adminIceland, a bucketlist destination
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to continue with our trip to Iceland. Why? Iceland had very few COVID-19 cases, and the situation was well under control. Everyone arriving in Iceland was tested at the airport, which made us feel safe with these precautions.
While preparing for our trip, our flight was canceled, but we were automatically rebooked onto another one. The same thing happened again just a few days before our departure. It was a bit chaotic. The important thing was that there were still flights to Iceland. We had a seat on one of those flights!
Our way of budget travel in Iceland …
When visiting Iceland, many travelers choose to drive around the entire 1332 km long Ring Road. They typically do this in 10 to 14 days. The full drive takes about 18 hours if done in one go. For shorter visits, a popular option is a combination of Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon, and the Golden Circle. I did this combination as a city trip to Reykjavik six years ago. It was a great experience. However, it didn’t allow me to truly get to know the country. But this was a travel budget opportunity for Iceland, so I couldn’t resist.
In recent years, we’ve taken many road trips, visiting numerous locations, but often in a somewhat rushed manner. Now, we’re aiming to travel more mindfully and focus on truly enjoying our surroundings. This time, we embraced ‘slow travel’ to explore Iceland. We did so at a more relaxed pace. We concentrated on the west and south of the country. The other parts will have to wait until next time!
Before we left to Iceland…
We booked our flight with Icelandair, a conscious choice. This airline has an excellent reputation. It offers a level of security that you don’t always find with larger tour operators. Icelandair provides in-flight entertainment on all their planes. Even on relatively short flights, the kids can enjoy a movie or play games. It’s worth monitoring ticket prices well in advance, as there are often unexpected promotions!
We chose to depart from Amsterdam, where many airlines offer attractive summer deals (the same applies to Düsseldorf Airport!). Long-term parking is also available at a reasonable price. In hindsight, our choice of departure airport was the right one. The choice of airline also proved to be correct, especially with the uncertainties of the COVID-19 crisis. We were very fortunate!
Traveling with kids in Iceland is easiest when you have a rental car. However, rental prices can be quite high. It’s important to consider your priorities. Are you primarily looking to explore unique off-road locations? Or do you want to travel along the Ring Road, which features many interesting spots? The F-roads, which lead to some of Iceland’s most remote areas, are only accessible to 4×4 vehicles. Attempting to drive on these roads with a regular car can result in hefty fines, especially since areas near popular spots are closely monitored. Keep in mind that the rental price for a 4×4 is significantly higher than for a standard vehicle. We opted for a regular car, which suited our needs perfectly. Most rental centers have offices at Keflavik Airport. They are either in the terminal or nearby. These offices are accessible via a shuttle bus. Many rental centers are open 24/7.
We found a good promotion price at Lotus car rental… and a very good service! And we got a discount code for any future travels. Rentalcar.com is a good website if you want to compare the different rental car companies.
There’s no need to exchange money in advance. If you’re traveling from a European country, you can use your bank cards just as you do at home! Debit and credit cards are widely accepted, so you can pay almost anywhere. However, if you venture into less popular areas, it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand.
You can also use your mobile phone under the same conditions as in your home country (if you’re from a European country). In most places, you’ll have good reception, even in areas where there aren’t any houses nearby!
FAQs on Iceland budget travel
Can I pay in euro’s in Iceland?
In Iceland you pay with the Icelandic krona (ISK). But Corona changed a lot, also in Iceland. In most stores and restaurants you can pay with your credit card now.
Do I need a passport or visa for Iceland?
No, as a Belgian citizen you don’t need an international passport. Your identity card is enough.
Do Icelandic people speak English?
Icelandic is the official language in Iceland, but most Icelanders also speak English and Danish. The island is very international orientated, they will whatever they can to help you!
Does it always rain in Iceland?
The climate in Reykjavik is mild rather than very cold. In the winter months, it often snows and the temperatures quickly fall to cold temperatures below zero. The summer months are more attractive for tourists to travel to Iceland (but you can’t see the Northern lights during summer months!). Then Reykjavik reaches maximum temperatures of around 15 degrees. But if you are lucky you can enjoy temperatures of more than 20 degrees too!
More important than the temperature (there is no bad weather only bad clothing, isn’t it!) are the hours of light during the day. In the winter months of December and January, you get approximately 4 hours of light per day. From February this starts to increase again to around 17 hours of light per day in the summer months.
Can you drink tap water in Iceland?
Yes you can drink tap water here! It is 100% safe! Iceland is an expensive country so if you’re traveling on a budget, not buying water is a good way to save money!
Do you have to rent a car in Iceland?
It isn ‘t easy to travel by public transport in Iceland. From the airport to Reykjavik centre you can take a bus (flybus: approx €25 or regular bus: €3.5). But if you are not going on an organised trip or don’t want to go on expensive tours, the best way to get around is to rent a car. There are several rental companies at the airport. A good tool to compare prices from rental cars is Rentalcars.com.
Need more Iceland budget travel tips? Check this post!
