Anyone ever been to Iceland?

Lots have been. Search on here and you’ll find several trip reviews with pics.

I’ll say this, you can’t go with the sole hope of seeing the Northern Lights. There’s always a chance it doesn’t show wherever you are while you’re there, and then you’ll be disappointed in the trip.

Iceland is a beautiful, but expensive, country. We went, and I was hoping to see the Northern Lights but was unlucky, but I went in knowing that was a possibility.

An average meal (for lunch) is going to run you $30-40/person. Dinners are more.

They essentially have to import everything, so food and goods are much more expensive as a result.

Easy and pretty cheap to fly to

Expensive arse country

Everyone speaks English

Buses can take you to almost any sight around Reykjavik, and most visitors do not venture beyond that which is a mistake

If you go in December, expect 5-6 of daylight but the northern light odds are pretty good

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I really want to see the Northern Lights, yet I do want to see the volcanoes and how the seasons can change.

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So, you really need to make decision right off the bat about when to go. If you want to see the Northern Lights, then you are talking about a winter trip, when there is essentially no daylight and the entire island is covered with snow.

If you want to drive the Ring Road and visit all the incredible waterfalls and volcanoes, then you want to go sometime from late spring to early fall. Of course, that's when there are more tourists, and prices are higher.

I went three years ago in mid-May, which is late enough for most of the roads to be open (though there were still a few inaccessible places). I spent nine days driving the Ring Road around the island, and I wouldn't suggest doing less than a week if you want to drive the Ring Road. If you're doing a shorter stay, you might just base yourself in Reykjavik and do daytrips from there.

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An average meal (for lunch) is going to run you $30-40/person. Dinners are more.

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The smoked lamb sandwiches that you can buy at gas stations are $6 and very tasty, though. That and some skyr makes a good lunch for not much money. In my nine days in Iceland, I only ended up eating two full, sit-down meals in restaurants, because they are expensive, but that's not really something that you have to do.

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The smoked lamb sandwiches that you can buy at gas stations are $6 and very tasty, though.

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hangikjot. my favorite.

I wouldn’t consider anywhere we ate with the exception of one dinner “nice,” but I’m also not traveling to a new place and skimping on meals either.

I mean we had lunch at what was essentially a pub one day. I had Puffin as an appetizer and an entree along with a couple beers, and it was at least $50.

We are in Iceland right now, fly back to the states tomorrow. It has been a fantastic vacation- the whole family has enjoyed.

We had our own driver/guide who was exceptional at getting us to the right places at the right time. We moved our plans around to make them fit around weather, timing, and large tours. We were able to to see things in the best weather without huge tour busses there.

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then an extension to Norway

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We went to visit a friend in Norway about 5 years ago and it was a fricking blast. It was also expensive but worth every dime spent. I really want to go to Iceland next.