#Cheap Car Rental Keflavik Airport

[fireflyiceland]

Complete Guide to Car Rental Requirements Iceland for Travelling Families In 2025

Hiring a car in Iceland is a great adventure that lets you travel through the country in your own time and with more freedom when touring with kids.

However, it is recommended to see and keep in mind a couple of factors that will give more pleasure in the process. For instance, when choosing a car, it would be worth it to focus on such parameters as the size of the trunk, availability of a child seat, and four-wheel drive if you are going to travel a lot on the F-road.

By carefully planning and preparing, you can make the most of your Icelandic road trip with your family. Here is a small list of all the important information for you!

What Will Travelling Families Need In Iceland In 2025?

·         Age and License Requirements

Most car rental companies in Iceland require drivers to be at least 20 years old. However, some companies may have higher age limits, especially for specific vehicle categories like luxury cars or large SUVs. Drivers under this age often incur an additional young driver fee. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is highly recommended, especially if your driver's license is not in English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian.

An IDP serves as an official translation of your driver's license and can be helpful in case of unforeseen circumstances. A valid national driver's license from your home country is also essential.

·         Insurance Coverage

These are probably the two most important kinds of insurance coverage: Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection. Both cover damage to the car as well as theft, respectively, but come with deductibles attached.

Super CDW and Super TP can be purchased for the rental of Ford Transit Rental Iceland with low or no deductible and the stress of financial loss is removed. One of the most important forms of car rental insurance covers sand and ash. This coverage safeguards the rental car against harm caused by volcanic ash, a major problem in Iceland.

·         Winter Driving Considerations

Winter driving in Iceland can be challenging due to icy roads, snowstorms, and limited daylight. Such preparations are necessary. Iceland requires winter tires for winter. Most car rental firms include winter tires with rentals. However, always contact your rental firm for confirmation.

Experience with conditions of winter driving is a must. Be prepared to get into challenging road conditions and drive accordingly.

A 4WD vehicle is highly recommended for excellent winter driving conditions. In general, a 4WD vehicle is going to perform more favorably than other vehicles in handling conditions that are slick such as icy and snowy.

Here you will find the best cheap vehicle rental in our fleet.

·         Knowing the Rental Terms & Conditions

Most car rental companies require the driver to be at least 20 years old and charge extra for drivers younger than 25. You will need a valid driver's license from your home country, and an International Driving Permit is recommended if your license is not in English.

Upgrades to Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) and Super Theft Protection (STP) are needed for reduced or zero deductibles. Sand and Ash Protection is vital, especially in the case of volcanic eruptions.

Additional fees may apply, such as airport surcharges and winter tire fees. And these can add up over time even if you selected a cheap car rental Keflavik Airport in the beginning to save cost.

·         Fuel Policy to Adhere To 

Most of the car rental companies in Iceland will give you the vehicle on full-to-full, meaning the vehicle is to be returned with a full tank of fuel after receiving it with a full tank of fuel. The fuel level will be stated on the rental agreement at the time of picking up the car.

Look at the fuel gauge and ensure that you fill it up before handing it in. A number of the forestry gas stations in the rural parts of Iceland keep such limited hours that it is far more convenient for one to fill up the car in good time before they hand it back.

Some rentals have different fuel policies. Some rental companies may offer alternative fuel policies, such as paying a pre-paid fuel fee. The majority of the rental shops use fueling systems that measure fuel from full-full. Knowledge of fuel policy can effectively ensure that the renting of a car in Iceland experiences no drama.

Our detailed guide to Gas Stations in Iceland provides all the information you need, from current gas prices to tips on using self-service pumps, ensuring you’re well-prepared for your Icelandic adventure.

Click to read the full post and ensure your journey is as smooth and enjoyable.

·         Preparing a Travel Kit

When planning a family road trip to Iceland, it's essential to prepare for unexpected situations. Every car should have an emergency kit, especially for the winter season including clothing, a blanket, food and water bottles, a first aid box, a flashlight, and a power bank. The tastes offered by Icelandic food are relatively varied, but it is advisable to carry some biscuits and other edibles in large quests for long travels. But, other concerns such as the diet of preference, food allergies, and restrictions within your family should also be considered.

Such a traveling kit can indeed make you have a good time on your trip and your family will have a very comfortable time. Some useful items include sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, raincoats, and walking shoes with good tread on them.

For kids, you might want to take snacks, candies, toys, etc for children so that they can keep themselves busy when on long journeys. It also recommended that one should also carry a car seat for better transport when carrying a child in the car. The above essentials are helpful for a family road trip planning and organizing while in advance in Iceland.

In Closing…

Having learned these requirements and tips, you can have a safe and fun road trip in Iceland even on crazy winter days. You should always read the conditions of renting provision and precisely check what is allowed in F-roads, and what penalties will be charged in case of returning the automobile late or infringing the requirements.

You must also be aware of the capacities of the car you are renting. For instance, Ford Transit Rental Iceland can open up avenues for many adventures that other base models cannot. All these tips when followed together can give you a trip of a lifetime with negligible worries to deal with!

[mileheitcity-blog]

Three Days in Iceland

Pre-Trip

I had planned on hitting Iceland on my way to Europe for some time.  It was around 2012 that I first heard of the extended layover on Icelandair, but never really thought to look much into it, at least until I had a reason to.  Study abroad finally gave me that reason. Turns out you can stay up to seven days in Iceland on your way to wherever you want to go without incurring extra service fees.  Combine that with relatively cheap airfare and it seemed like the easiest way to beat jetlag and see somewhere new.  I figured a place like Iceland would be a little expensive, and not wanting to blow my entire wallet before I even hit Amsterdam, I decided on a three day layover.  It seemed like enough time to see some of Western Iceland and maybe get a feel for the place.  I made sure to pack for some outdoors: raincoat, hiking shoes, swimsuit, sweatshirts.  When researching places to stay, I found my hunch about price was correct: Iceland was more than a little expensive.  Staying in Reykjavik was out of the question, so instead I found a guesthouse in the village of Akranes, about 45 minutes up the road. After the quarter ended in early June, I flew to Denver to see my parents and tie up some important loose ends before my trip.  On June 17, I caught my first flight from Denver International Airport and tried to sleep on the seven hour flight to Keflavik.

Day 1

Our flight was a little late getting out of Denver, so we landed at around 9:30 local time in Iceland.  Running on about 3.5 hours of sleep, I got my rental car and headed straight for my 11:00 appointment at the Blue Lagoon.  I was running about an hour late, of course, but they didn’t seem to mind at all.  In fact, it was one of the best customer service experiences I’ve ever had.  If I went down the wrong hallway, they immediately pointed me in the right direction or let me through with my wristband anyway.  The sushi I had was nourishing after all that time in the air.  The water was nothing short of spectacular: milky white, warm and relaxing.  Two steam baths and a sauna were open and accessible in the corner and both were quite necessary.  One kiosk on the left hand side sold mud masks, like the Dead Sea, and offered a silica one for free.  Two rounds of the silica mask made the skin on my face feel as happy as it had been in years.  Another kiosk in the corner sold beer and drinks, so I got the Icelandic national brew: Gull.  Drinking and driving in Iceland is strictly forbidden, so I wanted to make sure to limit myself to only two drinks on my trip, this being one of them.  I’ll get to the other one later.  Gull isn’t too bad, but not too great.  Something of a standard macro lager, a few shades better than Rainier.  Enjoying my drink slowly allowed me to make friends with some folks around me from the Pacific Northwest, which definitely made the transition to a foreign land a little easier.  My only regret from a place like this is that eventually you’ll have to leave.  But I’ll be back...

Feeling refreshed, relaxed, and sobered up from my one beer, I hopped in the car and went to Reykjavik.  It’s a fairly small city: you can see much of the main areas in a day.  The main landmark in the city is Halgrimskirkja: the cathedral of the Church of Iceland.  It’s fairly impressive, with a really cool looking pipe organ and a statue of Leif Erikson in front.  I had forgotten he was of Iceland, that his father was Erik the Red.  Not far from Halgrimskirkja was the Laugevegur, the main restaurant and shopping district.  It was along this street that I knew where to find my second and final drink in Iceland.  Many of the hot spots along this street carried oddly American names: the Chuck Norris Grill, a pub called Boston that looked like it was taken directly out of Cheers. I finally came upon the one I wanted: Lebowskibar.  It was absolutely kitsch, sure, but I’m a sucker for anything to do with The Big Lebowski.  I had to have my White Russian, and a “hell of a Caucasian” it was.

About 3000 ISK later, I took a short walk to the Icelandic Punk Museum to sober up a bit, but it was nothing special.   The coolest thing there was a little joke at Hitler’s expense, which is never a bad thing. After the Punk Museum it was time to head on up to Akranes.  There was no one at the desk, but my key was waiting for me inside, with the sun still shining at around 10pm.  I took a walk down to the lighthouse at the end of town to catch the closest thing Iceland has to a summer sunset, and caught the midnight sun as I got back to the guesthouse for the night.  A solid day one.

Day 2

Got a late start after sleeping off the jetlag and went right for what I really came for: Hákarl.  I knew that fermented shark was pretty gnarly, but I wasn’t gonna miss it. The spot to go find shark is on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula at the  Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum.  The museum is located pretty well out in the middle of nowhere, about two hours up the road from Akranes. I didn’t get on the road until almost noon, so I thought I was out of time.  I quickly grabbed a cup of coffee and a full tank of gas (around 250ISK per litre!) found my way.  I found out later I had quite a bit of sunlight to work with. The Shark Museum itself is a small house on a windswept headland on the northern side of the peninsula.  A spectacular view.  Undaunted, I paid my 1000 ISK to see the place.  The museum itself is a rather eclectic collection of maritime memorabilia and Icelandic antiques.  The collection seemed almost unorganized, but I wasn’t there for the collection, I was there for the shark.  The presentation was short, but interesting: a burly Icelander explains how the shark is poisonous when eaten fresh because it doesn’t process urine, so they have to basically let the thing rot in wooden tubs before letting it dry out back for a while, leading to its notorious smell.  The smell can best be described as a mix of ammonia and urine, which makes sense, and though it is indeed quite foul it’s not nearly as strong or permeating as I expected it to be.  It tasted much better than it smelled: like a slightly buttery fish, nothing too offensive.  After a short peek at the collection, the burly Icelander directs you to the drying house out back.  That’s where the magic happens, and the food gets its stinky reputation. Where the fish was pretty mild, the drying house is extremely pungent and stings your nose.  The visual appearance of the shark as its cured is no more appealing: brown, crusty, and oozing with liquid.  Overall though, the shark wasn’t too bad.  A man in need could almost make a meal out of the stuff, and definitely could make a side dish.

Next stop was Kirkjufell and the town of Grundarfjörður about 30 minutes further out along the peninsula.  Kirkjufell was featured on seasons six and seven of Game of Thrones, which was totally why I wanted to see it and not because it was a symbol of Iceland.  But that was a nice perk too.  I grabbed a hot dog in  Grundarfjörður and found a nice little cafe that was also a small library, a great find along the trail.  The mountain itself is impressive, and the nearby stream is fed by a sprawling waterfall across the highway. Very picturesque.  

My third and final stop was the Vatnshellir Cave on the far end of the peninsula, about another hour out.  I pull in at around 17:50, about ten minutes before they close for the day, and this place is remote.  I mean even the WiFi router I brought in the car with me, the one that worked for my entire Iceland trip, couldn’t find anything out there.  If there was an “end of the Earth”, this was it.  The cave itself is an experience onto itself.  They fit you with a helmet and a flashlight, and a friendly guide takes you down a long spiral metal staircase made slick by constant water dripping through the soil.  The cave was created by a volcanic explosion, like pretty much everything else on this island, and is layered with eons of nature’s bidding.  Afteer some time exploring the worn lava rock, you go down another staircase: this one even longer (about 40 meters) and slicker.  At the end of the cave tour, the guide has us all close our eyes and turn out our lights. When we open them, all language barriers between the tour group disappears with a loud “whoa!” in relative unison as we all process the complete lack of light.  Pitch black has new meaning there.  The darkness is absolute, whole, enveloping.  There really isn’t a way to describe just how dark it is with absolutely no sunlight whatsoever.  After a few meditative minutes we all climbed back up, glad we had made the trek down.  On the way out, I happened upon what looked like the keeper of the lighthouse at the end of the jetty lowering the Icelandic flag for the night.  Felt like the perfect symbol to cap off a truly Icelandic day.  

Day 3

My final day in Iceland I wanted to pack in anything else I missed before I took off to Amsterdam.  I got up and headed straight back too Reykjavik.  The Alþingi building is beautiful from the outside, and claims to be the oldest active parliament in the world, however, they had no tours for the day.  Undaunted, I stumbled to the Settlement Exhibition up the street, colloquially called 871+- 2, in reference to the probably year Iceland was first settled by Vikings, within a range of a year or two. The Settlement Museum is very interactive, and contains replica models of some of the houses the original settlers built.  The Settlement Exhibition is part of a museum network with two others, of which I only went to one: the oldest extant house in Reykjavik.  The house held a small photo exhibition of Icelandic life in 1918, and was fairly well curated.  

My second stop of the day was...shall we say a little different: the Icelandic Phallocalogical Museum.  This guy, for some reason, had a large curated collection of animal penises, and somehow found it within himself to mount and display them in a complete museum dedicated to his collection. There are large penises, like that of a blue whale, and small penises, like that of a hamster. He even has a couple of bronze casts of human penises.  The voice on the audio guide never explains why he has such a collection, and why he decided to display it on the wall for everyone to see, but boy does he go into detail about each penis.  Far more than I wanted to know, but still worth a chuckle.  

The Icelandic Rock and Roll Museum was only 30 more minutes down the road in Reykjanesbær , and contained a well curated mix of materials dating back to the early days and some bands I had never heard of. I mostly just went to geek on bunch of Björk and Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men.  The collection did not disappoint.  The museum was interactive, and even had a karaoke booth (that wasn’t soundproof, as I found out later).  I was able to get my fill of guitars and strange costumes and even a band made out of wood.  Fans of MoPop in Seattle (formerly known as the Experience Music Project) might be a little underwhelmed, but this was a fun tribute to the fascinating music history of such a tiny place. I may have spent a little too much time and energy in the karaoke room singing some of my favorites; the woman working at the desk barged in about halfway through song six (I think?) to tell me the room wasn’t soundproof. Oops.

My next two stops were a bit far away, and it was already 3pm, so I needed to hit the road. Only about nine more hours of sunlight.  Reykjadalur Hot Springs got some rave reviews on YouTube, and was only about 90 minutes up the road. Or so I thought.  The parking lot sits down at the bottom of a steep mountain pass near the town of Hveragerði.  A little coffee shop greets visitors, but it had shut down for the day.  It was pretty chili outside so I grabbed my sweatshirt for what I thought was a short walk to the river. Turns out the springs itself is a three kilometer walk up the hill.  And people swim in the river.  I immediately regretted forgetting both my hiking shoes and my swimsuit.  The hike up to the springs is stunning.  Sweeping valleys and steep canyons give way to open fields full of sheep.  So many sheep.  They graze in the valley, drink some of the colder water downstream, and even walk right up towards the trail for the freshest grass.  Off in the distance steam literally billows out of the earth.  The only time I’ve ever seen anything like it was at Yellowstone, but this was different. It was....quiet. Peaceful. The smell of sulfur carries with the wind.  Near the end of the hike, you walk right through one of those steam vents, which was somehow simultaneously refreshing and blinding.  The hot springs themselves are more like a spot in the river.  Something in the soil is volcanic, so the ground heats the water to some naturally balmy temperatures. The bathing area is nearly the opposite of the Blue Lagoon.  There are no amenities, there is no one bringing you a drink or offering you a mud mask.  There are no saunas or steam baths, or any real facilities of any kind for that matter. Not a roof in sight, not even a restroom.  Only a few privacy barriers indicated a potential spot to change out.    I wasn’t exactly prepared for a full swim, so I took my shoes off and soaked my aching feet a while.  The hot mineral water was quite soothing, really softened up the calluses.

The hike up and down created quite an appetite.  I saw a sign on the road back to the main highway for a pizza bar and geothermal brewery: Ölverk. Good enough for me. The place was a little fancier than I expected, but the food and service were both really delicious.  Got a pizza with dates, bacon, and blue cheese on it, and it’s probably the only pizza with fruit I’d do again.  I passed on the beer: around 2700 ISK for a taster flight of four, 4000 ISK for a draft pour. Makes the ballpark seem cheap. Turns out the geothermal thing was just how they generated their power anyway, which is kinda cool I suppose, but that’s how they generate much of their electricity there. That’s like saying a brewery in Seattle is hydroelectric powered.  It was getting late in the day at this point, but my friend recommended I hit a spot a little further up the road: Kerið Crater. It’s a sinkhole, but an impressive one.  The parking lot backs right up to the crater, and there’s a short hike around and a staircase to the bottom.  At the bottom is a pool of clean, cool groundwater. Like everywhere else in that country, it was created by volcanic activity.  Some kind of sinkhole type process. I took the staircase to the bottom, took a drink of the water (tasted great!), and had a lovely conversation with some folks from Russia.  A chat with some folks from the other side of the world seemed like a good way to transition to the next portion of my trip.  I took a windy route back through the southern portion of Þingvellir National Park, but it was around 10:30pm at that point so I knew I needed to drive the couple hours back to Akranes to make my flight.  The back roads were wide open and peaceful: for kilometers on end I might have been the only person.  There was also some gravel, but some experience living in the Colorado mountains served me well.  I cranked up the tunes and thought wistfully of the summer ahead of me.  Amsterdam, I’m ready.

Final Thoughts

Iceland is a place unto itself.  My only regret is that I didn’t allow myself one more day.  More than that though, oof.  It gets expensive.  Outside of Reykjavik is extremely rural and provincial, and Reykjavik is indeed lovely, but not exactly the most cosmopolitan or bustling city. I would go back, and would recommend it to almost everyone, but unless you plan on doing some hardcore expeditions you can see pretty much everything in three to four days.  For me, it served its purpose: I relaxed at the Blue Lagoon, ate Hákarl, slept off the jetlag, and adjusted to some of the differences of European culture.  Overall, a lovely experience. Oh, and be aware the tap water smells like sulfur.

[sixbillionstars]

Before Game of Thrones and the newest Star Wars films, flights to Iceland only left from Denver, Washington DC, Baltimore, or New York. When I learned that the voyage embarks from Port of Hamburg, I figured I’d be flying into Berlin. And after years of watching closely for new United States destinations between the two main Icelandic airlines, this made my heart sing knowing full well St. Louis had recently become a Wow Air destination with cheap flights to many European cities, and of course... stopovers in Iceland on the way.

I won’t go much into how long I had anticipated this experience, however I will say it was a painful wait. First it was celebrities one by one slowly making their way as it grew appealing to more and more travelers suddenly during my freshman year of college and onward. Then it was friends who happened to have stopovers, who could afford it before me, or who were nearer to new departure cities before me... In those ways it was thrilling to feel inches and inches closer all these years. I even had a whole trip planned once to visit Iceland by myself to celebrate the New Year and hang out a week before and after. For a plethora of important reasons I had to cancel that trip, which to this day I still stand behind. So sadly, the most suitable and affordable window of time I had to work with to be in Iceland this time around was twenty hours, since it was a stopover, but a solid twenty hours we spent. An old friend used to joke all the time, “what if you go and absolutely hate it?” which was a possibility I have weighed heavily, even after countless hours over the years reading entire wikipedia pages of tiny, unpronounceable coastal villages with their black sands and fjords, delving into Vimeo videos of Icelandic scenery, and my favorite, the man in a lopapeysa sweater teaching you how to knit. I knew damn well I’d have to come back after such a short time even if it did turn out not so ideal. But after a seven year wait, I am happy to announce that it truly was everything I could have hoped for and even so much more. Maybe because I already knew where to look, or at least where I wanted to look, or maybe it really was calling me all this time.

I was taught a German expression today "Knapp daneben ist auch vorbei” which means, “coming close is the same as missing it.” It’s been circling my mind like an echo of congratulations from the void for just finally being able to do the damn thing.

It is now late into Thursday, our second day in Berlin. Yesterday was spent locating our Airbnb, experiencing jetlag, showering, etc... completely pretty much rebirthing ourselves after twenty hours with none of the checked luggage I truly thought the Keflavik airport would let me access during that amount of time.

I can’t exit this post though without telling a couple of the stories from those hours (and some pictures!) It was by far the most eventful twenty hours of my life...

As soon as we landed, it was time to grab the rental car. I picked out a lovely whatever the car was. At first the reservation said manual shift, which was exciting because I learned to drive on a manual but also I knew the Icelandic roads would be more vulnerable to drivers so I wasn’t sure how revisiting a skill like that there would go. Luckily we ended up with an automatic somehow anyway. Since the Wow air flights are so cheap, they get off by charging passengers for every other thing including meals, so I had not eaten since Missouri by this point (mainly because I wanted to sleep). I felt weak and tired at the rental counter so I asked my friend Alicia to get me something at the cafe nearby. She came back with the first food we were to behold: a caprese panini, but instead of panini bread, it was the body of Christ or something. I apologize to anyone that offends--I mean it in the sense that it was cracker bread meant specifically for religious purposes and not to feed a malnourished traveler. Don’t get me wrong, it tasted good, however the depth of my ketosis and the richness of the pesto was too much. Literally as I stood at the counter facing my first ever Icelandic stranger and transaction, I felt the sudden urge to vomit and ran to the nearest trashcan while Alicia had to sign everything for me in a VERY crowded airport. I don’t think any of us knew how to react honestly, though the woman at the counter was very sweet and brought us bottled waters after seeing my pale sweaty face, despite not totally knowing how to ask if I was okay in English.

Getting to Þingvellir was not an issue, however the drive there involved more of the previous situation sadly. While the girls caught up on sleep, I found our way out of Keflavik onto the highway and quickly back off of it after having tried a couple more bites of the Jesus panini. The first time around I wasn’t entirely sure if it was that was what made me ill or just all of the conditions at once. This time I knew it was that. There was nowhere to even pull over as all of the road space in Iceland is very carefully planned, with roundabouts every few blocks and signs placed not too often or too scarcely. So I stopped in the middle of the road out of sheer desperation -- one of the few very crucial things I had JUST been told you’re not supposed to do with an Icelandic car. I had already begun out the window as I drove simply because my mind was already racing for options. What is the best way here - puking on myself and cleaning that up? No - my luggage I thought I could have today is on its way to Germany. Puking solely into the car? Hell to the no - I don’t care if I bought the insurance, we have the whole route ahead of us and back. Okay well in the time it took to ask myself those questions, all of the above happened anyway. Everywhere. Alicia and Morgan immediately woke up of course and without judgment scrambled into their things for a new shirt and pants for me, helped me clean the car, et cetera, alllllll while locals were angrily and confusedly passing me on this tiny exit I had chosen under the impression it was low-trafficked. Did I mention I chose not to wear underwear on this day of all days? Yes. In my first hour in Iceland I was forced to change BUTT NAKED pretty much on the side of the highway. Needless to say, we threw the Jesus panini away as if it was the one ring to rule them all.

Þingvellir was breathtaking. Every little plant, moss, lichen, dewdrop was so quietly and calmly welcoming. The wall of boxy-looking rocks you may have seen in Games of Thrones was to the left of this photo, with its waterfalls and all. It was confusing finding the dive spot where our snorkel tour was, but once we arrived all of our sorrows were gone. First we met Luis, a cheery Mexican from Cancun, then Manuel the French man who helped us into our dry suits, and then Juan from Madrid was our guide through the crevice of the opening between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

The moment I entered the water my heartbeat changed for good, not just because of the chilling 2*C temperature, but because it was then I realized I was really, really there. Until that moment, it was all a dream. Simply putting my mask down to see what was below... I still cannot find the words. Our suits were designed to keep us warm, so the crystal clear stream swept us and this rad Australian couple in our group gently along the divide as if it were a lazy river. Silfra is the only spot on Earth where one can touch two plates at once, and I cannot emphasize enough that the land itself gives you that vibe alone, whether you do the tours or not. For as long as I live I don’t think I could forget how it felt to lay completely still on top of the water looking down, like just another little seagull feather or algae, feeling one with the whole damn country.

Finally.

After a pit stop at a petrol station for edible food and something to make the car smell better, we rerouted from planning a drive all the way to Vik (3.5 hrs there and back) to just spending the time comfortably in Reykjavik where we could get back to the airport by 3am, when the rental was due, and for our flight at 6am.

Downtown was as quaint and beautiful as I had imagined, though of course a completely different layout than what I originally pictured. This happened in New Mexico too when I moved there after a year of picturing the places where my friends’ stories from their phone calls were playing out. We found a cute bar to meet locals in called the Smokin’ Puffin, which turned out to have just opened three weeks prior. Made many friends, including Moe the bartender/plant geneticist from Iran, and Joanne, a bubbly expat from the UK.

Hallgrimskirkja and the walk to it however was the crowning jewel of the evening, with apartment windows all open, most of them displaying cute decorations and cats and succulents of all colors and sizes peering out.

I knew it was a rather large church, I suppose I was not prepared for just how large. Walking past the infamous Leifur Eriksson statue to approach the entrance with its tiered architecture and powerfully rhetorical lighting, I lost my breath again. It was a bittersweet goodbye, though I am nearly grateful we did not stay overnight so I couldn’t get too attached to Iceland’s physical presence.

Was honestly just taking a photo of this sweet cat, and realized its owner was behind him drawing. I almost cried.

Moe’s specialty cocktail: coffee martini :)

Me in my very attractive after-puke outfit with this handsome Iranian plant geneticist bartender who was really sweet to me anyway.

<3

[danasukontarak]

Dana’s Travel Diary: So Icy in Iceland

In the past few years, you’ve undoubtedly seen more of your Instagram timeline in Reykjavík, Iceland, splashing in ethereal turquoise lagoons or showing off shitty, blurry Northern Lights captures. That’s largely due to the relatively cheap, direct flights offered from cities like Baltimore and New York by the fairly new (and often lamented) Wow Airlines, headquartered in Reykjavík. Nothing’s free on a typically hours-delayed Wow flight, and you have a decent chance of arriving to your destination without your checked luggage. I paid $250 for a direct flight from Baltimore to Iceland, though, which is hard to beat. Add the $44.99 carry-on luggage charge and it was still $100 less than the next cheapest flight available. If you’re fine forgoing comfort for six hours (and don’t need to check a bag), this is an amazing deal.

It’s cheap getting to Iceland, but it’s by no means cheap staying there. I stayed at an Airbnb flat about 40 minutes outside of Keflavik airport, where the hot water smelled like rotting eggs (which we realized was not an uncommon occurrence there). My rental car was an Opel Corsa, and despite it being a low-quality compact car, cost 75 dollars to fill (which I had to do twice in 3.5 days). Stumbling through directions written in Icelandic, I used my debit card at the gas station and ended up with over $400 in temporary authorizations hanging out in my account. Later, a Twitter friend informed me that I should have used a credit card at the station instead.

I arrived on a Friday morning and had a day by myself before my friend Ayanna got there on her more comfortable and expensive Delta flight (with a free drink, in-flight movie and blanket -- but also with an annoying three-hour layover in New York). I booked a Golden Circle tour, which took me to the famous geysers and the Gullfoss waterfalls. I witnessed one of the world’s most active geysers, Strokkur, erupt twice within a few minutes, which was truly extraordinary and unlike anything I’d seen before. The advice from my tour guide: “Don’t look away, it’ll erupt as soon as you do.” People camp out around the outer borders of the geyser area with cameras ready to capture the explosion, sometimes waiting 10 or 20 minutes to see it. The Gullfoss waterfalls were breathtaking, but not even the most amazing waterfall I visited. The great outdoors in Iceland is so visually varied. It’s like four or five of the distant planets from Interstellar. Glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, black sand beaches, volcanoes and peculiar rock formations all join up to create a terrain that is at once wondrous and intimidating.

On Saturday, Ayanna and I went to the Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, which was recommended by my friend Marianna, who’d just left Iceland the day prior to my arrival. Her text: “You NEED to check out this waterfall in Seljalandsfoss. I won’t say anymore, and let you discover the magic yourself!” When we pulled up blasting Cardi B, we immediately saw the astounding height and ferocity of the first waterfall. As we walked along the path to the other waterfalls, we saw what Marianna was talking about. There was a hidden waterfall, which you could climb up towards with the assistance of an anchored chain to help you lift yourself atop the potentially icy rocks. After snagging this view from above, you are then able to walk down and over stepping stones through shallow water, to stand at the bottom of the waterfall, semi-enclosed in the cave-like structure. If you’ve never felt insignificant in the world and would like to, I highly recommend this Icelandic adventure.

From Seljalandsfoss, we headed 45 minutes away to the city of Vík, home of fabled black sand beaches. At Reynisfjara Beach, I felt like a martian. This was the first beautiful beach I’d ever been to where I didn’t want to run straight into the water. There were definitely no beach towels or bikinis in sight. Posted signs actually warn visitors about sneaker waves, or disproportionately large coastal waves that accompany smaller ones, without warning and with sometimes deadly consequences. A handful of tourists have died at this beach after being carried away by a wave that crept up on them. The rock formations at this beach are basalt sea stacks, which look like a bunch of concrete steak fries, arranged with wild yet careful abandon. The rocks on the black sand are perfectly round and smooth, or jet black and shiny. They reminded me of what masseuses use for hot stone therapy, and I took a few with me.

The next day, we headed out to the Blue Lagoon, certainly the biggest tourist attraction in Iceland. There are many options for natural hot springs, but this one is huge, beautiful, and worth every penny of our $99 “Comfort” level admission. Walking from the parking lot to the entrance of the spa compound was the coldest three minutes of my life. Once we entered, we received our towels and magnetic wristbands, which allowed us to purchase drinks at the lagoon bar (and provided a first free drink). From inside, we waded into the water, which was a surreal light blue and sporting the slight sexy scent of sulphur, and made our way outside through a half-submerged exit door. The average temperature of the water was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and felt amazing on my body as my ears and hands froze. If you are coming to the lagoon, bring your own waterproof case (the bag kind, which you can get on Amazon for super cheap), because you will need one and won’t want to pay 2,900 Kronas ($29 USD) there. Although I had a Lifeproof case, I was still hesitant to dip my new iPhone X all the way in, hence my numb and frozen hands. The bar at the lagoon is pretty good, with selections of wine, beer, slushies, and fruit and veggie juice smoothies. I had two Proseccos, a strawberry sparkling wine and two green juices. Because I didn’t eat that morning and I suffer from AFR like many of my far east brethren and sistren, I was a goner by 1 PM. If you know me, you already know how that story ends. If you don’t know me, I’ll spare you the vomitrocious details.

That night at 9 PM, we were scheduled for a 5-hour Northern Lights tour, but I was dead. Ayanna went solo and was able to use long exposure on her professional camera to capture the itty-bittiest bit of green and pink swirling in the night sky, which she said was pitch black to her naked eye.

We left on Monday. Had I stayed a minute longer, I may have had to file for bankruptcy upon my return. Just kidding, but this is the only island I’ve ever been to without the utter cheapness of everything making you feel like foreign royalty. It makes sense, after talking to some friends, because Iceland has to import everything. Most likely, none of the ingredients on my $27 chicken kabob platter originated in Iceland.

This was an amazing trip for the gorgeous natural landscapes alone. Had I been ballsy enough to be more of a spendthrift, I would have indulged in the lamb, arctic char, gourmet hot dogs, seafood soups and more. For the short amount of time I spent in Iceland, it made a strong impact on my experiences as a traveler and world citizen. Getting out of your comfort zone by way of travel is one of the more enjoyable keys to personal growth -- and when you have views like the ones in Iceland, even frigid temperatures can’t stop your experience from shining.

[exploredestinations]

Explore Southern Iceland for your Holidays

Explore Southern Iceland - Best Way of Exploring Southern Iceland, Explore the exciting Southern Iceland on your Holiday Vacations in Europe.

This self-drive itinerary offers the opportunity to visit some of the island’s best known natural wonders in the scenic south. Sights include waterfalls, the historic Thingvellir parliament site, sprouting geysers, hot springs, mighty glaciers and icecaps to name a few, which are simply stunning no matter what the season. You’ll also have the chance to walk and explore further afield and gain a true sense of what Iceland has to offer. Day 1: The Blue Lagoon Fly into Keflavik International Airport collect your hire car and drive to the capital city, Reykjavik. A trip to Iceland would not be complete without bathing in the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon. The mineral rich seawater in the lagoon is known for its positive effects on the skin. You can actually bathe between two continents as the Euro–Asian and American tectonic plates meet at the Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon entrance fee for adults is €23. Day 2: The Golden Circle Spend the day exploring Thingvellir National Park which houses the remains of the old Icelandic parliament site. Witness the boiling sprouting water of Strokkur Geysir which erupts every 10 mins and marvel at the two-tiered Gullfoss waterfalls. Head south and to Hveragerdi for an overnight stay. Day 3: Myrdalsjokull Glacier & Basalt Columns Drive along the south coast past the impressive waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. The road winds past the Myrdalsjokull icecap and over the moss clad Eldhraun lava field to Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Take a walk to the ‘Sister’s falls’ (Systrafoss and Kirkjugolfid) a national monument of wind and sea eroded basalt columns. Day 4: Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon visit the turf church of Nupsstadur then drive across the outwash plains of Iceland’s largest icecap, Vatnajokull to Skaftafell. Explore further east to the amazing iceberg lagoon at Jokulsarlon, not forgetting to walk across the road to catch sight of icebergs breaking up and heading out to sea or being washed ashore on the black sand beach. Continue to Smyrlabjorg for an overnight stay. Day 5: Skaftafell National Park Spend the day hiking in Iceland’s second largest national park Skaftafell is an area of almost 5000 square kilometres and is an oasis wedged between sand and glacier. Stay overnight in nearby Skaftafell. Day 6: Vik On the drive back along the south coast stop off at the stunning cliffs and beaches of Vik where the wildflowers are pretty in the summer. Continue west to Myrdalsjokull Glacier and take a snowmobile tour on the glacier. Visit the Saga Centre at Hvolsvollur en route to Hveragerdi, the Centre offers guided tours through the exhibition on the Njál´s Saga and the Viking age of Iceland’s history. Day 7: Horse Riding Go hiking in Reykjadalur or perhaps go horse riding through meadows, farms and lava fields before driving back to Reykjavik. The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland and resembles a pony rather than a horse. The Icelanders are keen to keep the Icelandic horse breed pure, so Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return. Spend your last night in Reykjavik. Day 8: Whale Watching Go on a whale watching tour from Reykjavik Harbor before driving through the black lava fields on route back to Keflavik Airport, drop off rental vehicle and catch your flight home. If you want to really enjoy your driving adventure in Iceland, don’t forget to take out your cheap holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. It is important that you remember to check that your cheap holiday insurance policy offers you the level of cover that you need for your break before you buy it. Read the full article

[rentacar2018-blog]

Welcome To SADcars Iceland Car Rental

Welcome To SADcars Iceland Car Rental

Cheap car rental in Iceland from Saga car rental. Day 1 - pick up a rental car at the airport and visit your suggested Reykjanes peninsula sights and continue on driving to Vik for the first night. Orange Car Rental rates include unlimited mileage and no hidden fees. During our time in Iceland, we did a number of full day trips, including self driving the Golden Circle and traveling to the Westman Islands to see Iceland puffins Throughout these adventures, we came to terms with why one might need to pay for a few extra insurance options (the ones I always pass on) and why one should try to choose from only the best car rental companies in Iceland. Even though we offer cheap car rental we still offer a wide range of quality rental cars. I am really impressed with the company and highly recommend them to anyone looking to hire a car in Iceland.

On top of growing international tourism, increasing global Internet penetration is another key factor explaining the growth of the car rental industry. Throughout Iceland, the scenery is beautiful and we have very unique roads and pathways. No matter why you're traveling to Iceland, you can count on our fleet of new hire cars to get you there in comfort. All of our minivans and people-carriers are equipped with winter najam vozila sa vozacem tires during the colder periods of the year and are thus suitable for a round trip no matter what month you have marked for your Icelandic journey. We also have an office in Reykjavik and, when renting a car for 7 days or more, including free transport to and from a place of accommodation. Book your vehicle online with Europcar today. We compare the offers of car rental companies in Iceland on your behalf.

We offer some of the best prices on our cars to ensure you get the best deal no matter what your travel plans are. For all questions concerning future bookings and current car rentals, please write us an email in the language most convenient for you. We offer a wide selection of rental cars in Iceland for groups both large and small. Northbound is an exceptional Rental company. But it doesn't always give find out more the right picture , the website for the Icelandic Road Administration, is the best website to use if you use it you are unsure then you can call 1777 and ask for the conditions (open 06:30-22:00) or 1778 an automatic telephone service open all day. Renters must present a valid passport or ID card at time of pick up as well. I will be back in September and share my experience with this rental company.

Arctic is a car rental located in Keflavik, Iceland, operating since 1994 as a family owned company. Your state-issued drivers license should be fine for all car rentals in Iceland. Speak to us to discover the best option for you, as you could also book a long term or monthly Iceland car hire. Egilsstadir, on the eastern coast of Iceland, is well connected by road to the rest of the island — so you can click over here easily discover this beautiful country by car. This is the largest marketplace of rental cars in Iceland. It is smart to rent a car when traveling. And my advice is to take the local's advice: ask the rental company. We at City Car Rental provide the best budget car rental in Iceland. No matter why you're traveling to Iceland, you can count on our fleet of new rental cars to get you there in comfort.

I too intend to rent a car in late June and still don't know where to book it (i was thinking about geysir, iceland car rental or atak car rental). He explains it as a result of a policy change within the larger car rentals in Europe in general, where an emphasis has been placed on scrutinizing the car upon return in search of any possible dents. I also encourage you to go through this Tripadvisor thread on Rental Auto Insurance renta car Beograd in Iceland as it provides some valuable information. Being Iceland's most important road, it is well-maintained and open throughout the year, although extreme weather conditions can sometimes lead to temporary and partial closures, especially during the winter months. We have an enormous fleet of cars including small and economical, medium sized, large, jeeps, mini-buses and more for the purpose of Iceland car rental.

[sorayaadventures-blog]

A Tale of Two Seasons: Iceland Primer for the Off Season

Soraya welcomes our next guest writer, the fun and creative adventure seeker from the U.S., Carolyn, as she takes us on her Icelandic adventures.

WELCOME TO ICELAND!

From the moment you step out of Iceland’s Keykjavik airport, you know you have arrived somewhere special. You are immediately greeted by otherworldly lava landscapes before your luggage is even loaded into your vehicle. The whipping wind doesn’t whisper so much as howl its songs of legendary trolls and mysterious hidden folk and famous Viking explorers’ past. You have no idea what is in store for you, but rest assured you are about to embark upon an epic adventure!

I have had the privilege of visiting this incredible island full of history and hidden treasures twice, and it always leaves me hungry for more. I am excited to share my learnings and pass along some important planning tidbits to help inspire your wanderings. 

I’ve visited Iceland once in April and once in December, so will be focusing on these ‘shoulder’ or off-seasons in the coming posts. Iceland is by far most visited during the summer months, but with fewer people on the roads or in your viewfinder, it is certainly no less of a gem during the off-season, with the added benefit of generally cheaper lodging and airfares and magnificent snow-capped peaks everywhere you go. Both of my Iceland visits were self-guided roadtrips – one with friends and one alone – and both included stays in self-arranged accommodations in urban and rural areas. I’m the plan-your-own-adventure type of traveler who tends to seek out a balanced mix of city/nature and people/solitude, and I’ve done a fair bit of sampling of what Iceland has to offer rather than diving deep into one particular region or activity.

I think it’s worthwhile to provide a little primer on what to expect from this wondrous country before going deeper into specific destinations, so please indulge me in a few lessons learned (some easily, some the hard way) regarding weather, packing and cost of living.

Planning Your Adventure:

Transport (Car Rental): There are two main options for transportation once in Iceland, and each has its pros and cons. Rental cars offer the opportunity to build a more customized itinerary and the ability to keep it flexible if you want to adjust your plans as you go. Though great deals on car rentals can be found, keep in mind that gas in Iceland is quite expensive and each fill-up can run $80-$100 depending on the type of car. Renting a car and keeping it full of gas was the biggest ding in my budget during my solo road trip, but came out to only about $120 per person total when split three ways. Make sure your rental has 4WD if you plan to drive on roads besides Ring Road or city streets, and I’ve also found it beneficial to add the portable WiFi hotspot rental available through most car rentals as this covers both internet searches and navigation apps. It’s best to be prepared... because this may be what your drive will look like... 

          or this...

Transport (Alternative): The alternative is to rely upon a combination of buses, tours, and (for the bold) hitchhiking, though these options limit flexibility and variety of destinations. A bus service called Flybus runs from Keflavik to various popular locations in Reykjavik, and it is a cheap and easy way to get into the city if you won’t be renting a car (or want to hold off until you’re ready to leave Reykjavik). Hitchhiking is legal in Iceland and considered quite safe given the country’s extremely low crime rate. It is probably the cheapest way to get from place to place, but also the least reliable.

Accommodation:  Iceland offers the full range of accommodations that you would expect to see from a European country (though some of the options are decidedly more eclectic than their mainland neighbors – think horse farms, working dairies, etc.) at nightly rates comparable to what you would see elsewhere, and runs the gamut from campgrounds and hostels to cabins, hotels, and luxury apartments. Housing in the cities is pricier than in less central destinations, and a careful balance of the two allows you to get the best of both worlds at a reasonable nightly average price if you’re so inclined to sample both. For example, you can stay in this... 

          or this... 

Guided vs Self-Guided Tours: Some tours necessarily need guides – whale-watching, ice caves, scuba diving, glacier hiking, snowmobiling, SuperJeep tours – and these unique adventures should generally be booked ahead of time. A bit of Googling before you book will tell you whether the price tag is worth it (for some, I’ve heard it absolutely is; for others, I’ve heard tour-goers felt ripped off by the high price tag for a very short tour time). These, too, can be easily balanced by other self-guided tours – a drive of the Golden Circle or along the south coast to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, or a visit to the Blue Lagoon – which can be done on your own with a bit of research and a GPS. I’ve also found all my accommodation hosts to be very helpful in making suggestions for what is great to do locally.

Northern Lights Tours: The jury is still out regarding whether it’s worth it to pay for the expensive nighttime Northern Lights tours, because the Northern lights are so dependent upon weather and solar activity (which can both be tracked online – check out these cool sites for Northern lights forecasts http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/ and http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/). Many people simply rent cabins or other lodging out away from the city lights and end up seeing the lights on their own, but it does seem that the guided tours have more insight into where to go for the best lights view. The tour operators are better tuned into the exact weather and solar forecasts so as to find small pockets where the lights can be seen even when there is just a small chance of seeing them. They also provide you a free return the following nights if you are unable to see the lights on your first paid night out. I unfortunately got unlucky with my weather-location combinations during both of my visits, and this beautiful glow in the sky has eluded me on both of my visits. Perhaps next time I’ll splurge on one of the guided tours and see if my luck improves!

Tune in next week as Carolyn shares her insight on what you need to know as you prep and pack for an Iceland trip!

[fireflyiceland]

Car Rental Keflavik International Airport

Rent a car at Keflavik International Airport and start your Iceland adventure on the right foot with Firefly. We offer cheap car rentals Keflavik Airport, from economy cars to larger SUVs, all at affordable prices. Skip the lines and pick up your vehicle as soon as you land, with easy access to a wide range of cars perfect for exploring Iceland’s landscapes. With Firefly, you can enjoy a seamless car rental experience at Keflavik International Airport, making your Iceland trip hassle-free and memorable.

Get in Touch: For inquiries, reach us at firefly@firefly.is or call +354 522 0022. We’re here 24/7 emergency support for your peace of mind.

[fireflyiceland]

Unleash Your Adventure with Tiguan Rental Iceland - Firefly Car Rental Iceland

Elevate your Icelandic journey with a Tiguan rental from Firefly Car Rental Iceland. The Volkswagen Tiguan combines style, comfort, and performance, making it the ideal choice for exploring Iceland's diverse terrain. Book now your car rental today and embark on a remarkable adventure filled with comfort, style, and excitement.

[fireflyiceland]

Start Your Iceland Adventure with Firefly Car Rentals from Keflavik Airport

Firefly Car Rental at Keflavik International Airport offers affordable and reliable car rental services. Conveniently located in the arrivals hall, Firefly provides a diverse fleet from compact cars to 4x4s, perfect for exploring Iceland’s rugged terrain. Known for competitive pricing and friendly service, they offer additional options like GPS and child seats. Book online for the best rates and enjoy a seamless start to your Iceland adventure.

[fireflyiceland]

Discover Volkswagen Golf Rental Iceland - Firefly Car Rental Iceland

Discover the beauty of Iceland with a Volkswagen Golf Rental Iceland from Firefly. Cruise through breathtaking landscapes in comfort and style, equipped with the reliability and performance of the iconic Golf. Experience freedom and adventure on your Icelandic journey.

[fireflyiceland]

Explore Iceland: Dacia Duster Rental | Firefly

Uncover Iceland's beauty with a Dacia Duster Rental Iceland from Firefly. Traverse rugged landscapes and remote trails confidently in this reliable SUV. Offering affordability and dependability, it ensures your Icelandic exploration is both adventurous and memorable.

[fireflyiceland]

Affordable Economy Car Rental Iceland - Firefly Car Rental Iceland

Discover Iceland's beauty without breaking the bank with our Economy Car Rental Iceland options at Firefly. Offering reliable and budget-friendly vehicles, we ensure you explore Iceland's stunning landscapes and attractions comfortably while staying within your budget. Book now for an affordable Icelandic adventure.

[fireflyiceland]

Adventure Kia Sorento Rental Iceland - Firefly Car Rental Iceland

Experience Iceland's rugged terrain in comfort with a Kia Sorento Rental Iceland from Firefly. With its spacious interior and robust performance, the Kia Sorento is perfect for exploring Iceland's natural wonders. Book now and embark on an unforgettable adventure across Iceland's breathtaking landscapes.

[fireflyiceland]

Affordable 4x4 Rental Iceland: Explore with Firefly

Embark on Icelandic adventures affordably with Firefly's cheap 4x4 car rentals iceland . Unleash the rugged beauty of Iceland with reliable and budget-friendly 4x4 options. Drive confidently through diverse terrains, ensuring an economical yet thrilling journey. Book your affordable 4x4 experience with Firefly.