Frequently Asked Questions about Iceland http://www.faq-iceland.com The questions you have about Iceland and the answers you need Thu, 17 May 2012 17:55:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 What whales can I expect to see in my Whale Watching trip? http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/what-whales-can-i-expect-to-see-in-my-whale-watching-trip/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/what-whales-can-i-expect-to-see-in-my-whale-watching-trip/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 17:55:06 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=346 Continue reading →]]> Well the log books of the companies give some kind of indication.  While you are never guaranteed that you will see single whale, here are the changes.

 

Husavik (http://www.northsailing.is/about-whale-watching/logbooks/2011/):

Summary 2011
Humpback whales in 593 of 819 72,4%
Minke whales in 410 of 819 50,1%
 White beaked dolphins in 345 of 819 42,1%
Harbour porpoises in 160 of 819 19,5%
Blue whales in 135 of 819 16,5%
Fin whales in 26 of 819 3,2%
Sei whales in 10 of 819 1,2%
 Killer whales in 7 of 819 0,9%
 Total: 805 of 819
 98,3%

Reykjavik (http://elding.is/logbook/):
They really do not seem to keep the record upto daate in Reykjvik, but at least it gives some indication (rather high I would say).

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/what-whales-can-i-expect-to-see-in-my-whale-watching-trip/feed/ 0 Car parking in Reykjavik http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/car-parking-in-reykjavik/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/car-parking-in-reykjavik/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 13:07:54 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=340 Continue reading →]]> We have received some questions about car parking in Reykjavík. While downtown is usually the only place where you pay for parking. You can find the locations on this maps:

Rate for 2012:
Red: 150 ISK / H
Blue: 80 ISK/H
Green 80 ISK/ 1 H + 20 ISK there after
Yellow: 80 ISK/H

Parking hours

Red, blue and green : 10:00-18:00 week days and 10:00-13:00 Saturdays.
Yellow: 10:00-16:00 week days

Parking houses:

Cost is 80 ISK 1 H + 50 ISK there after.

Ticket:
2500 ISK, but you get discount of 1100 if paid with in 2 weeks. Illegal parking is from 5000 ISK, same 1100 kr discount if paid with in 2 weeks. Parking in disabled parking is 10.000 ISK (same discount).

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/car-parking-in-reykjavik/feed/ 0 Webcameras in Iceland http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/webcameras-in-iceland/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/webcameras-in-iceland/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 22:22:52 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=338 Continue reading →]]> Traffic cameras – Not live cameras, but if you are traveling they are one of the best options to see the road conditions before you hit the road.

Live cameras:

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/webcameras-in-iceland/feed/ 0 Tour to Westman Islands http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/tour-to-westman-islands/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/tour-to-westman-islands/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 22:10:35 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=336 Continue reading →]]> Getting to Westman Islands can be done either by ferry or flight.

Flugfelag offer frequent flights to the islands.

If you prefer to take the ferry (it is cheaper), you can go with Herjolfur – the ferry, but it sails from the south. Sterna is the bus company that drives to the port of the Ferry.

If you prefer organized tours you can try out Greyline tours.

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/tour-to-westman-islands/feed/ 0 Fast weather change in Iceland http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/fast-weather-change-in-iceland/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/fast-weather-change-in-iceland/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 12:56:05 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=333 Continue reading →]]> Frequent and rapid changes in weather are common due to Iceland’s location close to the meeting point of contrasting weather systems and opposing sea currents. So even if you are traveling during summer, it is recommended to have protective clothes with you.

Do not worry though, most of the time the weather is great!

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2012/05/fast-weather-change-in-iceland/feed/ 0 Is it difficult to drive modified 4×4 truck in Iceland? http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/is-it-difficult-to-drive-modified-4x4-truck-in-iceland/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/is-it-difficult-to-drive-modified-4x4-truck-in-iceland/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:49:52 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=330 Continue reading →]]> It depends!

The smaller vehicles on 33″ and 35″ are easier to use than the more modified trucks on 38″ and 44″ tiers. The more modified trucks usually are more difficult to drive due to the nature of the trucks. But the smaller vehicles are much more easy to drive and navigate. They are harder to drive than smaller or unmodified trucks, but the tires are better and easier to steer with.

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/is-it-difficult-to-drive-modified-4x4-truck-in-iceland/feed/ 0 Is 4×4 necessary when traveling in Iceland? http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/is-4x4-necessary-when-traveling-in-iceland/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/is-4x4-necessary-when-traveling-in-iceland/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:47:26 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=328 Continue reading →]]> The answer is no to that question.

But with 4×4 car you can experience place that you can not on small 2×4. Even though the highlands are open for regular cars, the roads are graval roads, and it is not very comfortable to travel in a small car on those roads.

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/is-4x4-necessary-when-traveling-in-iceland/feed/ 0 Do I need ash insurance for my car rental? http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/do-i-need-ash-insurance-for-my-car-rental/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/do-i-need-ash-insurance-for-my-car-rental/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:25:41 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=322 Continue reading →]]> Many car rental companies in Iceland have been offering so called Ash insurance. In our opinion this is some thing that is done in order to get more money from tourists that do not know the situation in Iceland and want to be sure of them self. Ash insurance is some thing that would have been useful in Iceland during the volcano activity last year, if, and only if you were so unfortunate to be located near the volcano! So if you are offered ash insurance for your car, at least think about the changes of your car getting damaged by ash that was problem in Iceland last year.

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/do-i-need-ash-insurance-for-my-car-rental/feed/ 0 Cheap car rentals in Iceland http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/cheap-car-rentals-in-iceland/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/cheap-car-rentals-in-iceland/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:04:23 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=319 Car rental is generally expensive in Iceland, but there are many options how to get cheap rentals. For example Nicecars that offer not only cheap rentals, but also self drive tours. You will rent then modified 4×4 on big wheels (38″ or about 1 meter diameter), you will drive on your own but communicate with convoy truck on radio. The operator will guide through rough rivers and snow, and make sure come home safe.

Other rentals that offer cheap rentals are for example sadcars.is.

]]> http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/12/cheap-car-rentals-in-iceland/feed/ 0 Is LazyTown Icelandic? http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/09/is-lazytown-icelandic/ http://www.faq-iceland.com/2011/09/is-lazytown-icelandic/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:51:19 +0000 admin http://www.faq-iceland.com/?p=315 Continue reading →]]> LazyTown is creation of Magnus Scheving is the creator of LazyTown. The show has been very popular around the world, but even though it had good success the creator had to big plans so the show stranded financially even if it was immensely popular.

The show has now been bought by Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe, owns children’s television brands including Cartoon Network, Boomerang and the brand-new Cartoonito channel. The show will still be produced in Iceland and Magnus will still be in charge (maybe not financially though).

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