roads are very good over there. We rented a Citroen C4, it was perfect as their is carparks at all the attractions. Definitely rent a car with a sat nav as it will save you loads of time, our car was a 15 reg so had a built in one. You dont need a 4x4 as you definitely wont be going off road, if you do your gonna be in a whole load of trouble very fast. Gullfoss water fall is unbelievable but dont go too close to the edge, lots of tourists killed every year in iceland doing stupid selfies, the attractions would not be as cordoned off as here so you have to basically mind yourself.

The Blue Lagoon is ok maybe a little overrated, went on a whale watching trip left at 9am was back at 1;30 its pretty good. Went to Geysers one of the days about 2hrs from Reykjavik cant remember the name but there a must see.

Not my real name · 10-07-2016 9:56pm

What was the weather like in Sept?

Did you see the northern lights?

liam7831 · 10-07-2016 10:01pm

Not my real name wrote: »

What was the weather like in Sept?

Did you see the northern lights?

Weather was very good, long days too. We drove out to see them one night but didnt really see much, its hit and miss. There is bus tours going out every night to see them but it all depends on the weather, was too cloudy the night we went. Dont expect to see what you see in the pictures on the net

fionny · 11-07-2016 10:32am

Not my real name wrote: »

Just looking at flights end of Sept and they a really cheap from Belfast.

If we base ourselves in Reykjavik is it realistic to get the following tours done in 3 days.

Blue Lagoon
Golden Circle (read on other thread that its 8-9hrs)
Northern Lights

Anything else a must see/do for the third day?

(sorry for hijacking thread)

Potentially see you in Sept so

We're going ex Dublin with WoWair.

fionny · 11-07-2016 11:12am

For car rental is worth getting the

Gravel Protection
&
Sand and Ash

or one or the other?

Sh1tbag OToole · 11-07-2016 11:26am

fionny wrote: »

For car rental is worth getting the

Gravel Protection
&
Sand and Ash

or one or the other?

If you take it handy on the gravel road and don't park it where it's likely to be blasted with sand and ash you don't need either

fionny · 11-07-2016 11:31am

Also on the satnav, HERE Maps has a fairly good totally free offline GPS option, I used it recently in the US and it worked out nicely. Would be even easier for Iceland as the roads are much simpler. Would never pay a rental company their extortionate rates for Sat Nav.

BailMeOut · 11-07-2016 11:38am

fionny wrote: »

Also on the satnav, HERE Maps has a fairly good totally free offline GPS option, I used it recently in the US and it worked out nicely. Would be even easier for Iceland as the roads are much simpler. Would never pay a rental company their extortionate rates for Sat Nav.

+1

Advantage of using Here is that you can setup all your locations well in advance online before you get there so ready to hit the road as soon as you arrive. Typing in Icelandic names into SatNav is not easy and our car came with SatNav and gave up trying to use it.

BTW: we booked smallest/cheapest car via Nova / Budget and were upgraded to a very nice brand new Qashqai.

liam7831 · 11-07-2016 12:19pm

The Sat Nav on the C4 was child's play, just type in the location road name etc and bingo.
I think the sat nav was handy takes the fun out of it pre planning every move you make with some off line maps app. It's only about €10 a day, that's the price of 2 drinks over there, like its meant to be a holiday not a money saving endurance trip.

fionny · 11-07-2016 12:25pm

Why would you pay 10euro a day when you have a phone that can do the same job for free? that makes no sense to me. If there is built in satnav in the car then grand out but I would in my hole pay 10euro a day for something I have already.

liam7831 wrote: »

The Sat Nav on the C4 was child's play, just type in the location road name etc and bingo.
I think the sat nav was handy takes the fun out of it pre planning every move you make with some off line maps app. It's only about 10 a day, that's the price of 2 drinks over there, like its meant to be a holiday not a money saving endurance trip.

liam7831 · 11-07-2016 12:29pm

fionny wrote: »

Why would you pay 10euro a day when you have a phone that can do the same job for free? that makes no sense to me. If there is built in satnav in the car then grand out but I would in my hole pay 10euro a day for something I have already.

Free data in Iceland? You won't even have a signal

fionny · 11-07-2016 12:30pm

liam7831 wrote: »

fionny wrote: »

Why would you pay 10euro a day when you have a phone that can do the same job for free? that makes no sense to me. If there is built in satnav in the car then grand out but I would in my hole pay 10euro a day for something I have already.

Free data in Iceland? You won't even have a signal

Suggest re-read my post re OFFLINE free satnav.

fionny · 11-07-2016 12:33pm

Just found a complete BARGAIN for rental for our dates Mid Sept

6 days (returning morning of 6th) Hyundai i30 or similar with CDW for 161euro on autoeurope with rental company Procar...

That is fantastic!

liam7831 · 11-07-2016 12:38pm

Holidays sound like great craic with you. Don't forget the packed lunch

fionny · 11-07-2016 12:44pm

liam7831 wrote: »

Holidays sound like great craic with you. Don't forget the packed lunch

Oh ya we have great holidays last one was a Ford Mustang Convertible and you know what I brought my phone a usb lead and a suction mount in my hand luggage and saved myself 150euro. Personally and I think most people are the same there is no reason to fork out for something when its sitting in your pocket anyway..

But feel free to be nasty to people offering genuine advice on saving money in a rather expensive country.

liam7831 · 11-07-2016 12:48pm

fionny wrote: »

Oh ya we have great holidays last one was a Ford Mustang Convertible and you know what I brought my phone a usb lead and a suction mount in my hand luggage and saved myself 150euro. Personally and I think most people are the same there is no reason to fork out for something when its sitting in your pocket anyway..

But feel free to be nasty to people offering genuine advice on saving money in a rather expensive country.

It's really bad advice though that's the problem, if its too expensive don't go there

fionny · 11-07-2016 12:51pm

liam7831 wrote: »

fionny wrote: »

Oh ya we have great holidays last one was a Ford Mustang Convertible and you know what I brought my phone a usb lead and a suction mount in my hand luggage and saved myself 150euro. Personally and I think most people are the same there is no reason to fork out for something when its sitting in your pocket anyway..

But feel free to be nasty to people offering genuine advice on saving money in a rather expensive country.

It's really bad advice though that's the problem, if its too expensive don't go there

How in the name of jeebus is it BAD advice to point out to someone there is a TOTALLY free VERY capable satnav app available where for FREE you can download a full country onto the phone you already own and use that as a sat nav? If someone wants to spaff off cash on nothing then feel free but for those of us who dont want to wantonly throw our money at nothing at all then its very GOOD advice.

Sh1tbag OToole · 11-07-2016 12:54pm

Feck sake anyone who needs a sat nav to get around Iceland probably shouldn't be left outside the door of their own house because there are so few roads. I drove around the whole country without so much as a paper map and I wasn't for a minute worried about getting lost

fionny · 11-07-2016 12:55pm

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Feck sake anyone who needs a sat nav to get around Iceland probably shouldn't be left outside the door of their own house because there are so few roads. I drove around the whole country without so much as a paper map and I wasn't for a minute worried about getting lost

It does look pretty straight forward to be fair

11-07-2016 12:55pm

liam7831 wrote: »

It's really bad advice though that's the problem, if its too expensive don't go there

I don't believe he said too expensive, he said very expensive country. Which it is isn't it?

Anyone been there at the beginning of November? Going this year, just wondering about the weather, just how cold does it actually get at that time of year?

fionny · 11-07-2016 12:56pm

bubblypop wrote: »

liam7831 wrote: »

It's really bad advice though that's the problem, if its too expensive don't go there

I don't believe he said too expensive, he said very expensive country. Which it is isn't it?

Anyone been there at the beginning of November? Going this year, just wondering about the weather, just how cold does it actually get at that time of year?

This site indicates around 4 c

http://www.reykjavik.climatemps.com/november.php

BailMeOut · 11-07-2016 1:01pm

Getting back on subject....thought I'd share a few images from my trip.

liam7831 · 11-07-2016 1:03pm

bubblypop wrote: »

I don't believe he said too expensive, he said very expensive country. Which it is isn't it?

Anyone been there at the beginning of November? Going this year, just wondering about the weather, just how cold does it actually get at that time of year?

He actually said "rather expensive"

Not my real name · 11-07-2016 2:59pm

fionny wrote: »

Potentially see you in Sept so We're going ex Dublin with WoWair.

The flight prices weren't too bad from Dublin but the 6am flight home was putting me off.
Belfast is working out @ €165 return for 2 with £20 parking at the airport. Although it will be a 5.30 start heading out.
Have you booked accomadation?

Great photos!!

fionny · 11-07-2016 3:22pm

Not my real name wrote: »

fionny wrote: »

Potentially see you in Sept so We're going ex Dublin with WoWair.

The flight prices weren't too bad from Dublin but the 6am flight home was putting me off.
Belfast is working out @ 165 return for 2 with 20 parking at the airport. Although it will be a 5.30 start heading out.
Have you booked accomadation?

Ya the 6.15 return is early but sure earlier home the better in my opinion.

We have booked Hotels in Reykjavik, Hella, Vik and Grandvik (near airport)

BailMeOut · 11-07-2016 3:42pm

fionny wrote: »

Ya the 6.15 return is early but sure earlier home the better in my opinion.

We have booked Hotels in Reykjavik, Hella, Vik and Grandvik (near airport)

Just remember it's a long drive from Reykjavik to the airport (~45 mins) and the airport is really busy.

fionny · 11-07-2016 3:48pm

BailMeOut wrote: »

fionny wrote: »

Ya the 6.15 return is early but sure earlier home the better in my opinion.

We have booked Hotels in Reykjavik, Hella, Vik and Grandvik (near airport)

Just remember it's a long drive from Reykjavik to the airport (~45 mins) and the airport is really busy.

Thanks, we have Grandvik booked for the way home which is 20min from the airport so we can visit the Blue Lagoon and be close for our early start but I might look into airport hotels instead to be even closer.

crosstownk · 21-07-2016 1:08am

I'm in Iceland at the moment. It's a beautiful country. I'm in a cottage near Geysir.

I rented a Ford Focus which is good enough for most roads in the summer. I can see why a 4x4 is needed in winter months. No need for Sat Nav. Signposts are good and roads are few. No need for phone navigation if you do a small bit of research before you go.

A word of warning, Iceland is expensive. Very expensive. About 3 times the cost of Dublin. Coffee and a small slice of cake for four people cost €45 today in a place just outside Flúðir. A meal in a restaurant for four at Geysir cost €245.

I went to the Blue Lagoon yesterday and it was a touch touristy but very enjoyable.

It hasn't been dark since I got here. No night. It's 1225h now and still bright outside despite the cloud cover and drizzle.

fionny · 21-07-2016 8:31am

Glad you are enjoying it! Ouchies on the price's! Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully by september the day / night cycle will be there a little bit.

crosstownk · 22-07-2016 12:46am

fionny wrote: »

Glad you are enjoying it! Ouchies on the price's! Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully by september the day / night cycle will be there a little bit.

I'd say the day/night should be OK in September much like it is in Ireland. The fact that it's bright outside just makes my brain think that another beer is OK!!

Today we did the Riverjet jetboat trip. Brilliant. 47,600ISK for two adults and two children. In the afternoon we climbed a mountain near Geysir because it was free. We're off to þingviller tomorrow which is where the European and American plates meet.

The landscape is amazing. Today it was raining a lot - like a 'soft day' at home. It looks a bit like the Wicklow mountains but a bit more dramatic.

Yes it's expensive but it's so unique that it's well worth visiting.

In Reykjavik yesterday I saw an advertisement for a 'Penis Museum'........

fionny · 22-07-2016 8:27am

What kind of money is the beer / wine there?

BailMeOut · 22-07-2016 10:34am

fionny wrote: »

What kind of money is the beer / wine there?

beer is typically 1,000 ISK

fionny · 22-07-2016 10:36am

BailMeOut wrote: »

fionny wrote: »

What kind of money is the beer / wine there?

beer is typically 1,000 ISK

Ouch! Wont be going on the tear there so!

crosstownk · 22-07-2016 9:40pm

fionny wrote: »

What kind of money is the beer / wine there?

A carry home pack of beer (10x 500ml cans) and bottle of wine cost around ISK 3,700 from the off license.

Off Licences are called Vin Buðin and are state owned and run. Prices are the same in all off licenses. All are closed on Sundays with the exception of the duty free (in both arrivals and departures) at Keflavik. Stock up to the allowable limit at arrivals.

Drinking out can be as high as the ISK 1,000 indicated but a lot of bars in Reykyavik have a 'happy hour' with reduced prices. Happy hour can last for a few hours. I haven't been to any bars in Reykjavik so I can't say first hand.

I'm 100km from Reykyavik with kids so the off license suits my needs.

Not my real name · 23-07-2016 8:53pm

Can anyone recommend a company to book tours with?

Reviews seem good for this one.
https://www.viator.com/Reykjavik/d905-ttd?pref=204

23-07-2016 9:03pm

Not my real name wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a company to book tours with?

Reviews seem good for this one.
https://www.viator.com/Reykjavik/d905-ttd?pref=204

+1, I'm going in beginning of November, just for few days, want to book northern lights tour before I go for the first night. And maybe golden circle for the second day.
Because it's only a few days I think it would be better to book before I go!
Any recommendations welcome

fionny · 25-07-2016 11:03am

bubblypop wrote: »

Not my real name wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a company to book tours with?

Reviews seem good for this one.
https://www.viator.com/Reykjavik/d905-ttd?pref=204

+1, I'm going in beginning of November, just for few days, want to book northern lights tour before I go for the first night. And maybe golden circle for the second day.
Because it's only a few days I think it would be better to book before I go!
Any recommendations welcome

Viator is a safe bet anyway... and i just booked a whale watching tour via it... same tour company direct wanted 73euro each on viator it was 61euro... so happy days... turns out our hotel is 3min walk from the place also.

Not my real name · 25-07-2016 6:03pm

fionny are you doing any other tours? We are on a tight schedule and want to fit as much as possible in over the three days.

I'm looking at either the Golden Circle classic day or the southern Iceland tour or maybe both....

fionny · 27-07-2016 8:36am

Not my real name wrote: »

fionny are you doing any other tours? We are on a tight schedule and want to fit as much as possible in over the three days.

I'm looking at either the Golden Circle classic day or the southern Iceland tour or maybe both....

Thats the only paid tour we are planning to do, we have a car rented so we are going to do the golden circle and the south coast ourselves at our leisure... we will be staying in Hella and Vik along the way.

~~ Iceland megathread ~~

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Iceland megathread