PANCAKES WITH THE PRESIDENT

The tiny nation of Iceland is making history as the world’s first population to invite tourists into their homes. The campaign is being led by President Grimsson, who in a video invites tourists into his home for traditional  pancakes as well as to meet citizens who support the campaign to enjoy unique Icelandic experiences. Visitors can peruse videos of participating Icelanders to learn what is on offer. Join Siggi in northern Iceland on a sampling tour of his microbrewery or Asta in Reykjavik to learn how to knit traditional Icelandic sweaters. There's nothing like meeting locals to experience their country in a personal way and Inspired by Iceland has made it easy for visitors to do exactly that. Only in Iceland folks!

ICELAND AND REYKJAVIK VOTED BEST OF 2012!

After hundreds of nominations for cities and countries and over 3000 votes for the finalists, Iceland and the city of Reykjavik swept top accolades in Lonely Planet’s newly published Best in Travel 2012 guidebook winning both Reader's Choice Best Destination and Best City. This exciting honor comes shortly after being designated a “Best Trip in 2012” by National Geographic Traveler. According to Lonely Planet, "Clearly, in the view of voters, this is Iceland’s year for travelers." 

BORN TO EXPLORE IS STILL ON!

Iceland’s Born to Explore episode aired on ABC last Saturday but it’s not too late to win your own Born to Explore trip to Iceland. And if you can’t wait for that check out this special offer on the Born to Explore package from Icelandair which includes activities seen on the show like riding a Viking horse and taking a luxurious dip in the famed Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Missed the episode? No worries - “Living with Volcanoes” will re-air on Saturday morning December 31st, check your local ABC listings for schedule time.

HOT DEALS & NEW TOURS

HOT DEAL from Iceland Adventure: $200 Discount on Best of Iceland Escorted Tour
This special offer is exclusive for Dateline Iceland readers with $200 off per person for 14-Day Best of Iceland or $100 off per person for the 7-Day Best of Iceland escorted tour if booked by Jan 15th. Great flexibility – choose from North or South Iceland on the 7-day tour and several optional excursions throughout. www.icelandicadventure.com

HOT DEAL from Icelandair: Golden Circle & Northern Lights from $767
This 5-day all inclusive package from $767 serves up Iceland’s amazing geothermal wonders with a side of luxurious indulgences. Explore the island’s raw natural beauty of thunderous waterfalls and exploding geysers and enjoy a relaxing dip in the Fontana nature spa followed by a sumptuous dinner made from pure, natural Icelandic ingredients – all during Northern Lights season. www.icelandair.us

HOT DEAL from Reykjavik Excursions: Winter Special 3 Tours for $210
Enjoy three amazing day tours during one trip for a new low price: The Northern Lights Tour, Reykjavik Grand Excursion, and The Golden Circle & Fontana Steam Bath Tour. This winter travel value is valid November 1, 2011 – April 15, 2012. www.re.is

HOT DEAL from Iceland Express: Roundtrip Air to Iceland from $499
Discover the magical wonderland that is Iceland in winter. The geothermal spas are hot, the nightlife is cool and the Northern Lights are shimmering. With less than five hours flying time from the east coast Iceland is a unique destination for a weekend getaway. This offer is limited to seats available so book now for travel through December. www.icelandexpress.com 

HOT DEAL from Iceland Tours: 5-day Self Drive from $450 in November
Book in November to receive a great deal on Pearls of the South self-drive tour for 5 days / 4 nights. This holiday package includes the most popular sights in Iceland, Thingvellir National Park, waterfalls, geysers, the south coast and the Blue Lagoon. Experience Iceland’s ever changing nature in wintertime, relax in quiet, comfortable countryside hotels and enjoy the sparkling cultural- and nightlife-atmosphere of Reykjavik. www.icelandtours.is

HOT DEAL from Landsmot Horse Show: Receive 20% Off
See our beautiful Viking horses at Iceland's favorite Landsmot horse show which takes place June 25 until July 1, 2012. An online discount is available if you purchase tickets before January 1st 2012. This wonderful event showcases top-level breeding horses, an exciting tolt competition and lively entertainment. www.landsmot.is  

NEW Package from Iceland Travel: Christmas Celebration from $484
Reykjavik was ranked as a Top Christmas Holiday Destination according to CNN's last year. With twinkling lights, world-class shopping, charming museums and unique Christmas traditions Iceland is a winter wonderland during the holidays. Discover the magic of Christmas in Iceland with this 5-day / 4 night land package. www.icelandtravel.is

ICELAND IN THE MEDIA

National Geographic Traveler - Best of the World in 2012: "This North Atlantic island nation is a world of knife-cut valleys, gargantuan fjords, monumental cliffs, black-sand beaches, thundering waterfalls, and silent white glaciers. Recent volcanic eruptions remind us that Iceland is still a country in the making, with changed landscapes that even Icelanders continue to discover." Read More

Chicago Sun Times – Iceland: Different Kind of Hot Spot by Lori Rackl: “I’ve never been to a place where the earth has seemed so alive. Volcanic eruptions, calving glaciers, spouting geysers, bubbling mud flats, earthquakes, gushing waterfalls. They’re all part of life on Iceland, a nation that owes much of its primal landscape to its precarious position on the globe.” Read More

Billboard Magazine - Iceland Airwaves Festival Draws With Big Indie Names but Keeps the Focus Local by Kieron Tyler: “The international profile of Iceland's music shows that locals already know awareness is key, but delegates from across Scandinavia, the UK, elsewhere in continental Europe, Australia, Canada were listening too.” Read More

CNN – World’s Top 15 Horse Treks by Darley Neuman: “When in Iceland, do not refer to the horses as ponies. This is a cultural blunder. Icelandic horses are small, but these strong Viking horses are said by Icelanders to be so tough that they can’t possibly be called ponies.” Read More

Rolling Stone - Bjork Premieres Multimedia 'Biophilia' at Spectacular Iceland Concert by David Fricke: “Björk sang, enunciating each syllable like an eager child, in "Thunderbolt," the first song of her remarkable opening-night show at the concert hall Harpa in Reykjavík, Iceland.” Read More

The Wall Street Journal - There's Charm Aplenty in Iceland's Capital by Jeff Mills: “For a quick taste of Reykjavik head for the area around Laekjartorg and the adjoining Austurstraeti pedestrianised area nearby, a favorite meeting place for locals during the day when they stroll around or sit on benches eating their lunchtime sandwiches." Read More

New York Magazine - At the Iceland Airwaves Music Fest, Björk Proves to Be the Next Björk by Boris Kachka: “On Sunday night, Björk performed in Reykjavik’s striking, Olafur Eliasson-designed Harpa concert hall. Biophilia and its accompanying apps have received middling reviews, but in a small venue like this, she was able to project her personality into pure showmanship.” Read More

JustLuxe - A Virtual Visit to Four European Culture Capitals by Lena Katz: “Reykjavik was recently named a UNESCO City of Literature — an official acknowledgement of how important its epic sagas and poems really were — but it’s also a place of lush and eerie electronica, abstract sculpture and striking architecture.” Read More

BusinessWeek - Denver Airport to Add Service to Iceland: “Icelandair announced Wednesday that it would start flying non-stop between Denver and Reykjavik in May. From there, travelers can also make connections to more than 20 other destinations in Europe.” Read More

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