I have wanted to go to Iceland since I was in my early 20's Im now in my 50's. Nothing you've said surprises me, and I can't wait to visit, rain, wind, snow , sun ❤ it all!!
IDK if we are allowed to say this, but I went with a company called G-adventures and it was fantastic. Highly recommend. I'd do it again! (I don't work for them or anything, don't worry!)
@@vtcs1963 Thank you for this info. I believe there are no coincidences. I neglected to writer this info down and thought finding this comment, now after 4 months would be like finding a needle in a haystack. I found it! :) Looking into G-Adventures now!!
As someone who lives in Alaska, the whole thing about people and their expectations about the northern lights is real. You can't see them in the summer and they think they are visible every night, which isn't true. You just have to wait and watch the sky for hours. That's it. Let me know if you ever plan to visit Alaska. It'd be great to meet up!
I’ve seen the Northern Lights in August in Saskatchewan many times, the most memorable being in the same week as a meteor shower when they formed a curtain across the entire sky and you could hear them. Timing is everything as the sun has to be at peak solar activity and the best viewing is after midnight. Winter in Iceland is warmer than it is in most parts of Canada and driving off-road in less populated areas is acceptable here.
The best way it was explained to me was like a tourist coming and saying they want to see a rainbow. Uh, it's sort of hard to predict. It's all to do with timing, weather, cloud, position, time of day. Hang around outdoors long enough and you'll witness it. But it can't be forced. Of course it depends on where you are.
Your trip might suck if you don't watch her other videos about renting cars - GET ALL THE INSURANCE (well except for anything for stolen vehicle). We were there for 2 hours when our windshield developed a crack - so glad we had watched a TON of Iceland travel videos and got all the coverage. The only thing I didn't realize was that the 4th of July week is also one of the busiest in Iceland. We were running away from our area that is overrun at that time - I knew summer was busy but didn't know the first Friday of July is the busiest travel day in Iceland - still wasnt a big deal and got a decent price on an AirBnb because we were the first customers of that listing :) Our family has rated it our best vacation yet!
Great video Jewells! One other thing I hear a lot about Iceland: Overtourism. It's definitely a thing, but it depends on where you go. The Blue Lagoon is one of those places people complain a lot about, as well as certain areas of the Golden Circle and south coast. It never bothered me that much, but I keep hearing this from others.
I have heard many people say Iceland sucks because the booked 5 day trip in January and it was blizzard for 5 days and they couldn't get out of the hotel😄
I know I say it all the time but where you are standing gives me all the feels... it's weird how much of a hold Iceland has on me. I only lived there for 10 years but it always feels like home. Anyway, I totally dig what you're saying. Though, I regularly tell people to manage their expectations when they go and then they all come back like OMG IT WAS THE BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE so what do I know? OH and someone I know went in August... and the day before they flew out, Northern Lights. Who gets that kind of luck? Well, she does.
It’s awesome that this spot evokes good feels for you. Yea, most people have a great time. I have encountered some that complained about the weather and all I could think was “what did you expect?
Packing appropriately... if you can afford Gore-tex, Iceland is THE place for it. It's hard to appreciate what a factor the wind is there. Gore-tex plus under-layers are gold. You can see snow or 80 mph winds in June (I have). The more weather your clothes allow you to comfortably tolerate, the more days you can get out into nature. I've seen people hike a couple hour for a view, but they could not stay and enjoy the view. The cold and wind chased them right back down. Remember, it's a lot colder standing there holding camera than when hiking to get there. Also, conditions change rapidly. Being able to add/remove layers as you go is key, regardless of clothing technology.
We were in Iceland in May of this year and it was amazing! We completely fell in love with it! We did a Golden Circle Tour to wet our whistle, then followed that up with a Snaefelnes day trip that included lunch on a horse ranch, and then we did a South Coast tour that included Glacier Lagoon, they were all wonderful and fascinating! We are planning a return trip when we retire in a couple of years! Can't wait!! Love love love Iceland!!!
I'm not driving when i go to Iceland. I absolutely believe it's a great way to see the country, but I'm going on my own & on a budget. Also, I'm not at one with nature, I'm sticking with tour busses so there's someone to tell me what to do when i go to these beautiful & dangerous places.
Although winter is the time to see the Northern Lights, there is no guarantee that you will see them. I have been twice in winter and still haven't had the fortune to witness them yet. The weather really does dictate a lot of things in Iceland. I am hoping for third time lucky in January.
I went on a tour and it was amazing. Hours of hiking every day, all the natural beauty, a comfortable van with a driver, nice people, and bizarrely I was capable of using Google prior to my trip and knew what kind of weather to expect (every kind). But you’re totally right, loads of people have no idea how to pack or plan for a trip and traveling does suck for them. I once saw two American guys dive into the Dead Sea with their eyes open because they did not believe the signs. All things are possible lol.
Was there in August. Rented with Go. Had good service from them and enjoyed driving around. Went north of Reykjavik for a spa day. Hung around the capital a little. Then Golden Circle, black sand beaches and more. Looking forward to returning.
We went 2 weeks in July 2020 with very limited amount of other tourists and had a fan-tas-tic time!! The highest temps at 18c/64F and full sun to the lowest 3c/37F (with strong winds and rain). So definitely pack layers and always a good raincoat!
Expectations…huge. We are preparing for Iceland next year and is a harsh reality that it isn’t an easy trip as I believe with costs, logistics/availability and weather in play. TBH I got volunteered for it, and am sure it will be fine, but the effort means my vacation will be more like work.
Thank you for all of the great information. Especially the winter tips. I think you have a video on winter, specifically 🤔. I’m going to try and find that. Love your videos!! ❤
Yup, especially if they are coming for the weekend for a music festival or something like that. Also, some people make Reykjavík their base, so they have to keep coming back to the capital every night, which severely limits how much of the country they can explore.
Well people are not all the same but me and my family find reykjavik a lovely city and just the right size with 247,000 population in capital area. We never get bored. From cinemas to swimming pools, cafes and museums....
My advice after 5 days spent middle November 2022, moving along Ring Road in South of the island: tone down your expectations. Mines were huge, based on UA-cam videos and FB pictures. Great deception, things don't look in reality like in edited online materials. I don't find any reason to go back and spend a fortune for watching waterfalls surrounded by lifeless rocky tundra scenery.
I have wanted to go to Iceland since I was in my early 20's Im now in my 50's. Nothing you've said surprises me, and I can't wait to visit, rain, wind, snow , sun ❤ it all!!
IDK if we are allowed to say this, but I went with a company called G-adventures and it was fantastic. Highly recommend. I'd do it again! (I don't work for them or anything, don't worry!)
🥳🥳🥳
@@vtcs1963 Thank you for this info. I believe there are no coincidences. I neglected to writer this info down and thought finding this comment, now after 4 months would be like finding a needle in a haystack. I found it! :) Looking into G-Adventures now!!
@@emilysp722 That is amazing! I hope you have booked your trip! I know you will have a great time!! Wish I could go back!
You not in you 50s !!!!
As someone who lives in Alaska, the whole thing about people and their expectations about the northern lights is real. You can't see them in the summer and they think they are visible every night, which isn't true. You just have to wait and watch the sky for hours. That's it.
Let me know if you ever plan to visit Alaska. It'd be great to meet up!
Exactly!
Yes, I’ll def let you know. I’ve heard it’s beautiful there 😍
The people in Alaska seem to have a similar frontier mentality as people in Iceland. Truly, two of my favorite places.
@@yzScott These days, the biggest difference between Iceland and Alaska is that there are more Americans in Iceland... I KID! But do I?
I’ve seen the Northern Lights in August in Saskatchewan many times, the most memorable being in the same week as a meteor shower when they formed a curtain across the entire sky and you could hear them. Timing is everything as the sun has to be at peak solar activity and the best viewing is after midnight. Winter in Iceland is warmer than it is in most parts of Canada and driving off-road in less populated areas is acceptable here.
The best way it was explained to me was like a tourist coming and saying they want to see a rainbow. Uh, it's sort of hard to predict. It's all to do with timing, weather, cloud, position, time of day. Hang around outdoors long enough and you'll witness it. But it can't be forced.
Of course it depends on where you are.
Yes to travel budget help! Thank you.
Working on it and my pleasure 🙂
Your trip might suck if you don't watch her other videos about renting cars - GET ALL THE INSURANCE (well except for anything for stolen vehicle). We were there for 2 hours when our windshield developed a crack - so glad we had watched a TON of Iceland travel videos and got all the coverage. The only thing I didn't realize was that the 4th of July week is also one of the busiest in Iceland. We were running away from our area that is overrun at that time - I knew summer was busy but didn't know the first Friday of July is the busiest travel day in Iceland - still wasnt a big deal and got a decent price on an AirBnb because we were the first customers of that listing :) Our family has rated it our best vacation yet!
Great video Jewells! One other thing I hear a lot about Iceland: Overtourism. It's definitely a thing, but it depends on where you go. The Blue Lagoon is one of those places people complain a lot about, as well as certain areas of the Golden Circle and south coast. It never bothered me that much, but I keep hearing this from others.
I’ll be using your packing list for my trip next spring!
I have heard many people say Iceland sucks because the booked 5 day trip in January and it was blizzard for 5 days and they couldn't get out of the hotel😄
That’s why managing expectations is so important. 😅
I know I say it all the time but where you are standing gives me all the feels... it's weird how much of a hold Iceland has on me. I only lived there for 10 years but it always feels like home. Anyway, I totally dig what you're saying. Though, I regularly tell people to manage their expectations when they go and then they all come back like OMG IT WAS THE BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE so what do I know? OH and someone I know went in August... and the day before they flew out, Northern Lights. Who gets that kind of luck? Well, she does.
It’s awesome that this spot evokes good feels for you.
Yea, most people have a great time. I have encountered some that complained about the weather and all I could think was “what did you expect?
@@AllThingsIceland It's like going into midtown Manhattan and complaining about there being too many people.
Packing appropriately... if you can afford Gore-tex, Iceland is THE place for it. It's hard to appreciate what a factor the wind is there. Gore-tex plus under-layers are gold. You can see snow or 80 mph winds in June (I have).
The more weather your clothes allow you to comfortably tolerate, the more days you can get out into nature. I've seen people hike a couple hour for a view, but they could not stay and enjoy the view. The cold and wind chased them right back down. Remember, it's a lot colder standing there holding camera than when hiking to get there. Also, conditions change rapidly. Being able to add/remove layers as you go is key, regardless of clothing technology.
Agreed!! 😊
We were in Iceland in May of this year and it was amazing! We completely fell in love with it! We did a Golden Circle Tour to wet our whistle, then followed that up with a Snaefelnes day trip that included lunch on a horse ranch, and then we did a South Coast tour that included Glacier Lagoon, they were all wonderful and fascinating! We are planning a return trip when we retire in a couple of years! Can't wait!! Love love love Iceland!!!
Hey 👋🏽
Curious how was the weather in May?
I want to and WILL visit Iceland thanks to you, sis! 💜
So glad to hear that 🥳🤗❤️
I'm not driving when i go to Iceland. I absolutely believe it's a great way to see the country, but I'm going on my own & on a budget. Also, I'm not at one with nature, I'm sticking with tour busses so there's someone to tell me what to do when i go to these beautiful & dangerous places.
So I have no real expectation for Iceland, I just want to go! 6 hour flight from NYC isn’t bad.
Nice, this saved me from going.
What are you doing in Iceland?
Although winter is the time to see the Northern Lights, there is no guarantee that you will see them. I have been twice in winter and still haven't had the fortune to witness them yet. The weather really does dictate a lot of things in Iceland. I am hoping for third time lucky in January.
I hope you see them too. 🤞🏾🤞🏾The northern lights these winter have been amazing so far.
I'm good, no interest in going there.
Next time I'm there I'll look into renting a car and figuring out the logistics of that. I want to see it all!
Yay! I hope you do. So much fun to explore. 😊
I went on a tour and it was amazing. Hours of hiking every day, all the natural beauty, a comfortable van with a driver, nice people, and bizarrely I was capable of using Google prior to my trip and knew what kind of weather to expect (every kind). But you’re totally right, loads of people have no idea how to pack or plan for a trip and traveling does suck for them. I once saw two American guys dive into the Dead Sea with their eyes open because they did not believe the signs. All things are possible lol.
So glad you had an amazing time! 🥳
Oh, no! I can only imagine how horrible it must have felt for those guys diving into the Dead Sea like that. 😭
Women ☕️☕️
Before I die... I'm visiting and eating Hakarl. I need this bizarre food to test my mettle.
Lol I hope that happens in your near future 😊
Fantastic summary, Jewells! Sending to friends who are visiting in March
Hello
Was there in August. Rented with Go. Had good service from them and enjoyed driving around. Went north of Reykjavik for a spa day. Hung around the capital a little. Then Golden Circle, black sand beaches and more. Looking forward to returning.
We went 2 weeks in July 2020 with very limited amount of other tourists and had a fan-tas-tic time!! The highest temps at 18c/64F and full sun to the lowest 3c/37F (with strong winds and rain). So definitely pack layers and always a good raincoat!
Expectations…huge. We are preparing for Iceland next year and is a harsh reality that it isn’t an easy trip as I believe with costs, logistics/availability and weather in play. TBH I got volunteered for it, and am sure it will be fine, but the effort means my vacation will be more like work.
Pronunciation request in light of Elon Musk: " tjáningarfrelsi "
This is awesome! I'm visiting in January! Do you have a tour company that you would recommend?
Icelandic Mountain Guides is a good one. 😊
Visited for two weeks in October. Loved every day, even with the wind and costs. Can’t wait to go back!
🥳🥳🥳
#CannotWaitToVisitMamaS!!! 😍 P.S. Would you pleaSe let us know which gloves, (name brands) coat, winter hats, etc. you use for the snowy weather!? 😘
🥳🥳🥳
Thank you for all of the great information. Especially the winter tips. I think you have a video on winter, specifically 🤔. I’m going to try and find that.
Love your videos!! ❤
Thank you!!🤗
Please, can I get your email?
There really are people that come and just stay in the capital? I can't believe that :-D
Yup, especially if they are coming for the weekend for a music festival or something like that. Also, some people make Reykjavík their base, so they have to keep coming back to the capital every night, which severely limits how much of the country they can explore.
Lots of Iceland videos on UA-cam, yours are my favorite. Thanks!
Aww, thank you 🤗❤️
Hey Jewells! Can you do a video on the Buubble Hotel by Airmango? It looks terrific and we’re considering a trip! Thx
I’ll add it to my list. 😊
@@AllThingsIceland Thank You!
I live on icland and i can tocc iclantik
Hiiya!- incredible . ;)
Hi! Thanks 🤗
$1000 speeding ticket would SUCK!!
Yup 😭
Ég elska icland
I think you covered if we have a license in the States we can rent a car right? Also is the steering wheel on the right in cars?
Yes, you can rent a car with a valid driver’s license from the states and the steering wheel is on the same side as in the states. 😊
@@AllThingsIceland thank you. I want to visit. I have a former coworker who visited and she loved it.
Yay! Glad to hear that and I hope you do visit.
Reykjavík sucks, simple.
😂 I don’t think it sucks but there is so much to see outside of the city.
Well people are not all the same but me and my family find reykjavik a lovely city and just the right size with 247,000 population in capital area. We never get bored. From cinemas to swimming pools, cafes and museums....
I really enjoyed Reykjavik - but if that had been my whole trip I would have been super disappointed.
@@AllThingsIceland I live in Akureyri so the weather and landscape, plus traffic play a part ;)
Oh come on, Reykjavik is a lovely city with a lot of things to do and see. Nature is always nearby. The people are friendly.
My advice after 5 days spent middle November 2022, moving along Ring Road in South of the island: tone down your expectations.
Mines were huge, based on UA-cam videos and FB pictures. Great deception, things don't look in reality like in edited online materials.
I don't find any reason to go back and spend a fortune for watching waterfalls surrounded by lifeless rocky tundra scenery.