Iceland
8 days ,
Dec'13
INTRO ICELAND (note: we were travelling
in wintertime, the following might not be fully representative
of summer travel)
Kind of travel:
Me and my wife Elisa with our 1 year old daughter INES (her
first travel!) in an independent travel
When:
27th Dec'13- 04th Jan'14 (yes in the hearth of winter!)
Do I need a visa:
Show up with your ID and it'll be enough
How many km:
1400km by a rented car
How I moved:
we rented a car picking up and leaving at the airport (all the
agency have an office at the airport). Don't need a 4wd unless
you are planning off-road. To monitor the situation of the road
on line is a must. Take into consideration also the cheap domestic
flight by icelandair!
Freezing or baking:
No, in winter time Iceland is not Siberia! Don't even think
about -40 deg, Iceland is mitigated by the gulf current so along
the coast (on the roadring average is -2C) but when we were
there it was 4-6C! The only point is the wind so don't forget
scarf and heavy cap! Take into consideration there'll be 5 light
hours (sunrise 11.00, sunset 16.00) (read
tips)
Where I slept:
In Reykjavik we were staying in an ensuite apartment in
downtown (www.grettisborg.is) for 100€/night: we had a
1yo baby otherwise it's plenty of guesthouse with dorms for
25€/bed. While outside the capital choices are more limited
beyond medium budget hotels for around 110€/night. (read
tips)
What I liked:
The icebergs floating to the seaa in Jokullsarlon, the artistic
vibe in Reykjavik, the Christmas decorated Icelandic windows,
English is widely spoken and overall the Notherns Lights (read
tips)
What I disliked:
Wind can be annoying, costs can easily soar up and limited accommodation
outside the capital won't help to limit your daily budget. If
you are in Iceland in wintertime without managing to see Aurora
that'll be what you'll dislike most! (not our case luckly!).
If you are sensitive to darkness take into consideration you'll
have 5 hours of light each day
How much daily:
yes it's true in 2008 there has been the Icelandic Korona collapse
(loosing 80% of his value), but since then economy has recovered
and the currency as well. So today Iceland is 20% more expensive
than a travel in Germany and year over year there's a 5% increase.
Daily budget: 110€/night for a double room, food 50€/day
pp (launch fast food, evening: restaurant), car 60€/day,
total per person 130€/day pp . Different thing of course
if you travel in summer having a tent
What you do need:
Smart phone or Ipad to be updated on Aurora forecast (Aurora
forecast) and road situation (road
status) (be sure to have wifi in our accommodation). Don't
forget the triples to take pictures of Aurora.
IMPRESSIONS OF ICELAND
Iceland in winter time can sound not accessible given Siberian
temperatures, meters of snow and unbearable wind. Only the
latter might be true, for the rest Iceland in wintertime is
a feasible destination. Yes there are just 4 hours (graph
daylight hours + temperatures) but this is part of the charm
and the light is as orange as a long sunset. As per moving
around you can easily monitor the accessibility of the roads
on line mitigating the risk of getting stuck.
We were well impressed by Reykjavik by his artistic and cultural
vibe making worth spending more than a couple of days poking
around. On top of this we found the Christmas atmosphere with
all his lightings unique since there's not a single window
not decorated.
I got impressed on how Iceland manages to preserve his cultures
avoiding to have it mix by others (ie: no foreign names are
allowed for new borns), but despite it you can see the influence
of Nordic origins (Scandinavian family oriented tradition)
+ North American ones (hot dog + coca cola) making you feel
a little bit outside Europe.
The last but not the least is the beauty of the Aurora the
real highlights of the Icelandic winter; it was years we were
waiting for it and it didn't disappoint our expectations.
Anyhow don't take for granted you'll see Aurora since you
need a little bit of luck (good Aurora intensity + no cloudness)
even in wintertime.
The negative parts are the costs in particular the food and
the limited choice in term of costs of accommodations outside
the capital, it will make Iceland one of the most expensive
destination in Europe.
Alby
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