Math R.
Paris
Worth visiting!
According to many testimonials, from Carlos and people on the Virtual Tourist forums, Iceland is like the most expensive place in the world to travel to. Carlos himself spent something like 2000€ for one week, not including food.
But, oh, the beauty of it… It’s calling me.
How the hell am I going to find that kind of money?!
Jacob Harris
New York City
Yes, it is mad expensive there, but there are things you can do to keep it within limits. I think for starters, buying lunch at the grocery store instead of restaurants is a good way to keep costs down (you pay for salad by the container not weight, so practice those packing skills). In addition, if you book via Icelandair you can get vouchers for things like the Blue Lagoon and such that you pay for in American Dollars and aren’t repriced all the time (so, if you think the dollar is going to slide further or if you want to spread out the expenses over several months). There are also youth hostels and other options perhaps.
Math R.
Paris
But I’m also trying to wake up some old contacts in order to get a couple of freelance gigs, I guess a week in Iceland is worth a few days of extra work!
Thanks for your advice, Jacob!
Being from Paris, I wouldn’t expect to pay for anything in American Dollars, but otherwise yes, I guess it will be youth hostels and bus travel around the Ring Road :)
GothNoodle
Paris
If you had one kidney removed, it’d make another sexy scar on you… ^^
Think about it twice! :-P
Jacob Harris
New York City
I was being chauvinistic and American-centric there with the Dollar comment (I envy you for your currency’s strength right now). But similarly, you might want to look at the currency conversion rate from Euro to Kronor and look at the price for things on the Icelandair website to see what they quote you vs. a hotel’s rate on their website…
One other trick we exploited a lot is that Icelandair runs a free shuttle from their outlier hotels to the city center. We weren’t staying at the Nordica but we were staying nearby at the Park Inn Island, so we snuck aboard a lot (including hitching a ride with a busful of jovial Germans once). And we became regulars at the 10-11 grocery store…
Math R.
Paris
Nevermind about the dollar thingie, we non-USians are fairly used to that perspective (like, clicking on foreign movies when we want information about “ours” or whatever ;p).
Oh, and EricaT kindly pointed me to CouchSurfing which might be a very interesting way to travel indeed—I thought I’d give you the link just in case :)
EricaT
New York City
A good way to keep hostel/hotel expenses low/elimate them, is www.couchsurfing.com
It’s really great, and an interesting and unique opportunity to get to know a city or country.
Math R.
Paris
Now that seems to be something positively brilliant! :D
Thank you, thank you very much for pointing this out, it’s exactly what the Net is all about imho!
¤bounces around excitedly¤
Math R.
Paris
Have you experienced CouchSurfing yourself?
I’d be very curious to hear some feedback about what seems indeed to be a great idea!
EricaT
New York City
So, I’ve been a member of couchsurfing for just about 1 year. If you search, barcelona, Erica, that’s me!
I was originally introduced to the idea a couple years ago, while planning a trip to Europe. I found websites such as www.hospitalityclub.org, and www.globalfreeloaders.com I signed up, sent messages, and got no responses.
Last year I found couchsurfing. I love the idea, but was skeptical because the last two sites didnt work out. Couchsurfing is different, people are really comitted to the idea of travel, and travelling for cheap. The majority of members have updated profiles and photos (unlike the other sites) and I think thats really important.
I have had guests in my house, and I’ve been hosted in other countries as well. Check out my friends, and you’ll see that.
I’ve always felt safe going to someone’s house, and I’ve always felt safe having someone over. And you dont have to say “yes” to everyone…you could even say “lets meet at a cafe first” and then see what you think of them after an hour or so of conversation.
Maybe you dont even have a couch available? For instance, I’m going to move in 2 weeks and dont really feel like having anyone over right now, but I’m planning on meeting a couple people for beers while they are in town, instead.
So, I think the idea is great, but needs to be done right, and I truly think couchsurfing is done right. the website is great, and people are really into the idea. If I’m lucky I’ll never have to stay in a hostel again, because its just more fun to couchsurf! I’ve stayed with a guy in Belgium, who happened to be off work and drove me all over belgium with a day trip to luxembourg, stayed with guys in germany, and learned about the crazy party life in Frankfurt Germany, and stayed with someone in Stockholm (who had couchsurfed with me a few months before) and went to his university party. Its a good way to see a country from the “insiders” perspective.
But, if you arent interested in all those things, or giving back to the site (meaning having a complete profile, etc) or using it for your own benefit only, then dont join…It’s a lot of fun with a lot of cool people, and its fun because the people are all interested in the same thing…
Read about how the couchsurfing idea was “born”, it has to do with iceland actually!
Math R.
Paris
You definitely convinced me, so I just registered on CouchSurfing, using metamatik as my username.
I’m at work now, but I will soon start working on my profile!
¤daydreams about a plane taking off…¤
nobodysperfect
Paris
hey, you !
I am a CSer too, you know me in the real life, as far as i know we’re supposed to be friends, and you didn’t registered ever…
(Besides, what a pity, i have to track you on the net to know it…)
Tell me : how shall I take this ?
^^
(btw hello Erica ! and hello Gothie ! and hello Jacob, too)
