{"id":95,"date":"2019-06-20T13:08:26","date_gmt":"2019-06-20T13:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/?p=95"},"modified":"2020-07-29T12:19:27","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T12:19:27","slug":"2911398","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/lifestyle\/2911398","title":{"rendered":"24 Hours in Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last week we spent a night in Iceland, as a stopover on our way to New York. I\u2019ve had Iceland on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, there\u2019s something about the Icelandic vibe that\u2019s totally me. Jordan is the biggest Bjork fan, so he was ready for a visit too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wasn\u2019t planning on booking Iceland, but when I checked flight prices with SkyScanner (the very best way to find cheap flights!) for New York, I saw that Icelandair had the best price for Glasgow to NYC. I hopped on to their site to book, and saw that they did a \u20187 Day Stopover\u2019 \u2013 basically, since you have to change flights in Iceland anyway, you can choose to have your second flight pushed back for a week, at no extra cost. That way you can travel to your final destination, but have a little vaycay in Iceland while you\u2019re at it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had never heard of this before (and neither has anyone I\u2019ve spoken to about it!), but the booking process was SO easy \u2013 you can choose to have your stopover at the beginning or at the end of your trip, and we went with the beginning which worked out best as we were zombies on our way back from New York. The whole thing was so easy to work out, and I highly recommend doing this \u2013 our flights were super cheap and everything was really effortless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d never flown with Icelandair but they were amazing, so attentive and a really fun airline \u2013 we were SO dehydrated after the Blue Lagoon that we were constantly asking for water! The planes are named after Icelandic spots, and beautiful Icelandic music was playing while we were boarding. On the flight, there\u2019s loads of Icelandic documentaries and films to watch, Icelandic music to listen to, and the TVs show awesome facts about the people and the country while you\u2019re seated. Obviously you can choose to watch Hollywood films and all that, but Jordan was in his element watching the Bjork film Biophilia. That creepy bitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also: can we all take a minute to appreciate how awesome the Northern Lights feature is on the flight?! The glimmer of the cabin lights was incredible, I have no idea how they did it. I got a little video of it, perhaps I shall upload it somewhere\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iceland tourist board have got things absolutely nailed \u2013 never have I seen such an efficient way of doing things. We booked everything online before we went \u2013 including our tickets to the Blue Lagoon (definitely buy tickets beforehand!), our transfers to and from the airport, our accommodation, the transfer to the Blue Lagoon\u2026 everything. I really recommend doing this, it\u2019s just such an easy process \u2013 Reykjav\u00edk Excursions will pick you up from your hotel, and then take you to the Blue Lagoon, and then either on to the airport or back to the bus station. You can also be picked up from the airport, taken to the Blue Lagoon and then on to the bus station \u2013 it\u2019s crazy how good they\u2019ve worked it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taxis are expensive, everything is quite far from each other and I\u2019m not sure how you would get around if you didn\u2019t book the bus \u2013 other than renting a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My brother and his girlfriend had been to Iceland a month before we went, so I was able to grill them a little about their trip \u2013 they ended up renting a car as they stayed for a week. There\u2019s no way I could ever drive on the other side of the road, so I didn\u2019t even consider it \u2013 but I would say it\u2019s a must if you stay for longer! Especially if you plan to see quite a lot, although I think Reykjav\u00edk Excursions offer quite a lot of trips, as do Gray Line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We arrived in to Keflavik airport around 3pm on the Friday, and we had booked a transfer with Grayline to take us to our hotel. Once there, we got settled in and then headed for a look around the town; Reykjav\u00edk is the capital, and it\u2019s around 40 minutes from Keflavik airport. It\u2019s where you\u2019ll find everything, and it has a really fun feel about it. Iceland doesn\u2019t really get dark in the summer as it\u2019s so far north, so everyone goes out late on the weekends \u2013 ideal if you\u2019re up for a party!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We ended up exploring the main street all evening, there\u2019s SO many beautiful shops here. It reminded me of Amsterdam in a way, as it\u2019s quite touristy, the people are so chatty and it has the most amazing homeware shops. I was in heaven!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For food, we headed to Bunk Bar. I hadn\u2019t really looked up restaurants but there were quite a few on the main shopping street \u2013 I loved the look of Bunk Bar, which I think is a hostel too. The menu was small, but incredible \u2013 we went for some Teriyaki Beef tacos, prawn tacos, ribs and a cheese and meat plate. Jordan sampled some local beer and I had a heavenly honey and gin cocktail. The food was amazing and the whole place was really cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We saw the Hallgr\u00edmskirkja church on our way in, and our bus driver said you could walk up it (there\u2019s a life, phew!) and see all of Reykjav\u00edk from the top. We decided to go as it was still light and we like a good view; it was around \u00a33 each to go up, and well worth it for the sights \u2013 my photos don\u2019t really do it justice, but it was a really awesome experience. The church itself is pretty impressive (and rather phallic), so even if you don\u2019t decide to head on up, go for a look around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After more exploring, we popped in to an arcade for a look (it was on a street just off the main street, next to an ice cream shop) and then on to another bar\/restaurant, The Laundromat Cafe. This place was pretty awesome, and I\u2019ve heard the food is divine \u2013 we just had some of the local beer, and took in the cool interiors. If you like lots of books, all organised by colour, this is the place for you. It was entirely satisfying!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we were in Iceland for a little longer, this would be our brunch spot of choice \u2013 the menu looks delicious. A reason to come back, for sure. Oh, and there is actually a laundromat downstairs \u2013 that was a surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
DCIM\\100GOPRO\\GOPR0275.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I won\u2019t lie, the real reason for our trip was to experience the Blue Lagoon. I\u2019ve wanted to come here for YEARS! A geothermal spa in the middle of an exposed, cold pile of rock? I\u2019m in. I have to say, the Blue Lagoon ranks high on my list of \u2018best life experiences ever\u2019 \u2013 it was unbelievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were picked up from our hotel around 8.30am on the Saturday, taken to the bus station where we hopped on another bus to the Blue Lagoon, which is near Keflavik airport. As we were driving through Iceland, Jordan put an Icelandic playlist on his iPod (we each had a headphone in an ear) \u2013 I chose S\u00e6gl\u00f3pur by Sigur R\u00f3s, and Jordan followed it up with some Mew (apparently actually Danish, who knew), Bjork and more Sigur R\u00f3s! I really recommend doing this, it amplified the experience and it was something I\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blue Lagoon was really exposed to the elements, so dress warm if you\u2019re heading here as even getting off the bus is super cold. We left our luggage in the storage room on site, it was only about \u00a35 per bag or something. Since we purchased tickets online beforehand, we didn\u2019t really need to queue to get in, and I think we went for the Comfort Package in the end \u2013 I really recommend this one, it\u2019s nothing too fancy but you have everything you need to enjoy the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone told me not to get my hair wet in the water as it really dries it out. I left conditioner in while I was in the water, but I like to swim and splash so it eventually got rinsed out. Jordan went back in to get the GoPro and bought me out a handful of conditioner, a nice gesture\u2026 albeit slightly strange. Boys eh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find that you get brain freeze a little as it\u2019s so cold outside of the water, and you kinda wanna put your head under to get some warmth! I ended up just rinsing my hair with conditioner around five or six times after I had come out of the lagoon, and my hair was fine. It was like using a good salt spray!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and like most European countries, everyone just gets nudey rudey right in front of you. The women\u2019s changing rooms did have one cubical per block that had a door though, but I didn\u2019t care enough to step in. Seen one, seen \u2019em all, I always say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Lagoon uses wristbands so you can swim up to the in-water bar and get drinks without having to exchange money. Jordan had a beer (surprise, surprise) and I went for some strawberry sparkling wine \u2013 it was incredible slurping this delicious fizzy wine in the hot pool with my love. We were halfway through our first drink when I looked up and spied the clock \u2013 not yet 10.30am, and we\u2019re cracking into the booze. No regrets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once we got our Blue Lagoon fix (I could have stayed in there forever, it was divine!), we dried off and headed for the airport. Once checked in for our flight to NYC, we got a cold pressed juice from Joe & The Juice and rehydrated. Heavenly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All in all, an absolutely incredible trip \u2013 in such a short time, we saw so much and I ticked \u2018Blue Lagoon\u2019 off my list. I really recommend Iceland if you want an ultra cool (literally) getaway \u2013 the people are too cool for their own good, the whole country has such a relaxed energy and there\u2019s so much to see and do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you been to Iceland?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week we spent a night in Iceland, as a stopover on our way to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":96,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1243,"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95\/revisions\/1243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uscgnews.com\/go\/doc\/4007\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}