We just got back from spending 72 hours (approximately) in Reykjavik for my husband’s 52nd birthday. Unfortunately, we are on a severe budget right now due to extended unemployment. When I purchased the tickets on a flash sale, I thought we’d be in a better place by this time. I know travel is a splurge, but we had a little money, and my mental health needed a boost. So we had the plane tickets. We had a hotel. We wanted to see just how much we could do on a tight budget.
For our flight, we purchased tickets on Icelandair on a flash sale right after PLAY airlines stopped servicing the United States. I didn’t purchase seat selection or any food. We packed a dinner to eat at the airport in Boston so we wouldn’t starve on the plane. We got lucky, and we were seated in the extra legroom section for both flights. That gamble paid off, but I honestly didn’t expect good seats.
In case you didn’t know, when you land in Iceland, you’re landing in Keflavik which is about a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik. We used Flybus, operated by Reykjavik Excursions. They picked us up at the airport and drove us to the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik. There, you opt to have them also transfer you to the area where your hotel is located. Since we arrived so early (5:15am), we splurged on the transfer service both ways. Our total cost for round trip bus services for two was $156.
Next, let’s talk about lodging. I definitely prefer a hotel that includes breakfast. It’s easier for me, and it saves money on food in Iceland, in particular. We purchased a stay at Center Hotels Klöpp on their Black Friday sale. The sale included early check in and late check out, if available. It included free breakfast, and two free drinks. The location was perfect, right in the heart of Reykjavik. And, the room included a minifridge and a kettle. This hotel is very close to the number 14 bus stop, as well. We got lucky, once again, with a room that was available for check in at 7:45am. We went upstairs and collapsed in the darkness for a few hours.
One issue we had on this trip was the daylight. I did not think it would bother me, but I felt the overwhelming need to sleep far more than I do in Boston. So, keep that in mind if you decide to travel to Iceland in winter. And when it is dark…it is really dark in the wilds of Iceland.
Next time, we will talk about what we did, what we saw, and how we did on the budget. Happy adventuring!