Iceland (the country, not the shop) - worth the cost?

Goldstone1976 · Sep 13, 2017

My gf and I are considering a week in Iceland in Nov - northern lights, blue lagoon, yada, yada.

Thing is, I can't really think of anything to replace "yada, yada" with and I was shocked at the prices of everything other than the flight (average airbnb price is £115, food looks dear etc). It's not the cost per se that's the issue, it's the thought that we could easily go much further afield for the same price - Boston or St Petersburg, for example.

Is there more to do/see in Iceland that make it worth what seems to be very high prices?

essbee1 · Sep 13, 2017

For four or five days it's great and lots to do and see. Any more than that - well,
maybe not.

Coach_Carter_92 · Sep 13, 2017

Iceland is very expensive food and drink wise too, at least it was when I went years ago. There are tons of waterfalls to go see, best 2 for me were Gullfoss and Seljalandsfoss. There are also glacier hikes, some where you can walk through the glacier caves too. You can go whale watching, but I believe the Icelandic still prefer to hunt them

Blues Rock DJ · Sep 13, 2017

Goldstone1976 said:
My gf and I are considering a week in Iceland in Nov - northern lights, blue lagoon, yada, yada.

Thing is, I can't really think of anything to replace "yada, yada" with and I was shocked at the prices of everything other than the flight (average airbnb price is £115, food looks dear etc). It's not the cost per se that's the issue, it's the thought that we could easily go much further afield for the same price - Boston or St Petersburg, for example.

Is there more to do/see in Iceland that make it worth what seems to be very high prices?

Edna's just come back from there ?

bravohotelalpha · Sep 13, 2017

I've heard that they have a quite interesting museum &#55357;&#56841;

Goldstone1976 · Sep 13, 2017

Blues Rock DJ said:
Edna's just come back from there ?

Oh?

Paging [MENTION=249]edna krabappel[/MENTION]

Tim Over Whelmed · Sep 13, 2017

In my opinion, no. Very expensive to get to, to eat and drink, the offerings are not great and the place dreary. Yes there are parts which are breath taking, as there are in many other parts of the World, I wouldn't go again and, based on the experience, with hindsight shouldn't have gone in the first place.

Westdene Seagull · Sep 13, 2017

Full Icelandic's who generally are CJTCs*.

* My opinion might be tainted by working for one in the past.

nicko31 · Sep 13, 2017

Take as much food and alcohol with you as possible, watch out for midges too

Machiavelli · Sep 13, 2017

NSC's collective decision, thus far at least, appears to be no. It's high up on my wish list, but might use it for a shorter break.

essbee1 · Sep 13, 2017

Machiavelli said:
NSC's collective decision, thus far at least, appears to be no. It's high up on my wish list, but might use it for a shorter break.

Long weekend if you packed stuff in would be about right - for me anyway.

Greg Bobkin · Sep 13, 2017

I went for a few days and drove around a lot of it. It was a great trip, but I'm not sure I would find enough to do for a week there. Also, the daylight hours aren't great in November, which may limit what you can do/see. One of the most interesting/bizarre bits for me was coming out of a restaurant at gone 12 and it still being light!

Mellotron · Sep 13, 2017

1000% yes from me. Did 4 nights in winter, was absolutely stunning. Food and drink we found expensive but very good, we also found the locals very friendly. Northern Lights, Blue Lagoon, Game of Thrones tour and general sightseeing is what we did.

northernseagull · Sep 13, 2017

Mellotron said:
1,000% yes from me. Did 4 nights in winter, was absolutely stunning. Food and drink we found expensive but very good, we also found the locals very friendly. Northern Lights, Blue Lagoon, Game of Thrones tour and general sightseeing is what we did.

I'm going in Dec; on the GOT tour did you go to most of the same tourist stops as the golden circle tour?

essbee1 · Sep 13, 2017

There's a free half-day city tour as well by a very good guide. Just tip at the end what you want.

Mellotron · Sep 13, 2017

northernseagull said:
I'm going in Dec; on the GOT tour did you go to most of the same tourist stops as the golden circle tour?

I think so, couple of years back so memory a bit hazy, but definitely went to a couple of locations that I did (at least faintly) recognise from scenes in the show. Was good just to see the frozen waterfalls and really rugged terrain anyhow.

Wozza · Sep 13, 2017

Been twice.

4 days/3 nights enough for Reykjavik and best excursions - Northern Lights, Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle. Forget Air BnB - book package with Icelandair. Food/drink mega-expensive, so be prepared to cut corners.

northernseagull · Sep 13, 2017

I've booked to go in December; yes everything is super expensive but to see waterfalls, glaciers, northern lights etc it'll be an experience and worth the cost. Chose to go via easy jet and got a reasonably nice Airbnb in the city centre (about £300 each for flights and 4 nights)

I've booked a tour for northern lights, but I've yet to book any other trips (primarily due to cost) so any advice on whats a must do and nice to haves would be amazing! Looking at combining the Golden circle and the blue lagoon into a single trip; would you recommend separating these trips to separate days to allow more time? Any trip advice is welcome

tinycowboy · Sep 13, 2017

I went 16 years ago. Food was ridiculously expensive and not brilliant and there was not that much to do (unless you're into your geology and walking on bleak/barren terrain) except the big set pieces (Blue Lagoon, Gullfoss, Geysir, Thingvellir, pardon the spelling). However, those places were well worth seeing and the outdoor swimming pools everywhere were also great. A week sounds like too much to me unless you're willing to spend £££ on special trips or are happy mooching around a very small capital city for one or two days.

knocky1 · Sep 13, 2017

Go for the longer trip. We drove there in our Bongo camper. 600 miles to northern Denmark and then 3 days on the ferry and then 4 weeks driving around the island for 5,000 miles. Incredible place. Didn't stay in a hotel once and only a few nights on a campsite. Just us, the elements and £25 5L wine boxes from the Vinbudin. Not many geological features you won't find. Great walking. Brilliant heated outdoor pools in every small settlement.

That was 2 years ago and already thinking of going back next year. Days will be very short in November.

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Iceland (the country, not the shop) - worth the cost?

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