My dad turned 70 on September 24, 2016 and his birthday wish was for a family vacation. He wanted to go somewhere none of us had been before – a difficult task considering my parents, brother and I are all avid travellers.
When the idea of a Icelandic vacation came up I was stoked. I’d wanted to visit the nordic nation ever since I saw it featured on Ali’s season of the Bachelorette (don’t judge lol!).
We had five fabulous days in Iceland. We honestly had no complaints the entire trip. Our hotel was fantastic and conveniently located, our tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and the scenery was outstanding.
If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, here are five things you should consider:
1. Bring a good camera
The Icelandic landscape is like something from another planet. From white glaciers, to black sand beaches, from city life in Reykjavik to the remoteness of villages like Vik, you’ll want to capture the stunning scenery. This day and age, most people tend to rely on their phones to meet their photo-taking needs, but if you happen to have a quality camera, this is one trip you should take it on.
2. Bring good shoes
There are glaciers to walk on, slippery rocks to climb for a good view of a waterfall, and city streets to stroll, so you’ll want to make sure you have the proper footwear to enjoy your time in Iceland.
3. Pack Layers
Iceland is an island country and its proximity to the ocean means the weather is constantly changing. The first few days I visited it was raining and very cold. The next few days we enjoyed sunny, t-shirt weather. The moral of the story is be prepared for anything. Also, the wind can be ferocious. The powerful wind can make the temperature deceiving. It was 10 degrees Celsius the day I arrived in Iceland, so I thought it would be a pleasant temperature for walking around Reykjavik. I did not take into account the wind chill, which made that 10 degrees feel like minus 10 degrees!
4. Food is expensive
Food in Iceland is expensive. The country is remote, so shipping goods to the area is costly and that shows in the price of food. If you’ve had to pinch pennies in order to be able to afford your vacation, your best bet is to cut costs by stopping at a grocery store at the beginning of your trip to stock up on some basics; grab granola bars for snacks and maybe some bread and peanut butter for breakfast. By saving money throughout the day, you’ll be able to splurge on a nice supper.
5. You can drink the tap water
North Americans have gotten into the habit of drinking bottled water. However, if the locals catch you with a bottle of H20, know they will be snickering behind your back. The water in Iceland comes directly from a glacier, is super fresh, and quite possibly the best water you will ever taste. Bring a refillable bottle and save yourself the money.
The Gleeful Globetrotter 