By Kumiko Matter
Iceland is a popular travel destination right now because of cheap flights and hotel packages through Iceland Air. The amazing natural scenery doesn’t hurt either. Although the flights may be cheap, other parts of the trip such as food and lodging can be pricy. Planning a trip to Iceland soon? Here are some ways to visit Iceland while staying on a budget.
Rent a Car
The easiest way to explore Iceland is through group tours. But if you plan on traveling with your family or multiple friends, it’s definitely cheaper to rent a car and see the sights on your own. Depending on what car you choose to rent, check out costs from multiple rental companies. Often local rental companies in Iceland prove to be less expensive than chain companies. During the wintertime, it is safest to drive a 4-wheel drive, but driving a small car is also doable.
Stay at Hostels
The hostels in Iceland are well kept, modern and usually host many fun events. Save money by staying in a private room compared to staying in a hotel, or go lower in price by staying in a dorm room, which is a great way to meet fellow travelers. In Reykjavik there are a few hostels that are centrally located, and you will also find many other hostels throughout the country.
Skip the Blue Lagoon
If you love visiting hot springs, the Blue Lagoon is a popular tourist destination because of its sky blue waters and healing properties. But there are plenty of other hot springs located closer to Reykjavik with much cheaper admission than the Blue Lagoon. In fact, for the price of one ticket to the Blue Lagoon you could visit many of the local hot springs in Reykjavik every night for a week–and it would still be cheaper than the Blue Lagoon!Â
Buy Alcohol at the Airport
Reykjavik’s nightlife is lively and there are plenty of awesome bars located around the small city, but the price of alcohol will quickly rack up a high tab. If you know you will be drinking during your trip, buy bottles of alcohol at the duty free shop at Keflavik Airport and save loads of kronur (the local currency) compared to buying drinks at the bar. Iceland is known for its quality vodka, so check out the tasty varieties on your way in or out of Iceland.
*****
Photo credits:
Reykjavik: Helgi Halldórsson via Flickr
Keflavik Airport Duty Free Shop: gamene via Flickr
