Have just booked first trip to Iceland (enroute to France). The thread is entertaining-wonder if there will be something to add....

I'm topping this for the Thanksgiving queries, as it doesn't come up in an Iceland search.

Thanksgiving should be great; the latest I've been is mid-October, but Reykjavik is cozy even then and there are many adventure tours geared to the winter months. (Here's hoping I'll get there this New Year!)

One of the most memorable things we did was to take a day excursion plane trip to Greenland. >:D<

Sending this up for Suzanne, who contacted me...and for the rest of the Iceland dreamers!
(For those of you who can take vacations at any time, Iceland's really cheap to get to right now. Alas, I can't go.)

Walking into a pub in Reykjavik and paying $8.50 for a glass of beer......OUCH!!!!!!

I'm going in June. This is making me even more excited about it.

We are going after christmas this year. We will be staying near Grindavik.

What a great thread! We're stopping there - but just a day - on a cruiseship, but now I have some ideas about what to do.

Those of you with your noses in the air about cruising need to think of it as a buffet. You sample some of the items and then decide which ones you want to go back and have more!

At my age, it's the quickest way to sample lots of places - and then go back for a couple of weeks.

We did this last year. We were on a cruise that started in Venice - we fell in love. We went back to Italy 2 more times and could go back many more.

But! The world calls. I want to see all I can while I can.

It does sound as if we'll be going back to Iceland, though, just from reading (and virtually experiencing Iceland) through this thread!

THANKS!

bump

#101. Sauteed cod cheeks for dinner (the sweetest morsels of fish in the world.)

#102. Salty licorice

#103. The incredibly hot water flowing from the taps in the hotel in November (supposedly they just pump in hot water from a geothermal spring). Ahhh.

#104. The adorable houses in Rekjavik.

#105. The super-clean, easy to use busses.

(Here's a foodie question: I've read that the hotdogs every one eats on the streets are actually made of lamb. Can you taste the difference? Any interesting toppings?)

Yeah, the hot dogs are lamb, from what I've read; they're really pretty good, and I'm not a hotdog fan. Try them with crunchy fried onions and "remoulade" (which seems to be different in every country; here it's a tasty mix of --um--hey, I didn't ask! ) The stand down by the harbor was my favorite spot, and hot dogs sure do help with the meal budget.

Happy New Year to all--maybe NEXT year I'll be celebrating in the land of fire and ice!

Did anyone mention ice wine?

106. The very small, chess absorbed island of Grimsey, north of the mainland, with the incredible arctic terns. When the terns are nesting, WATCH OUT!!

107. The wind... We saw the paved surface get blown off the Ring Road after a storm.

108. 66 North clothing and gear (an Iceland company). If you get a little chilly in Iceland, you can always buy a great 66 North hat, scarf, or jacket.

I can't wait to go back to Iceland.

dear amy: i'm a craniosacral therapist from venezuela and hopefully going solo for my birthday on the first week of october! i want spas, 'hot pots', blue lagoon, seafood, beautiful totally different scenery... what's the weather like in late sept/early oct? i'm flying in from orlando ( my closest hub)... thanks for all the best things to do! jjjjjjj

Hi, lavici! I was there in the second week in October and the temperatures were from "cool" to downright cold in the early mornings; there was a fair amount of rain but that's not uncommon any time of year there.

Of course, your daylight hours are shorter than in summer, but the lovely colors at places like Thingvellir (note, everybody: any keyboard tricks for the "pregnant P" that makes a th sound in Icelandic?) make up for it.

It's really easy to arrange most things in Iceland, and of course it's a bit of off-season, so there shouldn't be too much trouble booking spa sessions, but I don't have first hand experience with those. The Blue Lagoon is on many tours; I do recommend the "Golden Circle" tour at least just for seeing much of the fascinating landscape.

Happy trails (and birthday, early :) )

bookmarking

Amy,

Thanks for this thread. My family is stopping for 3 days in Reykjavik on our way back from London (after 3 months in Australia). I was starting to wonder why I was adding another stop to our long journey, and now I'm wondering why I didn't add more time to Iceland.

Any suggestions on reasonable places to stay or ways to find reasonable places? We need someplace that can accommodate 2 adults and 2 kids (12 and 14).

Also, do you think we should book the Circle tour before we get there?

Thanks again!

Hi, AndiK! I believe that "farmstay" programs tend to be the most reasonable, and I've also heard good things about "Room with a View." I haven't been to Iceland in a couple of years now, but I do know that the downside of it being expensive still holds true. On the other hand, it's a great spot for doing "street food" and supermarket picnics.

I would probably book the Grand Circle tour for your middle day, although it probably isn't essential to book in advance; hard to say, though, as Iceland seems to be a bit more popular than back in '96, on my first trip.

Have a great time!

109. Being in a Danish rock star's video because we happened to be driving through the lava fields near Grindavik (the right place) while they were filming (the right time)!

Good water, but that's the only thing one can afford to drink up there. (Drink the cold water--not the warm stuff)