Getting there: Icelandair's nonstop service between the Twin Cities and Keflavík International Airport, near Reykjavik, will cease between Jan. 9 and March 20. During those times, visitors can fly to Reykjavik by connecting with flights in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and several other cities (1-800-223-5500, icelandair.us).
Delta also flies between MSP and Reykjavik, a trip that requires connecting flights during the winter months (1-800-221-1212, delta.com).
Getting around: Fuel is not cheap. We paid about $7.50 for a gallon of gas — or about 194 kronur (Iceland's currency) per liter.
Most rental vehicles include a GPS unit, which is essential for getting around. But be aware that diacritical marks are common in Icelandic names, and if you don't enter the correct characters, the GPS will come up blank.
We used Reykjavik-based Iceland Travel (a subsidiary of Icelandair Group) for our travel plans. The company, which offers a wide variety of package tours, helped us with à la carte arrangements, suggesting travel routes and lodging, and booking our hotels and rental vehicle (icelandtravel.is).
When traveling in Iceland, don't expect the kind of commercial clusters you find near freeway ramps in the U.S. Instead, the most common road food is hot dogs (it is the national dish, after all) from a gas station. Hot dogs not your thing? We found the most convenient and economical dining routine was the free breakfasts at our hotels, dinner out and a bag of goodies from the grocery store for lunches and snacking in the car. A lot of things in Iceland can be expensive, including dining, but we found grocery store prices comparable to those in the U.S.
Iceland has its own language — called Icelandic, not surprisingly — but we did not encounter anyone who did not speak English.
More information: Inspired by Iceland, Iceland's national tourism agency, is online at inspiredbyiceland.com.
Jeff Moravec
