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Iceland Invites You to Take Advantage of its Economic Misfortunes

Where: Iceland
October 11, 2008 at 12:09 PM | by | Comments (2)

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.

We're going to go out on a limb and name Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik as the "it" spot on the budget travel map this fall and winter. Exchange rates now favor travelers from Europe and the U.S., especially where it really counts: in beer prices. A pint of the good stuff used to cost travelers roughly ten bucks in a decent bar. Now it's nearly half that. It's a similar story with hotel rates, especially during the slower winter season.

Bargain hunters should make their way to icelandair.com to check out some of the new deals the company has hustled out in the past few days. Its Winter Airfare Special has rates starting at $400 round-trip from Boston or New York, and its Iceland Winter Madness offer starts at $549 per person (double occupancy) for round-trip airfare and three nights at the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica.

With prices like these, Reykjavik might be just the place to chill out for a couple of days after you get that pink slip. Even the measliest severance check could cover a few Icelandic beers now.  

[Photo: Icelandair]

Related Stories:
· Why Now is the Time to Visit Iceland [Times Online]
· Iceland Devaluation Has Silver Lining for Visiting Americans [Marketwatch]
· Icelandair [Official Site]
· Iceland Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

Comments (2)

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Return to » Iceland Invites You to Take Advantage of its Economic Misfortunes


yea

I HEAR THAT! (the last paragraph)
JetSetCD on October 11, 2008 at 7:46 PM #Permalink

Shame!

USA should be the first to help this country and not to take advantage. It is the moral author of their misfortune and it's a shame! No one should suffer because of the incapacity of some to predict economical disasters!!!!
Iepurica on January 25, 2009 at 9:06 AM #Permalink

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