Re: Anyone fancy Iceland in June 2010?
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:36 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
There seems to be a bit of interest in this proposed workshop so I've done a little more research regarding prices, etc:
At present the following have shown interest:
1. Me
2. Joolsb
3. Nigels
4. Lynne (possible)
5. Paul A
6. Mrs A
7. Jenny (possible)
8. Tim
9. Dave T
10. Charles (possible)
11. Mrs Charles T (possible)
I think I need to start a "reserve list" now - on a first come first served basis should anyone from the above list not be able to make it.
I have chatted with a few people and they have come up with alternative strategies to further reduce the cost of the trip . These ideas involve:
1. Camping to cut down on accommodation costs. You can wild camp anywhere within reason in Iceland - but need landowner's permission if it is within 1km of a farm. There are also campsites dotted around the R1 Ring Road that have facilities ranging from showers to swimming pools (at a small cost). The only drawback to camping, IMO having wild camped for my first visit to Iceland, is that it does involve a great deal of additional equipment and I prefer my weight allowance to be used up with camera gear rather than sleeping bags, tents and pots and pans! Also, Icelandic weather can be very fickle and camping (without correct gear) ain't much fun!
2. Using hostels or Edda to cut down on accommodation costs. Iceland has a well-established chain of hostels that are dotted around the country and in the sumer months many community schools turn themselves to Edda - a sort of dormitory set up where classrooms are converted into dorms! Both of these options are slightly cheaper than the farmhouse option but again, from my experience of hostels in Iceland tend to be crowded (especially in Summer) and not as many to choose from. I have no experience of Edda! If we restrict the choice of farmhouse to a fairly basic affair (which is still good) then the cost is on a par with the hostels/Edda ... and you get breakfast thrown in!
3. Using public transport to cut down on vehicle rental costs. Iceland has a superb public transport system in the form of "monster" 4 wheel drive buses that actually run to timetable - an amazing sight seeing one crossing a swollen river with ease! There are no trains in Iceland but there is also a well-established internal flight system as there are airfields all over the island and this can reduce travel times. I have had a look at the public transport option and my only reservations are thus: we would HAVE to rent a vehicle for some of the trip as the locations we will visit will demand a high degree of independence and flexibility. If we rented a vehicle and then used public transport for parts of the trip (for example visiting Landmannalaugar in the heart of the interior which is only accessible in high clearance 4x4 is the most used bus route) we would incur quite heavy additional surcharges from the vehicle rental company as they would have to collect the vehicle a great distance from their office. We would then need to arrange another vehicle after using public transport and again this would involve a heavy surcharge. The same problem arises with using internal flights - the heavy surcharges by the rental companies.
I hope I don't appear negative here I appreciate that the cost of this trip is not cheap, however, by visiting as a group the cost per person is about £300 less than trying to do the same trip as an individual traveller.
Up-to-date costs:
If everyone in the list goes (11 of us) and we stick to the initial idea of farms, etc, then the cost would be reduced slightly to approx £1090 per person. This would include renting 2 Minivans (fancy driving Tim?) and splitting passengers and gear between both vehicles. These are 9 seater, comfortable vehicles but are NOT 4x4 so we would not be covered on insurance to do the Landmannalaugar route (no real problem as this wasn't on my original list of locations). They are the cheapest minivan option that would allow us to travel in some degree of comfort and also accommodate our gear. I feel that it is important that we are as comfortable as possible as driving distances can be HUGE!!!!!!! There is nothing worse than being in a cramped vehicle
If the 7 of us that have indicated a "definitely" then the costs would be thus: approx £1160 per person. This would include renting one vehicle.
The maximum number would be 16. This number would cost would involve 2 vehicles (big ones!) and the cost per person would be approx £980.
I would be happy to hear people's thoughts on all of the above and if anyone has any other ideas then feel free to email me or post here.
If anyone has any questions regarding anything to do with the trip or what equipment is needed then feel free! I will update my Blog (I'm getting good at this!) with my kit lists!
At present the following have shown interest:
1. Me
2. Joolsb
3. Nigels
4. Lynne (possible)
5. Paul A
6. Mrs A
7. Jenny (possible)
8. Tim
9. Dave T
10. Charles (possible)
11. Mrs Charles T (possible)
I think I need to start a "reserve list" now - on a first come first served basis should anyone from the above list not be able to make it.
I have chatted with a few people and they have come up with alternative strategies to further reduce the cost of the trip . These ideas involve:
1. Camping to cut down on accommodation costs. You can wild camp anywhere within reason in Iceland - but need landowner's permission if it is within 1km of a farm. There are also campsites dotted around the R1 Ring Road that have facilities ranging from showers to swimming pools (at a small cost). The only drawback to camping, IMO having wild camped for my first visit to Iceland, is that it does involve a great deal of additional equipment and I prefer my weight allowance to be used up with camera gear rather than sleeping bags, tents and pots and pans! Also, Icelandic weather can be very fickle and camping (without correct gear) ain't much fun!
2. Using hostels or Edda to cut down on accommodation costs. Iceland has a well-established chain of hostels that are dotted around the country and in the sumer months many community schools turn themselves to Edda - a sort of dormitory set up where classrooms are converted into dorms! Both of these options are slightly cheaper than the farmhouse option but again, from my experience of hostels in Iceland tend to be crowded (especially in Summer) and not as many to choose from. I have no experience of Edda! If we restrict the choice of farmhouse to a fairly basic affair (which is still good) then the cost is on a par with the hostels/Edda ... and you get breakfast thrown in!
3. Using public transport to cut down on vehicle rental costs. Iceland has a superb public transport system in the form of "monster" 4 wheel drive buses that actually run to timetable - an amazing sight seeing one crossing a swollen river with ease! There are no trains in Iceland but there is also a well-established internal flight system as there are airfields all over the island and this can reduce travel times. I have had a look at the public transport option and my only reservations are thus: we would HAVE to rent a vehicle for some of the trip as the locations we will visit will demand a high degree of independence and flexibility. If we rented a vehicle and then used public transport for parts of the trip (for example visiting Landmannalaugar in the heart of the interior which is only accessible in high clearance 4x4 is the most used bus route) we would incur quite heavy additional surcharges from the vehicle rental company as they would have to collect the vehicle a great distance from their office. We would then need to arrange another vehicle after using public transport and again this would involve a heavy surcharge. The same problem arises with using internal flights - the heavy surcharges by the rental companies.
I hope I don't appear negative here I appreciate that the cost of this trip is not cheap, however, by visiting as a group the cost per person is about £300 less than trying to do the same trip as an individual traveller.
Up-to-date costs:
If everyone in the list goes (11 of us) and we stick to the initial idea of farms, etc, then the cost would be reduced slightly to approx £1090 per person. This would include renting 2 Minivans (fancy driving Tim?) and splitting passengers and gear between both vehicles. These are 9 seater, comfortable vehicles but are NOT 4x4 so we would not be covered on insurance to do the Landmannalaugar route (no real problem as this wasn't on my original list of locations). They are the cheapest minivan option that would allow us to travel in some degree of comfort and also accommodate our gear. I feel that it is important that we are as comfortable as possible as driving distances can be HUGE!!!!!!! There is nothing worse than being in a cramped vehicle
If the 7 of us that have indicated a "definitely" then the costs would be thus: approx £1160 per person. This would include renting one vehicle.
The maximum number would be 16. This number would cost would involve 2 vehicles (big ones!) and the cost per person would be approx £980.
I would be happy to hear people's thoughts on all of the above and if anyone has any other ideas then feel free to email me or post here.
If anyone has any questions regarding anything to do with the trip or what equipment is needed then feel free! I will update my Blog (I'm getting good at this!) with my kit lists!