'How To Get The Best Deal' Guides

Friday, November 8th 2024

"I'm a travel junkie who's hooked on deals from YYC." - Chris Myden


South Coast | Tagged Posts

2020
22
March
Self Drive or Tours: Which is the Best Way to Explore Iceland in 3 Days?

Question:

Profile picture of Judy

Judy

Hi I’m just planing a trip to Iceland for 3 days and 3 nights. Do you recommend self driving or joining tours? Just thinking of the entertainment value of having a tour guide vs the ability to see lots on a self drive. And of course probably cheaper to self drive. There’s 6 of us going but 1 has done the tours so probably won’t go touring with us. Thinking of snorkeling and blue lagoon on 1st day. South Coast and Gold Circle for a really long 2nd day. And Snaefellsnes on the 3rd day.
So Self Drive or Tours

Humans say...

Profile picture of Jeff

Jeff

Self driving allows you to go at your own pace which is nice. My wife and I did 3 days last April and I am personally glad I drove. Know the rules for which roads u can go on. Get all the insurance, and be careful of the wind. Also gas is expensive!

Profile picture of Heather

Heather

Drive. We found Iceland easy to navigate.

Profile picture of Chase

Chase

100% drive. You'll save time. Money and personally I find you can quickly do the Golden Circle Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik all on one day.

Profile picture of Chase

Chase

I did the entire island in 5 days. (Which I don't reccommend) Hahaha. The best is defintely in the north island. If you have the option to get a hotel or air BnB on the far east side of the island the glacier and waterfalls around Vik are worth the long commute.

Profile picture of Karen

Karen

Icelandair has great 3 or 4 day/night packages available including tours, hotels, etc. Some of the deals are way cheaper than booking yourself individually. The below link is in CAD, not US dollars. Sometimes you can get even cheaper through Travelzoo (just make sure it is also CAD)
https://www.icelandair.com/en-ca/vacations/

Profile picture of Axel

Axel

Def recommend driving and also going to the main stops before 10am. Tour buses usually get there around then so they flood with people. Most of the tourist popular places I had entirely to myself or close to it.

Profile picture of Ashley

Ashley

I’d recommend driving as well. Iceland isn’t hard to get around in and it allows you to go where you want, when you want, and stay for as little or as long as you’d like!
Have a great time, it’s beautiful!

Profile picture of Rosalie

Rosalie

I recommend the tour because it can get a little monotonous, I mean beautiful but monotonous so if I were to do it again I’d like to dream and nap on the longer drives...

Profile picture of Ge

Ge

Skip the crowd, get better photos, save time, drive...

Profile picture of Harpreet

Harpreet

Definitely drive. The tour was way too fast paced. We only got to spend 30-45 mins in each location.


A.I. says...

AI Profile Pic

Self Drive vs Tours in Iceland

When planning a trip to Iceland for 3 days and 3 nights, one of the key decisions to make is whether to opt for self-driving or joining tours. Let's weigh the pros and cons of each option based on your itinerary:

Self Driving

  • Entertainment Value: With self-driving, you have the freedom to explore at your own pace and make spontaneous stops along the way. However, you might miss out on the insights and stories that a tour guide can provide.
  • Sightseeing Opportunities: Self-driving allows you to see more sights in a day as you are not tied to a tour schedule. This can be beneficial if you want to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
  • Cost: Self-driving is usually cheaper than joining organized tours, especially if you are a group of 6. You can save on tour fees and potentially on food and accommodation costs as well.

Tours

  • Entertainment Value: Tours provide a structured itinerary with a knowledgeable guide who can enhance your experience with their insights and local knowledge. This can be particularly valuable if you are interested in learning more about Iceland's culture and history.
  • Sightseeing Opportunities: While tours may have a set itinerary, they are designed to cover the must-see attractions in a given region. This can be convenient if you want a hassle-free experience without worrying about navigation.
  • Group Dynamics: If one of your friends has already done the tours, they may prefer self-driving. However, joining tours can be a great way to meet other travelers and share the experience with a group.

Conclusion

Based on your itinerary, it seems like a mix of self-driving and joining tours could be a good option. You can self-drive on the 2nd day to cover the South Coast and Golden Circle, which are both popular routes with plenty of attractions. For the 1st day (snorkeling and Blue Lagoon) and the 3rd day (Snaefellsnes), you might consider joining organized tours to enhance your experience.



2019
30
December
Is it Possible to Visit 4 Different Areas in 5 Days in Iceland?

Read more



   










Join the Facebook Group!
    What happens when over 500,000 Canadians...

    * crowdsource the best travel deals

    * offer up their unbiased travel advice?

      Join the group for your city and find out!



(click 'Join Group', at the top-right, when you arrive)



Follow the deals on Twitter!
      Follow Twitter for the latest deals and       updates from your city...



(click 'Follow', when you arrive)




Follow the deals with RSS!
      Follow the deals from your city with your      favorite RSS reader...