ABD Iceland: Just some information I have gathered for trip- 7-14-18

aggiedog said:

Wow, you are excited, aren't you. You should be. Iceland is amazing. I"m working on how to get over there for a third time.

A few extras -
Bring an oil treatment for your hair after the Blue Lagoon, even if you'd never use one normally. It will get your hair back to normal within 1-2 washings.
You can bring a towel and flip flops with you to the BL, but then will you need them for the rest of the trip? If not, consider renting them the price of less luggage.

At Seljalandsfoss waterfall is Gljufrabui waterfall, down the trail to the left of Seljalandsfoss. Don't miss it, but wear waterproof shoes and clothes, as you must walk in a few inches of water as you go thru the crack in the cliff to get to it. Once inside, there's no hiding from the spray. It's worth it though, and truly magical. You'll need a water proof shell to go behind Seljalandsfoss anyways, which is also worth it for the sheer power you feel as the water comes over the cliff.

The weather can easily change every 10 minutes. Beginning of June it was rain, sleet, sun, and repeat. Do not bring an umbrella. The wind will eat it in an instant, as it has been known to rip car doors off when opened into the wind. Umbrellas don't stand a chance.

My lightweight down jacket was perfect, with a rain shell, along with gloves, scarf, hat. Our family picture of our "summer" trip for our Christmas card was us in Iceland, bundled up more than our Texas winters.

Beware the waves/water at the Black sand beach, Reynisfjara. The undertow is deadly, and tourists die there every year. Always keep an eye on the water line and do NOT get in even the smallest amount of surf. There are occasional very big waves that don't obey the "every 7th one" rule that seems to happen in the US. It's also really windy at the beach, as that is where the Gulf Stream hits Iceland before turning east.

Don't walk on the moss. The Icelandic ecosystem is fragile and slow growing (decades for the moss.) Stay on marked trails, especially in lava fields. The locals take this VERY seriously, and are very offended by tourists that don't respect this.

Try their famous hot dogs, with all the trimmings. They can be had from any gas station, and there is a hot dog stand in Reykjavik that our guide told us is more their true "religion" than their churches. Baejarins Beztu Pylsur. Try the rye bread ice cream with rhubarb syrup at Cafe Loki. It was amazing, seriously.

Watch these Iceland Academy videos by their tourist office. I think there are around 5 of them. They are both hilarious and completely on point:

Icelandic is the globe's closest language to old Norse/Viking. They spent so long isolated that the language evolved slowly. Their phonebook is arranged by first name, since family names can change from child to child due to cultural norms (son's surnames based on the father, daughter's on the mother.) Because the weather is so extreme most of the year, and they evolved in a culture where shipwrecks were considered a natural resource (due to their lack of many natural resources), the locals are a wonderful combination of independent and super helpful. When the drive to the next town over could take a few hours or a few days (for the weather to calm down) they tend to not have a very urgent sense of time, but at the same time can be very punctual when weather permits. Case in point, if you have an independent shuttle scheduled for the airport, know that pick up time can start 30 minutes BEFORE the scheduled time. The scheduled time is the LATEST they will come.

Enjoy your trip! Truly, I'd probably retire to Iceland if my dh would let me.

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aggiedog said:

I can't speak to straighteners, but the adaptor will work fine. That's similar to what I have.

If you're from the south, and don't consider 50 degrees balmy: For layering, on top I'd do a light shirt, a light fleece, (or warmer shirt and no fleece) then a light weight jacket (we have a light weight down that worked well), with a rain shell. On bottom, non-jeans pants and a rain shell. It really shouldn't be bitter cold, but it could easily be wet with sideways wind. I found myself shedding and adding layers continuously all day long.

It can get expensive outfitting a whole family. We got Land's End jackets that pack into their own pocket, and have found we use them a lot at home too. They're the perfect weight for most Texas winter activities, and my kids take them to late fall marching band activities, early spring track, etc. I'd go cheap on rain shell tops and bottoms. I have a $7 fleece jacket I brought last March from Wal-Mart, that went under a heavier down jacket for my March trip. Don't skimp on good footwear if you'll be hiking much. Warm and dry is important.

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sayhello said:

That's a lot of research!

Just remember, most restaurants on the ABD, you won't be ordering from the regular menu. There will be a set menu with 2 or 3 choices.

As far as the Blue Lagoon is concerned, the package provided by ABD includes the use of a bathrobe, the use of a towel, and flip flops that you get to keep. No need to bring your own towel. Do you really want to be shlepping a bath towel around with you for 9 or 10 days?

Most hotels do not want you bringing your own hair dryers. They definitely require a converter, and I know several people who have blown the fuses in their hotel rooms using their own hair dryers, even with expensive converters. Hotels provide blow dryers for a reason.

Looking forward to hearing your report and those of others who start taking this trip!

Sayhello

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kristilew said:

For those of us who are picky about hair dryers (read:me), I use the BabyBliss Pro dual voltage travel dryer. It folds tiny, has good ionic anti frizz tech, and won’t turn on unless selected to the correct voltage- so no worries about blowing a fuse or overheating.

Thanks for all the research- I’m glad we aren’t going til August so there will (I hope!) be some reports in by then. Your lists are a great way to start focusing now, though!

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sayhello said:

Cool! I was needing a new travel hair dryer. Is it the BabyBliss Pro Tourmaline Titanium travel dryer or the BabyBliss Pro Nano Titanium travel dryer?

Sayhello

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BluesTraveler said:

Thanks for all of this information. Re: hiking boots must cover ankles - does anyone know why is that required? We all having hiking shoes but not boots, and it's hard to imagine buying 4 pairs of hiking boots for one glacier walk. Especially for kids who outgrow shoes faster than you can blink.

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hygienist999 said:

The blog said it was because of the crampons that attach to your boots for the glacier hike. The shoes must cover the ankles to use them.

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sayhello said:

Seriously? I just bought a new pair of waterproof hiking shoes for this trip. I sure hope I can take them back & get over-the-ankle ones...

Sayhello

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hygienist999 said:

This is what I found on the website for Icelandic Mountain Guides-
View attachment 323808

I know this probably isn't the people we will be with but the information may still apply.

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