Any suggestions on eating "at" grocery stores and staying at youth hostels in Iceland?
Mar 10th, 2005, 09:00 AM
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Any suggestions on eating "at" grocery stores and staying at youth hostels in Iceland?
My husband and I have resolved to spend as little money as possible on food and lodging during our trip to Iceland. So prevailing wisdom would suggest that we stay at youth hostels and buy are food at the grocery store. Am I correct in this assumption?
If this is correct, does anyone have any advice about youth hostels to avoid or ones to visit that are fabulous? Also, do most youth hostels have a shared kitchen? If so, do they have pots and dishes, or is it a "bring your own" kind of thing? What other "supplies" would you reccommend while staying in a youth hostel (we have never done it before)?
On the topic of grocery store food: What are prices like on basic food items needed to make simple meals : bread, cheese, meat, fruit, yogurt, canned items, etc.? When traveling around the ring road, are grocery stores common? Are there any suggestions to add varienty to simple grocery store meals... because I am sure that sandwiches are going to get a little boring after about the tenth time ;-)
Thank you in advance for all of your suggestions.
If this is correct, does anyone have any advice about youth hostels to avoid or ones to visit that are fabulous? Also, do most youth hostels have a shared kitchen? If so, do they have pots and dishes, or is it a "bring your own" kind of thing? What other "supplies" would you reccommend while staying in a youth hostel (we have never done it before)?
On the topic of grocery store food: What are prices like on basic food items needed to make simple meals : bread, cheese, meat, fruit, yogurt, canned items, etc.? When traveling around the ring road, are grocery stores common? Are there any suggestions to add varienty to simple grocery store meals... because I am sure that sandwiches are going to get a little boring after about the tenth time ;-)
Thank you in advance for all of your suggestions.
Mar 10th, 2005, 09:49 AM
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Another tip I've read is to being as much non-perishable food with you as you can. That will save a lot of money if you bring cereal, etc. with you.
I have never been there, but I've read the Salvation Army Guesthouse is good and reasonably cheap.
It's hard to say if a youth hostel is your best option without comparing everything. I would try to get a place with breakfast included, though.
I have never been there, but I've read the Salvation Army Guesthouse is good and reasonably cheap.
It's hard to say if a youth hostel is your best option without comparing everything. I would try to get a place with breakfast included, though.
Mar 10th, 2005, 09:52 AM
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Yes, hostels generally do have shared kitchens with basic equipment.
A number of websites have hostel reviews and forums, as well as more info on hostels in general. Here are a few to get you started:
www.hostelworld.com
www.eurotrip.com
www.bugeurope.com
Sorry, but having never been to Iceland, I can't help beyond that.
A number of websites have hostel reviews and forums, as well as more info on hostels in general. Here are a few to get you started:
www.hostelworld.com
www.eurotrip.com
www.bugeurope.com
Sorry, but having never been to Iceland, I can't help beyond that.
Mar 10th, 2005, 09:57 AM
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When are you going? My daughter and a couple of her friends went in early May about three years ago, and at that time, several hostels were not open by then. I assume you will check that ahead of time, but tho't a heads up to you might be worth it.
Mar 10th, 2005, 10:12 AM
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You might also read over on The Lonely Planet website's BB called The Thorn Tree. Lots of budget youth hostel staying backpacking types post there.
www.lonelyplanet.com
www.lonelyplanet.com
Mar 10th, 2005, 12:05 PM
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Check out the Edda Hotels (www.hoteledda.is/EN/). These are quite inexpensive (for Iceland anyway!), and many are located in school dormitories that lie unused during the summer months. We have stayed at several Edda hotels, and all were clean and well-kept, with reasonably-priced food.
Here is another list of hostels: www.hostels.com/en/is.ot.html
Most hostels have communal cooking facilities, and you can definitely save a ton of money buying food in groceries and cooking your own.
We also found many deli-style stores, commonly attached to petrol stations, with sandwiches and soups that kept our food budget fairly low.
No matter what you do, you are going to be shocked at the price of food and most other items in Iceland!
Here is another list of hostels: www.hostels.com/en/is.ot.html
Most hostels have communal cooking facilities, and you can definitely save a ton of money buying food in groceries and cooking your own.
We also found many deli-style stores, commonly attached to petrol stations, with sandwiches and soups that kept our food budget fairly low.
No matter what you do, you are going to be shocked at the price of food and most other items in Iceland!
Mar 10th, 2005, 03:01 PM
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Can't help you with the hostels as I stayed in a B&B. I went to the grocery store every night for dinner. Kept my costs to under $10 a meal. As ALF stated you'll find stores at the petrol stations. Iceland is an amazing place.
Mar 11th, 2005, 08:18 AM
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Thank you for all of the information. I appreciate it. I have one silly question though. What does it mean when the hostel has "sleeping bag accomodations"? Do you still sleep on a bed?
Mar 11th, 2005, 09:00 AM
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A lot of hostelers (Europeans call them backpackers) carry cotton or silk sleeping sacks for this purpose (travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=126&a mp;id=36)
May 4th, 2005, 12:26 PM
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Hi! I traveled to Iceland in September last year. We stayed in hostels and had very good experiences. We packed our own set of twin sheets and pillowcase to avoid the extra charge for bedding.
The kitchens are very well equipped with more utensils then we would've ever used, nice refers, microwaves, and most had laundry facilities.
The places we stayed, clockwise around the island:
OSAR - very nice host, charming old farmhouse, seal colony in front
AKURERYI - modern, more like a hotel, host helpful with travel questions
SEYDISFJORDUR - nice library/tv room/dining area...don't miss this gorgeous town!
BERUNES - beautifully restored old farmhouse, nice waterfall in the back
HVOLL - very modern, hotel-like, least charming concrete building, close to Skaftafell N.P.
LAUGARVATN - friendly host, we were upgraded to a private apartment with our own hot-tub!
I am returning to Iceland again this fall and will stay in hostels again without hesitation.
As far as food goes: we carried in the max. weight we were allowed. (I think 6.5 lbs. pp) Could've taken more...nobody ever checked. We packed a box of dried milk, instant oatmeal, boxed rice meals, fig newtons, dried plums (the horses you meet in the road love them!), dried soups.
We also shopped in the grocery stores. The prices are probably high, but you have to get over that. It's much, much more reasonable than eating out. Make sure you buy & try some "SKYR" the first day. It's sold in grocery stores & gas/convenience stores. IT IS AWESOME and became our main breakfast, snack and midnight dessert treat. You'll find it in the dairy section.
I was dying for VEGETABLES about half-way thru the trip. I couldn't force myself to buy them in the store, the price was ridiculous and they looked so pathetic. I won't go back without packing little cans of V-8 juice for my vegetable fix!
The stores & gas stations also sell little balls of cheese (like a mild swiss) that are coated with different toppings: pizza, pepper, mexican, tomato. We ate a lot of these with Wasa Bread & packaged salami for lunches.
I would have gotten very bored with our meals if we hadn't carried so many of them on our hiking trips. The breathtaking scenery will make you feel so priviledged to be where you are, you'll forget that you're eating salami for the 12th day!
We had no problem finding grocery stores on the ring road. The gas stations have a pretty good selection, too if you get too far away from a store.
HAVE A GREAT TIME! Iceland is awesome!
Kay in Michigan
The kitchens are very well equipped with more utensils then we would've ever used, nice refers, microwaves, and most had laundry facilities.
The places we stayed, clockwise around the island:
OSAR - very nice host, charming old farmhouse, seal colony in front
AKURERYI - modern, more like a hotel, host helpful with travel questions
SEYDISFJORDUR - nice library/tv room/dining area...don't miss this gorgeous town!
BERUNES - beautifully restored old farmhouse, nice waterfall in the back
HVOLL - very modern, hotel-like, least charming concrete building, close to Skaftafell N.P.
LAUGARVATN - friendly host, we were upgraded to a private apartment with our own hot-tub!
I am returning to Iceland again this fall and will stay in hostels again without hesitation.
As far as food goes: we carried in the max. weight we were allowed. (I think 6.5 lbs. pp) Could've taken more...nobody ever checked. We packed a box of dried milk, instant oatmeal, boxed rice meals, fig newtons, dried plums (the horses you meet in the road love them!), dried soups.
We also shopped in the grocery stores. The prices are probably high, but you have to get over that. It's much, much more reasonable than eating out. Make sure you buy & try some "SKYR" the first day. It's sold in grocery stores & gas/convenience stores. IT IS AWESOME and became our main breakfast, snack and midnight dessert treat. You'll find it in the dairy section.
I was dying for VEGETABLES about half-way thru the trip. I couldn't force myself to buy them in the store, the price was ridiculous and they looked so pathetic. I won't go back without packing little cans of V-8 juice for my vegetable fix!
The stores & gas stations also sell little balls of cheese (like a mild swiss) that are coated with different toppings: pizza, pepper, mexican, tomato. We ate a lot of these with Wasa Bread & packaged salami for lunches.
I would have gotten very bored with our meals if we hadn't carried so many of them on our hiking trips. The breathtaking scenery will make you feel so priviledged to be where you are, you'll forget that you're eating salami for the 12th day!
We had no problem finding grocery stores on the ring road. The gas stations have a pretty good selection, too if you get too far away from a store.
HAVE A GREAT TIME! Iceland is awesome!
Kay in Michigan
