Holiday in Iceland - anyone been? any tips for being on a budget?

Donnie

Donnie

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Im planning 5 - 7 days in Iceland with the wife at the end of January and thought as part of my research I'd see if anyone here had been and what they found good or bad?

When I say budget, basically we've never been on an expensive holiday in our lives and we are both nurses. However, Between the fact that it's our 25th wedding anniversary on the 20th December and then it's the wifes 50th birthday in January how can I not surprise her?!

So, I want to use my money fairly wisely, economy class flights etc and NOT go on a snowmobile day at £400 for one day when I can get a accomodation plus flights for less than £700?

My plan is to hire a car, Budget rental seem to have some for less than £200 for about a week as I would like to explore the island and have lots of flexibility with our days and it means we dont HAVE to stay in Reykjavik itself, though Im not ruling it out either.

She really wants to see the northern lights of course and I would too BUT Im aware that it's not always possible so Im looking for other things to do instead eg the hot pools

So, just wondering if anyone has any experience or thoughts and no Im not going as a photography specific trip though the gear will of course be coming along :-)
 
Been told by someone thats been, Do not break the Speed Limit even on the Open Road.
 
End of January you'll have about 4 hours of daylight

Blue lagoon is fun, but if you want open air hot water then the swimming pool in Rekjavik is cheap and fun. Water is naturally heated but it's bloody cold out the pool.
The coach trips can be a cheap way of seeing a lot in a day, geysers, waterfalls, garden centers etc

Don't drink alcohol - it's very expensive. On the plus side the water is beautifully pure so just drink that.
We chatted to a couple of locals who took us out on the glacier for free (well a couple of drinks) in their 4x4 with 42" wheels!
 
4 hours? b****r, read on a website that by the end of january it should be close to 6 which Im more than happy with....hmmmmmmm. dont think 4 hours will change my mind though to be fair as I know it's something she really wants to do.
 
It's fun though, you get quite a long dusk although the daytime doesn't get bright. We went a few years ago mid January, was something like 11-3:30 for daylight, about an hour either side for dusk.
The bright side is it doesn't drop below freezing due to the gulf stream, but you get snow...so cold but not bitter.
Which makes being outside in a swimming costume different. Blue lagoon is really hot at the bottom, very warm bathwater at the top, so you sit on the side and then freeze, so drop back into the hot water.

Renting a car will be excellent. I think theres only one road that loops the island but ensure they are open and watch out for the fog. There are rescue cabins which are kept well stocked.
 
There has been at least two TPF expeditions to Iceland that I know of ( been on both), it's not a cheap place to stay/eat/drink !

Driving can be interesting, our 4x4 got blown of the road twice and one car ended up with a £600 bill for a cracked windscreen
 
I was on one of those trips and Brian's right - it wasn't cheap! That was 2 1/2 years ago and in the meantime, I understand that prices for car rental, food, drink and accommodation have almost doubled. He's also right about it being a touch windy. The Landcruiser I was driving didn't get blown off the road but it was a close run thing! 4 up along with all our luggage, it wasn't a light vehicle and it was on studded tyres (as were the 2 that got blown off the road).

Even with the price increase, we'd love to go back and do more of the island - we only did the Southern edge, from Keflavik to Hofn and back and we didn't stop between Keflavik and Vik other than to grab a bite to eat at a fast food joint. We (Mrs Nod and I) went out for one "proper" meal and for the 2 of us, it was just under £100 for nothing really special (about £30 here in the UK).
 
mrgubby said:
There has been at least two TPF expeditions to Iceland that I know of ( been on both), it's not a cheap place to stay/eat/drink !

Driving can be interesting, our 4x4 got blown of the road twice and one car ended up with a £600 bill for a cracked windscreen
Click to expand...

:eek::eek:

Nod said:
I was on one of those trips and Brian's right - it wasn't cheap! That was 2 1/2 years ago and in the meantime, I understand that prices for car rental, food, drink and accommodation have almost doubled. He's also right about it being a touch windy. The Landcruiser I was driving didn't get blown off the road but it was a close run thing! 4 up along with all our luggage, it wasn't a light vehicle and it was on studded tyres (as were the 2 that got blown off the road).

Even with the price increase, we'd love to go back and do more of the island - we only did the Southern edge, from Keflavik to Hofn and back and we didn't stop between Keflavik and Vik other than to grab a bite to eat at a fast food joint. We (Mrs Nod and I) went out for one "proper" meal and for the 2 of us, it was just under £100 for nothing really special (about £30 here in the UK).
Click to expand...

hmmm I was thinking of only hiring one of the small corsa sized cars!
 
Obviously I went to Iceland for the photography, but was pleasantly surprised to have one of the best holidays of my life. The people, the food, the music and the accommodation on top of the great photographic opportunities really come together.

I didn't think it was that expensive in all honesty. Hire a 4x4 with studded tyres, plan a route across the south coast, book accommodation with booking.com to give yourself the option to cancel for free at the last minute if the weather or your plans change things and hit the road. Make sure you eat at the Haldorskaffi in Vik, literally one of the best restaurants I've ever been to, (and I've eaten at some great places) the lamb sandwich is spot on, as is the burger. Also, whilst more expensive eat at the Hali country hotel too, and have the artic char, its superb.

You don't have to do the blue lagoon, there are free alternatives https://blog.shermanstravel.com/2015/blue-lagoon-alternatives-icelands-other-hot-springs/

Northern lights tours you don't have to pay for, just get the right apps on your phone or ask the hotels for an aurora call.

Obvisously the above itinerary only works if your missus would enjoy hours in the road, driving through utterly wild and vast landscapes in places and won't divorce you for spending more time with your camera than her.

If that's not the case, just do Reykjavik and the blue lagoon!!!
 
Donnie said:
:eek::eek:



hmmm I was thinking of only hiring one of the small corsa sized cars!
Click to expand...

They are fine, if it doesn't snow badly and you don't want to be adventurous where you go, (or pull off the road).

Some people say they are less prone to being broadsided by the wind, but having driven in a blizzard in sheet ice at night I was pleased to have a 4x4.
 
We went in September last year. I would say everywhere is expensive (inc alcohol and food) but, that aside it is a fantastic place. We booked our trips through Extreme Iceland
https://www.extremeiceland.is/en/

who were very reasonable but if you have a car then cheaper still although I did find the guides superb.

It will be very cold and windy.

Some ideas for routes

https://www.extremeiceland.is/en/self-drive-tours
 
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I have a friend from New York who was there for 2 weeks in 2016 and again August this year. His comment was that prices had gone up alarmingly this year. Much as he enjoyed it there , lots of photos taken etc., he won't be going back next summer
 
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