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Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It has a latitude of 64 08’ N, making it the world’s northernmost capital of a sovereign state, and is a popular tourist destination. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxa Bay. With a population of around 120,000 (and over 200,000 in the Capital Region), it is the heart of Iceland’s cultural, economic and governmental activity. The capital is only about a 45 minute drive from Keflavik Airport (KEF).

As the sun only sets for 3 hours per day from mid-may to mid-august this period offers almost 24 hours of daylight. In midwinter, there are around 5 hours of effective daylight.

During winter months we are working with very limited daylight hours. This may result in some of the sites being visited in dusk or darkness or skipped altogether. We will do our best to avoid this, but ask for your understanding should this happen.

The emergency phone number 24/7 in Iceland is 112. There are hospitals in all major cities and towns in Iceland.

Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards (50 Hz/220 volts) so converters may be required for small electrical appliances brought from home. We do not recommend bringing a hair dryer from North America; many hotels have hair dryers in rooms, and some swimming pools have hair dryers for use in changing rooms.

Some appliances, like chargers for laptops, digital cameras or mobile phones, may already be compatible with multiple voltages and may just need a travel adapter. Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs so you can use adapter types “C” or “F” (often labelled as a Northern Europe adapter).

Make sure to check the voltage labels on your appliances or chargers to see if you need to bring an adapter or converter+adapter. Converters and adapters are available in Iceland at the duty-free store in Keflavík Airport as well as some major hotels, electronic stores, souvenir shops and bookstores.

Please note that some tours/days can be changed or rearranged depending on the weather conditions, so we need to be flexible. We are concerned about your safety and overall experience. In case of activity being canceled or tour/day changed your guide will let you know in time and give you alternative options and make the best out of the situation.

In Iceland nearly all bills that you receive already include gratuity. You will still get a smile and Icelanders will not think any worse of you if you tip. Of course, Icelanders will not decline a tip for good service. If you feel you have received excellent service, the best way to show your appreciation is to tip 10 percent or round up the amount of the bill. 

For tipping/gratuity for private tours, if you really want to show your appreciation for your private guide/driver you can see here in our private tours section what is the suggested amount per day and what would be the best way to go about it.  

The Northern Lights season in Iceland lasts from September to April. This is when the nights are dark, so your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are greater. The days are shorter in January than in March, therefore, for that sole reason, the chances can be considered greater to see them in January. Unfortunately, no guarantees can be given as visibility depends on weather conditions such as clear skies and northern lights activity. 

The country size is 103,000 km2 (approx. 40,000 square miles). Almost all of Iceland’s inhabited areas are located in coastal parts around the country. With a population of just 390,000, Iceland is one of the least densely populated nations on the planet, with just over 3 inhabitants/km 2

The official language is Icelandic; English and Danish are widely spoken. Icelanders start learning English in the 4th grade and most Icelanders (especially younger people) speak decent English. Many welcome the opportunity to practice their second language - so don't be shy about starting a conversation in English.

The Icelandic currency is kronur (ISK). It's easy to exchange money at the airport, in banks and at currency exchanges. You can also pay for virtually anything with a credit card. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted; American Express and Diner's Card less so.

Downtown opening hours may vary but stores are generally open from 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM on Saturdays. Some stores stay open longer on Saturdays and most downtown stores are open until 06:00 PM on the first Saturday of each month. There are two large shopping centers in Reykjavik; Kringlan and Smaralind. The stores in the shopping malls are open all days of the week and later at night than downtown stores.

Traditional Icelandic food such as smoked lamb, dried fish and herring often has a place on Reykjavik’s city’s top-notch restaurants. In recent years there has been a large increase in restaurants all over Reykjavik, and travellers, as well as locals, can choose from a multitude of fine dining restaurants, gastropubs, brasseries and bistros with both Icelandic, fusion and international cuisine. The vegetarian and vegan cuisine is also on the rise, with plenty of options from fine dining to greasy hangover food, and plant-lover will find a suitable place to fulfill all their food cravings in Reykjavik.  Here you will find a list of restaurants in Reykjavik and can easily book your table. 

Yes, we work with travel agents. All travel agents and partners that we work with will receive a NET price and need to be signed up for our Agent Portal. 

Try to take out the battery and the sim card. Hold down the menu button & on/off button for the router to restart.

All visitors are welcome, with no requirement for a PCR test to board aircraft, or testing or quarantine upon arrival. There is no longer a requirement to present a certificate of vaccination or of prior COVID-19 infection. We strongly recommend that our guests obtain appropriate health and travel insurance and are aware of what is covered and included in their policies before they start traveling.

 

Before arrival

Dress according to the weather as it can change very rapidly depending on if it's winter or summer. You should always wear good shoes or boots for your maximum comfort. Wearing three layers of lightweight upper body clothing is the most effective method for retaining warmth. The weather is very unpredictable in Iceland, therefore it is always good to bring more than you use, just in case. 

 

Good Points:

● Base layer – normal underwear and short or long-sleeve t-shirts are usually fine

● Warm sweater – wool or fleece

● Lightweight outdoor trousers/pants

● Lightweight waterproof jacket with hood - rain – and windproof shell

● Good hiking boots - water-resistant

● Hat, scarf and gloves/mittens

 

It is the responsibility of all visitors to make sure that their passport and other travel documents accepted by Icelandic authorities are valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay in Iceland.

Since Iceland is a member of the Schengen Agreement, the same border control regulations apply to Iceland as to other European Schengen Member countries. This means that the ETIAS travel authorization requirements are applicable to all non-member state nationals visiting Iceland starting in January 2024.

For more information on whether or not you need to apply for a VISA or have an ETIAS travel authorization prior to your arrival, please visit the official ETIAS website. ETIAS website

Yes. All travelers – regardless of origin – are welcome to visit Iceland. There is no longer a requirement to present a certificate of vaccination or of prior COVID-19 infection.

No, All visitors are welcome, with no requirement for a PCR test to board aircraft, or testing or quarantine upon arrival. There is no longer a requirement to present a certificate of vaccination or of prior COVID-19 infection.

No, All visitors are welcome, with no requirement for a PCR test to board aircraft, or testing or quarantine upon arrival. There is no longer a requirement to present a certificate of vaccination or of prior COVID-19 infection.

We strongly recommend that our guests obtain appropriate health and travel insurance and are aware of what is covered and included in their policies before they depart home.
        

If any participants have any Covid-19 symptoms, it is very important to notify the guide/staff and follow the instructions given by the Icelandic health authorities. You are not required to do any isolation/quarantine. 
        

We always recommend all travellers to get comprehensive personal travel insurance. If you are from an EEA country, we advise that you bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. Check with your policy provider or credit card company to find out if you are covered for coronavirus-related claims. They may be able to give you an upgrade on your policy to include this. 

If you have booked an airport transfer with us, your driver/guide will monitor the flight with flight number you provided us with when you made the booking. The day before your arrival you will receive an email from us with all the details about your pick-up and the driver so you can be in direct contact with your driver if you need to.

If your flight is cancelled please be in touch with us and we will rearrange your itinerary accordingly and make the necessary changes. 

Something unique about traveling to Iceland is that you will virtually never need to use cash currency. The vast majority of Icelanders use debit or credit cards for making purchases. If you are going to be traveling outside of the Reykjavik area and you want to have cash, we highly recommend withdrawing Icelandic currency at Keflavik Airport.

Payment

A deposit of 30% of the total trip amount must be paid to confirm your booking with us. If there is less than six weeks before arrival full payment needs to be made. We accept Visa or Mastercard through our website payment gateway and bank transfer.

Final payment needs to be made at least six weeks before arrival. In case of delays on payments Deluxe Iceland reserves the right to treat this as a cancellation and withdraw its confirmation of the services.

Deluxe Iceland accepts all major credit cards. If your tour is being paid for with a third-party credit card, we will require written authorisation from the cardholder via fax or letter.

Make sure your credit card provider allows you to make payments in Icelandic Krona, ISK. In some cases your credit card company would need to pre-authorize the transaction for you before you can process the transaction online.

Private Tours

Upon arrival in Iceland your private driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall with a sign with your name on and take you to check-in at your accommodation. The day before your arrival you will be sent an email from us with details about the driver and information for your airport transfer with us. 

In case you need to stay connected all the time our vehicles offer free WIFI on board, so you should not encounter any problems with finding an internet connection for your smartphone, laptop or other web-enabled devices.
        

We use Mercedes Benz V-class (1 - 6 passengers) or new Land Rover Discovery LR5 (1 - 3 passengers) for most of our private tours and transportation. Both vehicles combine comfort and luxury on a large scale while travelling. For groups with more than 6 passengers we use Mercedes Benz Sprinter 16 seater or Ford F350 Long Excursions making sure that it's enough space for all passengers and luggage. 

We will do our best to assist you in amending your experience arrangements, but cannot guarantee that this will be possible. You will be responsible for any charges that result from such an amendment.

Activites/services - changed or cancelled:

  • More than 72 hours prior to activity date/time: Full refund
  • Less than 72 hours prior to activity date/time: No refund

When adding activities or other additional services to your booking with us we need to receive a full payment via Credit Card before the activity starts or the service is delivered. The payment will be added to your booking and can be paid on your booking page. 

International flights, lunches, dinners and other services that are not mentioned in the trip inclusions section are not included in your trip. All additional costs that may occur during your trip will be charged on the day of departure.
        

You will have your own private guide that will take care of you for the days you have a private guidance included according to your final itinerary. Our private tours are flexible, stops and timing for each day can be changed in collaboration with your guide.

You will have your own private guide and vehicle for 8 - 10 hours each day unless otherwise confirmed. 

The Northern lights season in Iceland is from September to April. This is when the nights are dark so your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are greater.  We will keep the Northern Lights tour open during your stay and go out on the best night, that has the best chances of clear skies and activity. We leave the Northern Lights tour unpaid until we can confirm that we will be operating the tour for that night. You will get an update from us every day during your stay, if we will be operating the tour that night or not.

If we are operating the tour you will get the chance to go at an extra cost, 150.000 ISK that needs to be paid before the tour. We will be sending you an email before 5:00 PM every day, in case you can go on the tour we will be sending you a payment link to confirm your booking and the tour usually departs at 09:00 PM.  Please note that we don’t offer a free retry and thatThe Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and sights can never be guaranteed, but our guides have a lot of experience and will try their best to spot the Northern Lights and go to the right location for that night.

Deluxe Iceland claims no responsibility for any sickness or schedule change due to weather, strike, natural disaster or any other cause beyond our control. Please note that some tours can be changed or rearranged depending on the weather conditions, so we need to be flexible. We are concerned about your safety and overall experience. In case of activity being canceled or tour changed your guide will let you know in time and give you alternative options and make the best out of the situation.

All travel documents are available electronically as PDF documents on my booking page that you will receive access to in an email once your booking is confirmed and your final itinerary is ready. Upon arrival in Iceland your driver will present you with the hard copies of the travel documents, so you don't need to print them out.

We always try to have you with the same guide for the days you will be touring in Iceland, but sometimes might need to switch between two or more guides depending on the duration of your trip and our availability. 

If you really want to show your guide that you appreciate his work and the effort he put in your trip and experience in Iceland you can use this as a rule of thumb. Generally, the guides receive a tip at the end of the trip that ranges from 100 - 200 USD per day, this amount is totally up to you and please note that tipping in Iceland is not required.

However this is a great way to show that you were happy with the services and you appreciate their work! 

You will have your own private guide and vehicle for 8 - 10 hours each day unless otherwise confirmed. If you request more than 10 hours and want to have the driver/guide at your disposal longer, the additional cost is 21.000 ISK per hour. For the days you don't have a private driver/guide included in your itinerary you can add the extra service with a minimum cost of 4 hours.  

Lunches and dinners are not included in our packages. Your guide will give you options for lunch each day while you are touring with us. Here you will find a list of restaurants in Reykjavik and can easily book your table. 

There are no longer any COVID-related border restrictions for travel to Iceland. All visitors are welcome. 

 

Cancellation

Our updated cancellation insurance makes sure that you can book your trip with more confidence. You can rebook your luxury tour, on one occasion, without any change fees. Or you may cancel your trip for any reason with the following terms:

 

  • More than two weeks prior to arrival: 30% of the full amount becomes credit

  • Less than two weeks prior to arrival: 50% of the full amount becomes credit

  • Less than 72 hours prior to arrival: No refund and no credit

 

Cancellation of one or more participants within a group may cause a price increase for the group or an extra cancellation fee as detailed above.We always recommend all travellers to get comprehensive personal travel insurance. Please note that the credit is only valid for 12 months from the date the cancellation is received and will go against your new similar trip total cost for new selected dates. All cancellations need to be sent in writing to [email protected].

Our updated cancellation insurance makes sure that you can book your trip with more confidence. You can rebook your luxury tour, on one occasion, without any change fees. Or you may cancel your trip for any reason with the following terms:

 

  • More than four weeks prior to arrival: 70% of the full amount becomes credit

  • Less than four weeks prior to arrival: 80% of the full amount becomes credit

  • Less than two weeks prior to arrival: No refund and no credit

 

Cancellation of one or more participants within a group may cause a price increase for the group or an extra cancellation fee as detailed above.We always recommend all travelers to get comprehensive personal travel insurance. Please note that the credit is only valid for 12 months from the date the cancellation is received and will go against your new similar trip total cost for new selected dates. All cancellations need to be sent in writing to [email protected].

 

All our itineraries are designed to be flexible taking weather conditions into account. All outdoor activities are weather and condition dependent and we reserve the right to change your itinerary or cancel certain activities. Please note that the weather changes fast in Iceland and with it conditions change. Our number one priority is to make decisions with your safety in mind and overall experience. Activities that are cancelled due to these reasons are fully refunded. 

*All refunds are processed within 15 days from the end date of the tour