Our vacation to Iceland was just what we needed – great food, exhilarating activities, and cool temperatures that were a welcome change from the humid summer in New York. While I found many similarities between Iceland and the Pacific Northwest, I quickly realized that this country has its own unique culture, unlike any other I’ve ever experienced. I highly recommend you visit this beautiful country (preferably in the summer, when the weather is mild and the days are nearly endless).
Stay: We stayed at the Hilton for a night – lovely hotel, but outside of the center of Reyjavik. We were at the 101 Hotel for the remainder of our trip and loved it. The location was perfect (in the heart of the city), the rooms were comfortable, the food was excellent (try the freshly baked bread at breakfast and the tandoori chicken salad for a snack), and we took advantage of the spa’s jacuzzi after our active days.
See: Reykjavik is a great city to wander about. We walked around the city to and from dinner each night, and spent our last full day exploring the city. I recommend visiting the HallgrÃmskirkja for the best views of the city, and visiting Isey for beautifully constructed sweaters in Icelandic wool. While we skipped on the nightlife of the city, the full-night bar crawls on Friday and Saturday nights are not to be missed.
Play: We booked our vacation through Jetsetter, with the itinerary planned by Elves and Trolls. They did a fantastic job – we spent two incredible days crawling through caves, climbing a glacier, and riding ATVs in the Icelandic countryside. Whale-watching was a bit of a disappointment – we briefly saw one whale and spent the rest of the boat ride holding on for dear life (side note – take the anti-nausea pills provided on the boat for free). If given the opportunity, I would’ve traded whale-watching for horseback riding. Eskimos was the name of the company whose guides took us on the activities, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. We spent a few hours at the Blue Lagoon (the famous hot springs) before heading to the airport, and I can’t imagine a better way to end our trip.
Taste: Our hotel restaurant was excellent, especially on a day when we were too tired to venture outside to find a restaurant. Though we try to eat as much local cuisine ad possible, The East India Company received rave reviews – and it didn’t disappoint. The fresh salmon was perfectly spiced and cooked and hit the spot, as did the saag chicken. We had one of our best meals (ever) at the Fish Company – make a reservation, otherwise you’ll have difficulty getting a table. Icelandic cuisine is certainly for the adventurous – reindeer burgers can be found at the Icelandic Bar (next to the Hotel Borg), and puffin (cute, penguin-esque birds) and minke whale (pictured above) are local delicacies that should be tried at least once.
Tips:
Bring hiking boots and waterproof jacket and pants, if you plan on embarking on outdoor activities.
Budget accordingly – dining out is expensive. We spent an average of $100 (US) a night, sans alcohol.
Book you trip through a travel agency – having transportation and activities planned out was incredibly helpful. Elves and Trolls did a fantastic job for us.
Hot dogs are the go-to fast food in Iceland – make sure to eat at least one.
Gas stations in Iceland are extremely clean – in case nature calls en route to an excursion.
