Iceland: Planning an Epic Adventure with Brandon Presser

All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

Chris Hutchins

Business, Education, Investing, Society & Culture, Places & Travel, Self-improvement

4.7 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 10 May 2023

⏱️ 82 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

#115: Award-winning travel writer, Brandon Presser joins Chris to share the beauty and wonder of Iceland. They discuss everything you need to know to plan the ideal trip, including when to visit, suggested itineraries, cultural norms and social etiquette, top hot springs, waterfalls and hiking destinations, the perfect season to chase the Northern Lights and novelty Icelandic cuisine. Finally, Chris offers tips on how to maximize your points and miles to make your Iceland trip more affordable and enjoyable. Brandon (@brandpress) is a well-traveled writer who has visited 130+ countries, immersing himself in different cultures and documenting his experiences. He contributes to some of the world's top travel publications and has published over 50 travel guides, including Iceland - Lonely Planet Country Guide, which he wrote after spending six months in the country. Full show notes: https://allthehacks.com/iceland-brandon-presser Partner Deals DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Eight Sleep: $150 off the Eight Sleep Pod to cool, heat, track, & sleep better Notion: Try Notion AI free to automate tedious tasks and streamline your work Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Awayz: the best cash and points search tool for hotel stays Resources Mentioned All the Hacks Trip Survey Brandon Presser: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website #53: Travel Hacks for Planning Your Best Trip Ever #101: Planning the Best Japan Trip Ever Capital Region: Reykjavík | Kópavogur | Hafnarfjörur Tourist Routes: Ring Road | Golden Circle (Geysir, Gullfoss, Thingvellir) Accommodations: Blue Lagoon Retreat Hotel Visit: Blue Lagoon Spa Package | Elf Garden Hot Springs/Pools: Vesturbæjarlaug | Sky Lagoon | Krauma | Secret Lagoon | Hvammsvík Dine/Drink: Fish Market | Fish Company | DILL | OX | Anna Jona | Hlemmur Food Hall | Posthus Food Hall Cafes: Reykjavik Roasters | Kaktus Espressobar Western Region: Borgarnes | Stykkishólmur Visit: Snaefellsnes Peninsula | Borgarnes Museum Hot Springs/Pools: Krossneslaug | Laugarnes Dine/Drink: The Settlement Center Restaurant Westfjords Region (Brandon's Favorite): Ísafjörður Visit: Dynjandi Waterfall Northern Region: Akureyri | Mývatn | Húsavík Activities: Whale watching Hot Springs/Pools: Hofsós Swimming Pool | Forest Lagoon | Geosea Eastern Region: Visit: Skaftafell Glaciers Hot Springs/Pools: Vök Baths Southern Region: Keflavík | Vík í Mýrdal | Skógar | Þórsmörk | Hvolsvöllur | Hella Visit: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon | Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach | Skógafoss Waterfall Activities: Fimmvörðuháls Hike Icelandic Sweet Treats: Hraun | Licorice Guides: Midgard Adventure Northern Lights Information: Icelandic Meteorological Office Find Up-to-Date Restaurant Recommendations: The Reykjavik Grapevine Beyond Iceland: Newfoundland Bonavista Peninsula Skerwink Trail Northern Norway Lofoten Greenland Flight Distance Tool: Great Circle Mapper Full Show Notes (02:55) What Makes Iceland Special (06:43) Planning a Perfect Trip to Iceland (08:56) Four Days in Iceland (10:32) When to Travel to Iceland (13:33) Iceland's Culture and People (16:47) Cultural Norms and Social Etiquette in Iceland (18:05) Iceland’s Must-See Destinations (20:47) Exploring Different Regions in Iceland (28:49) Hiring a Guide in Iceland (34:41) Chasing Northern Lights in Iceland (36:57) Getting Around Iceland: Transportation (39:00) Flying within Iceland (40:56) Exploring Reykjavik (45:37) What to Eat and Drink in Iceland (47:00) Iceland's Hot Springs Culture (51:23) More on Reykjavik (52:18) Learning the Icelandic Language (58:11) Hidden Gems in Iceland (58:55) Exploring Iceland with Kids (1:01:20) Destinations Similar to Iceland (1:05:16) The Hidden World of Icelandic Elves (1:06:32) All the Hacks Iceland Trip (1:08:44) Miles & Points for Iceland (1:16:23) Award Hotels in Iceland

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, and welcome to another episode of All The Hacks, a show about upgrading your
0:06.0	life, money, and travel.
0:07.4	If you're new here, I'm your host, Chris Hutchins, and one of the areas I love optimizing
0:11.7	the most is travel.
0:12.7	I've been to 60 plus countries, and on every trip I love meeting locals, understanding
0:17.2	their culture, having unique experiences, and eating the best foods a place has to offer.
0:22.1	So a few months back, I started doing episodes on top travel destinations, and the feedback
0:26.1	I got from all of you was so positive I'm going to keep it going.
0:29.5	In one country that's been on my list for years, but that I haven't made it to yet is
0:33.4	Iceland.
0:34.4	I thought it was finally going to happen when some close friends of ours got engaged
0:37.4	and said their wedding was going to be there, but it ended up being only a couple weeks
0:40.9	after our youngest daughter was due, so it didn't happen.
0:44.0	But it's not just me that wants to go, I've heard from so many of you that it's at the
0:47.6	top of your list as well, so I thought it would be a great place for an episode.
0:52.1	And funny enough, I already knew the perfect guest, Brandon Presser, who's joining me
0:56.3	for his third appearance on the show after we did an episode on Japan just a few months
1:00.2	back.
1:01.2	Well he's also an expert on Iceland.
1:03.2	When he was researching a guidebook he was writing, he spent six months in the country
1:07.2	and literally went everywhere.
1:08.7	I mean every restaurant, every hotel, every fjord head, and every farm that had an extra
	...

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