Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
recently begun to catch on. Partly this is because
the bulk of Iceland's population lives in the mild
southwestern corner of the country, but also
because snow was seen as just something you had
to put up with; cross-country skiing, for instance, is
such a fact of life in the northeastern winters that
locals refer to it simply as “walking”, and were
ba
ed when foreign tour operators first brought in
groups to do it for fun.
The possibilities for
cross-country skiing
are
pretty limitless in winter, though you'll have to
bring in your own gear.
Downhill skiing and
snowboarding
are the most popular snow sports,
with winter slopes at Bláfjöll (
W
skidasvaedi.is) only
20km from Reykjavík.
Plenty of tour operators offer glacier trips on
snowmobiles
or
skidoos
, which are like jet-skis
for snow - the only way for the inexperienced to
get a taste of Iceland's massive ice fields, and
huge fun. Several of southwestern Iceland's larger
rivers have caught the attention of
whitewater
rafting
enthusiasts (contact
W
arcticrafting.is
for more information), while Iceland also has
surprisingly good
scuba diving
potential, the
prime sites being in Þingvallavatn's cool but
amazingly clear waters, at various shipwrecks, and
at seal colonies around the coast: Dive Iceland
(
W
dive.is) can sort out the details, though you'll
need dry-suit skills.
next shops might be in the countryside).
Boredom
might be a problem on long car
journeys between sights, though the many
swimming pools
- an increasing number
sporting waterslides - make great places to let off
steam once you arrive somewhere.
However, given the lack of
warning signs
or
barriers at waterfalls, hot springs, cliffs, crevasses
and the like, children must be closely supervised at
all times in the countryside. Along with everyone
else, children also need to come prepared for the
weather
, with plenty of warm, waterproof clothing
and tough shoes for use outdoors.
Costs
Due to its small consumer base and dependency
on imports - and despite the country's financial
meltdown in 2008 - Iceland remains an extremely
expensive
country. To minimize costs, you need to
be as
self-su
cient
as possible: bring food and a
sleeping bag if you're intending to use self-catering
budget accommodation, along with a tent and all
camping gear if camping. Icelandic
bus passes
(see
p.30) will minimize transport costs, and a
Hostel-
ling International Card
(see p.34) will get you a
few hundred krónur a night off off
cial Youth Hostel
rates.
Seasons
also affect costs: places to stay and
car-rental agencies drop their prices between
October and June, though at that time inexpensive
summer-only accommodation will be shut,
campsites will probably be under snow, and bus
services are infrequent or suspended.
Budget travellers who camp out every night, use a
bus pass and cook for themselves, can keep average
daily costs
down to around 8000kr (though cyclists
can cut this in half ). Throw in a few nights in hostel-
style accommodation and the occasional pizza and
you're looking at 10,000kr. Mid-range travel still
means using a bus pass to get around, but favouring
hostels and eating out cheaply most of the time will
set you back about 12,000kr a day. Staying only in
Travel essentials
Children
Iceland presents few di
culties for
travelling
with children
. Icelanders are very child-friendly
people; cities and towns are relatively safe,
low-crime places with familiar amenities; and
supermarkets and pharmacies are well stocked
with
nappies
,
formula
and anything else you
might need (though do keep in mind where the
TAX REFUNDS
If you spend more than 4000kr in any single transaction on goods to take out of the country,
you are entitled to a
tax
refund
of fifteen percent of the total price, as long as you leave
Iceland within ninety days. Ask for a
Refund Tax Free form
when you make your purchases,
which needs to be filled out by the shop. Money can be refunded in full back onto your credit/
debit card at
refund points
located in the departure halls at Keflavík, Reykjavík and Akureyri
airports; the bank inside the Seyðisfjörður ferry terminal; and either on board all international
cruise ships two hours before departure, or at Reykjavík port's Visitor Centre. The same places,
plus refund points at Kringlan Shopping Mall and Reykjavík's Tourist Information centres, can
make the refund in cash, but this incurs a commission.
