Iceland

[sunsetbeach]

So nice to see you here Chili

We are planning our next European tour which includes Reyjavik (because of my husband's favorite korean tv segment, friends over flowers: Iceland).

December this year or January next year

We still do not know which city to come from going to Iceland but most likely Amsterdam. How about you sis, where will you be before Iceland?

[Chili1113]

Hi Sunsetbeach! It is difficult to find flights going to Reykjavik huh? Heheh Seems like our options are limited. But we are going to choose a city we haven't been to yet, which will most likely we will be Berlin or Hamburg.

Have you begun looking for places to stay?

[Frozen Toes]

Frozen Toes: Will you be going to Iceland? Currently planning a trip there.

Want to! Maybe end of the year pa though. Via London.

[Chili1113]

^Same here!! We are going end of October. It is the last winter before the northern lights dim progressively for 11 years =)

[viewfrommyveranda]

Hi Ladies! So happy to find this thread -- I hope you're still monitoring this! Just checked flights to Reykjavik and its less than Php30k, via Turkish airlines - Iceland air. That's for Feb of 2017. Has anyone firmed up their plans yet? :-)

[Chili1113]

^Wow thats is a super good rate!! Still haven't finalized my delayed honeymoon plans this oct-nov. But definitely going to Iceland since we already booked our flight from Berlin to Reykjavik. Still havent decided if we will base ourselves for 1 weeks in Reykjavik and book tours daily, or rent a car and self drive for about 3 days =)

My friends and brother who have been there suggest that we rent a car. Although they warned me that if it will just be me and hubby driving around we might get bored teehee. So I am still undecided on this.

[viewfrommyveranda]

^We're looking at renting a car too -- first for us to drive in winter! We don't have a DIY itinerary yet, but  looking at some tours at Nordic Visitor. We chose the "self drive"packages, and the rental is part of the package, minus the gas. I don't know much about the place, only it may give us the best chance to see the northern lights! :-) I'm looking at 9-10 nights. Do you plan to make a few stops before or after Iceland? I don't know what's a logical or strategic country commbination!

[viewfrommyveranda]

Wow!!!!! What an amazing time you'll have, indeed! :-) I'm travelling with my boyfriend and maybe 2 friends and we can only take off for 10 working days. The whole objective of the trip is to see the northern lights so all our side trips / where we spend each night should be another opportunity to view it, in case shy sha mag show-up! :-)

Just like that, I need to revisit the itinerary that I had in mind. The flight that I was looking at was MNL - Istanbul - London Gatwick - Reykjavik. It turns out that a transit visa is now required in UK, even if just changing flights in London. I'm going to post a topic on this, to get the insights of our other sisters who may have experienced this. So now, taking inspiration from your itinerary, I will check out flights in and out of other Scandinavian countries. This way I can maximise the Schengen visa with the additional 1 stop, and the packing! Lahat winter wonderland collection! :-P

[Chili1113]

^We had an option to fly back to Manila via Stockholm or Copenhagen. But since we've been there before we decided to go via Oslo. Among the Scandinavian cities, I like Stockholm the most =) I find it prettier than Copenhagen. Enjoy your winter wonderland adventure!! Your plans are making me wish I allotted more time in Iceland since it is a trip highlight in our honeymoon. Teehee we traded an African Safari and Cape Town honeymoon for Iceland since we felt pressured that the auroras were dimming and will continue to do so for the next decade. Hope it will be worth it!!

[kachich]

Iceland! Went there last March and I wasnt able to see the aurora. I stayed for 6d/5n next time will do camper van style para we can do the ring road. cant wait to get back!

[Chili1113]

^Can you give us tips? Is it better to base ourselves in Reykjavik and do day tours? Or self drive to some destinations then from there book special ice caving, or glacier walk tours? Thank you!

[viewfrommyveranda]

^^Yes, tips please. I'm planning on doing something similar -- drive "out" -- where ever out is, to chase the aurora! Also, can you give us an idea on cost of meals -- like fast food, casual resto to specialty restos? Thanks, sis!

[kachich]

@Chili
I was on a solo trip when I was on Iceland so I wasnt able to swelf drive! But better to drive around Iceland! Allocate at least 7-8 days if you want to do the ring road For ice caving -- not sure about this as I joined a tour.

@Viewfrommyveranda
Cost of meals - probably around 1500-3000 ISK (Nag sawa ako sa lamb soup hehe)
Fast food - 1500-2500
Casual/Specialty resto - 3000 up

[angelholics]

@kachich : got inspired with your travels
how long did you plan for your trip in iceland/europe? where you able to get a promo fare?

[kachich]

^
about a month or less lang! Was set to go to Japan for cherry blossoms but eventually changed my plans after the hanami forecast.
promo fare I got was for Paris to Reykjavik only (about 95usd, via wowair) but Reykjavik to Amsteram, mahal na!

[Chili1113]

Hi kachich!! Wow you're going back to Iceland. It must be really that beautiful. Are you going to self drive this time?

BTW, someone suggested to us that we can base ourselves in Reykjavik for 7 nights, and just rent a car for 24-48 hours to do some self driving, but go back to home base in Reykjavik in the evening. The golden circle can be easily done daw ourselves for a day trip. Then we can book group tours for Northern Lights, and other more specialized tours like glacier hike, ice caving etc. Would this be better for us or would you still suggest we move around and spend a couple of nights in another town?

Also, by the time we get to Iceland, we would have already been travelling around Europe for 3 weeks, and I worry we might get bored if we self-drive the entire time with just me and him on the road all day LOL!!

Please let me know what you think sis, since you've been there already and are planning a trip there next month.

[kachich]

Hi! Not going anytime soon, but if I'm going back, I will make sure to self drive around Iceland (hopefully will be able to do Ring Road), na experience ko na kasi yung mga tours

If you will do ice caving -- you'll have to go to the South Coast (Jokulsarlon). I suggest spending a night over there (that's what my tour did).
If you feel like you'll get bored if you self drive, get tours instead - one for the South Coast (included na the accommodation and ice caving), then there are also tour companies that also offer day trips to West Coast. Havent been able to get to the North/East (but I think it will also be lovely!). Magsasawa kayo sa falls, moss covered lava and black sand beaches.

Yes, golden circle can be easily done for a day trip, same with West Coast.

I think you can do golden circle then go to south coast (stay in Vik).

[Chili1113]

leaving next week for our trip!! =) After giving it much thought and debating with the hubby, we decided against renting a car after reading horror stories on tripadvisor about how they were still charged for various car nicks and scratches despite getting full insurance/protection.

Plus, we did the math and for 2 persons the cost will come out the same if we self-drive VS taking tours-- given that there are some tours/activities which we cannot do without a professional guide like the glacier hike.

I booked my tours on geoiceland.com after reading good reviews about them. I like that they do small group tours and their prices are reasonable. I am doing 3 tours with them. The other tours I am booking through other tour companies like grayline or reykjavik excursion.

[viewfrommyveranda]

Tell me how it goes ha! So excited for you. My group -- yes, we're now a group of 10 -- are set for Feb next year. We still want to do a self drive tour, maybe 5 nights. We're planning on going with Iceland Travel (icelandtravel.is). I'll check out your tour operator. Still scouting for the best rates. From Iceland, we're off to Berlin. PM me your Berlin itinerary, please!!!!

[Chili1113]

^Yes sis, I'll tell you how it goes =) So excited

One major tip all my friends who have been there have said is to always book a Northern Lights tour even if you have a car, because they know when there will be activity and if weather and visibility is good. Plus they have good spots where they can park to see the lights. =) Also book it daw on the very 1st night you get there, since if you don't see the lights you can go on the succeeding days without any charge. So technically you can keep trying every night without any charge.

Booked the ff from Geoiceland.com
Golden Circle, South Coast and Glacier Hike, Reykjanes Peninsula and Blue Lagoon (since I booked 3 tours I got 10% off)

Booked the ff from Grayline.is
Airport Transfers, Northern Lights, Snaefellsnes National Park and Cave Exploration

My friends who are there right now are self-driving. But they booked their glacier hike tour from Icelandic Mountain Guides. It is the only tour they booked since they are driving to all the sites in their car rental- but you need a professional and licensed guide if you are to do a glacier walk.

Where else are you going? =)