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Icleand/ Scandinavia/ Ireland few days in July - which one!

My husband and I are able to take a few days away in the second week of July (just before school hols) - and are thinking of places we could go to in that space of time.

We would love to go to Iceland but are wondering about the cost etc. I am not keen on the heat and we don't want a beach holiday and so we have come up with Ireland or one of the Scandinavian countries as possible alternatives.

If anyone has any words of advice, tips, definite places to avoid etc. I would be very grateful!:j
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Comments

  • MrsTinks
    MrsTinks Posts: 15,239 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Name Dropper
    Having lived in Denmark and Norway and visited Sweden lots then I would certainly recommend visiting the mountains! I miss them SO much!
    Denmark is lovely too but very flat :) Much cheaper tho! All 3 can get hot but is similar generally to the UK in temperature...
    Iceland never been but have heard nice things about it.
    Ireland - only been to Cork but would love to go back and have a properly look round one day :)

    Most people in scandinavia speak english to some degree so that should make it a little easier :)
    For a good priced and chilled holiday I'd go with Denmark to be honest :)
    DFW Nerd #025
    DFW no more! Officially debt free 2017 - now joining the MFW's! :)

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  • I loved Iceland when I was there. Reykjavik is such a comfortable city. Some great things to do. The Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon. Great nightlife in Reykjavik.

    I am from Belfast but live in Dublin. I would not think Reykjavik to be much more expensive than Central Dublin but so much more relaxed and friendly.

    The service in Iceland is second-to-none. While it is not cheap, I would not say that I felt ripped off at any time. Service is as at a good UK hotel with prices to match.

    Go to Iceland over Ireland any day!
  • Smick100 wrote: »
    I loved Iceland when I was there. Reykjavik is such a comfortable city. Some great things to do. The Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon. Great nightlife in Reykjavik.

    I am from Belfast but live in Dublin. I would not think Reykjavik to be much more expensive than Central Dublin but so much more relaxed and friendly.

    The service in Iceland is second-to-none. While it is not cheap, I would not say that I felt ripped off at any time. Service is as at a good UK hotel with prices to match.

    Go to Iceland over Ireland any day!

    Many many thanks for all the tips posted so far. It is all sounding very tempting, whichever place we choose!:j

    What would you think is the average price for a hotel in Iceland - or are there other good options such as guesthouses, hostels etc?
  • i have been to iceland once and never again.

    why...

    i dont want to over do it.

    the country is fantastic and very special, the blue lagoon is a must

    we soend 2 nights in reykjavik at the Plaza Hotel and ate in Cafe Victor which was reasonable for cost
    however, i would choose the accomodation at the blue lagoon (see the website!), not only does it give free access to the lagoon, but it has its own for the evening time.

    the rooms are big and airy, perfect for the view of the sky in winder for the lights, and the staff are fantastic. one lady was from Ireland if that solves your Ireland/Iceland question.

    Hire a car and explore the place yourself on a day trip to see geological masterpieces. Iceland is nature at its most amazine and the hire car option is a lot cheaper when you work out the costs of the tours!!

    having been to ireland, i know where i would rather go!
  • Strapped
    Strapped Posts: 8,158 Forumite
    Personally, I'd love to go to Iceland, but it's probably the most expensive of the options.

    My parents live in Sweden, good for an "outdoors" type break, very pretty. (Although if you like to drink, you'll need to find a local brewing "forest star", or take out a mortgage to drink in the bars!)

    Ireland? Well, the people are great :D Dublin is over-priced and over-hyped but, again, the countryside is nice. Galway/West Coast perhaps?
    They deem him their worst enemy who tells them the truth. -- Plato
  • moonrakerz
    moonrakerz Posts: 8,650 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Iceland, without a doubt !

    Stay here:-

    http://www.bjorkhotelreykjavik.com/

    Clean, comfortable, good attached restaurant, reasonable prices.

    Iceland isn't cheap, but it isn't as expensive as people (who haven't been there !) make out.
  • Well, it is looking more and more likely that we will go to Iceland - the kind replies here have more than whetted my appetite!!

    One last question - how long is about the right length of time to go for? I doubt that we will return and would hate to get there and wish we had booked for longer!! We have 6 days max available.

    Thank you.
  • cosyc
    cosyc Posts: 340 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Iceland was brill. You need to imagine how big the island is, then plan your trip. One day in reykjavik with a trip on the city tour bus, a day whale watching, a day for blue lagoon to get there etc, one day a trip to gullfoss and guysers. We flew from stansted with icelandic air (?) fairly cheaply, satyed at the nordica which runs it's own airport bus ask for a sea view room as fanastic view.

    whilst some things were dear £3.50 for a coffee, we also got a meal down town at £12 a head. fanastic place and the air is so clean.
  • cosyc
    cosyc Posts: 340 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Have you thought of Tallin in Estonia that also has a baltic feel and cheap flights from Stansted with easy jet.
  • I would choose Iceland every time. It's not the cheapest country in the world but then none of the Nordic countries are. I enjoyed Reykjavic much more than either Stockholm or Helsinki and, to be honest, it's so unique a place that you won't visit another location like it. The hotels and sevice, as mentioned by other posters, are absolutely super. Most people squeeze in a few of the organised tours such as "The Golden Circle" and "The Blue Lagoon" and these are a great way to get a whistle stop tour of the major attractions - as most of these are geological phenomena outside of the city. Stunning waterfalls, hot springs, lunar like landscapes... it's all breathtaking. Alcohol is expensive if it's imported and it's a good idea to buy a bottle or 2 from duty free on your way out. Even if you don't drink it yourself, it's considered a very welcome gift.

    Having said all this, I really like the idea of Tallin by the above poster - I may look into that myself!
    Yeah, whatever. I'm a grown up, I can take it...
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