There is always that moment in your trip where you face palm and realize you forgot to do something uber important. There were plenty of times on my trip to Iceland that I smacked myself or rammed my head into the side of the car (okay not all of these were on purpose. Hey I’m clumsy…don’t judge). As comical as those self-loathing moments are, this list is to help minimize them for your next trip (looking for an Iceland road trip itinerary? This guide that’ll help you plan the perfect trip). Here are 6 tips to make sure you have the perfect trip to Iceland:
Pack layers
Iceland weather can be very unpredictable. Even though I went to Iceland in July, it is not uncommon to experience warm temperatures and within the next couple of hours, be shivering in a corner. Be prepared for all types of weather. Here’s an Iceland packing list to help you with that
Unlock your phone and get a local SIM card
I had this beyond brilliant idea to get a local SIM card so that I could blog wherever I wanted but I forgot that my phone wasn’t unlocked. For those of you less stupid than me, I recommend a SIM card. They are reasonably priced ($15 for 1,000 koruna credit and 1 GB internet) and are super convenient. Imagine that you being your epic Icelandic road trip and break down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and the sheep are closing in maliciously. Who you gonna call? The answer here is not ghostbusters. But your phone will come in handy to call your rescuer.
Be sure to pack seasickness medicine
This is a fairly specific tip but if you’re going to Iceland you’ll probably engage in some whale watching. I highly recommend either bringing sea sickness medicine with you or buying some at a local pharmacy. One of my travel companions who has never been sea sick was clinging onto the back of the ship for dear life and tying not to blow chunks (Gross but hey you need to know the truth)
Don’t skimp on the car or the camping gear
Your car is going to be the key to a good road trip. Make sure you consider the following: 2wd vs 4wd, size, diesel vs gas, auto vs manual, etc. Ditto to the camping gear. We camped for 5 nights and it was crucial that we had the appropriate camping gear to be comfortable and warm
Road trippin’? Music=must
As much as I love my travel companions, some good music is an absolute necessity for a road trip. Make sure you have plenty of it and it’s on some sort of device that doesn’t require the internet in case you lose service in some areas (which you will….especially in the apocalyptic wasteland parts of Iceland)
Opt for camping over hostels/hotels
Trust me, I’m not much of a camper (okay…I’m not a camper at all) and I would still highly recommend camping over any other accommodations while traveling the ring road. Camp sites are as abundant as the sheep that chill on the side of the road and you do not have to make any advance reservations so you have the complete freedom to end your day wherever/whenever you want. That being said, we did stay in a hostel in Reykjavik as it was the last stop on our trip and, let’s be honest, I needed a bed by the end of it. 5 nights of camping & 2 nights in a hostel still saved us a lot of money!
Hope these tips help! What are some of your recommendations for traveling through Iceland? Check out this guide for all you need to know for your trip to Iceland
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