WOWed :|: Iceland (Traveling to and From on WOW)

WOWed :|: Iceland (Traveling to and From on WOW)

My Experience in Iceland

A number of people are now thinking about venturing to the mysterious island of Iceland. From a young age, we learned about Iceland because of the comparison between that island and Greenland, however, the tale of this is not quite true despite the fact that Greenland is typically colder than Iceland. The story goes that the Norwegian Erik the Red tried to draw people to the island of Greenland promoting it as a "green" land. There are different accounts of the history of this, however, ultimately, we now find ourselves with an urge to travel to this island of 300,000 people without knowing too much about what we're about to see. Why? Simply, WOW.

Airfares have been lowered significantly for a number of major hubs with flights as low as $200 USD round trip with most flights falling between $300 USD and $400 USD within a certain time frame. It seems like the spring and summer months are priced a bit higher, which might have a lot to do with the amount of daylight and ability to really explore in Iceland for a full day with the longest day falling around June 21. I stayed in Iceland near the shortest day of the year (December 21) where they sun was up for about 3-4 hours. It's surreal getting used to the fact that it is dark until 11am and the sun is already setting around 3pm. 

When I first saw the fares, I thought to myself, this must not be real. Then I thought, it could be real, but I might have a Spirit Air experience. Sure enough, as I read more into it, you pay for a lot, as WOW is really a no-frills airline. However, ultimately, with the right preparation, you can definitely avoid many of the costly mistakes that travelers assuming a normal air experience would face. I first imagined myself riding in a plane that was about to fall apart in midair or worse and it wasn't helped by the fact that an airliner had just crashed shortly before my flight. However, when arriving on the flight, it definitely was not what I expected; surprisingly, it was better. 

I was surprised at the cost for changing my flight as I realized that I needed to come back a day early after booking my flight way in advance. It was actually cheaper than most of the airlines I fly and while it's posted at about $90 for a change, I paid less for my change (I'm not sure how), even though it was fairly close to my flight. Understanding their baggage policy is VERY important. If you are one of those travelers who push the limits on carry-on luggage, this is not the airline to do it with especially from LA. A 42x32x25cm carry-on luggage is included and if it doesn't fit in their measuring unit, then you'll pay and the longer you wait (check-in or gate), the more you pay. It's one of the GOTCHA moments. The one carry-on and one personal item is fairly strict so plan accordingly. Also note that the space for your personal item (in the seat in front of you) is tiny and my backpack that fit in a normal space underneath the seat in front of me, wouldn't. Regardless, if you plan on checking in a bag, pre-pay for it. It is much cheaper! If you're with a group, I would also plan on taking on bag together and putting in all your large coats (if you're traveling in the winter) and hiking boots (unless you wear them on board) in one check in. That way, you split the costs of the check-in luggage and avoid the hassles of the baggage check and check-in.

WOW Baggage Policies and Costs

After dealing with all the hassle, I got on board my flight. I originally tried to pick my seat in advance, but when I saw a $50 charge to do it online, I decided to roll the dice. On the way out, I got an extra leg room seat which was comfortable, on the way back, I got a normal seat,which was not, with no leg room whatsoever. However, I realized it was a no-frills flight, so I dealt with all nine hours of the flight. Also note, that there is a service charge when the flight is over a certain length of time. GOTCHA again. Regardless, the value of the flight versus the conditions was well worth the discomfort. It actually wasn't a huge difference than the conditions in coach in most airlines and is definitely worth the lower costs.

The final travel tip for you is to plan out your meals. On board, you'll be paying for EVERYTHING you get on board. I bought a can of Pepsi for $3 USD and instant noodle for $5 USD. They also have sandwiches and more depending on your flights. If you have to choose between the airport and the plane, there isn't too much difference in the price, but if you bring a sandwich on board like I did, then you save a boatload of money, which you'll need because the food in Iceland is quite expensive. By the way, on the way home, the policies seemed to be a lot lighter, as I checked-in myself, my baggage and cruised through security without any issue. Can't guarantee it will be the same for you, but my time at KEF was great, as the airport is beautiful. 

When arriving in Iceland, you'll probably try to figure out the best way to get from the airport to the city, which ends up being a 45 minute drive. I mistakenly booked my transport for that evening and instead of waiting  another hour for the next shuttle, I booked FlyAway at the airport counter and got a ride to my hotel for about $30 USD (one way). It's an additional $5 USD to get to your hotel. How it works is a larger coach bus takes you to their terminal and from there, you get off and if you paid the extra money, you get on a smaller bus which takes you directly to your hotel. While they did a great job getting me to the hotel, they didn't do a great job with helping me correct an error I made. It was my mistake ORIGINALLY, as I told them the wrong hotel, however, I tried to correct it TWICE and while I was assured both times I would be taken to the correct hotel, I still ended up at the wrong hotel and paid more for a taxi to my right hotel than I did for the my transport to the wrong hotel. Long story short, if you get the hotel info right, it's a great service. I used Airport Direct (orange van) to go from my hotel to the airport. This service runs like a Super Shuttle in the US so you'll book a time and be picked up directly at your hotel and depending on your luck, will travel through the city until all the passengers are picked up. Luckily, I was the last one to get picked up so I didn't stay in the small bus too long. They were also nice enough to refund my money for MY ERROR despite their cancellation policy. I fully expected to not be refunded, but definitely will use their services next time because of their customer service. They pick up near the Hertz Rental Car counter.

On a final note, don't forget to save all of your receipts because at the end of your trip, you can always try to get a tax refund, which you must do before going through security! 

Regardless, if you're thinking of taking WOW and are skeptical of the cheap flights, I would say, go for it because as I think back, there is no way I would find a better value for the cost of this flight. With flight, baggage, food (on flight), and any additional fees, I paid less than $400 and that definitely is something to WOW about. 

What should you do when you get to Iceland? My next blog will cover all of that!

The Beauty of Iceland (Winter)

Despite the Storm, Nothing But Beauty (Winter) :|: Iceland

[Seljalandsfoss on a Winter's Night, Jason Watanabe]

Despite the Storm, Nothing But Beauty (Winter) :|: Iceland

Travel Tips to Iceland on WoW + Airport Transport 

I knew that Iceland would be such a beautiful place, I just never realized how breathtaking it could be, even though I experienced it through a storm. While it was warmer than normal while I was there (5-6C), the weather still was an issue through the trip, with the rain and winds that reached up to 40-50mph. The conditions made me thankful that I didn't decide to drive myself, as I signed up for tours throughout the trip, however, if you're comfortable driving in windy and icy conditions and also am fine dealing with one-way bridges and roundabouts, then you should be fine, just make sure to fill up gas at every opportunity if you're heading across the island, as you could go long stretches without seeing a gas station. As beautiful as this place is, it also is a very expensive place, as I spent a lot of money on food and gifts, so much in these small towns, that the airport almost seemed like a deal. 

Iceland is a waterfall paradise which has a lot to do with the glaciers that cover just over 10% of the landmass. One of the most famous of the waterfalls is Gullfoss, which was references as the Golden Falls as part of the Golden Circle. The waterfall can easily taken you about 45 minutes to an hour to explore as you can see it from every angle and walk almost to water's edge. Of course, you don't want to get to close and especially when icy, crampons would be a good idea as you will not survive if swept up in this waters. Skogafoss is a waterfall you'll definitely be seeing if taking a tour of the south coast of Icleand. You can literally walk up to the base of the waterfall or take a trek up the hillside to see the waterfall from above. Beware that in bad weather, the stairs might be closed and the closer you get, the more wet you'll leave. Of course my favorite was Seljalandsfoss, which can be seen from the road as you drive in south Iceland. One of the coolest things about this waterfall is your ability to hike behind the waterfall and take some awesome pictures. The trail on the right is much easier, but expect to get wet if you are walking close to or behind the waterfall. The left trail provides a higher view of the falls. When seen at night. the falls can provide a spectacular photo op. The spring also provides some beautiful greenery and flowers to add to the spectacular view. If you want to head a bit off the touristy trek, you should venture to Glymur, one of the most spectacular and the former tallest waterfall in Iceland. You can also visit Dynjandi and Haifoss, but you definitely need to read into the trek to these before venture on your way to these beauties.

If you continue on your trek in the south, you're sure to stop by Vik and its beautiful black sand beach Reynisfjara. As a warning, it would be wise to stay away from the shoreline as the waves crash at different levels and once you get swept in, there is little chance you'll be returning to land alive. The waves pound the shoreline and being there with nearly 50mph winds, I was pushed towards the water and pelted with the black sand. However, braving the weather, I got to see the waves go backwards because of the wind and mix in with the black sand that swept along the shoreline; something visually stunning and worth every struggle to experience in. However, if you plan accordingly,  you can probably enjoy the spectacular sight of this beach. There are also two main caves where you can see the beautiful post piles that formed in this mountain side that make for a beautiful spectacle of nature. While it is know as one of the most beautiful beaches in Iceland, I would beg to differ, as Diamond Beach was probably my favorite beach despite the weather conditions. Just on the other side of the bridge from Jokulsarlon (Glacier Lagoon) in Vatnajokull National Park, there is a beach that collects much of the glacier runoff. The result? A beach full of diamonds. Sure, these diamonds won't make you rich, but will leave you with lasting memories of something so incredible as the contrast of the black sand beach to the diamonds that lay all around is stunning. Plus, you even get close to chunks of the glacier Breidamerkurjokull that you cannot access at Jokulsarlon. 

Just up the way at Jokulsarlon, you can see the beautiful glaciers in the lagoon. Despite seeing the lagoon in darkness and rain on both visits, it still is visually stunning and a great walk. I definitely encourage you to dress warmer here as the weather changes, hence the glaciers. From day to day, the views change as the ice breaks off and flows down towards Diamond Beach and beyond. The ever-changing environment makes it a place you can visit over and over. While some wildlife floated around with the ice, the spring would provide a more eventful journey for those looking for wildlife. 

The glaciers of Iceland are also some of the most spectacular sights on the island. Many of these glaciers can be seen while driving from place to place, one of which is the spectacular Eyjafjallajokull which erupted in 2010, causing significant affects to Europe travel. A little farm that sits just below the glacier sits in a picturesque background, but also in a place of extreme danger during the latest volcanic eruption.

At Vatnajokull glacier, you can find the home of the movie Interstellar and show Game of Thrones as you find a landscape that is spectacular and also famous. It also has some of the most spectacular ice caves that are created and can be seen with the right temperatures in the winter months. Some of the most spectacular formations, but also forming some dangerous crevasse as you must walk with caution closely behind your guide, not to forget your crampons and picks. 

Thingvellier National Park and Geysir geothermal area are great stops that are sure to be apart of any Golden Circle tour. At Thingvellir, you'll stop at a UNESCO heritage sight where you get to walk between the Euroasian and American plates, essentially walking between two continents and if you keep walking, you can find Oxararfoss, a waterfall tucked back at the end of a short hike along a wooden trail. Then you can see the spectacular Geysir geothermal area where geysers shoot into the air as you can enjoy the thrill of the unpredictable blast. If that wasn't enough sulfur for you, you can also dip into the Blue Lagoon, one of the most famous spots for tourist, however, making a reservation in advance is wise. Also, don't forget to see the Icelandic horses, which are so stunningly beautiful that you'll definitely want to take one home. 

Of course, many venture to Iceland to see the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), which can be seen from September to April. However, understand that seeing the aurora is not a given and predicting them is even harder. A combination of factors will come into play and should be considered when sitting out for a night to try to catch them. In Iceland, the aurora can be seen in the north at about 2 or 2.5 and in the south at about a 3, however, another factor few consider is that it must be clear! You also have to be in a place with little light pollution as DARKNESS is key to seeing them, which is why the closer to December 21st you are, the greater your chance of seeing it (if the sky is clear), as there is more darkness. Of course if you want to see the spectacular aurora you often see in pictures, you'll want to hope for a 4 or greater. The rating of the aurora is on a scale of 0 to 9 and when it's higher, it has greater visibility. This rating is often projected based on solar activity. I am far from an expert, but when searching for the Northern Lights, I've avoided sitting out for hours by using technology and going out into the cold only when the activity is up. The Aurora Forecast (Europe) will give you VERY accurate predictions up to an hour in advance and I normally placed myself outside 15-20 minutes prior to these peak times. Of course, before you go out, check the cloud coverage too, as that plays a huge role, as the 5+ that I was hoping to see was not visible due to cloud coverage. Iceland (Cloud Coverage) Regardless, with luck on your side and a good DSLR, you'll be able to capture some great photographs. Even with a camera where I could not change my settings, I was able to capture some fairly spectacular views. For settings, you should consider using a wide-angle lens (I rented one online), a low f-stop, an ISO of about 800, and a shutter speed of about 15-30 seconds depending on the surrounding conditions. Don't forget your tripod (preferable able to handle the harsh cold climate) like I did, otherwise, you'll have to play MacGyver and create one out of the clothes and items you have. Also, keep your focus on infinity, as it will be a challenge to try to focus it on your own. The lights capture were between a 3 and 4 with a little bit of cloud coverage. 

The north would provide better viewing opportunities, but you also may be limited on places to stay and how to get there. I will be visiting the north more in a future trip. Other things to look into include bubble viewing (you sit inside a bubble with clear views of the sky) or floating viewing (view from a heated lagoon).

From my experience, I would consider using Guide to Iceland (Tours). I took the 3-day tour which included most of the above and covers what any other Golden Circle tour or South Coast tour would cover. It also allowed for more time and freedom at each location, which was nice for those looking to take photographs. It's a lot of time in the bus, so definitely bring something to do or edit photos while on the road, which is what I did. I also visited during the winter, but during the spring, there should be a bountiful of puffins to see, a bird they are well known for.

Oh yeah, the food. The food and other items are quite expensive. Most places I went had fish and lamb available. My lamb soup at various stops ranged from $10-15 USD per cup. There were some cheaper options such as burgers (regular and lamb) and of course the Icelandic hot dog (hot dog wrapped in bacon), but if you do want to eat more local, be prepared for lamb and fish, including dried fish sold at various stops along the way. It's not a foodie heaven, There are a few location such a Hofn, which are also well know for lobster, where I had delicious lobster tails, lobster spring roll and lobster bisque. Of course like any country, they have there interesting foods as well such as ram testicles, horse, whale, shark, puffin, blood pudding, and more. Many of these are detailed at Guide to Iceland, but not everything on this list is terrible. 

Regardless, Iceland is a beautiful country and worth the visit. It's easy to get around with most speaking both English and Icelandic and if you know the full name of the local person you meet, you already know the name of their mother or father. Icelandic Names It is a country built on tourism, so the people are friendly and nice and it is also considered one of the safest countries to travel to in the world! I would suggest staying near city center as there is a lot more going on, but if taking a tour, any hotel and some guest houses/hostels in the Reykjavik will be serviced. Like any place, there are places to avoid, so be sure to research! By trip's end, however, I am sure you'll be like me and wishing you could go back to explore some more, as it definitely was an exciting place to explore.