10 Things to Know BEFORE You Visit ICELAND! | Ultimate Iceland Travel Tips 2024 🇮🇸
Summary
TLDRChu from 'Choose to Explore' shares invaluable tips for first-time travelers to Iceland, highlighting the benefits of a stopover due to Iceland's strategic location and cost-effective flights. He emphasizes the convenience of the airport's proximity to Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon, discusses the best times to visit, and stresses the importance of a rental car for flexibility. Chu also offers insights on saving money through grocery shopping, using local transportation, and staying in budget accommodations. He touches on the language barrier, the breathtaking landscapes, and the ease of using cards for transactions, concluding with a tip on VAT tax refunds for tourists.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Iceland is a great stopover destination due to its strategic location between the US and Europe, offering cheaper flights with airlines that have free stopover programs.
- ✈️ The airport in Keflavík is 45-50 minutes away from Reykjavik, and it's modern with early opening hours for shops and restaurants.
- 🚌 Taking a bus to Reykjavik from the airport is significantly cheaper than a taxi, saving over a hundred dollars.
- 📅 The best time to visit Iceland depends on personal preferences, with winter offering Northern Lights and fewer tourists, and summer providing 24-hour daylight and wildlife viewing opportunities.
- 🚗 Renting a car in Iceland provides flexibility and affordability for exploring the country at your own pace.
- 💸 Iceland is known for being expensive, but there are ways to save, such as grocery shopping at Bonus and getting gas at Costco.
- 💦 Tap water in Iceland is safe and refreshing, eliminating the need for buying bottled water.
- 🛏 Accommodations can be made more affordable by choosing hostels, Airbnb, or camper vans, and staying outside of downtown areas.
- 🍺 Alcohol is expensive in Iceland, so purchasing it at duty-free before arrival is recommended.
- 🗣 English is widely spoken in Iceland, making it a great destination for solo travelers and those concerned about language barriers.
- 🏞 Iceland boasts stunning landscapes, including beaches, ice caves, waterfalls, and glaciers, but visitors should always be prepared for unpredictable weather.
- 💳 Cards are widely accepted in Iceland, so there's no need to exchange currency or carry Icelandic bills, but having a card without foreign transaction fees is beneficial.
Q & A
Why is Iceland a good destination for a stopover when traveling to Europe from the Northeast of the United States?
-Iceland is a great stopover destination due to its strategic location between the east coast of the United States and Europe, making it a convenient midpoint. Flights to Iceland are often cheaper than direct flights to Europe, and airlines like Iceland Air offer free stopover programs, allowing travelers to stay in Iceland at no extra cost.
How long is the flight from New York to Iceland?
-The flight from New York to Iceland is approximately five and a half hours.
What is the distance between the Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavik?
-The airport is about 45 to 50 minutes away from Reykjavik.
Why is it recommended to take a bus from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavik instead of a taxi?
-Taking a bus is significantly cheaper than taking a taxi, which could cost over a hundred dollars more.
Why is the Blue Lagoon a recommended place to start or end a trip to Iceland?
-The Blue Lagoon is one of the 25 wonders of the world and is conveniently located close to the Keflavík International Airport, making it easily accessible for travelers.
What are the general characteristics of Iceland's climate throughout the year?
-Iceland is generally cold year-round with unpredictable weather. Winters have less sunlight and can have as little as three to five hours of daylight, while summers offer extended daylight hours with the sun barely setting in mid-June.
What are some advantages of visiting Iceland during the shoulder season?
-The shoulder season, which is between winter and summer, offers the best of both worlds. It provides opportunities to see the Northern Lights, some snow, wildlife, and enjoy longer daylight hours without the peak tourist crowds.
Why is renting a car in Iceland beneficial for travelers?
-Renting a car in Iceland provides flexibility and affordability, allowing travelers to visit various locations at their own pace without worrying about crowded tours or public transportation schedules.
How can travelers save money on food while in Iceland?
-Travelers can save money by grocery shopping at local supermarkets like Bónus, which is the cheapest option, although still relatively expensive compared to American prices.
What is the best place to get gas in Iceland as an American tourist?
-The cheapest place to get gas in Iceland for American tourists is at Costco, where the American Costco card is accepted.
Why is it unnecessary to buy bottled water in Iceland?
-Icelandic tap water is safe, refreshing, and comes straight from the glaciers. It's unnecessary to buy bottled water when the natural water is of high quality and readily available.
How can travelers save on accommodation costs in Iceland?
-Travelers can save on accommodation by choosing hostels, Airbnb, or camper vans, which are popular and more affordable options in Iceland. Staying outside of downtown areas and driving into the city can also reduce costs.
Why is Iceland a recommended destination for English speakers?
-Iceland is a great destination for English speakers because everyone encountered by the traveler in the video spoke English, eliminating any language barrier issues.
What are some of the unique natural features that Iceland offers to tourists?
-Iceland offers a variety of unique natural features including beaches, ice caves, waterfalls, glaciers, unique animals, whale watching opportunities, hot springs, volcanoes, and geysers.
Why is it important for tourists to bring waterproof gear when visiting Iceland?
-It's important to bring waterproof gear due to the unpredictable weather in Iceland, which can change rapidly from rain to clear skies.
Why can tourists use their cards almost everywhere in Iceland?
-Tourists can use their cards almost everywhere in Iceland because the country has a high rate of card acceptance, eliminating the need for cash or exchanging currency.
What is the one instance where cash might be necessary in Iceland according to the traveler's experience?
-The one instance where cash was necessary was at a private hot spring in Runalog, which was off the beaten path and the owner only accepted cash.
What is the VAT tax refund, and how can tourists benefit from it in Iceland?
-The VAT tax refund is a system where tourists can get reimbursed for taxes paid on Icelandic products if they keep the receipts and claim the refund at the airport before leaving Iceland.
What are some of the free natural attractions in Iceland that tourists can enjoy without paying admission fees?
-Many of Iceland's natural attractions, such as waterfalls and hiking trails, are free to access. Tourists can simply park their car and explore these sites without additional costs.
How can tourists save on parking fees at popular attractions in Iceland?
-Tourists can save on parking fees by asking other tourists who are leaving the attraction for their used parking tickets, which are valid for 24 hours, and passing them on to others as needed.
Outlines
🌍 Iceland as an Affordable Stopover Destination
The video script introduces the channel and the host's recent trip to Iceland, highlighting it as an ideal stopover location for those traveling from the Northeast to Europe due to its geographical position. The host emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of flying to Iceland with airlines like Iceland Air, which offer free stopover programs, and shares their personal experience of a round trip ticket for just $275 per person. Additionally, the script mentions the convenience of the Keflavík International Airport's proximity to Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon, suggesting taking a bus to save on transportation costs.
📅 Best Time to Visit Iceland and Tips for Travel
This paragraph discusses the optimal times to visit Iceland, detailing the characteristics of winter, summer, and shoulder seasons. Winter offers the chance to see the Northern Lights and is cheaper, but has less sunlight and challenging driving conditions. Summer, the high season, provides 24-hour daylight and opportunities for wildlife viewing but is more crowded and expensive. The shoulder season, around March to May and September to October, is recommended for a balance of experiences. The host also shares personal travel tips, such as the convenience of having a rental car for flexibility and affordability, and the importance of being prepared for unpredictable weather.
💰 Cost-Saving Strategies and Language in Iceland
The script provides various strategies for saving money while in Iceland, including grocery shopping at Bonus, the cheapest supermarket, and filling up gas at Costco. It also suggests avoiding bottled water by drinking from the tap, as Iceland's water is safe and refreshing. Accommodation tips include staying outside downtown areas and considering camper vans for a combination of transport and lodging. The video mentions that alcohol is expensive and recommends purchasing it at duty-free shops. The host notes that English is widely spoken in Iceland, making it a safe and accessible destination for solo travelers or those concerned about language barriers.
🏞️ Iceland's Scenic Beauty and Practical Travel Tips
The host describes Iceland's breathtaking landscapes, including beaches, ice caves, waterfalls, glaciers, and geysers, and shares a preference for the black sand beaches. Practical advice includes always carrying waterproof gear due to unpredictable weather. The script also touches on the convenience of using cards for all transactions in Iceland, as cash is rarely needed. It recommends obtaining a card without foreign transaction fees to save money and mentions an instance where cash was necessary at a private hot spring. The host also points out that many natural attractions in Iceland are free, but some require tour participation or have admission fees, suggesting a tip for sharing parking tickets to save costs. Lastly, the script advises on VAT tax refunds for tourists, which can be claimed at the airport.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Stopover
💡Landscapes
💡Seasons
💡Rental Car
💡Expense
💡Accommodation
💡English
💡Lupins
💡Weather
💡Credit Card
💡VAT Tax Refund
Highlights
Iceland is an ideal stopover destination for Northeast US to Europe travel due to its location and cost-effective flights.
IcelandAir and PLAY Airlines offer free stopover programs, allowing extended stays in Iceland without additional flight costs.
The airport in Keflavík is 45-50 minutes from Reykjavik, with modern facilities and early opening hours.
A bus ride to Reykjavik is significantly cheaper than a taxi, saving over a hundred dollars.
The Blue Lagoon, one of the world's wonders, is conveniently located near the airport.
Iceland's population is primarily concentrated in Reykjavik, making it a central point for travel.
The best time to visit Iceland depends on personal preferences for weather and activities, with distinct seasons offering different experiences.
Winter in Iceland offers a chance to see the Northern Lights and is the off-peak tourist season.
Summer brings the midnight sun and increased wildlife visibility but is the peak tourist season.
Shoulder seasons offer a balance of winter and summer activities with fewer tourists.
A rental car in Iceland provides flexibility and affordability for travel.
Iceland is known for high costs, but there are ways to save, such as grocery shopping at Bonus.
Gas is cheaper at Costco, and using cards for transactions can save on foreign transaction fees.
Icelandic tap water is safe and refreshing, eliminating the need for bottled water.
Accommodations can be more affordable through options like hostels, Airbnb, or camper vans.
Icelandic English proficiency makes it a safe and accessible destination for American travelers.
Iceland boasts diverse landscapes, including beaches, ice caves, waterfalls, and glaciers.
Weather in Iceland is unpredictable, necessitating waterproof gear and appropriate footwear.
Most establishments in Iceland accept cards, reducing the need for cash or currency exchange.
Nature in Iceland is largely free to enjoy, with some attractions requiring tours or admission fees.
Tips for saving on parking and VAT tax refunds are provided for budget-conscious travelers.
Transcripts
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what's up YouTube welcome back to my
channel it's Chu here from choose to
explore where I teach you guys how to
see the world and save a dollar so we
just came back from an amazing trip to
Iceland and this is the first time that
we've been to Europe in years
and while we had an amazing time we want
to give you guys 10 things that we wish
that we knew before we went to Iceland
so stay tuned you don't want to miss
this one so the first thing that I want
to talk about is Iceland is an amazing
destination to do a stopover if you're
from the Northeast and you want to head
to Europe and this is really because of
its location and where it is it's really
in between the Atlantic Ocean between
the east coast of the United States and
Europe from New York it was only about a
five and a half hour flight and it's so
worth it because the Landscapes and
everything that Iceland has to offer is
so beautiful but most importantly it's a
lot cheaper to fly to Iceland than it is
to go directly to Europe and Airlines
like Iceland Air and play Airlines have
free stopover programs where you could
fly to Iceland stay as long as you want
and fly to Europe and it's all included
there's no extra cost so for example my
wife and I we flew to Iceland with plate
Airlines and our round trip ticket was
275 US dollars per person now that is
seeing the world and saving a dollar so
we just touched down in Iceland and the
first thing I wish I knew the airport is
actually about 45 to 50 minutes away
from Reykjavik and we are in cavalovic
so it's still not so far away and most
airports aren't directly in the city but
I wish I would have knew that before I
came and the airport is really modern so
we got here at around five in the
morning and all the stores and the
restaurants inside are open so you don't
have to worry about things being closed
it's open pretty early also duty-free is
open so be sure to come here and stock
up on things before you go so you can
actually take a bus us into Reykjavik
instead of taking a taxi which could end
up costing you about a hundred dollars
more than a hundred dollars
so taking a bus is much cheaper
colors per person with one of the bus
companies and you'll see that right here
on the screen another good thing about
this location being in kevlavik is
actually it's so close to Blue Lagoon
which is one of the 25 wonders of the
world so I think Blue Lagoon is a
perfect place to either start your trip
or end your trip just based on the
proximity of it to the airport and
Iceland actually is not that populated
as a country and majority of the people
live here in rectory now the next thing
that I want to talk about is when is the
best time to come and visit Iceland so
we did a lot of research to try to
figure out when we wanted to come now if
you guys have been checking out our
Channel we usually go to a lot of
tropical destinations and let me just
say Iceland is not one of those in
actuality Iceland is pretty cold year
round so I'm going to talk about the
different seasons so you can determine
when is best for you to travel because
Iceland has Beauty in both seasons but
it just depends on what you're looking
for with your Icelandic experience so
the first one that I'm going to talk
about is the winter so as you guys could
comprehend the winter is very cold there
usually is a ton of snow ice and
unpredictable weather here in the winter
I mean even in the summer the weather is
not predictable but especially in the
winter it has a lot less sunlight and
there are days where you have three four
five hours of sunlight this is
definitely in the low season so there
are a lot less tourists in the winter
time also in the winter in Iceland it's
one of the best places in the world
especially to see the Northern Lights so
I've seen the Northern Lights is
important going into the winter will
give you your best chances to see it
also something that I like is the winter
is a lot cheaper and another thing to
consider is driving in Iceland in the
winter is very difficult because the
roads can freeze over it snows there's
not a lot of people out and it gets dark
really early so you guys could decide if
that's worth it or not now the complete
opposite of the winter is the summer so
we were there in the end of April and
they actually said that that was summer
now summer is the high season if you
don't want any tourists it'll be really
hard for you to go in the summer and not
see any so during the summer season is
High season for a reason and that's
because mid-june the Sun never sets it
goes low and comes back up so if you're
somebody that needs your beauty sleep
and you want to go into summer bring
some blackout curtains or an eye mask to
block out it because it'll be really
difficult for you to sleep when it's
light out old hours of the day it's
actually will be really confusing also
in the summer time a lot of wildlife
come out so if you want to do any whale
watching if you want to go see any
puffins if you you want to see some of
the purple lupins summertime is the best
time to go see that and even though it
is summer
generally speaking the highs are usually
around 50 degrees Fahrenheit so it's
really not that warm and like I said the
weather is unpredictable so you still
can have rain you're still going to have
high winds and it's really challenging
to plan for weather in Iceland now
personally my favorite time to go and
when we decided to go is the shoulder
season and that's in between winter and
summer so sometime March April even
early May is the show this season in the
same regards September October will be
the shoulder season as well and you get
the best of both worlds because you can
still see the Northern Lights you still
may see some snow you still can see some
animals you still can see a lot there in
Iceland so you really determine what you
want to do and what you want to
prioritize in your Iceland trip when we
were there in April the sun set at 10 pm
and it actually Rose at like 5 30 a.m so
it was crazy because we were out all day
and we got a good night's sleep but I
like having long days like that because
you can see so much in a day like we did
a glacier Trek or an ice cave tour where
we actually went inside of the cave in
the first day of winter so so shoulder
season and even in the summer time in
Iceland you still can do some of these
winter activities so the next thing you
need to know is a rental car in Iceland
equals flexibility and affordability
so we got this rental car for four days
for 120 so it's gonna take us all over
Iceland so we'll see as much as we can
and by having a rental car we can go at
our own pace you can see what we want to
see spend as much time as we want your
destination not worry about crowds not
worrying about tours and do the things
that we want to do here in Iceland also
at 30 for the day it's a lot cheaper
than taking buses taxis and any other
sort of Transportation so that's a must
here in Iceland if you feel comfortable
driving the next point that I'm sure you
guys know if you did any research on
Iceland is that Iceland is expensive but
even though it is expensive there's
still a lot of ways you can save
so here in Iceland food is very
expensive as well but the way you get
around that or try to is by grocery
shopping yeah so we're here at bonus you
can't miss it has a great big pink pig
on the outside and we're gonna try to
save some money back getting some food
here so the thing with this store is
that it's not open 24 hours but this one
that we're at right here is literally
right next to the airport so it was a
quick drive about less than 10 minutes
from the airport so highly recommend
coming here as soon as you get here
so even though bonus is the cheapest
Supermarket it still is relatively
expensive when you compare it to
American prices but it'll still save you
some money new grocery shop so when we
say everything expensive we got the car
but you got to put gas into it so the
cheapest place to get gas on Iceland is
Costco so our American Costco card works
here I just filled it up and a lot
cheaper and save me some money
so another way people end up wasting
money in Iceland is by buying bottled
water so the water here comes straight
from the glaciers and it's really
refreshing really safe to just drink
like that it has a lot of flavor and in
New York I buy Icelandic water every day
not every day but I buy it often so why
would I come to Iceland and buy water
like I'm drinking the street from the
glacier here so saving money and drink
it straight for an attack
so there's a lot of different ways you
can save on your accommodations so
usually the hotels are going to be
really expensive but you can get a
hostel which are a lot cheaper you can
get an Airbnb and what is really popular
in Iceland are these Camper vans now the
camper vans they double as
accommodations as well as getting you
around
so you have the freedom and flexibility
and you can spend the night there as
well another thing that I'd recommend to
save on accommodation is if you have a
car or you plan to drive around not
staying directly in the downtown area in
Reykjavik so if you stay oh like 10
minutes 15 minutes outside of downtown
and just drive in you can get parking
and you can save a lot in accommodation
costs and in our Icelandic travel guide
we give you guys a ton of accommodations
places to eat experiences and ways to
save money in Iceland so if you guys
want to save money in Iceland please be
sure to look at our Icelandic travel
guide Linked In Our description also
know that alcohol in Iceland is very
expensive so I would recommend if you
are going to get liquor to get it in
duty-free the next thing that was really
good about Iceland as an American is
that everyone really speaks English so
even though we stayed mostly in the
southern coast everyone that we
encountered spoke English
so we didn't have any language barrier
but the only thing that I would say is
that the Icelandic language reading it
is very difficult but it wasn't an issue
because everybody spoke English
and this is why as an American I would
highly recommend Iceland as a great solo
travel destination or somewhere that you
can go and be safe
the next thing to know is that Iceland
has some of the most beautiful
landscapes I have ever seen in this
world and I've traveled to so many
countries already Iceland has so many
beaches Ice Caves
waterfalls glaciers
unique animals whale watching Hot
Springs volcanoes and even geysers also
I love the black sand beaches here
just driving around you get blown away
by the landscapes one tip that I would
say about these Landscapes is the
weather here is unpredictable so
sometimes you may get a lot of rain or
it may be clear but you're going to get
some rain again so always bring
waterproof gear and jackets
also bring rain boots boots
and those will be linked in the
description the next thing that I'm
going to talk about Iceland is that you
can use your card everywhere
so if you guys can see on my wall every
person I go I collect the bills
and in Iceland I didn't even get a bill
because I didn't need it I couldn't even
put a bill on my wall because everybody
accepts cards you don't even need to
exchange your money or take out
Icelandic currency there's only one
instance where we did actually need
Icelandic currency and and this was when
we were in runalog and this was an off
the beaten path kind of private hot
spring and it was an owner there who
only accepted cash
so we actually did have US Dollars and
we gave her the US dollars but I would
just recommend converting maybe ten
dollars twenty dollars just so that you
can have it for instances like that or
just take back home but with the card I
highly recommend getting a credit card
or debit card that has no foreign
transaction fees because using your card
everywhere it will definitely add up if
you have to pay these foreign
transaction fees
the point that I'm going to talk about
Iceland is that even though it is
expensive a lot of the nature is free
and that's what I love now some things
require a tour such as doing whale
watching because you don't have a boat
and you don't know where the whales are
but a lot of the nature such as seeing
the waterfalls or going hiking are just
free you literally just get out the car
and you walk literally just driving on
the highway you can see so much
beautiful nature that you don't even
need to park and hike and this was
something that I know my wife likes
because even though she loves going on
these trips with me hiking is not her
best friend sometimes and this is
especially good if you go in the winter
because you may not want to get out and
hike and then in the snow and then have
to find where the car is and it'd be
covered in snow or just really be an
unsafe unfamiliar terrains and while I
say that a lot of nature is free there
are some things that you have to pay
either admission fees or parking fees
and I'm going to give you guys a tip to
save money on some of these as well so
in place this is like the waterfall
cilantro Force I believe it's called
where you can go behind the waterfall
you have to pay a parking ticket here's
a tip if you see somebody leaving ask
them for the for their plane ticket and
from my experience all of the tourists
were very eager to give those away
because those parking tickets are good
for 24 hours and you're only going to be
there for an hour two hours at most the
only thing that I'd recommend is if you
see somebody at the payment kiosk and
you have a parking ticket don't let the
pay for it give it to them and keep
passing on and this will help you save
on those parking tickets as well and my
last tip about Iceland is the vat tax
refund so as an American you don't have
to pay taxes on everything in Iceland so
if you do buy Icelandic products and you
keep the receipts right at the airport
they have a vat tax refund where you can
get reimbursed for a lot of those things
if you do buy them in Iceland and there
you guys have it 10 things that I wish I
knew before I went to Iceland as an
American
are you guys surprised by any of these
let us know Below in the comments so
thank you guys so much for checking out
our Channel please be sure to like
comment and subscribe and stay tuned
because we got a ton of dope content
coming with Iceland so you don't want to
miss this so we'll see you on the next
one
[Music]
thank you
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