Iceland was one of those bucket-list places for us which we are till date excited to share our experience with anyone who would listen. We had booked our tickets months in advance and had researched high and low to plan the itinerary. We did a road trip around the country and would not change a single thing about our trip.
If you are interested I had vlogged each day from packing for the trip till the flight back here. There are also posts about the itinerary and other things here. In today's post I am covering the logistics about the trip and what to expect while visiting Iceland.
Seven Logistics To Plan Your Icelandic Getaway
1. Expense + Currency One US dollar is equal to 8 Icelandic Kr贸na (Jan. 2018). We usually rely on our ATM to exchange currency as we do not wish to travel with too much cash. In most European countries credit card are the best option as long as your card offer no foreign transaction fee. For street purchases and tickets to tourists spots and such we need some cash on hand.As for expenses, Iceland is an expensive country. Only place you have access to multi cuisines and food options is Reykjavik, and other parts of the country are a hit or miss. We replied on having a breakfast at the B&B we were staying at, fixing a self-made sandwich from a local grocery story and then a bite from a gas station restaurant while on the go.
2. Transportation Except for main cities, public transport is not an options for traveling. Most visitors rent a car or use tour buses to get around the country. We rented a car (details here) and had absolutely no problem. A liter of petrol was about $1.75 USD. Some of the roads are tricky to drive in, up high in the mountains but are safe and well connected nonetheless. We would suggest not driving after sunset as a lot of roads do not have street lights and if it is raining or snowing driving through them can be a little tricky (read: risky).
3. Language Icelandic is the official language of Iceland. It is an Indo-European language, belonging to the sub-group of North Germanic languages. However, everyone in Iceland speaks english, and we had absolutely no problem in communicating.
4. Food Icelandic food is mostly meat and fish. It is easy to find basic food options in Reykjavik, Akureyri and other cities, but like mentioned above that while being on the go it is not easy find food. As a vegetarian the options are limited but there is always make-your-sandwich or fruits and potatoes.
5. Internet + Wifi I had carried Skyroam while on the trip and it was easy to find wifi throughout. Most hotels and tourist spots offered complimentary wifi as well. We did not have any problem with connectivity on the trip.
6. People Trivia: In Iceland, a country with a population of 320,000 where most everyone is distantly related. People we met were extremely friendly and kind. They do not necessarily interact with tourists but if spoken to are always wonderful. I have read that they are concerned about the rise in tourism as some of the people visiting are either littering or disrespecting the country's natural beauty. And I can't say I blame them.
7. Safety Iceland is an extremely safe country. At no point did we have a bad experience or felt unsafe. There is no culture of tipping in Iceland. People do not expect anything in return for their service (as a profession) or help (as kindness). Crime rate is extremely low and medical care is excellent. However, it is necessary to take precaution when traveling in Iceland due to natural hazards caused by weather and nature, where conditions can change at a moments notice.
Pictures taken in Reykjavik, Iceland
