by Jack and Wendy
Iceland is such a popular destination right now. Flip through a travel magazine and you will likely see an article on the country. There are decent deals and free stopover options on Icelandair and WOW. We just missed running into several acquaintances who were visiting in the weeks prior or after our trip. There is a lot of information available if you’re planning to go to Iceland, but we are here to offer a few hopefully helpful tips from our perspective.

Credit cards vs. cash – Many travel writers will tell you that you can use your credit card for the duration of your time in Iceland. And you probably can, especially if you’re in town only 1 or 2 days. We used our cards a lot and had little difficulty, but still recommend buying some local currency. There is usually time to exchange money before you leave your home airport, and we did not notice a lot of ATMs during the road trip. The Reykjavik airport probably had one – but it can be hard to remember this step when you’ve just arrived and are tired and need to go through border control, find your ride, etc. Why do we still like carrying cash? Because it’s nice to have money for tips for housekeeping, those bathrooms that make you pay for the privilege, or small purchases (especially if your credit card charges an international transaction fee). It’s also wise to keep a few bills for emergencies, like if your credit card is stolen or isn’t read properly.

Get the maximum car insurance. The deductibles on rental cars are very expensive: 1000-2000 euros for the basic and deluxe collision damage waivers. It’s not until you purchase the highest level of coverage offered that the deductible disappears. This was about 28 euros a day at Thrifty. The basic coverage also excludes damage to the windshield and damage from ash and gravel – both are sold separately or included in the ultimate option. Many roads in Iceland are gravel or unpaved, so there is a good chance you’ll encounter flying gravel at some point. We had a few minor dings, but heard of others with a cracked windshield (and without full coverage, the expensive deductible had to be paid promptly).

Drive carefully. You may think this is an obvious tip, but the beautiful scenery can easily distract you from watching the road. Use caution navigating the one lane bridges and driving up steep cliffs or near hot springs. Watch for sheep and horse crossings! Pick up info at the rental car office that explains Iceland road rules, how to call for help and where to fill up with gas before returning the car.

You will need to buy pre-paid gas cards if you plan on using the self-service filling stations around the island. The cards are brand specific so it is worth checking to see which particular stations are found along your route. They work at the full service branches as well.

Bring a playlist for the long drives, or take turns playing DJ. Dad’s playlist included travel-themed songs from a variety of artists, while Wendy’s included Icelandic icon Bjork and Brit pop (looking ahead to the next stage of the trip).

Takk means thank you.  It’s always nice to learn some phrases in the local language, but know that everyone appears to speak fluent English. Sometimes with an accent so midwestern you’ll swear they’re from the U.S.

Use your good judgement. You won’t see a lot of warnings about taking selfies on the edge of a waterfall or petting the sheep. There are a few small signs cautioning visitors not to climb on rocks or get too close to the boiling hot geyser, but sometimes not much of an actual barrier to things. You can waltz right up to glaciers, geysers, rapids, waterfalls. They’re counting on all of us to be respectful and responsible. Unfortunately some people aren’t. It makes us wonder how Iceland will respond to the massive tourism. Natural parks and attractions were mostly free and very accessible – who knows for how long.

Speaking of free, the scenery was about the only thing that was. Be prepared that hotels, food, rental car and tickets to attractions such as the Blue Lagoon will be pricey. Think $12-15 for a beer and $50-60 entrees. We took advantage of complimentary breakfasts when it was offered at hotels. Hot dog stands are super popular, and we had a delicious and inexpensive lunch at a gas station – really! There were different topping choices for the dogs – mayo, a mild brown mustard sauce, ketchup, and fried onions (recommend all). The crispy fries were a great accompaniment. Jack cooked hot dogs and sides bought from the local grocery during the evening we all stayed in an apartment and had access to a kitchen.

We liked the food in Iceland. We did not eat fermented shark or horse or puffin fish or whale – and it didn’t seem like those scandalously legendary options were particularly popular. Between the 4 of us we sampled excellent fish and pork dishes, lamb stew, amazing lobster soup, burgers and kabobs. We loved the thinner, flexible pancakes with jam for breakfast, creamy skyr yogurt, smoked salmon and pastries.

Grocery stores do not sell alcohol, and liquor stores are apparently closed or close early on Sunday – so plan accordingly. We wished we had bought a second bottle of bourbon from duty free – it was nice to have hotel room happy hour after a day of hiking/driving before heading out to dinner. The craft cocktail movement is in full swing at the bars. And while we tried the Icelandic schnapps Brennivin, we didn’t go back for seconds.

Hotels – Dad wrote a whole post on the different accommodations we experienced in Iceland. So we’ll keep these tips brief. Many rooms don’t have air conditioning. Sometimes they go ahead and charge your room with the credit card you used to reserve (instead of give you the option to use a different card). And while there are some great places to stay in Iceland – remember the scenery is often the big draw; maintain modest expectations for luxury and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Finally – choose your travel companions as wisely as we did! Traveling with Mom and Dad (Cindy and Joe) is so much fun. We all had input into planning the trip logistics, choosing hotels and activities, and had a pretty general idea of what we wanted to do each day. We all look out for each other and try to keep a sense of humor. Jack and I appreciate their endless patience and positive energy. Being able to travel while enjoying the company of people you love is simply one of the best things ever.