Reykjavik, Iceland: Hotspot for Bakeries, Food Halls and Ice Cream

When I was in Iceland three years ago, there were no Starbucks or food halls, and the dining options were pretty limited. That's changed fast. Reykjavik now has a serious lineup of bakeries, food halls, and ice cream spots — and on this trip, I made it my mission to try as much as possible so I could bring you a list.

I asked locals for their favorites, and one recommendation came up again and again: start at Valdis.

🍦 Ice Cream

Valdis is known for its ever-changing menu of unusual flavors, and the locals insisted I try the weirdest one on the board that day: Rye Bread. Not something I'd normally order, but I trusted the recommendation — and it was genuinely good. (I stuck to a small taste rather than a full cup, but no regrets.)

Other ice cream spots to try:

• Gaeto Gelato
• Skubb

Most of these are along Laugavegur, the main pedestrian shopping street, so it's easy to hop between them.

🍜 Food Halls

Reykjavik now has four food halls, each packed with stalls serving food from around the world. We went for Vietnamese and pizza, and most halls have outdoor seating too. Food halls are one of the few places in Iceland where you'll find real variety at prices that won't make you wince.

• Pósthús is often called the best of the bunch
• Hlemmur Mathöll was our pick — just a few blocks from our hotel
• Grandi Mathöll and Borg 29 Mathöll are also worth a visit

A few people on our trip did a food tour and loved it — check it out here.

Reykjavik has quite the dining scene as well. 

Try Hofnin at the waterfront for traditional Icelandic food, but make a reservation.

If you venture south to the Ring Road, be sure to stop at the famous tomato restaurant Fridheimar and Black Crust Pizza in Vik. 

🥐 Bakeries

Reykjavik has a bakery on nearly every corner, and it's hard to walk past one without stopping. I tried Hugge, which has several locations — the apple turnover was excellent, the coffee was even better, and the bread was some of the best I've had. Good news: most hotels serve it at breakfast, so you'll get your fill either way.

Other bakeries worth seeking out:

• Brauð & Co
• Sandholt
• Brikk

🎟️ Things to Do

Reykjavik's activity list has grown just as much as its food scene:

• Perlan Museum — glaciers, volcanoes, and a real ice cave
• Whale Museum — an up-close look at the largest mammals in the ocean
• Viking Museum — a solid history lesson, though a bit intense for younger kids
• Fly Over Iceland — genuinely fun
• Puffin Tour — a great option if you're not driving south to see them yourself
• Lava Show — I didn't make it this time, but I've heard great things

🛏️ Where to Stay

Right in the harbor area:

• The Reykjavik Edition
• Alda Hotel Reykjavik

A bit further out (and easier on the budget), near bus stop 13:

• Hotel Foss Lind
• Hotel Foss Raudara

Both areas are still walking distance to the food halls and Laugavegur. Bonus: the Flybus leaves from bus stop 13 every hour for the airport, so it's an easy trip out. Just book your tickets in advance — it runs about $30 per person, each way.

🚗 Getting Around

Planning to explore beyond Reykjavik? You'll want a car. I recommend Blue Car Rental — it's a local company with a downtown office, so you can drop off your car there instead of making an extra trip to the airport.

Do you want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Chasing Totality In Greenland

Incredible, overwhelming, otherworldly — that's the only way to describe it. A solar eclipse is something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

I've been fortunate enough to see three. One from a ship off the coast of Australia and one from a nature reserve in Cleveland, Ohio. The most recent one I watched from Eastern Greenland aboard the Quark Ultramarine expedition ship. I'll share more about the Ultramarine soon, but for now, let's talk eclipse. ☀️

What Exactly Is a Solar Eclipse?

Solar eclipses happen periodically when the moon moves directly in front of the sun. If you're in the path of totality — where the moon completely covers the sun — you experience a sunset-like darkness. Totality can last anywhere from one minute to six minutes.

The path changes depending on a number of factors. You might remember the last one that crossed the U.S. from Texas to Ohio in 2023, or the one before that in 2017 that crossed Oregon.

This latest eclipse, on August 12, 2026, crossed Northern Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, with a totality of 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

A Last-Minute Change of Plans

Our ship's captain had originally planned to position us in the Kong Oscar Fjord in Eastern Greenland. But as the day got closer, the weather wasn't cooperating, so he made the call to head further south to Scoresby Sund Fjord instead.

We arrived by noon on August 12th, and the ship got into position with the starboard side facing the sun. Dozens of photographers set up camp on the mid-ship helipad, while the rest of the guests gathered on the forward helipad. (Yes, the ship has two helipads — one for each helicopter! 🚁)

The Eclipse Begins

At around 3:30pm, we put on our safety glasses and watched the moon start to move into position. A "bite" appeared out of the sun, and it kept growing as the moon crept further across. But take off the glasses and look around, and nothing seemed different at all.

We passed the time playing with Saltine crackers and colanders, watching tiny crescent shadows appear on the walls and floor. 🧑‍🍳

Racing the Clouds

At approximately 4:05pm — just 25 minutes before totality — clouds started rolling over the mountains and into the fjord. The captain and expedition leader huddled to discuss moving the ship. By 4:10pm, the decision was made, and the announcement went out to guests.

Everyone held their breath. The ship turned and headed across the water.

Ten minutes later, it stopped and turned again so the starboard side faced the sun.

Totality

And at 4:33pm, the moon slipped completely in front of the sun. The light switched off. Everyone tore off their glasses and cheered. 🎉

If you've never seen a solar eclipse before, it's genuinely otherworldly. There's an energy that moves people to tears, a kind of peace that just washes over you.

Then, 2 minutes and 15 seconds later, the moon slides over to reveal "the diamond ring" — and just like that, it's over.

The light returns, the birds start singing again, and life moves on.

Where to See the Next One

The next solar eclipse is expected on August 2, 2027, with the path of totality crossing Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Southern Spain. If you want to see it, reach out and I'll help you plan. I'll be in the Mediterranean aboard a small ship myself — hope to see you there! 🚢

Do you want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process. Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the program. 

Or you can pay a travel planning fee and we will find all the best points and miles deals for your trip! 

Or you can book a consulting call with us for just $100. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

***In honor of every new paid client, we will make a donation of 10% to one of our favorite charities.

Why You Should Book A Solar Eclipse Expedition Cruise Now

Seeing a Solar Eclipse is a bucket list item for sure. It only comes around a few times and is usually only visible from certain countries and even cities in the world. 

The last Solar Eclipse in April 2024 was visible from Mexico to New York and millions of people traveled to be in the path of the eclipse. The idea is to put yourself in the path of totality, a path in the center where you can experience the total eclipse. 

A Solar Eclipse is when the earth passes between the moon and the sun blocking the sun's light and casting a shadow on the earth. Totality is when the moon completely blocks the sun's light causing the sky to get dark.

I watched the Solar Eclipse 2023 from the middle of the Indian Ocean aboard the Coral Geographer small ship. It was spectacular! 

Leading up to the Solar Eclipse, University of Berkeley Professor Alex Filipenko lectured several times about how Solar Eclipse happen and why, what we could expect on the day of the eclipse and then we reflected afterwards about what we saw. Small ships tend to host an expert about the topic on board. 

The total solar eclipse itself lasted a few minutes so we had time to create shadows with a saltine cracker and a collander.   

And then afterwards, we all celebrated with a bottle of Corona, of course. 

The next total solar eclipse is expected to happen on August 12th 2026 and will be visible in Spain, Greenland, Russia, Iceland and a small portion of Portugal. I plan to be off the coast of Iceland on another small expedition ship. If you would like to  join me, let me know. 

You can plan travel to one of the countries in the path OR you can book a cruise. But you need to make these plans asap! 

The pro to a cruise is that the ship can change course if there is cloud cover or just to get the best view. 

If you want to book a Solar Eclipse 2026 cruise, you will need to make that reservation right away. There is still availability, but the ships are filling up quickly. 

Here are some of our small ship favorites:

Quark Expeditions -  is planning an Artic Solar Eclipse Cruise in 2026. There will be two experts on board the ship, the 199 passenger Ultramarine. The itinerary starts in Reykavik and visits Greenland National Park, the world's largest. There are only a few cabins left with a starting price of $16,095 per person so email me right away if this interests you. I can also include a $250 shipboard credit. 

Atlas Ocean Voyages - is offering two cruises, one in the Arctic sailing near Iceland and one in the Mediteranean sailing from Barcelona to Monte Carlo. Fares for the 7 day Mediterranean itinerary start from $5,499 per person and for the nine night Arctic cruise fares start at $8,899 per person. I can get you a $200 onboard ship credit. 

Windstar Cruises - will offer a 7 night itinerary around Iceland aboard a 312 passenger ship. The cruise will feature solar eclipse programming including guest lecturers. Fares start at $7173 per person. I can get you a $150 onboard ship credit. 

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) - is offering a 16 night expedition from Norway to Iceland. Prices start at $19,906 per person. I can get you a $100 onboard ship credit. 

Though I prefer the small expedition ships, there are some large ships that may offer more affordable solar eclipse cruises like Royal Caribbean or you can plan to stay on land in the eclipse path. I am a registered travel advisor, but my specialty is helping you use points and miles to make travel affordable. 

Contact me if you are interested and we can see what type of deal we can get you. 

Want more personal help using points and miles for almost FREE travel? Book a 1:1 consulting call, download my new Ebook or custom tracker or Join my Travel Coaching Program and we will design your personal strategy to travel for almost FREE and guide you through the process.

Right now, you can use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" to get $50 off the coaching program. I would love to help you make priceless family memories affordable. 

*For every new client, we will donate 10% of the proceeds to one of our favorite charities. 

How You Can Visit Two Countries For The Price Of One

Want to spend the day or a week in Iceland on your way to Europe? Several airlines will allow you to add a stopover for FREE to your flight. Yes, you can add the stop over even if you are flying on points. Woohoo! 

The airlines that offer this option are:

• Turkish Airlines
• Qatar Airways 
• Etihad Airways
• Icelandair
• TAP Air Portugal
• Iberia
• Copa 
• Air Canada
• Air China
•  Ethiopian Airlines
•  Singapore Airlines

Some of the airlines allow the stop over for up to 2 weeks, others allow the stopover for 8-24 hours and provide tours or hotel accommodations. 

For example: Ethiopian Airlines provides free pickup and drop off from the airport, a hotel room and a meal. 

• Layover Duration: 8 to 24 hours. 
• Hotel: Ethiopian Skylight Hotel. 
• Includes: Free hotel stay, airport transfers, complimentary breakfast. 
• Eligibility: You must have a connecting flight through Addis Ababa and a valid transit visa or be eligible for a visa on arrival. 
• How to book: You can book this service when booking your Ethiopian Airlines flight or through their website, according to Ethiopian Airlines. 
• Additional benefits: Kids under 12 stay and dine for free, all-day pool access, and 30% off massages. 

Several airlines offer layover tours and/or discounted/free hotel stays during long layovers. Some popular examples include Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Icelandair, and TAP Air Portugal. 

Here's a more detailed look at some of these programs:

1. Turkish Airlines: Offers "Touristanbul," a free guided tour of Istanbul for passengers with layovers of 6-24 hours at Istanbul Airport. They also offer free hotel stays or discounts on hotels in Istanbul during layovers. 

2. Qatar Airways: Provides discounted or free hotel stays in Doha for passengers with layovers of 12 hours or more. They also offer free visas for those who need them. 

3. Etihad Airways: Offers "Abu Dhabi Stopover," providing free hotel stays for up to two nights in Abu Dhabi for passengers with layovers. 

4. Icelandair: Allows stopovers in Iceland for passengers flying transatlantic, offering a chance to explore the country for a few days or even a week at no extra airfare cost. 

5. TAP Air Portugal: Offers stopover programs in Lisbon and Porto, allowing passengers to stay for up to 10 days in either city. 

6. Iberia: Offers a "Hola Madrid" program with a free stopover in Madrid for up to seven days, including discounts on experiences and accommodations. 

7. Copa Airlines: Offers a special stopover program in Panama. 

8. Other Airlines: Air Canada, Air China, Ethiopian Airlines, and Singapore Airlines also offer stopover programs or discounted hotel stays in certain cities. 

As always, if you need more guidance, please join our Travel Coaching Program, you can find out more about our personal coaching here. Use FREETRAVEL for $50 off the cost. Or you can book a 30 minute consult for just $100. We would love to help you! 

How To Find JetBlue Flights For Just 7000 Points

 

Let's just say this is number one zillion why I love Chase Ultimate Reward points. The option to transfer points to JetBlue. 

Jet Blue has six hubs, JFK, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, San Juan and Los Angeles. And if you search flights, you can find one way flights for as low as 7,000 points and $5.60 in taxes. Wow! 

JetBlue partners with Hawaiian Airlines, Iceland Air, Eithad, Qatar, TAP Portugal, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways. You book all of these airlines on the Jet Blue website so it's fairly easy. To find these incredible deals, go to the JetBlue.com website. Enter your departure airport and destination airport and a date. Be sure to click use true blue points. 

Look at this flight from JFK to Orlando, Florida. 

To get a monthly overview, click on the date.

But it gets even more interesting if you want to fly across the pond. Look at this one way flight from LAX to Lisbon, Portugal. Taxes are shown as $5.60 and the cash price is more than $800. Wow! 

What's amazing about this is your Chase Ultimate Reward points transfer to Jet Blue 1:1 which makes these flights very cheap plus the taxes are low. In my travel coaching program, I show you how you can earn thousands of CUR points easily with just your normal purchases. 

Now whenever you are planning to transfer points from Chase, Citi or Amex to an airline, be sure the flight is available BEFORE you transfer points because you can't get the points back. 

The transfer should happen immediately though the fine print says it could take a few days. 

I usually put the flights I want in the cart and then make the transfer. You may have to log out and back in for the points to show up in your Jet Blue account. 

My favorite way to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards is with my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Right now, you can earn 60,000 bonus points with a $4,000 minimum spend. It also includes a Global Entry credit, Priority Pass Lounge Access and travel delay and cancellation insurance. If the $550 annual fee for the Sapphire is too heft, my next favorite is the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. It comes with the same bonus offer and less benefits, but only has a $95 annual fee. 

Need guidance finding and making these redemptions, join my travel coaching program and let me help you. Use the promo code "FREETRAVEL" for $50 off. 

How You Can Get Your Next Tour or Airbnb For FREE

 

Some places that you travel to like Diamond Beach in Iceland do not have chain hotels that you can book on points like Marriott, Hyatt or Hilton. Or maybe like our family of five, hotels are not a good choice because you need two rooms or you will be forced to eat out for every meal. 

How You Can Get Your Tour or Airbnb For FREE

So how can you get your Airbnb, Bed and Breakfasts and tours for FREE if you can't use points?

The secret is in the Capital One Venture credit card.  Current bonus offer ends Sept. 9th so read carefully. 

The Capital One Venture and Venture X credit cards include a travel eraser and travel credit through the Capital One Travel Portal. 

 

Let's explain: 

1. Travel Eraser - When you log into your Capital One account and click view rewards, cover travel purchases, you will see a list of qualified purchases. Any purchase that codes as travel will qualify to be erased like Airbnb, tours, rental cars etc. You can erase the whole purchase or just part of it. You can even erase some of the purchase and then when you have more points, erase the rest. You have three months to erase the purchase so start with the oldest ones first. The value is 1:1 so some would argue you can get more value out of your points by transferring them to an airline, but I believe this is personal to your strategy and goals. For example, I erased the hotel charge for our 5th person in Tahiti. We already had our flights and over water bungalow covered so this was a random travel purchase we could get for FREE. Worth it! 

2. Travel Credit in the Portal - The Venture credit card comes with a $250 travel credit with the current bonus offer which ends Sept. 9th and the Venture X always comes with a $300 travel credit when you purchase hotels or flights through the Capital One Travel Portal. In order to use this credit, you must book your hotel or flight through the Capital One Travel Portal which works great for independent hotels and bed and breakfasts. In the booking process, the portal will ask if you want to use your travel credit to cover the purchase. You do not have to use the entire credit on a single purchase.  

 

Some people are hesitant to book travel through third parties like the Capital One Travel Portal, but I have found it to work quite well. Even when my flight was cancelled due to weather last summer, I was notified by both the airline and Capital One of the cancellation and how to reschedule. 

Ending Sept. 9th, Capital One Venture credit card is offering a $250 travel credit, $100 Global Entry credit and 75,000 bonus points when you sign up. There is a $4,000 minimum spend and a $95 annual fee. So with the travel credit, you are actually making money on this card approximately $1,000. You can only get this bonus once every 4 years. We do not know how long this offer is going to last so don't wait. 

The Capital One Venture X card is a good option if you want airport lounge access for you and your authorized users. The current offer is 75,000 bonus points for a $4,000 minimum spend and a $395 annual fee, but it includes a $300 travel credit. 

If you need some help figuring out if this card will help you reach your travel goals, join my Travel Coaching Program. The next cohort launches September 15th and it's my personal goal to help my clients collectively save more than $100,000 in 2025. 

Woohoo! Another Client Success Story

 

I love using points and miles to save on travel, but what I love even more is to help others save on travel. 

So far, dozens of people have joined my Travel Coaching Program and saved thousands! You read about the honeymoon couple who used points to score FREE flights to Italy or my client who saved more than $3,000 on a month long trip to Iceland and Italy  

Now we have another client success story! 

This time, our client saved $3,200 on a 2-week trip to Kenya and Tanzania Africa.

The client paid for a National Geographic Photographic Safari, but was able to get her flights for FREE.

This is a list of what she was able to get for FREE: 

• Flights and seat upgrades round trip to Africa for 2 Los Angeles to Nairobi, Arusha to Los Angeles 

If you want to learn how to use points and miles to travel for FREE, consider joining my Travel Coaching Program. You get five short videos explaining the basics, a personal tracker and then 1:1 with me where we talk travel goals and set a plan in action. Then you can join our monthly live coaching session forever for FREE!

We look forward to helping you plan your next trip!