My husband and I are flying Icelandair to London in late May and decided to stop in Iceland for two nights en route as there is no charge by the airline for the stop. With that said, I'm now trying to figure out the best way to get "bang for the buck" in this expensive country. Instead of doing tours, I thought we could just get a rental car and explore the Golden Circle on our own and visit a hot spring (up in the air about the Blue Lagoon - seems to be a love/hate relationship with it on the forums). Definitely want to try the famous Icelandic hot dog....

I'd love your ideas, tips, suggestions. As I said, we're not looking to spend a fortune, but I do want to see some of the beauty of the country in the short time we have there. I'm thinking that we'll probably stay in a B&B as that will probably be the least expensive option...however do we need to stay in Reykjavik or are one out of the outlying towns fine?

Thanks in advance!

Perhaps it is because we were coming from Norway but we did not find Iceland outrageously expensive. I will just toss this out although it is not what you asked. I would look at the website of the bus company in Reykjavik for tours. I remember them being reasonably priced and the bus terminal is a place you can walk to. I think it is www.re.is.

You will have a great time unless the weather is awful.

definitely spend a day doing the golden circle. It's dead easy to do on your own, no tour required.

In May it should be light til quite late so on the way back to Reykjavik, you could drive over to the coast north of the city which is quite pretty.

honestly I wouldn't bother with the Blue Lagoon, unless you have time to kill on your way to the airport.

Thanks for the input. As far as where to base ourselves, would it make sense to stay in Selfoss if we plan to tour the Golden Circle area? I found a place that has rates that are very reasonable and they get good marks on TripAdvisor as well.

suzki - what is you plan? to drive there from the airport, spend the 2 nights there, then drive back?

I'm not sure what you are going to Selfoss - it's not that near the golden Circle, which is Gulfoss, the Geysers, and thingvellir. They are all pretty close together.

here's a website with loads of info about it - I don't suggest doing a tour as you can very well do it yourselves, but the website may help.

also, if you click on my screen name you'll find my TR for our holiday in Iceland a few years ago - the golden circle bit is towards the top. and a very good website for icelandic accommodation of all sorts, including hotels, is Icelandic Farm Holidays :

http://www.farmholidays.is/

annhig, I found a place near Vik that gets great reviews and booked that. The plan is to pick up the rental car as soon as we land (about 0630) and head out that way. The following day we'll hit some of the Golden Circle spots that we didn't do on Day 1 and stay at a hotel near the airport that night as we have an early flight the following morning.

in that case, suzki, there are some nice things to do at/near Vik, along the beach i think, though we didn't do them due to lack of time.

Good idea to stay near the airport the 2nd night.

have a great [short] trip.

Thanks Ann. By the way, I loved reading your trip review!

Thanks Suzski.

I hope that it gave you a few ideas of what to expect. So long as you keep to the main roads you should be fine!