25 tips for going to Iceland

For many newcomers who want to get there, Iceland seems to be some kind of distant, inaccessible and terribly expensive country. However, fear, as they say, has great eyes :). In fact, it is an ordinary European state with a very high standard of living, kind, sympathetic people and familiar infrastructure. As in any other place, here you can save a lot on something, but just protect yourself from something and prepare yourself for possible situations. I have gathered 25 tips to help you feel more confident in this fantastically beautiful and terribly interesting country. Just follow them, and Iceland will be remembered to you from the very good side :).

What can you save on

Iceland cannot be called a cheap country - it is a fact. Especially "bite" car rental prices. For example, in the high season, Suzuki Vitara cost us 130,000 rubles. in 12 days. And this is a very good price. The main expenses in Iceland are 3 things:

- round-trip ticket (about 30,000 rubles from Moscow);

- car rental (if you go four together, then about 30,000 rubles per person);

- fuel (1.8 euros per liter, for an interesting route of 3,500 km - about 10,000 rubles per person, if you go four).

In total, the basic cost goes to about 70,000 rubles per person, if you go four together. In the high season, when the most interesting roads in the center of the island are open, you won’t save much on a ticket. On rent and gasoline, too, you won’t. But on everything else - housing and food - it is quite possible. So, economical tips:

1. Book your car strongly in advance.

So more likely to gain some kind of discount. And ask her - sometimes give. On the spot, it is very likely that you will be handed over a car at 10-15% more expensive than before, through the site.

2. If your plans include only the popular Golden Ring route or around the island, then take the smallest and cheapest car.

There is excellent asphalt everywhere, there are no fords and a huge SUV is completely useless to you! I know a couple of cases when people took monster trucks for this route, believing that everything is bad with the roads in Iceland. Such jeeps are only needed if you are planning a route along the most difficult roads of Iceland. But keep in mind that they are not always open - only in the midst of summer and if not flooded.

3. Buy food at the Bonus chain supermarket.

There are the cheapest products by Icelandic standards. And at the same time very tasty! :) Mark Bonus stores on your route to plan your replenishment plan correctly. Usually we bought food for 3 days in advance - the cold climate allows dairy and meat products not to spoil for a long time. Many are scared by food prices in Iceland and recommend to bring sublimates from Russia. If you have already managed to cram the "doshiki" in your bag, then immediately remove them from there! You will be surprised, but in Bonus there are the same “doshiki” at the Russian price! But, I think, you will not get to this poison - in Iceland there are very tasty and healthy products. You must definitely try them! We were 3 guys and one girl - the average check in Bonus was 3-4 thousand rubles. And these are products for 3 days for four! We took pasta, oatmeal, milk, delicious Skyr yogurts (which I really miss), ground beef, sausages, cheese, bread, and sweets for a snack. And once they decided to treat themselves and bought all sorts of soft drinks, chocolate paste, bars, chips and other children's joy. Several large packages of nishtyakov cost us 6500 rubles. Therefore, boldly hammer on your Russian canned goods and enjoy normal Icelandic food. Prices from Moscow differ only once and a half. And then they do not differ at all. But this applies to Bonus - in private shops and minimarkets the prices are really horseback.

4. The free Olis refueling network discount card gives you unlimited coffee.

Just drop by a gas station (it’s not necessary to refuel), go to the store and ask for a card at the checkout. And as soon as they give it, you can immediately demand free coffee :). The cashier will lead the card through the terminal and show you where you can pour a couple of glasses of always fresh Americano.

5. At campsites, too, you can save.

True, this life hack is already from the category of Russian mockery :) But, if you are very limited in means, then you can use it. In any case, let it remain on your conscience :).

So, if you arrive at the campsite late in the evening (at least after 21 hours), and dump you before 8-9 in the morning, then no one will come and ask you for money for the billets. On average, camping in Iceland costs 1,500 rubles. for the tent. If you are four and you have two "kopecks", then you can save up to 3-4 thousand rubles a day, which you can eat normally :). Usually, campsite owners ask late tourists to come to a specific place and pay for their tents. As a rule, the owner hangs out at a hotel or cafe next to the campsite at night. And in the morning, after 9 o’clock, the morning detour begins with the card terminal. Those who arrive late just pay in the morning. Such a "chip" is no longer rolling in Norway, for example. There, campgrounds are closed with a barrier at night, and in order to use the toilet, you need an electronic key card. Arrived late and did not have time to pay - camping is almost impossible to use. In Iceland, this is not so strict so far, and the toilets are open around the clock. And no barriers. In general, the essence of the advice is to pay only when you are personally asked about it, standing in front of you :) Well, accordingly, you need to drop into the camp late at night without any fuss - quickly and quietly, getting up somewhere in an unobtrusive place behind a large car or by the bush.

6. Use unnecessary items left by campers.

For example, you can get hold of half full gas bottle. And you can take yourself extra foam if you freeze at night. They are left by those who spend their last night here and are already going on a plane tomorrow. In the refrigerator of the camping, sometimes there are packaged products, bread, water, etc. Feel free to use it. After all, you will also have the last night, after which you leave all unnecessary and unused at the campsite. We left the scum that we bought here, a large pot (for 3,000 rubles) in which we cooked, and such a normal supply of food, household chemicals.

7. If you need to stay one night in Reykjavik or Keflavik, then look for accommodation on Airbnb.

There the prices are much lower than on Booking. But immediately get ready for less than 4,500 rubles. for the "kopeck piece" in the hostel you will not find anything.

8. Do not pay big money for hot springs (Blue Lagoon, for example).

About things: how not to stay naked in Iceland

9. Be sure to put some warm items in your carry-on baggage.

The fact is that the loss of baggage on flights to Iceland is no longer an accident, but a regularity! Laughter, laughter, and the person who told me about this on the way to Iceland did not wait for his baggage on the tape. Reunion with family things happened only on the 8th day of our journey. All this time we were saving a friend with our spare gear, and we had to spend money on something. Other friends we met at the very first campsite lost their luggage. Another suitcase didn’t come from another acquaintance to whom I told this garbage before she went to Iceland after us. It’s good that I warned her and she put some warm clothes in her hand luggage. In general, you should be prepared that you can only see your bag a week later when you arrive in the country. The good news is that things are usually always found and they will be delivered to you wherever you say.

10. Be sure to check if your lighter has flown to Iceland.

And then on the first campsite you have to ask someone for a spark. If you put it in your luggage, it is likely that upon arrival, instead of a lighter, there will be a certificate about the seizure of a dangerous item by the security service.

11. When buying a gas bottle in Iceland, make sure it is compatible with your burner nozzle. You can buy and understand that the burner is not screwed into it, already far from civilization.

12. Be sure to bring water-repellent shoe polish with you.

Whatever your sophisticated boots, they will turn into jelly after three days in continuous rain and in moss saturated with water.

13. Be sure to take a pair of sets of interchangeable clothes (fleece, thermal underwear, protective pants).

Heavy rain in the company with the wind will wet even waterproof clothing, and there is nowhere to hide from this cataclysm in Iceland.

14. Take along a tent that is quickly and easily set up.

15. As a result of the previous tip - take care in advance of a waterproof camera case.

Not the one in which you put the camera, but the one in which she will be dressed during the shooting. There are special rubber clothes for your pet. It will come in handy on a sunny day when you shoot waterfalls - water dust from them is carried by the wind for tens of meters.

Driving Tips

16. Buy several fuel cards in advance.

For example, the network of gas stations N1. Most of them work in self-service mode and are a column in a clean field. In any case, an operator at a gas station somewhere in the center of the island is a rarity.

17. When making a car rental, be sure to buy gravel insurance.

If you do not buy, then the distributors will definitely pay attention to the smallest chips and damage - you are tormented to pay. And gravel on our doors often knocked.

18. Carefully inspect the machine upon receipt.

Photograph it in the presence of the distributor from all sides, note the slightest damage in the sheet. Otherwise, then it’s likely that you will be scratched by other people's scratches. Moreover, franchise deposits on the map here are blocking rather big ones. The season is short - everyone wants to make money on tourists to the maximum.

19. Do not allow to deceive you upon receipt of the car and do not allow unnecessary options and insurances to be driven in - here they do it very often!

It even comes to many hours of showdown, when instead of one car they give you a completely different one, lower class. In general, keep in mind that the distributors here are cunning and strive to throw you an extra ten thousand rubles from above.

20. Are you afraid to drive ford? Feel free to contact the rescuers, if they are nearby - they will help for free.

Or ask someone in a big car to ride in front of you so that you can see the water level. Do not drive hard, so as not to raise the wave to the hood, where you have an air intake. But there is no need to stop either. Drive confidently, slowly, without letting go of gas. Usually in the footsteps of other cars you can see where it is better to enter and leave the ford. Fix your numbers with ties - they get lost in the water all the time.

21. Keep track of weather services and road conditions in Iceland.

The situation can quickly change, and the road you need will be blocked. That was when we were already leaving Iceland. The melting of some glacier raised the water level in the rivers, and they cut off the whole popular tourist region of Landmannalaugar from civilization for several days.

General tips

22. Please note that most stores in Iceland are only open until 18 hours.

But alcohol is not sold in supermarkets - only in specialized stores in large settlements. In Bonus, at best, you can buy local Viking beer with a strength of 2.25 degrees. Stronger drinks are not sold at the grocery store.

23. Many people ask which currency is best transported to Iceland - dollars or euros?

Answer: do not carry anything except the card. Cash in Iceland is practically not needed anywhere - there are terminals everywhere and communication throughout the island is just fine.

24. But still, withdraw some cash from the airport ATM.

The most important advice

25. Turn off the “Golden Ring”, which has fallen on edge and spoiled by tourists, and you will discover a completely different Iceland, which you will love with all your heart and soul :)