Hello! I'm planning to travel to Iceland for 12 days in June/July. Because of Covid, we are hoping to limit the number of places where we sleep. After reading the Rick Steves Iceland guide, my impression was that the best two places to stay where we could also go on many day drips would be Reykjavik and either Myvatn or Akureyri. But there's also the South... if you were me, what would you do? Thank you!
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2592 posts
I think you will need at least one other stop on 12 days
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6506 posts
My impression from various news sources is that Iceland is quite safe now with respect to COVID. Safer than the U.S., that's for sure. I myself have been extremely cautious over the last 1 1/2 year or so, in terms of COVID, yet I went to St. Louis twice (to visit a son) and Hawaii twice (to visit my daughter) in addition to a couple camping trips. COVID is pretty much from airborne particles, so direct contact with people not surfaces. I never went to indoor restaurants and double masked in and out of stores. I paid a bit more than usual to reserve a hotel that was taking strong measures in terms of cleanliness (Hampton Inn). So that's where I'm coming from. I sure wouldn't limit where I stayed in Iceland, or the number of places I stayed. I might limit indoor exposures like restaurants. I would likely double mask on the plane. You also could consider not eating/drinking on your flight which is what I did when I went to Hawaii. Have you been watching vaccination rates and confirmed cases for Iceland? Are you vaccinated? Like I said, we've been very, very cautious, and I'd have no qualms about going to Iceland, and would plan an itinerary without any COVID consideration. I would, however, make sure that every reservation is completely refundable should COVID cases or restrictions change.
Posted by
New Zealand
496 posts
Iceland has minimal cases now and nearly 50% of the population has had at least one jab. Wash your hands frequently and enjoy your trip - it will be safer than staying home
Posted by
Big Island of Hawaii
757 posts
You asked "if you were me". I can't really answer for you, but I can tell you that I have completely booked my ten day self drive trip around the Ring Road for late August. I feel somewhat confident on the flight as long as they continue the requirement that everyone wear masks (and everyone was doing so on the last two flights I took). Even in August I may still be hesitant to eat at an inside restaurant, but am pretty confident about the lodgings where we are staying. And, the fact that I'm fully vaccinated adds to the feeling of safety.
I think your 12 days gives you plenty of time to drive the Ring Road in its entirety. Staying in a limited number of places will increase your backtracking and will waste time.
Posted by
USA Southwest
99 posts
At least one place we're planning to stay (Hotel Anna on the south coast, if I'm remembering right) were leaving rooms empty for 24 hours between guests. But, as was mentioned before that won't be a significant source of viral spread.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
I'm heading back to Iceland in a little over 2 weeks. If you take a look at the Covid rates in the country as well as the precautions and rules they have in place for visitors, the risk is extremely low. With that in mind, you really do need to stay more than 2 places in the 12 days you will be there. This isn't my first trip to Iceland and I never stay more than 3 nights in one place. The country is extremely spread out (even though it looks small on the map), driving distances are far and take longer than you think (two land roads with one way bridges, etc), and if you don't move every few days, you will lose a lot in travel time going back and forth, backtracking to where you are staying.