Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
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Holiday to Iceland
The wife and I are thinking about a holiday to Iceland next year, maybe March time.
I would be keen to hear anyone’s experiences (good or bad) or where we should aim to visit/avoid, any recommendations to stay etc.
I’m guessing either a few air bnb or hotels and a hire car of some sort is the way to go so we can see the sites.
I think we would be looking at around 5 days maybe.
Thanks
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19th Nov 2019 11:21 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
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Other frozen food supermarkets are available.
19th Nov 2019 11:23 am
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
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Wife is off there shortly, seems to be lots of catches with the hire cars, so many in fact they have decided to use taxis instead.
The hotel also took the payment twice, so one to watch out for, might just have been a genuine mistake!
Apparently not all credit cards provide protection if used abroad.
19th Nov 2019 11:52 am
Brian_DL13
Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
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Great place and nice people but - as I'm sure you've been told already - it is not cheap !
Blue lagoon is much over-rated IMO. Best stuff scenery-wise is out of Rekyavik.
19th Nov 2019 1:14 pm
robpenrose
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2138
Thanks for the info so far.
Has anyone who has been got any accommodation recommendations?
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19th Nov 2019 2:52 pm
highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
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We drove round the island Oct 2017 and really enjoyed it, despite the horrific weather early on.
They have horses in the stables and also did us a great deal on produce from their farm that did us for a fair few meals and saved us a small fortune.
She also gave us a goodly amount of cheese, which probably worked out at about half our accommodation cost!
The public swimming pools in Iceland are ace.
Thermally heated outdoor pools with, often, multiple hot tubs with massage jets at various temps.
They are fantastically clean, but part of that is the compulsory nude showers before heading in...be warned!
We also stayed here for the final night before flying out.
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/14465319
It was very swish, but I'm not sure how many bookings she accepts (feels very much like their family home rather than a rental).
Of note is that all but 1 of the places we stayed at had really good coffee provided.
The further East you get on the island generally the lower quality, even at high price, the accommodation seems to be.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
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We did it over new year this year, spent 7 days there it was one of the best holidays ever. We stayed in a lodge and hired a disco 5 for the week. Good amount of snow and the roads were a bit tough at times but each day we did something new. Swimming pools great, volcanic tours all sorts and the kids loved it too.
We celebrated New Year midnight in our own private thermal hot tub with pizza, hot chocolate and the snow falling on us
Would definitely recommend, people are great you get a very warm welcome.MY06 S - Gone but not forgotten
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19th Nov 2019 6:17 pm
adam
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Was there for the Summer Solstice a few years ago for our annual European City mates long weekend away, went Friday, back Monday - absolutely magical.
Whale watching, Geysers and the Tectonic Plates worth a visit and also the museum in Reykjavik.
Stayed in Reykjavik - party city at night because of the solstice, incredibly friendly people.
Been to more expensive places on my travels.Now Golf GTI PP, 7 speed DSG.
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19th Nov 2019 9:23 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
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Hardware wrote:
DSL wrote:
Other frozen food supermarkets are available.
Tone officially lowered. again.
Well someone was going to.
20th Nov 2019 12:23 am
robpenrose
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2138
Thanks for the info so far guys.
What’s the hire car situation like over there? Just like hiring in any other place, or is it worth getting something a bit more 4x4 for tracks etc?
Is it worth trying to go around the whole island, or generally stay over to the west?
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20th Nov 2019 8:25 am
RDR
Member Since: 24 Mar 2013
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I’d recommend 4x4 if it’s wet or snowing. Iceland’s main roads turn into made gavel roads quite a bit.
Lots of car hire places joined onto the airport campus. We used lotus car hire for the disco, they all offer different levels of damage and tyre waver too so take a look as stones are flying up a lot on the tracks. They all seem to swap to studded tyres when the weather sets in our disco had them.
Dacia 4x4 we’re very popular the defenders landcruisers and discos.
Summer time you would prob be ok with a car as long as you watch the gravel.MY06 S - Gone but not forgotten
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20th Nov 2019 8:36 am
robpenrose
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2138
Thanks RDR,
I may PM you for some extra info once I know a bit more of a plan?
I imagine the big 4x4s are eye wateringly expensive? A 90 would do nicely as it would just be the two of us, or maybe one of the new Jimnys.
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20th Nov 2019 8:39 am
highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
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We had no problem going round the island in late October weather in our hire 'SUV' *
We didn't go on the mountain roads, although unless you've got a properly equipped SUV they are closed over winter, and even if you do have one they aren't especially impressed with tourists heading on them. Not sure what insurance coverage would be for the 'closed' roads either.
* for some reason the hire car co. thought a Ssangyong Tivoli was an SUV, something its pitiful rear suspension travel would suggest otherwise...anyway, it was fine, other than the rear hitting the bump stops over any bumps.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
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