Wise Thoughts

During my recent visit to Iceland I did experience some local Icelandic food. It was a little strange eating Chinese food, Italian food and Indian food in Iceland but it’s an experience, most of these restaurants are owned by Icelandic people so the food is a combination of two cuisines.

Madonna restaurant in Iceland is located on a small quiet road near the city centre of Reykjavik about a 10-15 minute walk. Its located on Rauðarárstíg 27 very close to Foss Hotel and the central bust station, we discovered this restaurant when we stayed a few minutes up the road at Reykjavik Hotel. So you could say that finding this restaurant was more of a convenience than anything else.

From the outside the restaurant doesn’t look special or inviting, you can tell by the name and the menu that it is Italian restaurant. Madonna restaurant is also open during the day for lunch but only for a few hours. It closes and then re-opens for evening meals, when you go in its very inviting and big, very deceiving from the outside as it looks very small. When we went on a Thursday evening there was one couple and a single man already at the restaurant.

For an Italian restaurant I expected the menu to be very limited to pastas and pizzas but to my amazement there was a little of everything. Of course all the food was very Italian but they had other dishes that I would never have guessed would be an Italian specialty. I had a seafood pasta dish and my partner had a freshly made pizza. The seafood pasta was amazing it was unlike anything I had ever tasted and the pizza was also very tasty, not like the badly made ‘Italian’ ones made her in England.

The portion sizes were also very generous so by the time we finished we were very full, but I did manage to have a small chocolate dessert that was also very delicious. There was only one waiter but he was very efficient and looked after the handful of people that were there. It is a very romantic restaurant with soft lighting and new furnishings, I wouldn’t hesitate to go back again and recommend this restaurant to anyone who will be staying in the area as I really enjoyed my meal there. The only problem is it closes very early 10pm every evening so you would need to go a little early but the service is quick so you would be in and out within an hour.

During my recent visit to Iceland my partner and I had dinner at Harry’s situated right next to Hotel Reykjavik, the hotel itself and many of the other tourists staying there thoroughly recommended this restaurant for our meals. Harry’s Restaurant is a mix of Icelandic and Filipino cuisine so we decided to try it out as it was different to say the least.

The restaurant itself is very small with only around 7/8 tables and romantically lit; the menu is very small and not very interesting. After a day of travelling around Iceland in arctic conditions venturing a few small steps to Harry’s from our hotel (Hotel Reykjavik) seemed the best choice to save out tired feet. I ordered a fish dish that was served with chips and my partner had Philippine style fried noodles, the food took 45 minutes to arrive even though there was only two other people waiting! By the time the food came we weren’t so hungry!

In total the meal cost around £45 and it was nothing special, it was expensive considering a 15 minute walk to the city centre we could’ve gotten better food for half the price! We came to the conclusion that many people recommend this restaurant because of its location, its near Hotel Reykjavik and Foss Hotel and after a long tiring day you don’t want to walk far for a proper meal. We were very disappointed and do not recommend it, food is overpriced, service is awful and it wasn’t very appetising.

Iceland in general is very expensive but the city centre has many budget places to eat at that aren’t so hard on the wallet! Its well worth exploring Iceland to find the many different cuisines they have to offer. I’m very surprised to see that Harry’s Restaurant ranks number 3 on trip advisor; it seems that the people that have been there have no taste buds!

When I booked my holiday to Iceland I thought that I was quite lucky not to have to book airport transfers as these were included. The price of a taxi each was would’ve cost £100 so it would cost £200 for a return taxi fare from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik. If I was to book the shuttle bus myself it would’ve cost a mere £50 for two people return so the cheapest option for airport transfers. As flybus plus transfers were included I didn’t bother to check reviews.

The flybus is scheduled to pick up passengers 40 minutes after flights have landed, ours was delayed by 4 hours so we were a little worried but it was there when we arrived at the airport waiting for us. We had to go to the flybus desk and hand in our voucher for the bus tickets; we then proceeded outside where the driver loaded up the bus with our luggage. The flybus plus took us to the BSI bus terminal where a handful of people had to get off to catch smaller buses that went to their hotel or destination. We were lucky to stay on the bus, the driver made all his stops dropping off 4 passengers before it was our turn, we were last to be dropped off at Hotel Reykjavik. It took a total of 90 minutes and not the 50 – 75 minutes to reach our hotel as they state on their website.

On our return we were promised that the bus would pick us up at 5am and take us straight to the airport, this was not the case we were picked up along with a few other people at 4 different hotel pickups along the way and taken to BSI bus terminal where we had to get off and board a coach that would take us to the airport. The driver had the cheek to just sling out the suitcases when we were standing right there! It was very early in the morning and the coaches were filling up quickly, you had to look for the sign on the windscreen that told you were it was going and at 5am in the morning it was very dark. We managed to load our suitcases on and went to find a seat, there were none that were seated together as everyone had just scattered around the coach. My partner and I had to sit on opposite ends of the coach. Instead of getting there for 6am like promised we were there for 6.30am, our ticket states that the last time for check in was 6am so we were worried about check in closing but we were ok.

I have travelled to many different destinations worldwide and have never taken a shuttle bus this was my first and last time, I hated it. There is no organisation and it can get quite manic, it’s quicker and safer to take a taxi even if it’s double the price as you’ll get to the hotel quicker without the need to queue. Icelandic people in general are very friendly and a pleasure to talk to but most of the drivers for the flybus are not they look bored and just want to get on and finish their work, which I don’t blame them but for a large company they could try being a little organised and friendly.

As part of a recent tour package to Iceland a trip to the Blue Lagoon was included, I already had intentions of visiting as it is a well recommended trip. Most tour operators in Iceland will provide transport to and from the Blue Lagoon from your hotel but make sure you check thoroughly as some places do not include admission so you need to add this to the cost of the trip. Having read a little about the Blue Lagoon and visiting the website I knew what to expect. It’s basically an outdoor geothermal pool that is heating by a nearby power station.

Our tour was booked through our travel agent but was pre booked on a day that we chose, you have a list of pick up times and drop off times so you decide what time to go and come back. They run pretty much every hour with a dedicated stop just outside the Blue Lagoon entrance. We were picked up from our hotel and taken to the BSI bust terminal where other people were also waiting to board the bus, and then at 10am we set off. We arrived around 50 minutes later, at the bus stop there are pick up times you just need to make sure you are there on time, no need to pre book a pick up time. Some people also visit when they arrive from Keflavik airport and some go on the way back to the airport the decision is yours. You need at least a good 4 hours to enjoy Blue Lagoon and all it has to offer.

When you arrive head to the reception desk where you will be given a plastic bracelet that will be used to open and close the lockers. You can also hire bath robes, towels and swimwear; I hired a bath robe as I didn’t want to have such a bulky item with me on my travels. Then you go to the changing rooms, it was very quiet at 11am I seemed like the only person in the female changing rooms. The unoccupied lockers are already open so you just choose one and put your things in, slam it then place you bracelet near the sensor where it is then assigned to you. You can do this as many times as you want. It is worth knowing that they only have 4 private shower cubicles so when it gets busy you may have to shower in the communal part.

Don’t bother wearing a swimsuit or bikini as you must shower naked before entering the Blue Lagoon, shower gel and condition is provided at all the showers. Its best to condition your hair thoroughly as the silica in the Lagoon will make your hair brittle and straw like for a few days if you don’t. After showering there are signs for the Blue Lagoon, there is then a little waiting area where people wait for their partners, friends or family before stepping outside. There are hooks on the inside to hang towels, bath robes and other items but it is also worth noting that there are many more outside too.

We went straight outside and hanged our robes on the hooks, it was freezing cold but once in the water it was lovely and warm. It’s so steamy that you can’t see anyone, not that there were that many people at that time of day. There are places where the silica mud is placed in wooded trunks where you help yourself to a face mask; I smeared it on my back, stomach and arms too. After a while it starts to dry so I washed it off, there are also many places in the lagoon where it gets very hot but they are clearly marked on the map before stepping out. There is a waterfall where you stand under to relieve tension in the shoulders and there are some seats in the water in that area.

Taking pictures in the Blue Lagoon
You are free to come and go from the lagoon to the changing rooms as much as you want but as it’s very cold once you’re in its silly to go back and forth. There are many people who just bring out their expensive digital cameras and DSLR’s whilst walking around in the Lagoon, I didn’t want to take that risk. I purchased a waterproof camera bag that had a clear window so I could leave it with me at all times. I’m glad I did this as other people had to keep walking instead of swimming and relaxing, otherwise a waterproof camera will also do the job.

There is a restaurant on site, a snack bar and a café but they were all pathetic, the restaurant called LAVA had very limited dishes and very overpriced but the food was nice, they also let you have lunch there between 11am – 5pm in your bath robes so there’s no need to change.

The changing rooms also have hairdryers and large mirrors for applying make-up complete with stools for sitting.

It was a nice experience very relaxing and something different to add to your memories but many people argue it’s expensive. If you can get it included as part as your holiday package then you have nothing to lose otherwise it’s around €30 each. The Blue Lagoon shop is expensive so I didn’t bother even looking but if you change your mind they have one at Keflavik airport lounge as a last minute purchase.

Children are also welcome in the pool and should wear inflatable arm bands provided near the entrance to the lagoon, pregnant women are also welcomed as long as they stay hydrated and make sure they do not overheat.

Don’t forget to bring a plastic bag for wet clothes although they are provided in the changing rooms in you forget yours, flip flops a waterproof camera or camera bag.

I have recently stayed at Hotel Reykjavik for 4 nights as part as a package holiday to Iceland. Although it was included in the package we did check other neighbouring hotels to see if they were any better before accepting to stay at Hotel Reykjavik. The reviews for this hotel were mixed but not that bad considering it is only a 3 star hotel.

We arrived on a Wednesday evening just before 11pm and were greeted by a very friendly man on the reception desk; he gave us loads of information about the surrounding areas and marked out many favourite and interesting places on a tourist map. Our room was on the first floor room 207, we took the elevator up and the hallway was very clean with emerald green carpet. We opened the door to our room and it was nice and clean but a little bit on the small side.

Unfortunately the beds were two singles that had been pushed together and not a double like I had asked for but that was just a small niggle. The room has a view of a terrace and a neighbouring block of what looked like flats. The room was equipped with a kettle, tea, sugar, coffee etc; this came in handy when we returned to the room for the evening. There was a mini fridge with just two bottles of water in it and a large dressing table to place items such as make up and so on. The wardrobes were a decent size but you wouldn’t fit two large suitcases in there, we only brought one.

The bathroom had only a shower, toilet and basin; it was more like a wet room. It was small but ok for a few days. We did get toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, shower cap, soap and shower gel, the reception desk had more complimentary items such as sewing kit and shaving kit should you need it. The down side to the room was the TV as they didn’t have much to offer, you have to pay for most of the satellite channels but it wasn’t worth it, we ended up watching Animal Planet most of the time. The neighbouring rooms can be quite disturbing as they bang the doors a lot and you can hear the people above you most of the time. Also in the dead of night you can hear snoring!

Breakfast was adequate, there were tea, coffee, cereals, fruits, bread, croissants and cold cuts. We had an early flight of 8.30am and had to check out by 4.30am we let them know beforehand and they put out breakfast for us at 4.30am. This came in handy as we would have been starving by the time we got to the airport.

The hotel has a good location it is quiet but don’t let that put you off, we walked all around the neighbourhood at all times and never saw many people about. If you do see someone they are very courteous we felt safe so we walked all around Reykjavik using the hotel as our base to return to. The lobby has a computer for free internet access for those who really need it, I did use it on a few occasions but only to check out things in Reykjavik it was very fast. I would also like to note that I brought a hot water bottle as the evenings can reach minus temperatures but I found myself getting hot in the evening and not needing the duvet, so it was a very comfortable warm room. There were also heaters so you can switch them on should you need to, but they weren’t really needed.

Overall the hotel was just as expected if not a little better than most other 3 star hotels I have stayed in. Everything is really accessible but it is also on a quiet road so there is no noise from traffic, reception staff are very helpful and friendly sorting out excursions and answering the many questions we had about Iceland. I would not hesitate to stay at this hotel again and definitely recommend it to future travellers.

A few weeks ago my partner and I decided on a short break to somewhere in Europe at the last minute. The best deals I could find at the time were for 3-4 nights in Iceland. After doing a little research to see what there was to do and see the more we were excited in going, so I set out to find the best deal that included flights, accommodation and maybe a few tours as a package. I called a few places and found the prices to vary a lot. As I wanted to travel within the next 10 days it was manic trying to sort everything out.

Then I came across Iceland2go a tour operator that specialises in holidays to Iceland and Greenland, they can also tailor make packages for you. They a had a few special offers that were valid for a few months and as October – April is popular for the Northern Lights excursion this was included in a special offer that they had. I enquired about the Iceland Winter Wonderland Adventure as the starting price was £580 per person, this included return flights from London Heathrow to Keflavik airport, airport transfers, bed and breakfast accommodation for 3 nights, Northern Lights tour, Golden Circle tour and a trip to the Blue Lagoon. Other places were quoting £439 for 3 nights that included flights, accommodation and the Northern Lights tour. Iceland2go was the cheapest but also most reliable quote I had gotten.

It wasn’t that Iceland2go was cheap that we booked with them but because I spoke to two different tour agents and they were equally helpful and friendly, they knew what they were talking about. After we booked and paid we received our documents in a matter of days, it was presented in a little folder to keep tickets, luggage tags and vouchers together. There was also a detailed guide of what to do and general information about Iceland.

We were very impressed with the speed of the booking and documents sent and also the information that was sent with our tickets as we weren’t expecting anything. I always try avoiding booking with a travel agent but in this case it was a pleasure to talk to someone who knew what they were doing. I would definitely recommend Iceland2go for trips to Iceland or Greenland as I am confident that you will be pleased with the service and care taken when you book.

We travelled to Iceland for a 4 night break to Reykjavik, flying out from London Heathrow and arriving at Keflavik airport. Our flight was delayed by 4 hours but this was due to fog, when we were able to board the plane it took another 45 minutes to take off as there was a queue on the runway. The flight attendants favour only the Icelandic nationals and treat them like royalty, they routinely handed out pillows, blankets and talked in their language ignoring everyone else. I also found that the flight attendants were overweight and would frequently bump into people who were sitting in the aisle seats which was disturbing and annoying.

In flight entertainment was disappointing as the films showed were years old with only one or two which were recently playing in the cinema. Headphones needed to be purchased but they were compatible with the standard ones you get with an iPod so this came in handy. Food was not free, overpriced and looked unappetising but drinks were offered just once on the flight.

Checking in at Keflavik airport was a little tedious as there were not many on the counter for early morning flights but once there it only to two minutes to tag the luggage and issue boarding passes. The airport lounge at Keflavik airport was surprising as there were many little shops and a rather large duty free area compared to most other airports. Everything at the airport is expensive even a small fridge magnet can cost £10 and a small Icelandic teddy was £30!

The airport lounge at Keflavik airport is very small and not enough seating is provided at the boarding gates so get there early. On return to London Heathrow the flight was early but still had to circle Heathrow for 15 minutes until clearance was given to land. You hardly see flight attendants during the 3 hour flight which was good as they only talk to their own (Icelandic) people which makes you feel a little excluded.

Icelandair seemed more like a budget airline and the experience was ok but not recommended next time I might pay a little extra for another airline to see if the service is any better. Take your own food, headphones and pillows as Icelandic people have first grab of everything else on the plane. I have found that Icelandair is only so popular because in most cases it is the cheapest airline to fly with to get to Iceland but cheap doesn’t mean better.

After booking a well deserved holiday to Iceland it was advised to take a long a tripod to capture the world famous Northern Lights as holding a camera may cause the image to be blurred. As we already have a professional Nikon D5000 DSLR we wanted a beginner tripod as we were unsure whether or not we would need it again after our trip to Iceland.

Hama star 62 tripod review
After doing a little research Hama star 62 was better for beginners and those who didn’t want to spend too much money. It also came with a carry case which came in handy for those long exposure camera shots. The reviews were mixed and most did note that the camera was very fragile if not handled with care and that workmanship was poor as glue could be spotted on most joints and plastic components. Ours had no faults but it was very light, there was a hook on the bottom for weighing it down if it got windy or if you were using a heavier lens.

The tripod came with no instructions so it was a little worrying when we were playing about with all the components as we were scared to break it. I was surprised to find that it didn’t come with instructions and you are just meant to know what all the functions and attachments are. It wasn’t hard to figure out but like I said my main concern was some components snapping as you try to figure out its does. The website states the retail price at £43 but I got mine for £13 including delivery brand new so it’s worth shopping around.

In all it was ok to use after you figure out what all the little knobs and components are there for and it was very sturdy. There are two spirit levels which come in handy for when you need to set it up on uneven ground. This tripod is only recommended for beginners are it would be too light and too fragile for professional use even then the £43 price tag is not justified.

I recently went to Cyprus for a self catering holiday; I found my apartment through a well known lettings website that advertises villas and apartments worldwide. As I have booked with them before when I went to Spain I did the same for my Cyprus holiday.

When I found the perfect (so I thought) apartment in Cyprus I contacted them through the website, the apartment was managed by a company called Overseas Keys. I’ve never heard of them before but after a quick search I found that they were a large lettings agency with offices in Spain as well. All my queries about the apartment were answered quickly and we paid the £485 for a week’s self catering apartment in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. The payment was done over the phone and then we were transferred to another lettings agent who would be looking after us.

A few weeks before we were due to travel I received an email to ask if I would like them to arrange taxi transfers, as I found them to be slightly cheaper I agreed for them to book it for us, we would pay the taxi driver upon arrival. It cost €100 return through the lettings agent otherwise I would have had to pay €120 if I booked it myself through the internet. Just before we were due to fly I asked them how the keys would be handed over and the agent just didn’t make any sense. I wanted to know if we were to be met at the apartment or the airport. He didn’t answer my question so we just had to wait until we got there.

Our taxi was there to meet us at the arrivals and it was a pleasant journey, when we arrived at the apartment we were met by and English man who was waiting for us. We went in and he showed us the apartment.

The apartment
We stayed in block C on the first floor apartment number 7, he showed us the air con but the remote had no batteries so he just got one of the others from the bedroom. He gave us directions to get to the beach and a short guide about the area. We signed the paperwork and he was off, he agreed to meet us on the last day to pick up the keys at 11.30am.

The apartment was dirty, all the windows were dusty, the patio was filthy and even the headboards in the bedroom needed a good clean. I was horrified! Here is a list of what was wrong with the apartment:

• Not enough plates/mugs – they knew there would be 4 of us yet there were only 3 of everything. 3 plates, 3 saucers, 3 mugs and 3 cups to drink from
• The wardrobe handles were all broken so we couldn’t put our clothes away and had to live out of the suitcase for a week
• There were no dressing tables in either room so you didn’t have anything to place your things on
• The second bedroom had no mirror!
• There was a foul smell in the corridor
• The communal bins were too far from the apartment
• There was inadequate lighting outside from returning from a meal out, even worse for those with young children
• The apartment needed a good clean!

To top it off when we were due to check out at the agreed time the agent was nowhere to be seen! When we did call first we were told he was on his way, and then he called to say someone else was coming. Luckily we had a kind taxi driver who waited for us whilst telephoning Overseas Keys. No one did arrive and after waiting 20 minutes we left! In the end we gave the keys to the taxi driver who said he would drop it off. We didn’t even get a chance to complain; even when we arrived back to the UK I thought someone would contact us but nothing.

Overseas Keys are very unreliable, they only care about the money then they leave you to it. On the website I booked through they have not allowed people to leave reviews, I wonder why. Everyone else does so I wonder what they have to hide. Save your money and book through another agent or directly with the owners if possible. Unfortunately the owners of the apartment we stayed in will never know how bad it is and how many customers it will lose over the years as a result of this!

After a quick search for the best prices of hotels for a week’s stay in Nissi, Cyrus it worked out €1,200 for two people on a bed and breakfast basis. This was the cheapest deal I got after searching all around the Nissi area of Cyprus. Just when I was about to give up I found an apartment complex called Nissi Elena Court apartments. Located 10-15 minutes’ walk from the beach it seemed like the perfect alternative to staying at a hotel. All the local supermarkets are a few short minutes away and so are the restaurants for the days you feel like eating out. The location seemed perfect and the apartments looked clean and fresh.

Elena Court Apartments
Only a few years old what you see in the pictures is what you get, the area is really quiet and easy to reach from Larnaca airport. There is a communal pool but it’s not really needed as there is a gorgeous beach just a short walk away. The downside to the pool is there are not many sun loungers and they seemed to be marked on the back belonging to each apartment, there are not enough chairs to go round. The lighting around the complex is very poor, there is a path leading past the pool to reach the supermarkets and restaurants but there is no lighting and the path stops halfway! If you have to go out in the evening for a meal finding your way back to the path is very dangerous, then when you get to your block you have to feel around for the light switch as it is not visible.

I stayed in Block C and it was clean in the communal areas but the apartment was a little disappointing! There was a disgusting smell when you left the apartment that smelt like rotting garbage as the garbage bins were located too far from the block people just dumped them over the complex wall.  The windows and patio doors looked like they had never been cleaned! The bedrooms were dusty and there were no dressing tables or shelves to put down personal items such as creams, make-up and toothbrushes in the bathroom. The built in wardrobes were a joke, all the handles had fallen off so we were unable to open them! The air conditioning played up a bit and as there was no security around the complex there seemed to be people racing on their motorbikes or quad bikes in the early hours of the morning!

For nearly £500 I was disappointed as all the reviews I read prior to going were extremely positive but I suppose most people go for a lazy holiday and do not bother on things like cleaning and cooking. Don’t be totally put off but make sure you know that the accommodation only rates three stars at most.