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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Reykjavik /Iceland anyone ?

109 replies

BeaLola · 03/06/2021 10:54

Any experiences greatly welcomed.

Would be me, DH & DS13 - is it worth a visit, if so how long & any good attractions you could recommend as well as hotels

TIA

OP posts:
Bouledeneige · 29/06/2021 08:48

I took my two teens for a summer holiday and we loved it. We stayed in a variety of places organised by a local travel agent - an Airbnb flat in Reykjavik, a hotel up in the glacier and another Airbnb summerhouse in the golden circle. The weather was great. In Reykjavik we went to the Catherdral, Harpa concert hall and other sites and went on a whale watching trip. We then headed out if town. We did Into the Glacier, Geyser, Hveragerdi (hot river and solfataras), Reynifjara (black beach), Langvellir. We went for 10 days and loved it and the weather was lovely - warm and sunny.

I'd go back in a heartbeat. Buy alcohol at the airport.

PuffinShop · 29/06/2021 10:04

@Cowbells

There is way more than 1 off licence in Rvk - 6 in Rvk and 13 in the capital area I think.

Really? That's quite new, I think. When we went (about 8 years ago) I'm sure there was only the airport or the one state-approved off licence in the whole city.

No. I have lived here for over a decade. Maybe you mean there is only 1 in 101, which is true. I'm just imagining the chaos if everyone in Reykjavík tried to get their booze from a single off license!
Cowbells · 29/06/2021 17:10

@PuffinShop LOL. I Googled it and was amazed how many there are. We read it when we went there on holiday (maybe as you say they meant only 1 in 101) and we took it literally!

HappyFamiliesSeries2 · 12/07/2021 14:24

Well I'm back from our 11 days - it was perfect, as always!

On the practical COVID stuff

Before leaving home - filled in Iceland pre-registration form (links to your mobile number/email address), received bar code and downloaded the Rakning tracking app. Also ordered day 2 test for when we were back as you need the booking ref to add to your UK passenger locator form.

At Heathrow - showed NHS App to prove vaccination status and barcode for pre registration

At Keflavik - went through usual passport checks then there were additional desks in Arrivals. Showed NHS App and barcode again. As this was June, barcode was linked to a test tube I was given for PCR test. Then went to portacabin in the car park and nurse did throat and nasal swab.

Picked up rental car and drove to first accommodation. Got a text message with negative result for test (4 hours and 22 minutes from test to results)

For return test to UK we registered and paid for the rapid antigen test on www.COVID.is and booked a test for the day before our flight at 8.30 in Reykjavik. This was 4000isk/£23 each.
We were staying near Hlemmur bus station and test centre was at least 30 minutes walk from there away from city centre so we drove round. Joined the queue (need to wear masks until the test) at about 8.15 and we're in and out quickly (similar process to at the airport with barcodes and test tubes but just a nasal swab done by a nurse). By the time we'd driven back to the apartment we both had emails with the negative certificate.

Return flights were similar - showed UK passenger locator and antigen cert at Keflavik (need to wear masks in the airport still) then same at Heathrow before going through passport e-gates. 10 minute queues at both.

mrsrobin · 12/07/2021 16:35

Glad you had a great time Happy and thank you for your post above.
Can't wait - we are off soon :)

mrsrobin · 13/07/2021 09:55

Happy - your car hire - do you take the sand and ash additional insurance cover? The car hire is expensive enough as it is! Do you really need it or is it more so for winter? Thank you :)

HappyFamiliesSeries2 · 13/07/2021 12:05

As I am the least risk adverse person in the world (and DH is the second!) we take out a zero deductible insurance which is even more but includes sand and ash.

I think the advice is that sand and ash damage can happen at any time/place but it is more likely when driving the south coast or highlands (due to the very flat plains where the winds can get really high) and in spring/autumn as there less likely to be snow or grass to stop the sand being blown up.

Probably like a lot of insurance it's something you can minimise your risk for, e.g. by paying close attention to the weather and not travelling to areas where it may happen. But if you do get caught in it, it can be expensive to fix, it can literally strip the paint off the car.

mrsrobin · 13/07/2021 14:12

Thanks for the reply Happy, still can't decide! I might ask if I can add it on for the days in the south only!

HappyFamiliesSeries2 · 14/07/2021 06:44

I saw this today and checked

https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/2021/07/13/rentingaacarinnicelandhassbecomeoutrageouslyyex/

Our car 2 weeks was about £1300 all in. Same car from the same place for 11 days in August is now £3500!!!!

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