Getting from the airport: The Keflavik airport is located 45 minutes from Reykjavik. We recommend the FlyBus (https://www.flybus.is/flybus) to get from the airport to the Reykjavik Bus Terminal (BSI) for 1950 ISK (about $16). A premium service called FlyBus+ will drop you off at your hotel. Random information: Tipping is not customary in Iceland. Electricity runs on 220V. Tap water is deliciously clean (no need to buy water), but do let the cold water run for a few moments to avoid the stench of sulfur from the hot geothermal water. Alcohol is expensive, with the exception of the Duty Free store at the Keflavik Airport. We use GSM and prepaid cards are about $5. Items bought in the country are tax free for tourists (note that VAT is 25.5%) as long as you ask for and collect a special tax-free receipt for reimbursement. Iceland is remarkably safe (the crime rate is minuscule). There will be no night during your time in Iceland -- it will be continuously bright outside. Make sure to bring an eye cover if you suspect this will cause you to have problems sleeping. Language: Practically everyone speaks English to at least a limited degree, and most will happily have a conversation with you. Most people are fluent. In any event, people will try to be helpful. Iceland is a Germanic language, closely resembling the common ancestor of English, the Scandinavian languages and German. Accents are on the first syllable. Here are some essential phrases. "Hello" - "Halló" (hall-oh) or just "Hæ" (hi) "Good day" - "Góðan dag" (go-than dag - with a soft G) "How are you?" - "Hvað segirðu gott?" (quath say-gear-do got - with heavy emphasis on the final T). "Thanks" - "Takk fyrir" (tack fear-ear - with rolling R-s). "Congratulations" - "Til hamingju" (teal ham-eang-you) "My hovercraft is full of eels" - "Svifbíllinn minn er fullur af álum" (sveef-beatle-inn minn er fooddle-oor av aoo-loom) Emergencies: If in dire need, call Magnus at 825-6384. |
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