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Iceland on the cheap: Am I the worst person in the world?
So I just took advantage of Grant's tipoff last week to $400 roundtrip airfare to Iceland. I'm flying out of Boston the weekend before Thanksgiving, and staying for a week. And I believe my flight came out to something like $550, not bad at all for a departure on Saturday and return on Sunday.Now I'm trying to scoop up some dirt-cheap hotel rooms, a rental car, and hmm, maybe a mid-sized bank somewhere. Yes, I do feel a bit awkward just parachuting into a country that's, according to news today, running out of food in 3-5 weeks.
It's a beautiful country, but I'm almost more excited to go walk down Main Street and just see what a "bankrupt" country is like, in the dead of winter no less. I mean, when does that ever happen? Or did I just speak too soon.
On a related note, I'm working on a research paper about Iceland's economic collapse, and it's somewhat humorous to read the predictions made by distinguished economists from just a couple years back. Take this one from 2006, posted on the Icelandic consulate's website:
"Recent volatility in Iceland's asset markets has raised concerns about the fragility of Iceland's economy," comment Frederic S. Mishkin and his co-author Tryggvi T. Herberrtsson in their report, "Financial Stability in Iceland." But these concerns, particularly those that raise comparisons with certain financial issues in emerging market countries, are "misguided."
Ha! Oh, that reminds me. I have to go get a visa from that consulate ... whoops.
Filed under: Iceland
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jeff Oct 16th 2008 9:43AM
Great article
Icelander Oct 16th 2008 10:05AM
If you want to see how a bankrupt nation seems like, you'll be greatly disappointed. basically nothing has changed in Iceland since the collapse last week. And we will definetly not run out of food in 3-5 weeks. That's ridicilous. But anyway, I hope you'll have fun in Iceland.
paul Oct 16th 2008 5:13PM
I would like a larger version of that photo, please. ;)
Amy Oct 17th 2008 10:44AM
Jerry, I think we just booked the exact same flights! We're going Nov. 22-29. There are some great hotel deals right now - the whole week is costing us $222, or about $35 a night for a 3-star in the middle of the city. I'm pretty excited. Hopefully things will stabilize a bit in the next few weeks - but from message boards I have been reading, a lot of the drama (gas, grocery shortages, etc.) is greatly exaggerated in the media.
Jerry Oct 17th 2008 9:03PM
Lol, I would ask for the hotel but might be kind of creepy to have exactly the same itinerary for a week. Have you looked into car rentals or staying in the capital?
Amy Oct 17th 2008 9:48PM
We're at the Klopp. :-)
Have not looked into car rentals yet and might just do tours if we find ones that look flexible so we can avoid renting. I think we will probably play it by ear and maybe book tours the day before from our hotel. We've booked for 6 nights in Reykjavik, so we'll use that as our base and go from there. Getting excited!
Janelle Oct 17th 2008 3:06PM
I know, I feel a bit guilty about it as well, but you have to take advantage when you can, particularly when the krona's exchange rate is what it is. We just blogged about it as well, check out the photo slide show and get excited for your trip:
http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/it/2008/10/friend-of-it-an.html
Amy Oct 17th 2008 9:53PM
Great pictures! I'm bummed that we're probably going to miss out on the Puffins.
Thomasha Oct 18th 2008 1:47PM
Iceland is far away from being bankrupt. The 3 big banks were nationalized. But still after the collapse there is only 2% unemployment, before it was well below 1%.
You still should come, Iceland is beautiful and you will never get it cheaper.
You do not need to worry that you will find bankrupt nation.
Jane Sanderson May 28th 2009 10:16PM
A handy tip for anyone going to Iceland: I just came back from a week in Iceland and used the excellent Norden Voyager card to save quite a bit on my trip. It gets you discounts off many of the shops, bars and restaurants in the centre of Reykjavik. I used it when I booked my hotel and straight away saved more than the card cost to buy. Their website is nordenvoyager.com or I think you can buy it at a few places in Reykjavik.