Inexpensive spring break in iceland?
 

Hey Fodorites - My college-age daughter and her friend are headed to iceland for their spring break. They will stay in a hostel or air bnb lodging for a week in the first half of March. No car, so they will do some day trip excursions and explore Reykjavik on foot. Looking for some good suggestions of inexpensive restaurants. They are trying to find a place with at least minimal cooking options - good access to grocery stores, etc? One is a vegetarian. Any "cheap" lodging you particularly recommend? Any other Iceland tips? It's one of my dream locations but I haven't been yet so I'm beyond jealous...! What are some affordable tour companies you recommend? Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated. They're both adventurous young women who have traveled extensively, and they are in school in Colorado, so should be prepared for the weather. Thanks for any help!

The further out from the centre you stay the cheaper rooms become, but there are buses. Use Google maps to identify the bus routes, the best places and how close one of the spas are.

Any of the tour companies will pick them up as part of the price. Limited options for Veggies, we found one on the main drag.

If using tour companies try and get with the smaller companies with fewer people, you get more time to chat to the guide (which is worth it)

Is the second girl a full-on rabbit or a pescatarian? It's Iceland, more options for her if the latter is true.

Nothing is inexpensive in Iceland.

she'll eat fish - and thanks for the feedback so far. found an unbelievable deal at the welcome apartments, which appears to be a great location.

Not a bad area, easy access to the bus routes. Good. Don't know the inside of the apartments, hope TA or similar are complimentary. Yes TA are generally positive, I've just checked

Though check "“Acceptable Apartment, Unacceptably Obnoxious Owner/Manager!”

ditto to bedar - I found everything so so expensive in Iceland - sticker shock for sure - tell them to bring in anything they can carry - somethings are more outrageous than others like alcohol - bring in tins of food anything they can carry!

the only bargain in Iceland is the coffee - free refills everywhere.

otherwise, it's a very expensive place. the crash [happened just after we visited] doesn't seem to have affected prices. Stick to cafes rather than restaurants and do some research before they go in the Rough Guide or Lonely planet which should be able to give them a list of the cheaper places in Reykjavik etc.

We stayed here last year:

http://www.kexhostel.is

It's a hostel but I wouldn't call it cheap. There is a kitchen to make your meals in. Great lounge. Music. Nice location. It is certainly one of the more interesting places we have ever stayed in.