Travel Day
Milano, Italia to Reykjavík, Ísland
Up and at it first thing thins morning. A quick bit to eat in the hotel, then the very short taxi ride to the airport. We got to the check-in deck and dropped out bags. One of Mary’s was slightly over but the agent let it slip. We could have repacked just a few things and all would have been ok anyway.
Then it was off to screening and finding the gate. All the normal processes you would expect at screening. The normal maze though duty free to find the gate. A stop at Starbucks for a coffee, if you can call it that, and then back to the gate.
One thing has always seemed out of place, as normal the “board” the priority passengers first, but then they put you on a bus to take you to the plane. They seem to fill the bus before taking off for the plane. Not only with priority passengers but everyone. True the priority passengers get to get on the bus first, but they tend to the the last ones off.
It didn’t matter there are only three of us in business class to Amsterdam. Our concern is always having room for the carryon luggage. We are in seats 1A & 1C which means no seat ahead of us to store things under. The same is true on the next flight as well.
The flight to Amsterdam was uneventful. Mostly slept. The service on ITA was great. In Amsterdam we looked for somewhere to get some lunch but ended up at Starbucks again. Fortunately, the gate for the next flight was only 100 meters from the arrival gate, unfortunately the terminal we are in is a long way from the next one.
The flight to Reykjavik is on Icelandic Air. Very nice plane, nice seats and good service. Although Mary’s video screen wasn’t working. They offered to move her, but she wanted to stay with me. I tried to find something to watch, but there really wasn’t anything. Took a few naps.
Landed in Reykjavik just before 16:00. It is dark. Got our bags, although there was a minute we thought one would be lost. It finally came up. Now interestingly in Reykjavik the bus from the airport doesn’t go to your hotel. The Flybus goes from the airport to the BSI bus station, where you transfer to a shuttle which takes you to one of the 14 or so drop off bus stops near the center to town. Then you are supposed to walk to the hotel.
Well, we have a total of eight bags, including our backpacks. Walking even the proposed 500 meters from the bus stop to the hotel simply wasn’t going to happen. So, we took the Flybus to the bus terminal and took a taxi from the bus terminal to hotel. Finding the front door of the hotel was difficult. It is down a little alley between two buildings. It is a really nice hotel, just built around the existing buildings in the old part of town.
After checking in and getting settled we walked down the street to do a little cold weather shopping. On the way back it began to rain, except the rain was frozen. No not snow, ice! We stopped at Hereford Steakhouse, yes like is Oslo. Had a nice steak and baked potato. Quite nice.
Then it was back to the hotel and bed. We have the day off tomorrow, and are supposed to take a jeep tour and look for the Northern Lights beginning at 21:30.
So, tips for making a tour of Iceland. If staying in Reykjavík, the Flybus is 3,999 ISK or about $29 pp. A taxi from the airport to downtown is about $190. The taxi from the BSI Terminal to the hotel was $17. So, Flybus plus tax for two people was $77 vs $190. Now if you chose a hotel near one the the 14 or so shuttle stops, you can walk it. Or, if you are going in the summer with 20 hours of daylight and little luggage, the Flybus+ will also include a shuttle to one of the 14 stops. Just saying.
We are staying in the Sand Hotel. The Sand Hotel is a 78-room luxury hotel in the heart of the city center on Laugavegur. Laugavegur Street is a pedestrian street with lots of shops and near most everything. In 2019 Grace and I stayed Skuggi, which is by the same company. It is a little further away from the action, a whole block, but it is right near shuttle stop 6.
Solar Eclipse 2026 – Secure a spot!
Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime event. On August 12, 2026, Iceland will be the prime viewing spot for a spectacular total solar eclipse, the first to be visible in Reykjavík since 1433!
Most of the hotels are taking reservations NOW. Secure your spot now and experience this extraordinary event from the best vantage points in Iceland. Don’t miss out!
Buonanotte e Ciao, Enrico e Maria
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