Bucket list type of thing.

[Quattromike]

I’ve heard of folk getting their 4x4 kitted out and driving up to the north of Scotland catching a ferry that takes the to the near side of Iceland and driving across to t other side and getting the ferry back home. That be some trek. How’s your 4x4 skills? I think they do experiences or guided 4x4 tours. Also a guy from work went last year, loved it but said on the first night the went out for a nice meal and drinks and when the got back realised they had spent £250 on a meal . Spent the rest of the holiday eating of a budget

 

[fred]

I’m doing a road trip with the mrs and 3 kids this summer. I’ve hired an 8 seater and we are driving through France and Austria to Italy where we catch a ferry to Corfu and stop in a hilltop villa for couple weeks then drive back through Italy , Germany , Belgium , France.

Taking just over 3 weeks to do it all , driving 7ish hours each day. Not a lot more than flying but more fun !

 

[Komatsu]

Well I've got tickets booked for Iceland (the country) with my brother, in late may. Not very exciting but a start

That’s one place I’m hoping to get to, stunning from what I’ve seen, and been told by friends, want to see the northern lights, but was told that your best bet is to hire a car, that way you don’t get tied into it been like a school trip if you decide to go on a coach trip.
http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/

 

[Monkeybusiness]

That’s one place I’m hoping to get to, stunning from what I’ve seen, and been told by friends, want to see the northern lights, but was told that your best bet is to hire a car, that way you don’t get tied into it been like a school trip if you decide to go on a coach trip.
http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/
View attachment 5589

Definitely hire a car in Iceland would be my recommendation - you can get around a lot of the sites at your own pace. It’s a great place, definitely expensive but no worse than London IME.

 

[Komatsu]

Definitely hire a car in Iceland would be my recommendation - you can get around a lot of the sites at your own pace. It’s a great place, definitely expensive but no worse than London IME.

Yeh, that’s how it was put to me, some of the water falls look just breathtaking, and they reckon a day at the blue lagoon is well worth it https://www.bluelagoon.com/

 

[diggerjones]

Looking at hiring a car/van. Camper.

 

[fred]

the other one on my list to do with a couple mates is the Southern USA BBQ trail. Hire a big old winnebago and hit town after town, bbq, beer and strip joints!

 

[CPS]

That’s one place I’m hoping to get to, stunning from what I’ve seen, and been told by friends, want to see the northern lights, but was told that your best bet is to hire a car, that way you don’t get tied into it been like a school trip if you decide to go on a coach trip.
http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/
View attachment 5589

We went to Iceland last new years for about 3 nights. It's a stunning place. Was on our list of things to do for a while, seen some cheap flights and decided to go just after Christmas for our anniversary on new years eve.
Didn't book a hotel until last minute and nearly cancelled when I seen the prices in Reykjavik between £1600 And £5000...... Yep. Managed to get a nice one just outside Reykjavik for about £500... it was a 10min drive from the centre.
I'd definitely recommend hiring a car also, we arrived at the airport and priced a taxi to the hotel which was another £100. Bus was about £40 Car was about £300 for 4 days.
We did go to most of the attractions too, the geisers, the blue lagoon, water falls which were -14 and felt like -40 in the wind. The blue lagoon is very nice, but very much hyped up for tourists. We were advised to go to the secret spa.. hot springs that isn't as commercialised... a better place in my opinion....... but yes the blue lagoon is worth seeing, we didn't swim as you have to book about 3 days ahead to get in
Eating out is very expensive.... first night we arrived we went for a Chinese just opposite the hotel.... £75 for 2 of us..... I'm talking a buffet type here not a gourmet restaurant.
New year's eve was £200 plus for 1 starter 2 mains and a beer.... wife had water breakfast £30.... each.. but I think we were there in peak season for Iceland.
Didn't see the northern lights as it was pretty cloudy/snowy when we were there. They had a a lot of fireworks on New years eve... I mean from about 10 in the evening til 3-4 in the morning..with a huge peak at midnight. Apparently the fire service is all voluntary and the sale of fireworks go to fund them. It's a bigger place than I had thought, would love to take some time and travel around the whole Island, and just might some time.

 

[CPS]

Some pictures of the frozen waterfalls

Some of the suped up jeeps for glacier tours.

The blue lagoon

The bridge between two continents, one side is europ the other American

 

[doobin]

f**k going to Iceland at those prices no matter how nice the scenery!

 

[diggerjones]

I'm looking at iceland on a budget now. Ha ha

 

[Monkeybusiness]

I went with the wife for 3 nights a few years ago when there was a big eclipse (totally coincidental timings - it was the only weekend we could get someone to have the kids!). All booked last-minute, everything (flights, hotels etc) was mega expensive so we ended up doing AirBnB 10 mins by car from Reykjavik city centre. Worked out a bit more expensive than a travelodge back home, but we had an entire apartment to ourselves. It felt quite odd turning up at what appeared to be 70s council flats (the architecture leaves a bit to be desired over there) and moving into someone’s home, but the place was lovely and impeccably clean.
Picked a tiny car up from the airport (VW Up, came fitted with studded tyres, went everywhere we pointed it!) and bimbled about to our heart’s content.
We also didn’t see the northern lights, and went whale watching and saw nothing there either (not really surprising that the whales give the place a wide berth as they still hunt them in Iceland!). The scenery and volcanic landscape is mega though - I also have ambitions of going back and exploring a lot more of the place (ideally with a few mates on motorbikes).
We spent the eclipse at the Blue Lagoon and couldn’t see much through the steam - bizarrely if you google ‘Blue Lagoon Eclipse’ and search the images you’ll find a photo of me looking like I’m at a Michael Barrymore pool party...
Fantastic place to visit, really different to most holiday destinations - you’ll have a great time!

 

[diggerjones]

Thanks for all the info guys. Sounds like its all good but at a cost. As i going with my brother and not a loved one, my wallet won't be totally destroyed. Because I try to be careful with the bit of money I've got. Been said "i wouldn't give you last week's echo"

 

[Nick...]

Some pictures of the frozen waterfalls
View attachment 5590View attachment 5591
Some of the suped up jeeps for glacier tours.
View attachment 5592
The blue lagoon
View attachment 5593
The bridge between two continents, one side is europ the other American View attachment 5594

Could have posted all these pics.went there 17 March last year and paid for nephews.£3000 for three days.paid for flights and hotel.food very very expensive.3coffees and biscuits £30.had a meal at Hard Rock Cafe,starters mains and pudding and 2beers £300.brilliant place as only 600,000 live there in whole country,easy to get about,good roads and no congestion anywhere.cant wait to return.had hoped to go again this March but been let down.maybe next year.whole country is like the aftermath of a nuclear fall out.mostly just rock but what a place.dont worry about the cost just go
Nick...

 

[diggerjones]

What do you mean don't worry about the fooking money. I've got a week to budget .suppose in my head I'm thinking 2 to 3k. Not fussed on good food but i like a beer as does my brother.

 

[V8Druid]

I’m doing a road trip with the mrs and 3 kids this summer. I’ve hired an 8 seater and we are driving through France and Austria to Italy where we catch a ferry to Corfu and stop in a hilltop villa for couple weeks then drive back through Italy , Germany , Belgium , France.

Taking just over 3 weeks to do it all , driving 7ish hours each day. Not a lot more than flying but more fun !

my sort of holiday Fred .... used to jump on the bike and wander Europe for 3 or 4 weeks when I had the chance.
Anything Alpine was favorite, but have been to the far side of Hungary once - eye opener that was in '90 .... government had just quadrupled the price of fuel there and very few garages were open .. grab fuel whenever and where ever you found it!!
Rented a couple of villas in La Sud de France for Pam's 50th .... flew her and the girls down there and Josh and I went down on our bikes beforehand ...
was a great holiday, but marred by her dad dying, the week before we went ... been ill for some time, but took the 'edge' off her holiday

 

[V8Druid]

What do you mean don't worry about the fooking money. I've got a week to budget .suppose in my head I'm thinking 2 to 3k. Not fussed on good food but i like a beer as does my brother.

Thanks for all the info guys. Sounds like its all good but at a cost. As i going with my brother and not a loved one, my wallet won't be totally destroyed. Because I try to be careful with the bit of money I've got. Been said "i wouldn't give you last week's echo"

 

[Mogman]

Jesus dan what where you doing

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Just trying to fit in with the locals - I’m easily led! When in Rome and all that...

 

[Mogman]

Just trying to fit in with the locals - I’m easily led! When in Rome and all that...

What everybody in Iceland looks like that I was going to get a bit of frozen shopping in but changed my mind now