Iceland | February 2020

How to plan a Galentine's Day trip in 4-weeks, Look no further! Iceland was one of those trips that came off the cusp with my two good girlfriends. We wanted to spend Valentines Day weekend with one another and what better way than to spend it in another country. This year we got super lucky, with Presidents' Day landing on that Monday, giving us the perfect 3-day weekend for a getaway. We wanted to go somewhere close, but a place where none of us have been (which was harder than you can imagine). We decided on Iceland!

Iceland is an interesting place! It is known as the island of fire and ice and has much to explore such as hot springs, glaciers, and volcanoes! None of us knew much about Icelandic culture or what to expect once we arrived. We were pretty much going with the flow of things, and was open to an adventure.

All About the Stay

We stayed at the Apotek Hotel, a cute boutique hotel in the heart of Reykjavik. The breakfast was AMAZING! I mean, who doesn’t like “do-it-yourself” Mimosas! There was a good mix of European and American dish options, and the bacon was real bacon (it’s hard to find real crispy bacon abroad). The staff was polite and kind, often asked if we needed anything, but wasn’t too overbearing.

The Room was super cute and had all the amenities we needed. It had three single beds, with down-blankets, and comfortable pillows. My favorite part was the stand-up shower and a heated towel rack (my life has since changed, I need one in my home!) Having our own iron and ironing board in the room was a plus, and they also provided a Beats-pill for our musical needs. Despite it being unbearably windy and brisk outside, the room was very cozy, and the windows were double insulated, you could not hear or feel a thing.

Getting Around Iceland

Navigating Iceland was fairly simple. We were not comfortable renting a car being that we were unfamiliar with roads and the weather conditions in February were not favorable. We opted to use bus companies. There are many bus companies that operate all over Reykjavik, that take you to the airport and sightseeing. In the city of Reykjavik, there are many bus stops labeled that you can be picked up from or dropped off, depending on where your hotel is. Our hotel was located down the block from Bus Stop #6. The only pitfall of this process was that the buses give you a 30-minute window that you could be picked up. For example, your ticket may say: “pick up is between 7:00 am- 7:30 am. You will be waiting outside for the bus to arrive, so it is imperative that you dress warmly. All the buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi. The bus operators and tour guides are extremely friendly and speak great English.

What to do

In such a short-time, we did so much! Our tours included: Grand Golden Circle Tour, Southern Iceland Coast & Skogafoss Waterfall Tour, Northern Lights Tour, and the Blue Lagoon. (Bus Travel Iceland is the G.O.A.T) Iceland is known for its natural beauty! If you aren’t into nature, then I wouldn’t recommend this location! The beauty of the glaciers and waterfalls are truly breathtaking! The Southern Iceland Coast tour included visits to waterfalls, glaciers, and the Black Sand Beach in the Village of Vik where parts of Game of Thrones was filmed! The Grand Golden Circle Tour included visiting the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park, and Keiro Volcanic Crater.

The Blue Lagoon was AMAZING! I recommend going to the Lagoon early in the morning before your flight back home, or directly as soon as you land. The lagoon is a 10-12 minute drive Keflavik International Airport. We booked a premium ticket which included a robe and flip flops, beverage of choice, and two facial masks. Before going into the lagoon, you must shower and condition your hair. It is important that you keep your hair tied up as the water in the Lagoon can strip the natural oils of your hair. Although there were a lot of people in the Lagoon, it did not feel crowded. We got into the Lagoon at 9:00 am and did not leave until 12:30 pm. There is a place to store your luggage, and there are also lockers to store your personal hygiene items for when you are done in the Lagoon. The café is super overpriced, so I recommend eating before you arrive.

Aurora Borealis (The Northern Lights) season ranges from October to February, and is unpredictable. The visibility of the lights is solely based on the visibility of the sky that night. Light pollution makes it extremely difficult to spot the Northern Lights. We originally booked the tour for our first night in Iceland, and due to climate conditions, it was rescheduled for the following night. Tour operators have apps that track the visibility of the lights each night and only operate tours if there is a high chance to spot the lights. The tour operator picked us up from our designated Bus Stop around 9:30 pm, and it took us an hour to get out of the city and away from the city lights. The Northern Lights are also difficult to spot with the naked eye. They appear as a “white cloudy” substance in the sky, and that substance moves in a circular motion. Having a DSLR camera and a tripod is a must to be able to capture the lights. The tour operator was helpful in adjusting the camera settings to perfectly capture the lights. Although the lights are not guaranteed to appear, the tour was worth it. Hot chocolate and pastries were served on the bus before returning to the hotel.

Tips

1. Dress warm in waterproof clothing

2. Iceland is known for their fish and Lamb

3. Everything is imported to Iceland so food, drinks, and souvenirs are expensive (i.e. Burgers and fries are around $18-22 USD)

4. Wine and Liquor is overpriced in the Duty Free

5. Take advantage of Happy Hours at the local bars