Touring the land of fire and ice on a budget
Tourist hot spot can be pricey, but some prep is all you need to soak up its wonders
Iceland: a country filled with volcanoes, puffins, glacier fields and just 300,000 people. “The land of fire and ice” (their motto, not mine) is fast becoming a tourism hot spot — but it’s not cheap. Yet having just returned from two weeks adventuring around the country, I can attest that it’s an affordable travel destination if you go prepared.
Here are some tips on how to have an amazing trip to Iceland for cheap:
Avoid taxis at all cost: Upon arriving in Iceland late at night after a long day of travel, my friends and I decided to take a cab from Keflavik International Airport to our Airbnb in the capital of Reykjavik, a mere 40 minutes away.
While in Canada this would cost no more than $75, our experience topped out at $192 (and quickly was coined “the million-dollar cab ride”). This was no scam either — taxis in Iceland are uniformly pricey.
Tip: Keflavik International Airport offers a shuttle bus that runs to and from most hotels in Reykjavik 24/7. While it’s also not the cheapest (a one-way trip is 2,200 krona, or just under $30), it is a fraction of the cost of a cab ride.
Plus, it’s a great deal for families: Children 11 and under ride free with an adult, and passengers 12 to 15 travel for 50 per cent off.
Cut back on dining out: Unless you plan on blowing your budget in one meal, avoid restaurants. This is not just the case in the bigger hubs around the country — eating out is expensive even in the smallest towns of Iceland (a hamburger and fries is hard to find for less than $17, and some entrees cost up to $50 a plate at mid-range restaurants). But there’s hope: Grocery stores are everywhere, and food costs there are roughly the same as in Canada.
Tip: Look for budget grocery stores such as Bonus (identifiable by the pink piggy bank symbol) for the best deals.
A kitchen’s worth its weight in gold: When booking accommodation, we quickly learned that a kitchen is an Icelandic traveller’s best friend. We stayed at Airbnb rentals for the majority of our trip; not only were they more affordable than many hotels, but they often came with kitchens, letting us save a fortune on food.
Tip: Depending on the number of people in your group and what you select, an Airbnb can save you up to $100 a night — not to mention the costs cut by cooking your own meals. Just make sure to book ahead, as the best places go fast.
Make your own tours: Iceland is known for its amazing adventure tours, and the hype is no lie — from massive waterfalls to active volcanoes, the sights are amazing. Companies offer day trips for everything and anything a tourist could want, but choose wisely — they are not cheap. The majority of Iceland’s parks and natural wonders have free entry (parking is free in most locations as well), so we found the cheap- est option was to rent a car and drive to the sites ourselves, saving hundreds of dollars. Some things are worth paying the extra money for, such as horseback riding or scuba diving tours — just choose wisely.
Tip: Car rental companies like Sixt or Sad Car offer great deals on vehicle rentals.
Geothermal baths are where it’s at: Iceland is filled with pools and hot geothermal baths, which are bliss. Many tourists head for Keflavik’s Blue Lagoon, one of the largest geothermal baths in the country — and at $60 to $70 a person, one of the priciest. I enjoyed visiting smaller geothermal baths around the country infinitely more, and at a fraction of the price (typically less than $10 a visit). Plus Icelandic people will actually be at the baths.
Tip: Bring your own towel and swim suit to avoid the rental fees.