yestravel

Thinking of flying Icelandic Air and doing the stopover there and going on to Paris. Has anyone done the stopover? any thoughts on it?

colduphere

We did a five day stopover returning from Sweden/Norway. Really a nice add-on.

crefloors

I've been considering that for a Paris, London trip next year. It's interesting and would give me an opportunity to see a bit of a place I probably would not make a special trip to, given time and money.

I'll be interested to hear more.

MarnieWDC

Oh yes, we stopped for 3 days in Iceland on our way to Sweden a few years ago. It was a very enjoyable and 'different' place to explore. We would have stayed longer, and explored further, but we only had the 3 day layover. I think you and Gjottravel would find it interesting.

powhatangal

I did a 2 night stopover last July on my way to Paris and highly recommend it! I had several excursions booked and stayed at the Hotel Fron. I wished I had made it a longer stopover. Do it!

crefloors

Thanks so much you guys. I will keep it in the loop for sure. It's really intriguing.

Fodorite018

We did it this past October and absolutely fell in love with Iceland! Our kids did it in December and even with it being at the worst for weather, they too loved it. We have a return trip for all of us in the works, without it being a stopover,but rather the real destination.

Crefloors--Go for it!!!

yestravel

Thanks! Sounds like we should give it a go. Want to see the Northrn lights but not explore Icelnd just yet. Want to do that in warmer weather.

StCirq

Hi, Yestravel!

We've done it twice. Once for 2 days and once for 4. Never left Reykjavik, though, as it's just such a cool city with so much to do. Never been there for the Northern Lights. Be sure to take one of the free student-led city tours; they're great. And IMO you can skip the way overpriced Blue Lagoon and go to any one of the numerous city public hot springs/pools/spas (for about 6 euros, if I recall).

We want to go back in mid-summer, when it's not totally freezing, and check out the countryside.

We stay at the Hotel Frøn, BTW, where depending on season we've had a really lovely spacious room for only 50 euros. Right on the main shopping street in town.

NOT a great town for food, in our experience, though others will disagree.

yestravel

Hi, StCirq! Great to hear from you. Hope all is well with you 2.
Thanks for your insights. Hadn't heard about the student tours, so that's good to know about. We want to go again in the summer also as I hate cold weather and don't want to tour much when we go this year.

MaineGG

We've done the stopover twice. When deciding in which direction to take it, we found both times that it made more sense to do it returning from Europe.

The last time, had we stopped on the way to Paris, we would have landed in Iceland around midnight, arrived at our hotel at 1:30-2:00 a.m., and been jet-lagged the next day. Then, the following day, our flight on to Paris would have left early in the morning. So for a two-night stay, just one full day on the ground there.

Instead, for our stopover on the return, our flight left Paris at 0800 and arrived in Iceland at 0920. We took the Flybus into Reykjavik and had checked into our hotel (also the Fron) well before noon. No jet lag since there is only a 2-hour time difference from Paris. Had the whole afternoon to look around the city and visit the National Museum. The next day we did an all-day tour of the Golden Circle. Our departure the following day wasn't until 1700 so we had more than a half day before being picked up by the Flybus to return to the airport. So, also with a two-night stay, we had one full day and two half days on the ground. And, no jet lag.

Debs

We did the stopover a few years ago (at that time, you could only stay in Iceland for 3 nights), enroute to Norway. Loved Iceland! Although it was June, it was still a bit cool and very windy. Did the Golden Circle tour and remember how pristine things were. We visited before the meltdown of the Icelandic economy, so prices were quite high - the McDonalds there (which I believe has since closed) was very $$$, and quite honestly, dining options weren't all that great.

Iceland is on our bucket list of places to return someday. One of the nice things about getting there is that it's a short flight from any eastern US airport and Iceland Air rates among my favorite airlines.

Don't hesitate to book your trip!

yestravel

Thanks, Maine & Deb - hadn't thought about looking at schedules for which way to do the stopover, but that is a good idea. There was a fairly long stop on the way back from Paris on the flight I looked at.

ziggypop

yestravel, I have a one day layover in May of this year. I emailed a guide but have not heard from them yet. I'm hoping to get a taste of iceland in 24 hours.
I think I'm going to need a calculator to figure out the exchange rate......

colduphere

Our stopover was part of an open jaw ticket. Not sure they still allow that but it was an efficient way to visit several places.

Fodorite018

FWIW, our kids (in their 20's) absolutely loved the Blue Lagoon. We did not have time, otherwise we would have. My doctor is from Sweden and said she does the stopover when she goes home and loves the BL too. Just be sure to talk to people who have actually gone and see what they say.

zippypop--True, the exchange rate is not as easy as other places to figure out. I use the xe.com website and have the app on my phone.

BTW, the "appy hour" app is excellent! It shows which bars/restaurants have happy hour and what the specials are, and it even shows which ones are closest to where you are at any moment.

yestravel

All I know about the exchange rate at this point is that Iceland is VERY expensive.

The BL seems to be either loved or not. Thanks for the app recommendation.

Fodorite018

yestravel--Yes, it is expensive, but we didn't find it ridiculously so. We had a couple good dinners, one very nice, and it was very reasonable, around $125 for two, with wine. It was excellent too! That was Snaps Bistro. The tours and such do add up, but we felt they were not out of line expensive. As for the BL, a lot of people have opinions on it, even if they haven't been there, which I don't understand.

trsny

StCirq:

"And IMO you can skip the way overpriced Blue Lagoon and go to any one of the numerous city public hot springs/pools/spas (for about 6 euros, if I recall)."
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I did this as I only had a overnight stopover (arrived in the afternoon/stayed overnight/left late the next day). While I'd love to go back and visit the Blue Lagoon, due to time constraints, I visited the city public pool and spa. I highly recommend as it was inexpensive.

Debs

Adding to my original reply, we booked 2 tours with Reykjavik Excursions (www.re.is) and both were excellent. Wouldn't hesitate to use them again should we return to Iceland.