My Top 5 Tips When Visiting Iceland

Iceland, the land of fire and ice. It's beautiful, clean and full of all sorts of nature experiences like the iconic Blue Lagoon. But how is the best way to explore this island? and can you use points and miles? I just returned and I'm going to share my top five tips when visiting Iceland. 

You can go to Iceland and spend a million dollars, but that's not how I like to travel. So I'm going to share the way I like to travel and you can use some of my tips or all of my tips, whatever fits your travel style. 

I will share with you that 99% of the people we met on our visit to Iceland were using these same tips. Before we get started, points and miles are not easy to use in Iceland. Outside of Reykajavik, there are no hotel chains. But you can always erase travel with the Capital One Venture X card. You can see how to do that here. You can also use Capital One or Chase Ultimate Reward points to book guest houses. If you can't use points to book, you may be able to maximize the points you earn by booking through the travel portal. 

Now that we got points and miles out of the way, let's get to the fun part! 

Tip #5

Book everything early! The summer months are busy in Iceland so if you are planning to visit during this time, book early. Not only book your tours early, but book your car rental and accommodations. There are only 370,000 people living in all of Iceland AND 300,000 of them live in Reykajavik so that means there are only so many options once you get outside the city. Also make sure you use the right credit card to book your car rental so you are insured. The weather is real in Iceland so are the dirt and gravel roads. 

Tip #4

Check out guesthouses with shared bathrooms and breakfast. These are super cute bed and breakfast type accommodations. I preferred these over Airbnb because they included breakfast and wonderful local hosts. Now if you are travelling with a group, Airbnb may be more cost effective. 

Tip #3 

Bring waterproof everything! Pants, jackets, hoods, shoes or an extra pair of shoes. An umbrella is nice, but the wind is also strong in Iceland so waterproof clothing is better. This is the land of the foss or waterfall plus it rains a lot! If you can't bring it with you, head to a thrift store in Reykajavik and buy it all there. Then maybe you could even sell it back to the store when you leave. 

Tip #2

Buy staples at Costco, gas stations and grocery stores - Food in Iceland is expensive and not very good. So it's a better option to just cook for yourself. There is a Costco outside of Reykajavik. And it sells most of the familiar items including peanut butter and almond butter. So it's a great place to load up on snacks, sandwich makings, muffins and other items you can eat in the car or in the Airbnb. You can also stop at Bonus to pick up groceries. And believe it or not, the gas stations in Iceland are a great place for breakfast, sandwiches and souvenirs. 

Tip #1 

Budget Airline - It used to be WOW Air and now it's called Play. It's a budget airline that flies a few times a week from Boston, Washington DC and Baltimore to Reykajavik. My round trip ticket cost approximately $350 round trip. I used my Southwest points and companion pass to get us to Baltimore. It's a budget airline so seats, drinks, snacks and baggage cost extra so plan accordingly. The airline also doesn't fly everyday. But if it works with your schedule and travel style, it's a great way to cross the Atlantic. 

So there you go, my top 5 tips when visiting Iceland. I'll leave you with one more. If you have one week, don't try to see the entire Ring Road instead spend some time on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and maybe check out the Lava Cave in Husafell and then stick to the Southern Ring Road. If you have two weeks, then travel the entire Ring Road. 

Enjoy! 

 

Iceland In A Week Off The Beaten Path

 

Okay, I promised off the beaten path and we will get there. But first, most flights from the US arrive into Reykjavik early in the morning. Customs takes about 5-10 minutes to pass through and the question is now what?

Day 1, Three recommendations for you:

Iceland In A Week Off The Beaten Path 

1. Before you enter the duty free area in the airport on your way out to the car rental shuttle, you will pass through a food court. This is actually for departing passengers, but they will serve you. I suggest grabbing some breakfast here. They have a variety of items hot and cold, well priced and you can eat up a little time before you head to the next stop. 

Restaurants in the Reykjavik Airport 

2. Make a reservation for the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon. You can check out endless posts debating the pros and cons of these spas. I chose the Blue Lagoon, it's iconic. But you can't go wrong with either one. And after a red eye flight, it's a dream. The Blue Lagoon has a luggage hold, but you will probably have a rental car anyway. You can make a reservation for 9am or 10am and they are fine if you arrive early. Plan to spend a few hours here. 

Iceland In A Week Off The Beaten Path 

3. If you are heading to Iceland between May and August, then you definitely want to see a Puffin while there. You can try scheduling a stop in the south to the Westman Islands, but plan for a whole day or if you have more than a week, there are a few popular spots in the north. OR you can book a ticket on the Puffin Express out of Reykjavik. It's a one hour express boat to a small island popular with Puffins. It's a sure thing. I booked it because we needed to stay awake and I figured that way we didn't need to chase spots during the trip or be disappointed when we didn't get to see them. You can book online through Viator.  

Okay, if you still have time, you can buy some groceries at Costco and/or Bonus Grocery store or pick up dinner at a gas station and then get a good night's sleep and be ready to hit the off the beaten path road. 

Hot dogs, pastries and more at the gas station 

Day 2: You can read all about the Golden Circle and Ring Road everywhere. But if you want to go off the beaten path where the tour buses aren't, you might want to spend a few days on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the small town of Grundarfjordur. It has population 900 and is located in the shadow of Kirkjufell Mountain, made famous by Game of Thrones. 

We chose to go kayaking in the bay with Vestur Adventures, but you can also hike or fish. After dressing up in warm dry suits, we paddled across the bay, checked out a waterfall and tried some Icelandic seaweed. Apparently it's a delicacy. When we returned to the dock, the guides served hot chocolate. Beautiful experience. 

Iceland In A Week Off The Beaten Path 

There are also plenty of hikes in the area including this one on the left of the road just before you enter the town. Watch for the gravel parking lot. 

Gravel parking lot for the waterfall hike 

Then you walk to the gate and enter through a small door in the fence. Once you cross the field, you walk along the fence to the river and walk along the river towards the fall. Depending on the time of the year and waterflow, you will see how close the fall you can get. 

There is a hostel in this town that has shared bathrooms and a kitchen. We cooked up a delicious pasta dinner. 

Day 3 - We drove west around the peninsula to the town of Olafsvik. This is the only place in Iceland where you have a chance of seeing Orcas in the wild. We booked a whale watching tour with Laki Tours. Again dressed in warm dry suits, we headed out for a 3 hour tour with fingers crossed. 

Day 3 - From Olasvik, we drove several hours to the Highlands. The main town is called Husafell and it's where you can find the largest Lava Cave in the world, glacier, hikes and a Natural Canyon Bath. You can book the tours through the Hotel Husafell. There is one hotel in this town, one guesthouse, one gas station and a small convenience store so come prepared. 

Standing in front of the Lava Cave

Inside the Lava Cave

We spent two nights and a full day in Husafell. It was nice to relax before hitting the road again. 

Day 4 - On our way to the Southern Ring Road, we stopped at the hot river in Reykjadalur Valley. To get to the river, you park in the lot where there is small store, cafe and bathrooms. You will pay to park when you leave. Then set off to hike about 1.5 hours mostly up hill. But once you reach the geothermal and hot river, it's worth it. The changing rooms are rustic so be prepared. But laying in the river with the mountains of Iceland surrounding you is amazing!

Day 5-7 - We explored the Southern Ring Road which is a must do though it is definitely NOT off the beaten path. There are several popular waterfalls and of course, Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach which I highly recommend. To explore this area and feel like you are off the beaten path, you might want to stay in guesthouses instead of hotels. You can book through hostel world or Chase or Capital One travel portals. 

Guesthouse near Vik on the Southern Ring Road

Most have shared kitchens and include breakfast. Don't be afraid of shared bathrooms either. The guesthouses are not your typical hostel. 

Breakfast includes meats, cheese, yogurt, bread and oatmeal. Very filling! 

Day 7 - Drive back to Reykjavik and perhaps make a quick stop at the place where the European and Asian tectonic plates meet. The Bridge is an alternative off the beaten path to going into the national park. 

Remember to use the right credit cards so you either earn points or can erase your travel purchases. That's how we do it at AlmostFREEfamilytravel. 

 

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. 

Now we have another client success story! 

This time, our client saved $3,200 on a month long trip to Iceland and Italy. 

The client spent 4 days in Iceland and 3 weeks in Italy. 

Here is how she used points to save:

Capital One Venture X Card

• $395 (charge $ 4,000 3 months)
• $300 Travel Credit (so card cost $99 but we split the charge)
• $100 Credit towards Global Entry (got entry card coming back from Venice @ LAX)
• 75,000 bonus miles
• Priority Lounge Access (used in Seattle and Venice)

American Express Delta

• Used points to buy a $500 gc (they were giving a 10% discount on gc) used GC towards plane ticket home. Plus miles I had so my ticket was FREE.

• Used points towards upgrade 2 passengers to Premium Plus coming home from Italy flew Delta Home

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! 

WOW Air offers great Spring Break Flights

WOW Air, the discounted Iceland airline, is offering amazing deals right now through April. If you are thinking about a European vacation over Spring Break 2017, this may be your ticket. And if you buy the tickets with your Barclay Arrival Plus credit card, you can get 5% back or use your $500 travel credit.

Some sample fares include:

$99 from Los Angeles to Reyjavik, Iceland
$129 from Los Angeles to Berlin, Germany

and lots more! I have seen reports of fares as low as $69, but I could not find those. The lowest I found was $99 one way.

Now WOW Air is a discounted airline so be careful because they will nickel and dime you for everything including printing your boarding pass, seat reservation, baggage etc. So read the fine print!

But for a family wanting a vacation, you could fly for almost FREE!

Only One Spot Left! Be A Beta Tester for my New FREE Travel Coaching Program!

       Awesome photo from Iceland's Diamond Beach to get your attention! 

Now that I have visited 54 countries and six continents, many of them with points and miles so travel was almost FREE, I'm ready to coach others on how to do this too. 

My goal is for everyone to be able to travel! This exclusive opportunity is perfect for women who love to travel and want to unlock the secrets of exploring the world on a budget.

Exclusive Opportunity: Seeking 5 Women as Beta Testers for my FREE Travel Coaching Program!

As Beta Testers, you'll have the chance to experience my revolutionary Travel Coaching Program before anyone else. Learn insider tips, tricks, and strategies to maximize your travel experiences while saving money. From finding the best deals on flights and accommodations to planning unforgettable itineraries, this personalized program has got you covered.

Are you ready to embark on this adventure? Apply now to secure your spot as one of the lucky 5 Beta Testers. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to transform your travel dreams into reality. Act fast, as spots are limited!

What does this program look like?

• You will get a four-part video series explaining points and miles basics in super simple terms 
• Then you will fill out a tracker with all of your points, miles and current credit cards (just the cards, no numbers LOL) so I can review where you are 
• Then we will meet over zoom for a 30 minute 1:1 coaching session to strategize

From there, you can join the optional monthly zoom coaching session with the cohort where we will support each other and plan a trip together and/or you can choose to continue 1:1 coaching sessions with me. 

In return, I will ask you for feedback on everything. 

Don't wait to sign up because this coaching program is going to be awesome and it will only be FREE for just a few beta testers! 

How to Witness the Northern Lights Using Points and Miles

 

If seeing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, then you have come to the right place to find out how to use points and miles to make that dream happen. 

Recently, I went to Lapland Finland north of the Artic Circle in hopes of seeing the Aurora. Fortunately, we were able to see the lights twice during our 5 days in Lapland. 

The lights dance in the sky and the colors are barely visible with the naked eye. But their vibrant greens, reds and purples show themselves in the camera. 

So if this is on your bucket list, let's talk about how to use points and miles to get there. 

How to Witness the Northern Lights Using Points and Miles

First, the Northern Lights are visible in Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland. Occasionally they are visible further south, but you can't count on it. And some people have actually seen them from the airplane, but again, you can't plan for that. You will also want to be in the area for at least 4-5 nights to have a good chance for clear skies. 

You can download the Aurora app which will notify you when there is a chance to see the lights in your area. 

The lights are visible from October through March. 

For our trip, we flew Finnair from LAX to Helsinki and then caught a second Finnair flight to Ivalo Airport in Lapland. You can also fly to Rovaniemi in Lapland. Finnair joined the Avios loyalty program in March 2024. Avios is the loyalty program for British Airways, Iberia, Qatar and Aer Lingus. Right now, you can apply for the Chase British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus credit cards and earn the 75,000 Avios bonus offer. But we have seen it as high as 100,000 Avios. 

Finnair is also a partner with American Airlines so you can book with American Airlines miles and a transfer partner with Capital One. 

The easiest way to earn American Airlines miles is by applying for the Barclays American Aviator Mastercard. It comes with a 50,000 American mile bonus after just one purchase and the $99 annual fee. I have seen this offer as high as a 70,000 bonus.  

How to Witness the Northern Lights Using Points and Miles

Of course, you can also fly to Fairbanks, Alaska to see the lights via Alaska Airlines, American and Delta. Bilt Rewards also offers transfers to American and Alaska Airlines. 

Once you are in the area, there are hotels built to see the lights featuring igloos like this one at the Northern Lights Village in Lapland so you can stay toasty warm and watch the lights dance outside. There are also Northern Lights tours. You could book this hotel through the Chase Travel Portal. A random check of rooms available April 12-14 would cost $316 per night or 46,312 Chase Ultimate Reward points with the Sapphire Reserve. Not too bad. 

If you head to Fairbanks, Alaska, you can find all the major hotel chains there including Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and Wyndham. If you want the igloo experience, you can try the Borealis Base Camp for a pricey $990 per person for two nights. 

Other activities in Finland while you are waiting for the lights to appear include visiting a reindeer farm, snowshoe, sauna and driving a dog sled team. 

Seeing the Northern Lights is one of those bucket list experiences that is within reach with points and miles. As with all travel, if you want it almost FREE, you need to make a plan, plan early and be strategic. If you want help with this, join my Travel Coaching Program, it's affordable and I'll support you every step of the way so you can travel for almost FREE too. 

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! 

Registration is Open For The Second Cohort of my new Travel Coaching Program

 

Wish you could travel for FREE? You can. I am launching the second cohort of my Travel Coaching Program right now. There are only 10 spots available so don't wait. Click here to sign up!

I'm setting the price low since it's only the second cohort and I still need your feedback. But this cohort will sell out very quickly.

Check out some of the feedback from the first cohort:

"Stephanie Antin of Almost Free Family Travel has been so helpful in saving my family $1,000’s of dollars in travel costs.  I was also able to save on domestic travel by following her tips on how to make the most of your Southwest card to get a Companion Pass. If you love to travel Stephanie Antin and her Almost Free Family Travel blog is a “must have”!!
-Dena from San Diego

"I just want to take a moment to thank you for helping me plan my recent trip to Europe. Taking the time to clearly explain different credit card options, and giving me useful tips on using the miles and points was invaluable. In the end, I was able to use the points earned to cover airfare for all four of us to Iceland, The Netherlands, and Spain. I am now working on our upcoming summer vacation to Hawaii and plan to use points to cover not only airfare, but also most of our hotel rooms. I could not have done it without you!

Debbie from Riverside

In this program, you get the following:

• 3 video modules that cover basics of points and miles 
• 2 bonus modules with real life examples of redemptions 
• custom points and miles tracker 
• audit of your points, miles, credit cards
• 1:1 live strategy session with me
• group coaching sessions forever 

If you want to travel for FREE or if you are thinking about earning the Southwest Companion Pass for 2024-25, you need to be part of this new cohort. We will go step by step together to earn the pass. There are only 10 spots available, so don't wait. 

$99 Sale Price Ends January 1st For My Travel Coaching Program

 

The $99 sale price for my Travel Coaching Program ends January 1st, so don't wait. This price includes 3 video modules about points and miles plus two bonus modules with real life examples, personal points and miles tracker, 1:1 live coaching session with me, and monthly group zoom sessions. 

Check out some of the feedback from the first cohort:

"Stephanie Antin of Almost Free Family Travel has been so helpful in saving my family $1,000’s of dollars in travel costs.  I was also able to save on domestic travel by following her tips on how to make the most of your Southwest card to get a Companion Pass. If you love to travel Stephanie Antin and her Almost Free Family Travel blog is a “must have”!!
-Dena from San Diego

"I just want to take a moment to thank you for helping me plan my recent trip to Europe. Taking the time to clearly explain different credit card options, and giving me useful tips on using the miles and points was invaluable. In the end, I was able to use the points earned to cover airfare for all four of us to Iceland, The Netherlands, and Spain. I am now working on our upcoming summer vacation to Hawaii and plan to use points to cover not only airfare, but also most of our hotel rooms. I could not have done it without you!

Debbie from Riverside

In my travel coaching program, you get the following:

• 3 video modules that cover basics of points and miles 
• 2 bonus modules with real life examples of redemptions 
• custom points and miles tracker 
• audit of your points, miles, credit cards
• 1:1 live strategy session with me
• group coaching sessions forever 

The $99 sale price for my Travel Coaching Program ends January 1st, so don't wait. Let me help you reach your travel goals in 2024. 

Starting in 2021, US Citizens Will Need A Visa To Travel To Europe

Europe is one of those romantic and popular travel destinations. The history, the food, the culture is an amazing array for the senses. Starting in 2021, US citizens will need the authorization to travel to the Schengen area. The Schengen area includes 26 European countries that do not have internal borders. 

Those countries are:

• Spain
• France
• Italy
• Germany 
• Greece
• Poland
• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark 
• Estonia 
• Finland
• Hungary 
• Iceland 
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland 

The authorization will cost $8 and be good for three years. "Completing the online application should not take more than 10 minutes with automatic approval being given in over 95% of cases," the European Commission said in a statement.

The authorization is not considered a visa and more than 60 countries are affected not just the United States. 

The European Parliament approved the authorization in July citing security concerns.