Travelling to Iceland for the Northern Lights - Or to Get Your Money Back?

The banking crisis has put Iceland in a very bad light at the moment, but the country is in still in a very good light as far as being one of the best locations for viewing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).  The best time to see them is between September and March when the days are shorter - so now is the time to start planning a trip.  The Northern Lights can be seen from Polar areas including Iceland, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia, northern Canada and Alaska (no doubt Sarah Palin knows where they are).  If you’d rather head to the South Pole, there’s an equivalent in the southern hemisphere called the Aurora Australis.     

According to the Foreign Office and Embassy in Iceland the current banking crisis has not caused any change which would affect regulations for currency exchange. Icelandic Krona are still available via cash machines and banks throughout Iceland and credit cards are widely accepted.  Those planning a trip should be aware that Iceland is very expensive, especially for drinking and dining out in restaurants and bars.  Accommodation should be booked before arrival as there is limited availability.  Visit our Travel guide for Iceland which contains a link to the Foreign Office website for important information and updated travel advice.  

It’s a good idea to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) prior to travel, but this should not be used as a substitute for the cover provided by a proper Travel Insurance policy.  (For example: the EHIC does not cover emergency medical repatriation, treatment for non-urgent conditions, ongoing medical treatment, or lost luggage).  We’re not sure who’s responsible when it comes to the disappearance of huge amounts of money, but maybe we should blame it on the Northern Lights… According to folklore, if a pregnant woman stares at the Lights her child will be born cross-eyed - so perhaps they have a weird effect on Icelandic bankers too.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am and is filed under Europe, Travel News .

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