We will be stranded in Iceland for 17 hours!
Jul 30th, 2014, 06:28 AM
#1
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We will be stranded in Iceland for 17 hours!
OMG who scheduled this flight? Oops, it was me. IcelandAir from Paris to Reyjkavik arrives midnight August 25. Our flight to Boston leaves 5:45 p.m! Worse, the guest houses I found online in Reyjkavik don't take people in after midnight. So we sleep in the airport? Watch the ice flow until 5:30 pm? After a week in Paris this is not looking like a happy ending to our trip. Can anyone help us make a better plan?
Jul 30th, 2014, 07:01 AM
#2
it might be worth looking at slightly more expensive hotel options as I'm sure you're not the only people in this boat.
once you've slept, you could do a trip to the Golden Circle, which should be achievable in the time you've got so long as you don't sleep in, or spend the day in Reykjavik - there are some interesting things to see, best of which IMO is the National Museum of Iceland which is definitely good for a couple of hours.
some people fill in time by going to the Blue Lagoon, a swimming pool and thermal spring complex near the airport. it too is good for a couple of hours and you can eat there too - at a price.
but don't just hang around at the airport - you'll be missing the chance to have a look at Iceland which is unique.
once you've slept, you could do a trip to the Golden Circle, which should be achievable in the time you've got so long as you don't sleep in, or spend the day in Reykjavik - there are some interesting things to see, best of which IMO is the National Museum of Iceland which is definitely good for a couple of hours.
some people fill in time by going to the Blue Lagoon, a swimming pool and thermal spring complex near the airport. it too is good for a couple of hours and you can eat there too - at a price.
but don't just hang around at the airport - you'll be missing the chance to have a look at Iceland which is unique.
Jul 30th, 2014, 07:02 AM
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Look at it this way -- you have the best part of the day to e joy Reykjavik. Unfortunately, you have to kill the first seven hours. The good news is that unlike Logan, Keflavik is a 24x7 airport with planes and passenger to-ing and fro-ing all night long with shops and food available for them. But still.
Some strategies:
1 if you can't get into a guest house after midnight, what about a hotel in the city?
2. Would the guest house allow late check in for $100? $200?
3. Can you change your flight times from Paris?
4. Icelandair flies to Halifax and planes fly from Halifax to Boston. Could you change KFL-BOS to KFL-Halifax, then buy a separate ticket Halifax-BOS? Ditto Toronto, Montreal, NYC?
Some strategies:
1 if you can't get into a guest house after midnight, what about a hotel in the city?
2. Would the guest house allow late check in for $100? $200?
3. Can you change your flight times from Paris?
4. Icelandair flies to Halifax and planes fly from Halifax to Boston. Could you change KFL-BOS to KFL-Halifax, then buy a separate ticket Halifax-BOS? Ditto Toronto, Montreal, NYC?
Jul 30th, 2014, 07:03 AM
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What time of year will you be there? There are plenty of hotels in Reyjkavik that might take you late. If you are stuck the night in the airport I would make your way to the Blue Lagoon the next morning. If you have your bathing suits with you.
Or the next morning take the Flybus into Reyjkavik and enjoy the sights of the city until mid afternoon. Or do both the Blue Lagoon and see the city. The Flybus leaves from the bus terminal in Reyjkavik back to the airport and you can look online for times.
There is so much to see in Iceland, you won't see any ice flow except maybe the middle of winter but they are on the gulf stream so it is not as cold as you think it would be.
But you might get a taste of it and want to come back.
I have been all around the island once and am thinking of returning again soon.
Or the next morning take the Flybus into Reyjkavik and enjoy the sights of the city until mid afternoon. Or do both the Blue Lagoon and see the city. The Flybus leaves from the bus terminal in Reyjkavik back to the airport and you can look online for times.
There is so much to see in Iceland, you won't see any ice flow except maybe the middle of winter but they are on the gulf stream so it is not as cold as you think it would be.
But you might get a taste of it and want to come back.
I have been all around the island once and am thinking of returning again soon.
Jul 30th, 2014, 11:52 AM
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Have you seen http://www.bbkeflavik.com/ which proclaims 24-7 check-in?
Jul 30th, 2014, 12:37 PM
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I stayed at the Hotel Keflavik and checked in about 11:45. I'm pretty sure they are available after midnight. Check around the town of Keflavik instead of Reykjavik. Its much closer, and cheaper to get to. you can get a bus from there to Reykjavik in the morning if you want to explore, or a taxi to the Blue Lagoon, or book a half day tour around the Reykjanes peninsula and skip Reykjavik completely.
Aug 1st, 2014, 05:49 PM
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Oh, I WISH I had 17 hours to be stranded in Iceland! We were on Icelandair and had only a 7 hour layover this week back from Paris to Denver. We went to the Blue Lagoon to celebrate our great trip and DH's birthday. What a day and the perfect way to break up a long transatlantic trip. The little we saw of the country totally whetted our appetite to see more and stay longer next time. BL was awesome! We did splurge and get the Romance Package but even just general admission would be worth it. If you can swing it, get the in-water massage - the best massage I've ever had and so unique, and also led to nice napping on the last leg of the flight! The service from everyone was excellent, so friendly. Do not bemoan your stopover - you might find it to be the only way to travel!
