As a follow-up to posts about my trip to Iceland, I definitely wanted to tell you a couple of important things to know if you plan on going there.

Reykjavik is a HUGE party town! If that is your thing you will love it. And by party town I mean that the party goes until 6 in the morning on Friday and Saturday nights. And it’s crazy. And by crazy I mean people screaming at the tops of their lungs and breaking bottles.

You don’t have to choose a hotel/apartment based on location alone. By that I mean that Reykjavik is a VERY small town and almost all hotels are within only 1 mile of the city center. You can literally walk from one end of the main part of town to the other in 10 minutes or so. There are some places that are outside of walking distance, however, so make sure you’re within 1 mile. If you do choose to be in the center of the city, you will definitely hear the parties that take place on the weekend.

It is also a very expensive town. I never paid less than $12 for a glass of wine. And a cup of coffee alone will set you back at least $3. Don’t get me wrong, there are places where you can find cheap eats but I never found any cheap drinks 🙂

If you plan on walking outside – even down the street – bring a waterproof jacket. They say if you don’t like the weather in Iceland, wait 5 minutes. I know many towns use that phrase but in the case of Iceland, it is definitely true. It would pour on my head and then 10 minutes later the sun would be out. Out of the 7 full days I was there, it rained on 6 of them. And it’s not a sprinkle! So bring a waterproof jacket and if you plan on doing any outdoor activities, bring waterproof pants and boots too.

If you have problems walking on stone in heels, leave your heels at home.

Ask your tour guides questions. They are a wealth of information. I’ve found that some of them aren’t as forthcoming with information right off the bat and need to be asked questions. You can find out so much about not just your tour but the country in general or something specific.

Guys, the women are just as beautiful as you’d think they’d be. Stereotypically Scandinavian – blonde, blue-eyed, porcelain skin – the works.

Get out of the city! The scenery outside of Reykjavik is extreme and beautiful and even creepy – but it’s so much more impressive than the city alone.

Finally, for anyone traveling abroad, use Skype. It’s awesome. Anywhere that you can get WiFi, you can use Skype with other Skype users for free. Yes, free. I was sitting in the Blue Lagoon talking on the phone with my mother in Lockport, NY for free. It doesn’t get better than that. Oh – did I mention it’s free?!

And if you have any questions, please just ask. I truly love sharing what I’ve learned during my travels.