# Wherein I Contemplate a Possible Trip to Iceland **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 25, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797 "2009-03-25T21:53:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/1 "2009-03-25T21:53:29Z")
Ok, those here who know me know that money is tight, BUT. I have a few reasons for timing this trip the way I (possibly) am: 1. Iceland needs every dollar it can get and I’m a charitable person. 2. Oil/fuel prices will only go up. 3. I will start working FT in August and won’t have the time for several years. 4. I will soon be a single parent and getting child care coverage could get dicey (depending on where TH gets a job). 5. The airfares are relatively cheap. 6. I would need to go in early June, if I go at all. I am assuming that spring has come, even to Iceland, by then. This is all set in jello, so don’t air out the guest rooms yet, Icelanders. Talk me into parting with $800 of my hard earned money. Go. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/2 "2009-03-25T22:01:55Z")
Not an icelander, but I can offer the encouragement to go … if you miss out, it may be years until you get the chance, and you may never get the chance again. hell, I just got laid off myself, and I would have the time, and I got a severence package … I would love to go. We need a wistful smiley… ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/3 "2009-03-25T22:05:18Z")
I know, I know. I’m kicking it around–it’s been 4 years since my last vaca. I may never have this chance again. I’m trying to see if possible future guilt outweighs near future R & R. I need some pesuasion–sights in Iceland. Promises of love poems written in honor of me; stuff like that… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/4 "2009-03-25T23:00:55Z")
I’m thinking of going there too. What’s Iceland like in July? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/5 "2009-03-25T23:09:15Z")
Go! Reposted from my trip thread: > [@Richard Parker](#): > > Iceland was fantastic! > > I neglected to mention earlier that I was going with my fiancé. We did the classic tourist itinerary: explore Reykjavic – Golden Circle Tour – Blue Lagoon. We added a bit of horse trekking to round out our four days. Every moment was amazing. Despite a nearly constant drizzle and overcast skies, the weather was fine. Pretty much what I’m used to from the Pacific Northwest, actually. Because of the overcast skies, we didn’t get to see any Northern Lights. But since we were there over the holidays, pretty much every night included fireworks somewhere on the horizon. We took that as our consolation prize. > > As for “the crunch,” as the recession is referred to in Iceland, we found prices to be comparable to NYC. Inflation has set in a bit, apparently, as tour prices are up about 15% from a few months ago. But obviously everything was still much more affordable than usual. We used credit cards the whole time, which gave a better exchange rate than trading for ISK cash anyway. > > Some of the highlights: > > Museums: The preserved foundation of an ancient long house—unearthed during the construction of the hotel we stayed in—serves as the center of the coolest museum we visited, the Settlement Museum. It was sort of Star Trek meets Archaeology class. The word “multimedia” doesn’t really sum it up. From huge touch screen maps to user-controlled 3D tours, the museum was high-tech without overshadowing the interesting historical content. All the museums we visited were very well done. As good as the best parts of the Met in NYC. > > Nature: The Golden Circle tour is a classic tourist orbit which visits the site of Iceland’s first parliament in 930, a number of beautiful waterfalls, and Geysir (the origin of the word). Despite being winter, and at times because of it, this was a wonderful adventure. One of the worst things about seeing things like this in most parts of the world (from Old Faithful to Tai Shan) is that there are always a ton of people, and things can get quite touristy. Not so in the Icelandic winter. Also, our Canadian tour guide, who has lived in Reykjavic for 40 years, was full on interesting insights. > > Restaurants: The food was top-notch. I’ve eaten at some very fine restaurants, but several of the meals I had in Reykjavic are in my top ten all-time best. We expected extremely fresh fish and other local ingredients. We did not expect the degree of culinary skill and innovation we experienced. Truly Reykjavic competes with Paris and NYC for best gourmet restaurants. At the other end of the spectrum, our simple lunches of fish soup (and even a cheeseburger on one day), were also very good. The trip would have been worth every penny for the food alone. (In particular, Fish Market, Sjávarkjallarinn, and Icelandic Fish & Chips were all world-class.) > > Pools: The thermal pools were also, on their own, enough to justify the whole trip. We visited the city pool called Vesturbaerlaug on two consecutive mornings. It was enough to make me want to move to Iceland. Starting the day with a warm swim in the cold air was awesome. The big kahuna of thermal pools, Blue Lagoon, also totally lived up to the hype. We went there at night on our last day. It was windy, and rainy, and generally nasty outside. The guide books often describe Iceland as otherworldly, but this was the only experience I had that truly fit the label. We were two of maybe fifteen bathers, with the place mostly to ourselves. Swimming through the choppy, warm, milky waves without being able to see the edges of the lagoon through the steam was eerie and extraordinarily fun. > > Thanks for all the advice. I heartily recommend this trip to anyone with the time and money. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/6 "2009-03-25T23:18:35Z")
How do July and September compare? Which one would be better for first time tourists? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/7 "2009-03-25T23:27:07Z")
Thank you, **Richard**! I will be looking more into this on Sunday (my next day off). I will be going alone–I need to get completely away (if I go). If I don’t go there, I’ll go to UK (most probably Scotland) or Norway or Denmark. I don’t know which to do, but I am leaning toward Iceland because I’ve been to UK (but never Scotland) and Norway is soooo far. Denmark seems far and pricey to me (but lovely). I can only manage 5 days, tops. What with jet lag etc–it’s not much. I need to know about hotels–I need clean, but not fancy. The loo can be down the hall. How safe is Iceland? (I imagine it’s just fine). Where is **WormtheRed?** and other Icelandic folk? ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/8 "2009-03-25T23:33:08Z")
Wow you got me to do some research on Iceland and it just looks amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/9 "2009-03-25T23:42:40Z")
I went there for a holiday in July 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed it. The weather was good, and there was lots to do and see. And, of course, there were almost 24 hours of daylight each day, which was a novel experience for me. It’s definitely worth a visit. It was however, ferociously expensive. I gather that this is less of a problem now, but it’s worth bearing in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/10 "2009-03-26T00:43:58Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Where is **WormtheRed?** and other Icelandic folk? I believe he’s travelling for an interview. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/11 "2009-03-26T01:01:58Z")
There was just a [story](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/science/24tier.html?scp=1&sq=regret&st=cse) in the NYTimes that said that studies show that people mostly regret the things they didn’t do: > [@](#): > > Immediately after the break, the students’ chief regrets were over not doing enough studying, working and saving money. But when they contemplated their winter break a year afterward, they were more likely to regret not having enough fun, not traveling and not spending money. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/12 "2009-03-26T02:52:00Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I need to know about hotels–I need clean, but not fancy. The loo can be down the hall. > > How safe is Iceland? (I imagine it’s just fine). Icelandair can hook you up with hotels at various price points, and they’ll all be fine. They can also set you up with tours and activities. I took a city tour of Reykjavik – amusingly, it included a fish cannery, with the tour guide walking around the shop floor, yanking different fish out of barrels to show us. Iceland was perfectly safe when I was there. Nowadays, they might hold you for ransom: “Pay my mortgage or the American gets it!” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/13 "2009-03-26T13:13:13Z")
Yup! I’m enjoying a couple of weeks off the island to try to make it more permanent 🙂 Damn, it’s good! But as I’m online for a few minutes I might as well make up a short answer. Lemme see here… June-August is the best season to visit, even though you really shouldn’t be expecting more than 10-15 c at any time (and do expect daily rain). But be aware of the fact that it’s never completely dark… which puts many people off their sleeping rythm (and makes many people go to bed waay to late). Richard Parker’s advice is brilliant and I would’ve linked to it if he hadn’t done so already 🙂 As for a love poem, how about a [Love Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqNJ8usO06k) by Icelands most famous gay guy instead? Hotels? This site, [hotels.is](http://hotels.is/), is pretty good and I used to refer business contacts to it if they didn’t want to spend too much. Just make sure the hotel is in 101 Reykjavik - as that’s the zip code for downtown. Don’t hesitate to PM or ask me further questions about whatever comes to mind. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll try to figure it out. And I promise not to hold you hostage (mostly since I don’t have a mortgage) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/14 "2009-03-26T13:23:08Z")
You should go, **rigs**. Whatever you spend isn’t going to make or break your life when you get back. Some times you have to refuel the soul. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/15 "2009-03-26T13:24:03Z")
**rigs** , take the trip. You won’t regret it. I went to Iceland a few years ago and it is a truly beautiful place to visit. Of course, if you’re coming to the UK, don’t forget to call in at ours on your way up to Scotland… ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/16 "2009-03-26T13:34:18Z")
> [@ScareyFaerie](#): > > **rigs** , take the trip. You won’t regret it. I went to Iceland a few years ago and it is a truly beautiful place to visit. > > Of course, if you’re coming to the UK, don’t forget to call in at ours on your way up to Scotland… What–and be roped into helping renovate the house? No way… 😃 Thanks, all. Keep the remarks coming. I’m over an hour late for work (I overslept) and have to run. I am seriously considering this because sometimes you just have to say WTF and Just Do It… ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/17 "2009-03-26T15:01:35Z")
Iceland is up there on our Places To Visit list, in part because there are direct flights from here. (Yeah, practical considerations sometimes outweigh other criteria.) But also because it sounds like an amazing place from everything I’ve heard. GO! ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/18 "2009-03-26T15:11:58Z")
Do it. Absolutely. Experiences and memories \*always \*trump short-term cashflow problems. In six months, you won’t be worried about the money you spent, but you will be still talking about this trip. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/19 "2009-03-27T01:08:29Z")
Good point, **niblethead.** ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797/20 "2009-04-08T20:25:44Z")
I have booked my flights(s). I am going June 3! I’m half panicked, half thrilled. Please post stuff I should do (with thanks to **Richard Parker** for his suggestions). Or stuff you would do, if you were going. It will help me get in the “mood”. Icelanders: perhaps a mini-Dope fest? I am worried about the costs while there. Should I pack peanut butter and crackers to tied me over? I need to know stuff like that. Thanks! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherein-i-contemplate-a-possible-trip-to-iceland/490797.md?page=2)