Just had one of the best short vacations of our lives - ICELAND! Flew overnight from JFK on IcelandAir, very pleasant experience. Took FlyBus to the new Nordica Hotel; nice room overlooking the town and harbor.

Took City Tour that afternoon, and evening departure to the Blue Lagoon. Outstanding. What a wonderful, romantic evening. Next day took the all day "Golden Circle" tour visiting geysers, waterfalls, and earthquake sites.

Next day was Good Friday so everything was closed but walked all over town and went to the top of the Cathedral for an amazing view of the city. Flew back on IcelandAir that afternnon and was at JFK after dinner.

If you're looking for a wonderful destination for a great vacation, try Iceland. We can't wait to go back. It's like going to Europe 20 or 30 years ago!

I too have had a great experience in Iceland. I went for a long weekend (Thursday-Sunday) back in November with some friends, and we had a great time. It wasn't nearly as cold as I expected, and we saw some beautiful countryside. We went snowmobiling on a glacier, and words can't even begin to describe how beautiful it was. I really don't suggest going for much longer than a long weekend. You really see most of what there is to see in that time. If you do go, be prepared to not sleep much. We made friends with the hotel bartender, and he took us out a couple of nights. Icelanders can PARTY. They stay up until dawn (which occurs at 9:30AM in the winter time). People are very nice, and the food's great. Everyone should go if you get a chance. I know IcelandAir does a lot of special from teh cities they fly to (BWI in my case). I also have to say that the Nordica hotel is a nice hotel.

I have a dream of taking my mom to Iceland she is 100% Icelandic!!! She just turned 73 and I need to get her there!

I had a link from another site where you could buy one get one free airfare on Iceland air - but I think it expired!

I am inspired to go after reading your posts! Everyone else says it is quite "dull" there so it can be hard to justify the long trip!

Why does it not surprise me that your family is in Minneapolis?!?!

Doesn't Icelandair still fly to/from MSP?

Yes - Iceland Air flys from here - but I funded a family trip (including my adult brothers, mom/dad etc!!!) this year to Mexico and and trying to do the same for next year. But I really would like to squeeze in this trip too!

as long as they continue with their bs whaling program, i've had to refrain from going to one of my "top 10 places I'd like to visit" destinations.

however, if i'm going to put my money where my mouth is, I have to avoid Iceland (and Japan and Norway).

Its not that long a trip from MSP, although I can understand with elderly parents.

Looks like I just missed being there same as wmbarker. Days getting quite long there already.

So, did you meet Bjork? I swear that woman's voice sends shivers down my spine... the good kind.

I've been curious about Iceland for a long time. I remember seeing a documentary about Bjork and they showed a lot of Iceland in the background. Seems like an interesting place. Any place that's cold with volcanos sounds interesting to me.

The culture sounds interesting too. I've heard that the written language hasn't changed much since the Sagas were written and that they have birth records going back nearly a thousand years. Don't know how true that is.

A young Danish friend has just moved to Nuuk Greenland for a stint as a doctor. She just just e-mailed us about seeing her first icebergs. We'd love to visit her in Nuuk even if we don't earn any points on Air Greenland. Living somewhat toward the north myself, I would be interested in seeing the place at some point between bug season and the first snowfall.

Iceland is a fantastic experience, although difficult to do on a budget. Everything is quite expensive due to nearly everything but water and sheep being imported. Reykjavic is a beautiful city with great nightlife. And yes, the Icelandic know how to party! One of my favorite musicians is Bogomil Font, an Icelandic lounge crooner. As mentioned above, a great long weekend.

yeah, i was only there for a day on a stopover to the UK...but man, what a great country. Only downside was.....ohh boy was it ever expensive. I mean, just the flyerbus alone to the city was mega-expensive....(i think it was...$30 one way?? is that right?)....i stayed in the youth hostel in town and it was great...only got to see the city....none of the cool geological stuff though.

GF and I had a great long weekend there in January, despite hitting the worst winter weather the place has had for decades. The experience of swimming in the Blue Lagoon, parts of it too hot to stay in comfortably, while gale-whipped snow is swirling around your head, must be experienced to be believed.

We hope to return, though probably in August and not necessarily in 2004, to hike in the interior.

(BTW: add fish to the "doesn't have to be imported" list.)

Is it true that Reyjavic has a vibrant night life?? What's the nightlife like?

And some of the BEST fish you will EVER eat!

bptraveler, there are inexpensive packages from IcelandAir Vacations including departures from MSP. We paid $499 including RT air, RT FlyBus, and two nights at the beautiful Nordica Hotel with an incredible breakfast buffet. We bought several Excursions which were well worth the money, particularly the evening departure to the Blue Lagoon. Your Mom will have a ball!

gohaggis, it is expensive but not as much as you think. The FlyBus was 1100K which works out to US$15. You don't need a car because you can walk anywhere or take the local Straeto busses for 220K, or buy a Visitors Card which gets you into all the local museums, pools, spas, and buses for just US$15 a day. Yes, the food was expensive, but incredibly delicious.
Considering the IcelandAir package, the whole trip was a deal.