Iceland

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Iceland, Europe

 

• A nation in a mountainous island, Iceland is a strikingly attractive place that highlights on extraordinary and desolate landscapes.
• The country is referred to as a paradise of nature lovers.

The Life:

• Life in the island is quite varied. It enjoys a lively nightlife on one side and the other end emphasizes the culture of Iceland. Nightlife will usually be filled with dancing and drinking until daybreak.
• Admirably, the deep interest of its people to cultural heritage has been evident in their character and identity. Iceland is home to famous writers, artists and musicians.

Cost of Living:

• Traveling to Iceland used to expensive but nowadays, its cost of living is considered reasonable for US tourists. A meal at a fast food restaurant and an inexpensive dining place would cost about $9 to $11 per person. Midrange restaurants serve meals for two persons with three courses at $74.
• Accommodation will normally have a price range of $650 to $830 for single rooms and $1260 to $1350 for three-bedroom apartments.

Poker:

• Online poker sites are unavailable and illegal in Iceland. Poker enthusiasts can still play online poker using foreign poker rooms.

Internet Access/Speed:

• Internet speed and connection is great and fast enough for international online poker.

Weather:

• Ten percent of the country is enveloped with glaciers, which is surprising to know that it actually has a mild climate.
• Daylight significantly varies by season. In June, the sun will normally set briefly and before it gets fully dark, the sun is up again. March and September have equal length of days and nights, similar to the rest of the world. December will have nearly 20 dark hours.
• Summer, early and later winter is the best times of the year to travel to Iceland.

U.S. Visa/Entry Difficulty Level:

• US tourists can travel to Iceland any time without a visa. The stay can last up to ninety days. The passport must also be valid for the next three months beyond the tourist’s intended stay.

Language:

• Icelandic is the country’s official language. Many people speak other languages such as English and Danish.

Language Schools:

• There are online courses for learning Icelandic as well as language schools for tourists in the country.

Food:

• From purely lamb or fish, Icelandic cuisine has much more to offer than in the last decades. Vegetarian meals are available in some dining places.
• Icelandic cuisine consists of fish, smoked lamb, lamb sausage, etc. The place is popular for whale meat as well.
• There are dishes that contain a pungent smell and may stick to the hair and clothing quite easily. They are often served in a special event called Þorrablót is Þorláksmessa. This is a good opportunity for US tourists to taste the delicious delicacies (although may have a strong smell) of Iceland.

Recreation:

• Iceland is a great place for partying especially in Reykjavik. During weekends, bars are open until very late.
• The country also offers a number of hiking opportunities. US tourists must not forget to bring a pair of strong walking boots for the rocky and mossy terrains.
• Surprisingly, Iceland is not popular for skiing but there is a town in the north that offers a ski area for touring and mountaineering. Ice climbing will be wonderful to try especially in the world-class frozen waterfalls plus with abundant glaciers.
• Another must-try and a favorite of many tourists is the glacier hiking. Skaftafell is the center area of this activity.

Safety:

• The country is among the safest in the world. US tourists will never get the chance to be involved in robbery or harassment. Iceland also has low murder rates. One of its areas, Reykjavik may be an exception as it has cases of petty theft as well as night time violence.