When I Went: Jan. 1-10, 2013
Was That the Best Time of Year to Go? Most people would say no. Iceland is cold and traveling in the winter (to most) is a big no-no. My mom and I found it amazingly gorgeous and perfect. We did, however, only have sunlight for four hours during each day, but that just made the nightlife that much better!
Why I Went There: Because it’s Iceland! I always wanted to travel there and New Year’s seemed like the perfect opportunity to go somewhere different and unique. Also, I was secretly hoping to run into Sigur Ros and/or Bjork while there!
Who Went With Me? My best travel buddy, my mother!
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We Stayed Here: Hotel Cabin in Borgart̼n Reykjavik, Iceland
You Won’t Want to Miss: They should NOT miss the Blue Lagoon. This was a beautiful, natural, and serene place. No one would imagine swimming outside in 30-degree weather, but this heated spa did wonders to the mind, body and soul. Not only was it surrounded by a breathtaking view, but all the natural elements found in the mud and soil made it the most unforgettable experience I’ve ever had.
Eat Here: There are so many choices. We never had one bad meal! Literally every place we dined–breakfast, lunch and dinner–was delicious. I would recommend the Tapas Barinn, which is located downtown. They gave the best selection of the Icelandic cuisine. Not to mention, they started the meal off with a shot of Icelandic liquor!
Play Here: Kaffibarinn! This was a very cool dive bar. It was always packed with a unique crowd. I took shots with the bartender and mingled with the locals. I heard Bjork frequents there as well, which I can understand why! They played an eclectic mix of indie beats and had a live band starting at 2 am.
If I Went Again: Not ‘if’ but ‘when’ I go to Iceland again, I would stay longer. There is so much to do an see that 10 days did not leave us enough time. I would recommend a minimum of 14 days.
How Did You Get There From Dallas? We flew from DFW to Denver, CO (on Frontier Airlines) then from Denver, Co to Reykjavik, Iceland (on Icelandair).
Other Tips For Fellow Travelers: This Iceland trip was honestly my childhood dream. It lived up to all my expectations and I gained a huge appreciation of all the natural wonders of the world. I loved the people, the food, the culture, the language and the music. I will never forget it.
