So my husband and I took a big non-Disney trip! This is the first time we took a real vacation somewhere that had nothing to do with Disney. We have been other places but they have revolved around visiting friends or they were short cheaper driving trips. This was the first time we dropped some cash (although not as much as one might think) and went somewhere totally different. I put this in the Chit Chat section as not to clutter up the Trip Report Section although....Disney Cruise Line has Iceland in their itinerary for 2015!
So this trip came about in a sort-of impromptu way which is not the way we usually do things. My totally awesome hubby decided in October (so maybe not impromptu for him) he wanted to surprise me for Christmas. He came up with the idea of either a trip to Disney or a high-priced major zoom lens for my camera. About a week before Christmas, I saw an ad on Facebook from Icelandair. They were advertising packages that included airfare and hotel stay for a VERY reasonable price. I told him about it but quickly dismissed it because we really need to save money, tough to find people to watch the horses, yada, yada, yada...
On Christmas morning, after all our usual presents, he gave me an envelope. In it was a note with my choices and he had added Iceland to his original list. I was sooooo surprised! He had even made arrangements for someone to watch the animals if I decided on a trip. He had also been in contact with KK in case I picked Disney. I threw him for a loop with Iceland! I really had to mull over the choice a bit. We have always wanted to go to a Nordic country but I was nervous about traveling to another country, overseas, and it was so outside anything that we had ever done. And that was why I eventually went with that decision. If I didn't pick Iceland and go outside my comfort zone a little, I might never do it.
I went online the day after Christmas to book our trip. Unfortunately the deal had expired but we still got a good price by booking their budget getaway. Iceland is a relatively cheap getaway during their winter months. I really want to go in the summer but the prices triple. We got a 5 night stay, at a nice hotel with 2 different tours, airfare, and free breakfast buffet for about the same price as a stay at Moderate plus airfare for Disney.
On to the trip!
Icelandair flies direct to Iceland from Newark, NJ. We have to travel a bit (1.5 hours) to get to Newark, but it was worth it for the direct flight. I really liked Icelandair. They are a low-budget international airline so you do not get a meal but there is food available for purchase and you do get complimentary soft drinks, juice, water...etc. They also give everyone a complimentary bottle of water when you get on the plane. Icelandair has an excellent safety record and I have read that Icelandic pilots are some of the best in the world since they frequently have to fly in adverse weather conditions.
Our flight left on time and we were soon on our way!
On Our Way by SupersonicNJ, on Flickr
Each seat had an in-seat monitor on the seat in front. They had a good selection of movies and tv shows or you could view your flight progress. I ended up watching the movie Gravity and started watching the show "The Following". Darn it! Another show to be hooked on! The flight was the smoothest flight I had ever been on. Very uneventful, just the way I like my flights! 5 hours later we were landing at Keflavik International Airport. Yep....Iceland is only 5-5.5 hours from Newark! That surprises a lot of people.
Up next...lots more pictures!
So this trip came about in a sort-of impromptu way which is not the way we usually do things. My totally awesome hubby decided in October (so maybe not impromptu for him) he wanted to surprise me for Christmas. He came up with the idea of either a trip to Disney or a high-priced major zoom lens for my camera. About a week before Christmas, I saw an ad on Facebook from Icelandair. They were advertising packages that included airfare and hotel stay for a VERY reasonable price. I told him about it but quickly dismissed it because we really need to save money, tough to find people to watch the horses, yada, yada, yada...
On Christmas morning, after all our usual presents, he gave me an envelope. In it was a note with my choices and he had added Iceland to his original list. I was sooooo surprised! He had even made arrangements for someone to watch the animals if I decided on a trip. He had also been in contact with KK in case I picked Disney. I threw him for a loop with Iceland! I really had to mull over the choice a bit. We have always wanted to go to a Nordic country but I was nervous about traveling to another country, overseas, and it was so outside anything that we had ever done. And that was why I eventually went with that decision. If I didn't pick Iceland and go outside my comfort zone a little, I might never do it.
I went online the day after Christmas to book our trip. Unfortunately the deal had expired but we still got a good price by booking their budget getaway. Iceland is a relatively cheap getaway during their winter months. I really want to go in the summer but the prices triple. We got a 5 night stay, at a nice hotel with 2 different tours, airfare, and free breakfast buffet for about the same price as a stay at Moderate plus airfare for Disney.
On to the trip!
Icelandair flies direct to Iceland from Newark, NJ. We have to travel a bit (1.5 hours) to get to Newark, but it was worth it for the direct flight. I really liked Icelandair. They are a low-budget international airline so you do not get a meal but there is food available for purchase and you do get complimentary soft drinks, juice, water...etc. They also give everyone a complimentary bottle of water when you get on the plane. Icelandair has an excellent safety record and I have read that Icelandic pilots are some of the best in the world since they frequently have to fly in adverse weather conditions.
Our flight left on time and we were soon on our way!
On Our Way by SupersonicNJ, on FlickrEach seat had an in-seat monitor on the seat in front. They had a good selection of movies and tv shows or you could view your flight progress. I ended up watching the movie Gravity and started watching the show "The Following". Darn it! Another show to be hooked on! The flight was the smoothest flight I had ever been on. Very uneventful, just the way I like my flights! 5 hours later we were landing at Keflavik International Airport. Yep....Iceland is only 5-5.5 hours from Newark! That surprises a lot of people.
Up next...lots more pictures!
Icelandair Reykjavik Natura
Natura People
Natura People II
Natura Sheep
Breakfast
Room with a View
Room with a View II
Natura Room
View from Natura
Spiral Stairs
Natura Fireplace
On the Way to Downtown
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik Street
Reykjavik Street
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja
Leif Erikson
Sanctuary - Hallgrimskirkja
Inside Hallgrimskirkja
Pipe Organ - Hallgrimskirkja
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik Street
Drekinn
Sun Voyager II
Sun Voyager I
Mt Esja
Common Eider
Harpa
Inside the Harpa
Beautiful Windows
Harpa