Jaunted - is

Adventures of Link: About Those Deals in Iceland

pbb — 2008-10-13T17:30:44-05:00

So, yes, Iceland is on sale, and the country is facing some scary financial turmoil. But don't get the idea that it's all money riots and Wild West shootouts, says one Icelander in The Guardian:

Our currency might be in trouble and that hits us hard, our pay has been significantly devalued by rising costs, our stock exchange is still closed--but the foundations are still stable.
And despite what is written in the London tabloids, we still go to work every day, receive our salaries, pay our bills and gather in the pub in the evenings.

But there's the rub: Lost in all the hype that the kr�na is now super cheap--if you're buying it with dollars--is that prices will likely shoot up over the next couple months. So if you really do want to check out Iceland on the cheap, get to booking those tickets now.

Related Stories:
· Icelandair Winter Sale [Official Site]
· Frozen Out [The Guardian]
· Iceland on Sale for Next Year [BT]
· Arthur Frommer's Financial Crisis Travel Checklist [Frommer's]
· Iceland's Economy Turning to Tourism [Gadling]

[Photo of Iceland: ajagendorf25]

Iceland Invites You to Take Advantage of its Economic Misfortunes

Victor Ozols — 2008-10-11T12:09:13-05:00

While pretty much the entire world took a bath in the financial markets last week, few countries got hit harder than Iceland. The elf-filled North Atlantic island saw its currency plummet, its three biggest banks fail, and its stock exchange close due to "unusual market conditions." But while the acute economic meltdown represents one of the biggest challenges the country has faced in generations, it also creates a great opportunity for travelers who had heretofore been dissuaded from visiting Iceland due to its notoriously lofty prices. Better still, rather than viewing opportunistic tourists as vultures swarming over carrion, the nation is welcoming them - and what little cash they have in their pockets - with open arms.

Spending Greenbacks Travel: Who's Laughing Now, Europe?

pbb — 2008-10-09T10:45:42-05:00

The government of Iceland has taken over the country's largest bank, after snatching up two others earlier this week. And in London, frightened investors are buying up dollars, the last refuge for Europeans looking to keep their assets at least somewhat safe.

In travel terms, that means going to Europe has just gotten way cheaper for people spending dollars.

Bad Souvenir Travel: Try to Be Trendy in a Lopapeysur

amandak — 2008-08-22T09:00:14-05:00

In the past, we've had no qualms about saying we like the blog of budget airline Iceland Express. Who wouldn't be pleased to get tips on getting a date with an Icelander or making your own sock movie?

But now this crazy gang have gone too far. In a recent post, they very strongly recommended that we buy a Lopapeysa to wear while we're visiting Iceland (and to proudly show off at home, too). A Lopapeysa is a traditional Icelandic sweater, but take one look at the picture and you know why this hasn't caught on around the world.

Worse than that, they're usually priced from €100 to €200 (US$150-$300) which we think is kind of a high price to pay to look this out of style.

Related Stories:
· Five Things to Remember When Visiting Iceland [Iceland Express Blog]
· It's Official: Iceland Socks [Jaunted]
· Iceland Express Impresses [Jaunted]

[Photo: jillhudgins]

Movie Set Travel: Journey to the Center of the Earth

sedona — 2008-07-11T08:45:14-05:00

Old is new again with this week's pick, "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Based on the classic Jules Verne novel, the coolest thing about this one is that it was filmed for viewing entirely in 3-D. So grab your retro glasses and hit the theater for an action-packed flick.

An outcast science professor (Brendan Fraser) and his nephew are backpacking across Iceland when they come across a secret cave leading them into... the center of the earth! Determined to find out what happened to his missing brother, the professor and his young companion journey on and encounter all sorts of scary characters and never-before-seen adventures.

It's a family film (so no sex, drugs or violence) but we hear it's wildly entertaining and that the whole 3-D shtick really works. As parts of this one were actually shot in Iceland, here's some cool things to check out there:

Iceland Travel: Fun in the Summer Sun

kjb — 2008-06-30T10:00:08-05:00

If the summer heat has already gotten you down, then why don't you consider a trip to Iceland? Even in the capital of Reykjavik you'll be treated to coolness--expect temperatures in the 50s--as you experience a great deal of urban cleanliness--not to mention the country's green initiatives.

Who Says Icelandic Museums Aren't Interesting?

amandak — 2008-06-12T09:00:01-05:00

If you're one of those travelers who thinks museums are boring, you obviously haven't swung by the Icelandic Phallological Museum, 300 miles northeast of Reykjavik. It's admittedly a bit out of the way, but this is the world's largest collection of phallic specimens.

Wherever you look in this museum, you'll see a penis. They have samples from whales and walruses, hamsters and seals, but as yet, no humans. However:

It should be noted that the museum has also been fortunate enough to receive a legally-certified gift token for a future specimen belonging to Homo Sapiens.

Apparently the guy who gave the gift token is a 93-year-old and a plastic replica is standing in until he's ready to hand over the real thing.

Related Stories:
· Iceland's Penis Museum Pulls in the Crowds [Vagabondish]
· Icelandic Phallological Museum [Official Site]
· Iceland Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ollie Palmer]