Not wanting to be the subject of a car sting in which we were charged for spurious damage claims after returning home (an international trade industry scam) we opted to go through Zest, winner of the most recent Which? Magazine award and through which in the past we had hired cars a from big companies such as Hertz and Avis at cheap rates and without rip-off incident.
As the guidebooks advise that you only need 4 wheel drive in summer if heading off the main roads, and in the interests of economy, we picked up the tiniest car for 4 people on their books and made a note-to-selves to stay on the highways.
Driving takes a long time in Iceland. The roads are fairly sparsely populated (much like the country itself which is home to only about 330,000 people), but the unpredictable wind suddenly blasts the side of your car, and then fog descends in an instant, the clouds part and the sun shines through for about 5 minutes before rain suddenly lashes down, flooding the tarmac. It is literally 4 seasons in one hour, let alone day.
What we would usually consider small distances on a map back home, take hours to navigate at an average speed of about 20mph. Amazing skies though!
Lights must be on at all times, and we could see why. Instead of road signs there are actual wrecked cars strung up as warnings along the roadside; the metal roadkill proving effective reminders that that there is no need for speed.
The fact that there are hardly any roads does make the navigator’s job a bit easier mind.
Great post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I was in Iceland in winter (March) and really loved it, but seeing some of your sunny, green and midnight sun experiences makes me wanna go back there in summer to explore more <3
Wow, I bet Iceland was amazing in the winter! Summer was beautiful, but I need to go back for snow and Northern lights.
Great post packed with tons of tips and information! I’d love to make it to Iceland someday.
I really want to go! It’s next on my list. Having just been to Norway, you’re comment about not being able to eat in Iceland cracked me up. I stopped converting if we went to a restuarant, but we did spent $160AUD in a bakery for lunch, no booze! (there are 5 of us). And yes, we too drink duty free in the room befre dinner. HA! #Farawayfiles
We were too scared to buy a round of coffees, let alone a $100 subway meal for 4! We tried to make the £10 bunch of grapes last all week, and ended up having to throw half of them away as they went brown before we could bring ourselves to eat them.
Amazing photos and I have puffin envy.
Iceland is an incredible country we went in May 2007 to tour the Golden Circle then returned in March 2018 and drove the complete Ring Road. I still can’t believe how breath-taking the scenery was. It looks like you all had a wonderful time.
As you mentioned food and drink is so expensive, it makes me wonder how the locals can afford it. #farawayfiles
Would love to see more! We spent much of our tour with bated breath as several volcanoes were past their sell by date. Certainly added an edge of adventure. We did find out that the average salary is 3 times that in the UK, so that probably helps with the £9 bags of crisps.
Wowsa! I do not like being cold at all, but I am enjoying your photo immensely! Thanks for sharing all you wonderful images and great information 🙂
Thanks for linking up at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!
My Corner of the World
I would love to visit Iceland someday! Love the photos.
Wow, you packed in so much! I had no idea about the airline stopover trick en route to elsewhere! Great tip. Iceland looks incredible though I’ve heard the same as you mentioned about food being expensive. Great inspiration for a visit one day #FarawayFiles
Our entire family wants to go to Iceland and your post is proof positive of how amazing the landscape is. I knew it was expensive but £9 for a packet of crisps? I hadn’t realised that it was that bad. I think we’ll have to save up for a couple of years. That glacier looks particularly incredible. Thanks so much for sharing this with us on #FarawayFiles. Your tips are really useful.
I would love to go back one day and experience Iceland in the winter. There is trip you can do inside a volcano which would be next on my list, or boating amongst mini icebergs on a semi-frozen lake. I hope you and your family get to experience it soon. It is incredibly beautiful, even if it is eye-wateringly expensive.
I so want to go there – that’s my next pick. The glacier looks amazing and I love the sound of the ladies in the 1950’s swimsuits! And puffins! I’d love to see those….#CulturedKids
Thanks! It was a unique and vaguely surreal experience. Would love to go back to see winter ice and Northern Lights.
What a fabulous trip, would love to jump on the plane right away and use all your tips 😊 my boys would love the inside volcano amd glacier trips, the waterfalls and the lagoons! Bookmarking and praying will get to see sooner rather than later, thank you so much for linking up on #CulturedKids!
Thanks – it is a magical place. Hope you and your boys get there soon.
I just love your posts and your wry observations! Conditioner tip v useful for someone prone to straw hair anyway! If I ever go, this post will be my starting point. Ps Im with your boys, the puffins sound great. #culturedkids
Thanks! You can’t beat a puffin!
Great photos that took me right back to Iceland. I’ve been in both winter and summer and cannot wait to return!
This makes me want to go back so bad! #CulturedKids
It’s been such a long time until I was at a all-inclusive resort the last time! This one looks amazing 🙂