ICELANDIC TOURIST BOARD                                                                      DATELINE SEPTEMBER 2008

Travel deals, hit music, tree plantings and a traditional sheep and horse round-up. It�s all happening in Iceland this fall. Read on �

USA TODAY CALLS ICELAND A TOP FIVE FALL BARGAIN DESTINATION

"It's been a long time since Iceland was on the radar as a bargain destination,” says the Aug. 13 issue of USA Today. "But this year, the small country has seen a precipitous 22% drop in the value of its currency against the euro. As a result, Iceland is on the map this fall as a more affordable alternative to mainland Europe,” writes Christine Sarkis of SmartTravel.com.

Icelandair is advertising fall sale fares with substantial savings compared to fall flights to the Continent. For example, an October flight from Boston to Reykjavik is $562 (even lower than the advertised price), while round-trip flights to Paris on other carriers around the same time top $1,000.

You can also find deals on vacation packages this autumn. Icelandair is offering $120 off per person for September departures of its fall Glaciers, Geysers and Waterfalls package, which includes airfare, accommodations, most meals, and sightseeing from $1,869 before the discount. Its Iceland Airwaves special includes airfare, two nights' accommodations, and passes to the major music festival taking place between October 15 and 19, from $877 per person. Package provider go-today.com has an October three-night Reykjavik getaway from $829, according to the USA Today story.


NEW FROMMER’S GUIDEBOOK AVAILABLE

Frommer’s® Iceland, 1st Edition (Wiley, $21.99), provides detailed information on glacier tours, dog sledding, and whale watching activities for travelers seeking daytime thrills. The guidebook also includes extensive information on Reykjavík’s trendsetting clubbing and music, for travelers wanting to take full advantage of Iceland’s popular nightlife.

Frommer’s Iceland’s Active Iceland chapter includes everything you need to know about:

Caving: Iceland has some of the world’s longest lava-tube caves, which can be explored on your own or with a number of experienced tour operators.

Dog Sledding: An alternative to snowmobiles and ATVs, dog sledding treks are a popular year-round activity.

Glacier tours: Glaciers cover 10% of Iceland’s surface, and can be explored on snowmobiles, skis, dog sleds, and Jeeps.

Hiking: With its open spaces and clean, fresh air, hiking is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Iceland.

All Frommer’s Complete Guides include user-friendly notations such as star ratings and special icons to point readers to great finds, excellent values, insider tips, best bets for kids, and overrated experiences. Visit Frommers.com for many more tips on traveling to Iceland, as well as booking tools for flights and hotels.

For more information click here.

DON’T LET THE MUSIC GO

There is a certain kind of person for whom one of the principle joys of summer is the music it brings. The seeds of outdoor concerts and music festivals nurtured in the mind’s eye during a gray spring day arrive fully ripened in the warmer months. But when the summer ends and the eclectic hipster shows and immense hippie gatherings fall off the vine, what then?

Then, music lovers, you have Airwaves, Oct. 15-19.

Iceland Airwaves, the four-day music spectacular held every year in venues across Reykjavik, is back – and the line-up keeps growing. The festival, which will take place at venues all over the city, will showcase established and upcoming artists from Europe and North America. Acts include Crystal Castles, Dr. Spock, El Perro Del Mar, Final Fantasy, Gus Gus, Reykjavík!, Robots In Disguise, Seabear, Simian Mobile Disco, Sprengjuhöllin, and These New Puritans. The complete list of acts, venue information and more can be found by checking in with icelandairwaves.com regularly. See you out there.

LIVING ON THE EDGE

Don’t fence us in …. one thing visitors immediately notice about visiting Iceland’s 10,000 waterfalls is that the scenery is rarely obstructed by fences or other barricades. At Niagra Falls you get the impression authorities would prefer to strap you in with harnesses, what with all the fences and warning signs and whackos going over the falls in barrels. Not Iceland. You can get as close to the edge as you dare, although we don’t advise it. The Godafoss ("Waterfall of the Gods”) waterfall between Akureyri and Myvatn is where we found this particularly brave fellow.

BLUE LAGOON SKINCARE AVAILABLE AT SAKS

While it’s always preferable to actually visit Iceland if you can, the next best thing might be to wear a little bit of the country everyday, no matter where you are. To that end, Blue Lagoon skincare products are now available exclusively at select Saks Fifth Avenue stores in New York, Chicago, Boston, Beverly Hills, Costa Mesa, Phoenix and Palm Beach.

Blue Lagoon Skincare’s high performance formulas harness the power of the source – exclusive Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater and its natural, patent-pending ingredients: silica, algae and minerals – and combine it with advanced science to create a true "naturceutical” skincare line.

This year, visitors to the Blue Lagoon have included Danish crown prince Fredrik and princess Mary, Al Gore, Martha Stewart, and Desperate Housewives stars Andrea Bowen and Joy Lauren, who, frankly, we’ve never heard of before either since we’re still trying to finish the Sunday New York Times when the show comes on. For more information visit www.bluelagoon.com or www.saksfifthavenue.com

A TREE GROWS IN ICELAND

This fall, just by drinking water from Iceland, you’ll actually help keep the country green. Through an innovative Icelandic tree planting program, Iceland Spring water will offset its carbon emissions to become carbon neutral, working closely with Kolvidur, the Iceland Carbon Fund (www.kolvidur.is). Using transportation and shipping calculations throughout the year, Kolvidur will calculate the number of trees needed to offset emissions. The planting and supervision of these forests will be performed by local forestry associations or other contractors.

Originally a land of vegetation, Iceland was the location of choice for 9th century Vikings. With a tolerable climate, fresh water sources, and a plethora of grazing lands for livestock, Iceland was an ideal location for settlement. Over the centuries however, with the arrival of a crueler climate coupled with an increased population, deforestation and over grazing became common. In fact, by the 1900’s, 97 percent of Iceland’s original forests were destroyed. Kolvidur’s tree planting efforts will help the country return to its original green glory, while having a positive effect on the environment.

More trees is just part of the story. Iceland Spring is also using recyclable bottles and packages, and consumes electricity from clean geothermal sources. (For more information: www.icelandspring.com).

RETTIR RENDEZVOUS

Each year Iceland’s world renown sheep and horses need to be rounded up in the summer pastures of the north country and brought into their pens for the winter. Visitors can participate in this age-old yearly round-up called "rettir.” There are organized tours available from various farms, such as Brekkulækur (www.farmholidays.is, 354 451 2938), and Hvammur II (www.icetourist.is, 354 452 7174). It’s also possible to just show up, follow the proceedings, and take part in the jolly atmosphere that includes dances and other festivities. Sheep and horse round-ups in the north are planned through September into mid October. (For more information: www.nordurland.is)

THEY SAID IT

"Vikings are crazy. We're crazy. We believe so much in ourselves. I think that's the secret."

– Iceland Olympic Men’s handball athlete Ingimundur Ingimundarson

Iceland claimed its second-ever silver medal, losing to France in men’s handball in the final event of the Beijing Olympics.

Back in Iceland, streets were deserted as people watched the match in their homes or in pubs and clubs. Companies allowed employees time off, while at least two cinemas screened the match for free. Players said that during the team’s semifinal appearance the country’s stock market stopped business as traders abandoned their computers to tune in.

Aside from the 1956 silver in the triple jump, Iceland has won two other bronzes, the last in 2000, and no golds. Despite the name, our country of just 300,000 people has never excelled at winter games, either. Go figure. Perhaps we’re always too busy taking in the sights.

"It's like what Iceland handball captain Olafur Stefansson told me when I asked whether people in his country actually believe in magic elves. ‘It's not so much a matter of believing in the regular sense of the word, it's more of enjoying the possibility of it actually existing,’ he said. ‘And it doesn't matter whether somebody judges you or not for having that possibility in your mind. Because it's a funny possibility, and it enlightens your life and makes it more colorful.’”

– Dan Steinberg, The Washington Post, Aug. 23

"’Go to one of the swimming pools,’ he (a Tourist Information tour guide) insisted. ‘Visiting Reykjavik and not using a swimming pool is like going to Finland without having a sauna.’ In my case, no further prompting was required. The experience vastly exceeded my expectations – so much so that I went to the pool every morning, sometimes for as long as two or more hours.”

– Vit Wagner, Toronto Star, Aug. 21, 2008


Travel Deals of the Month

Budget Getaway

This is the lowest priced package offered by Icelandair. If you're looking to save some money and have some flexibility on your vacation, take advantage of this offer. Stay at the Foss Hotel Lind or Foss Hotel Baron, two hotels in the center of Reykjavik known for their friendly staff and great locations. Explore Iceland’s capital city any time Nov. 1, 2008 – Apr. 26, 2009 from just $799* per person based on double occupancy.
Click here for more information.

Thanksgiving a la Iceland

Thinking about going out for dinner this Thanksgiving? Well, you can enjoy a turkey – and then some – with this package. Iceland is just five hours from Canada and the U.S. – and a perfect place to have a great time while you’re counting your blessings. Luxuriate for three nights in a double room at Hotel Loftleidir in Reykjavik, enjoy a Blue Lagoon Express tour on the day of your arrival, Scandinavian buffet breakfast daily, and Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet at Lonid Restaurant in the Hotel Loftleidir.

The departure date is Nov. 26, 2008. From $1,135* per person based on double occupancy.
Click here for more information.

New Year's Eve on Top of the World

New Year’s Eve is all about the party and Iceland may have the best New Year’s party on the planet. We have a deal for you with a gala dinner, roaring bonfires, a midnight citywide fireworks display and dancing until dawn. The next morning you can soak your cares away in the Earth-warmed waters of the Blue Lagoon so you can face 2009 with a brand new attitude. This is a very popular tour and a popular time for travel, so it makes sense to book early. Flights depart Dec. 28 or 29, 2008. From $1,855* per person based on double occupancy.
Click here for more information.

*Prices quoted are exclusive of applicable taxes and official charges by destination of approximately $100-$270, per person including the Sept. 11th Security Fee.

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