~~ Iceland megathread ~~

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 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

For car rental is worth getting the

Gravel Protection
&
Sand and Ash

or one or the other?

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.

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 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

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 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 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 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

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

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 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 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.

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.