Travel

[World Traveler]

It's another new month of talking about our travel plans, asking and answering questions, and sharing experiences.

But before I check out the new threads on this wonderful forum and read what you have to say in September, here is what I was reading about in August. Thank you for educating me on this forum!

A New Journey by @fitfuninformed 

Advice Needed - River Cruise Veterans by @wonderfulworld 

Announcement – This is Incredible! by @YorkieonmyPillow 

Any Tips for Dealing with Jet Lag? by @wonderfulworld 

Back From My European Vacation by @SANNA 

Budapest and Vienna by @qvc chik

Day Trips – Chambersburg and Gettysburg, PA by @Allegheny 

Elk RV in Tillamook, Oregon by @Luke & Grace

Ever Done a Test Pack for a Longer Trip? by @joannecha 

Getty to Yankee Stadium from Midtown by @granddi 

Going to Los Angeles by Sydsgma

If You Are Heading to Florida Near Fort Myers Area, Beware by @BalletBabe 

I’m Leaving for the UK on Monday by @AJW 

In Need of New Luggage by @bonnielu 

Locks on Luggage by @bonnielu 

Lowest Price for Plane Tickets by @Greeneyedlady21 

Luggage for Plane Advice by @bonnielu

Merida, Mexico by @Travone

New England Fall Foliage Dates by @TeezNu 

Suggestion for San Francisco’s Sidewalk Issues by @GingerPeach 

Thinking of Going to Venice or Port Charlotte, Florida by @classic 

Weekend Travel Adventure by @JudyL 

What Chain Hotels Do You Prefer by @wonderfulworld 

What to Wear – Bucket List Hawaii Cruise by @bonnielu

Winter Shoe Advice by @Wobin 

Your Favorite Cruise Line by @Newgate 

I am looking forward to reading what you all will be doing in September! 

Happy Travels!

[Alter Ego]

@World Traveler

Spoiler

[World Traveler]

@Alter Ego LOL!!!!! Oh, my goodness, I am so, so excited for you! It is only 19 days....WOW! Have you started packing yet? Should not have to take much.

I love the Greek Isles, loved the whole cruise experience there (especially Santorini and Mykonos), loved the people, and loved the food.

Ooompha!

[6kids]

I am new to this forum. Your trip sounds wonderful, Alter Ego, almost like a trip to paradise. My husband I are leaving on September 11 for a ten day trip to Iceland. If anyone has been there, I would appreciate any advice you can give on what to pack. I thought that I had everything planned out, but I am starting to second guess myself. Thank you!

[Alter Ego]

@6kids Iceland sounds fantastic!  It’s definitely somewhere I’d like to go at some point.  I’m sure some of our regular readers have been, including @World Traveler who seems to have been almost everywhere.

I hope you have a fantastic time!

[World Traveler]

@6kids Hi and welcome to our forum! 

My sister and I went to Iceland and Greenland in July 2010. Both places were gorgeous. Air was clean and clear. It was nippy in the evenings, so we wore jackets. During the day the sun was always out, but it was never hot. 

By the way, the sun basically didn't go down much. It never got darker than twilight. I had a hard time sleeping because the curtains in my hotel room were not heavy/thick. I should have brought an eye mask so I could sleep more.

That was one trip that I only traveled with a carry-on while my sister packed everything AND the kitchen sink! She changed outfits every day. I took two pairs of pants (jeans and a pair of slacks) and five different shirts. Had one pull-over sweater and carried my coat on the plane so I didn't have to worry about packing it. A lot of good it did me.....still had to wait for her luggage to get off the conveyor belt at the airport! LOL!

The food was wonderful in Iceland; water is clean and you can drink from the tap. Their water comes from geysers, so it is warm and in most places where we stayed, you only had a cold-water spigot. Not sure that is everywhere, but it was kind of interesting to just use the cold water spigot to regulate the temperature.

Hopefully, you are staying at least part of the time in Reykjavik, and if so be sure to go to the Blue Lagoon spa. Everywhere in Iceland they sell the spa products from the Blue Lagoon. 

Greenland was very rugged in terrain, very basic in amenities. If you get a chance to go there, it is only one hour flight from Iceland. The places to go are so remote that you have to take a helicopter to get there. No roads to get to the villages; at least at that time there wasn't.

Iceland is full of green, green landscape, lots of waterfalls, lots of quaint little one-room churches out in the rural areas.

We walked a lot, so good walking shoes would be a must. I wore hiking boots because I knew we would be walking on uneven ground in many of the areas and climbing up to waterfalls.

Please enjoy your trip and be sure to report back here about your adventure, giving tips and suggestions. And, of course, share plenty of photos with us! 

[6kids]

Thank you for the information and the welcome, World Traveler. We are spending two days in Reykjavik. I am hoping to pack lightly, but will most likely go beyond a carry on. I am planning on taking a warm sweater, a fleece vest, and a Northface rain jacket. Do you think that will be enough to keep me warm? I would like to leave my puffy winter coat at home. I will be happy to share my experiences, pictures, and travel tips learned with the group.

[DukeBlueNan]

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@6kids wrote:
I am new to this forum. Your trip sounds wonderful, Alter Ego, almost like a trip to paradise. My husband I are leaving on September 11 for a ten day trip to Iceland. If anyone has been there, I would appreciate any advice you can give on what to pack. I thought that I had everything planned out, but I am starting to second guess myself. Thank you!

---

You will love Iceland. My daughter and I went in 2016 for a week and I loved it so much I took a solo trip last year. It's such an easy country to navigate. Small, safe, everyone is so nice and everyone speaks English. We stayed in Reykjavik and took tours other places. But, I did a lot of walking in Reykjavik proper when I was by myself and just loved it.

Take a food tour! I'm all about eating!

As far as clothing, layers are your friends! My trips were in July and August.

Temps were never terribly cold, highs in 50s. (I am hot natured!) But, fleece leggings too warm for us!

Also, I slept with no problems! World traveler mentioned I was only person she'd heard of who wasn't bothered by the all night light LOL!

You'll have so much fun. Sorry for the long post! I get carried away!

[World Traveler]

@6kids Oh, yes, that sounds like enough to keep you warm.

However, depends upon you and your metabolism. I don't get cold easily, so I get by with less clothes/layers.

Also, I was using clothes from REI, which were warm but thin, not bulky.

My sister was truly amazed at how I got by with such few things. Of course, by the end of the trip, she was tired of seeing me in only five-six outfits! LOL!!!

[chprsp]

Enjoy! We went in February 2017 for 5 days and it was warmer there than in western PA. We went to the Blue Lagoon and took the Golden tour plus a city tour. We wore casual clothes. Our hotel was in Rekjavik and we walked around some of the town. Had dinner twice at Matwerk on the main street. The good was delicious.  Our only problem when preparing to leave was printing the boarding passes at the hotel. The computer was in Icelandic!