Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist information centres will generally have details of all the accommodation in their
town/region. Larger centres have a booking service, where they will book accommoda-
tion for a small fee (usually around Ikr500). Note that this service is for walk-in visitors,
not for prebooking via email. And don't rely on this - areas can and do book out quickly.
Most accommodation providers in Iceland (big and small) list their offerings on the web-
site Booking.com - this is a useful tool as it can list all the available accommodation in a
town/region on a specified date. You
may
get a better rate contacting the property direct.
Prices for summer 2014 are generally listed in our reviews (or for summer 2015, when
these were readily available). Travellers must expect that prices will rise from year to
year. Websites will invariably list up-to-date prices.
From September to May, most guesthouses and hotels offer discounts of 20% to 50% on
their summer prices. Again, check websites for up-to-date prices.
Many hotels and guesthouses close during winter; where this is the case, opening times
are shown in the review. Many hotels and guesthouses close over the Christmas-New
Year period. If no opening times are shown, accommodation is open year-round.
Some accommodation lists its prices in euros. This is to ward against currency fluctu-
ations; payment is made in Icelandic krónur.
Many guesthouses and farmstays offer numerous options: camping; rooms with/without
bathrooms, with made-up beds or sleeping-bags; cottages with/without kitchen and/or
bathroom. We try our best to explain what's available, but listing prices for all permuta-
tions is close to impossible. Check websites for full coverage.
Our reviews indicate whether a private bathroom is offered; whether linen is included or
there is a sleeping-bag option; and if breakfast is included in the price.
Camping
Tjaldsvæði
(organised campsites) are found in almost every town, at some rural farm-
houses and along major hiking trails. The best sites have washing machines, cooking fa-
cilities and hot showers, but others just have a cold-water tap and a toilet block. Some
are attached to the local
sundlaug
(swimming pool), with shower facilities provided by the
pool for a small fee.
Icelandic weather is notoriously fickle, and if you intend to camp it's wise to invest in a
good-quality tent. There are a few outfits in Reykjavík that offer rental of camping equip-
ment, and some car-hire companies can also supply you with gear such as tents, sleep-
ing mats and cooking equipment.
With the increase in tourist numbers, campgrounds are getting busier, and the amenities
block housing one or two shower cubicles is hardly enough to cope with the demand of
dozens of campers.
