A friend of mine has just come back from a short trip and his first words were 'don't book any excursions, hire a car and do your own thing' apparently it's cheaper. Don't know how true that is but just thought I'd share.
Iceland
- Thread starter Robert
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I'd not want to drive there in the middle of winter.
Its the major snow storms that could suddenly appear with major winds that would put me off.
Soldato
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They had no mince pies 
Soldato
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We went to attempt to see the Northern Lights in Iceland in 2015, all two of our trips were cancelled due to bad weather. Went to Tromso, Norway last February and saw the lights on two nights, amazing experience. Want to go back in 2018.
Thought i'd add that quality of trips does vary, when we went to Iceland we did cheaper trips with a company called Grayline, i found them okay to be fair but be expected to be stuck on a big coach with 40+ people and the lights trips are easily cancelled if the weather is iffy where as if you pay more they will generally go the extra mile to get you to see them and you will be in a nice mini van. Learnt my lesson there and had some great trips in Tromso where our groups were no more bigger than about 8 people on each one.
Thought i'd add that quality of trips does vary, when we went to Iceland we did cheaper trips with a company called Grayline, i found them okay to be fair but be expected to be stuck on a big coach with 40+ people and the lights trips are easily cancelled if the weather is iffy where as if you pay more they will generally go the extra mile to get you to see them and you will be in a nice mini van. Learnt my lesson there and had some great trips in Tromso where our groups were no more bigger than about 8 people on each one.
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My experience was similar, both nights the northern lights tour was cancelled. I went with the Superjeep tour as it seemed more personable but also cost considerably more as well. I was planning to propose under the northern lights so that didn't go very well
You therefore always need alternative plans.Oh did I mention it's expensive?
This is a good site for checking the nothern lights forecast, green is cloud so you want less of this. Today would not be a great day: http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/
Soldato
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I think Tromso was even more expensive than Iceland, around 7-8 pounds per pint. However, i'd still go back just to see those lights again and do the husky sledding, we did reindeer sledding last time but i want to try the huskys or snowmobile.
Associate
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Was close to booking Norway for February. Everything seemed very reasonable, £150pp for flights to Tromso, returning from Kirkenes, and £210pp for 2 nights aboard the Hurtigruten ferry. Then we saw the price of the evening meal on the boat - £174! 
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Eldest daughter has been 3 times and not seen them but went to Edinburgh last year and saw them.
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Is their currency worth something again? I thought they were broke.
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You will want to try whale but don't bother.
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Their economy is recovering well, but much of their food is imported.
Soldato
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Tried it in Iceland, it's quite nice.
No point in booking the northern lights until you are there. If you book ahead and its too cloud then say goodbye to your money.
Might aswell do what we did and book a private tour with a guy in jeep to take you out one night. Costs a bit more but if weather is bad you can go the next night at no extra cost. Plus on a coach tour you have to put it with 30 odd other people - With a private jeep you can go anywhere, usually to better spots that are not crowded, as we did.
Also make sureto book the blue lagoons and Snowmobiling. Snowmobiling is excellent
Might aswell do what we did and book a private tour with a guy in jeep to take you out one night. Costs a bit more but if weather is bad you can go the next night at no extra cost. Plus on a coach tour you have to put it with 30 odd other people - With a private jeep you can go anywhere, usually to better spots that are not crowded, as we did.
Also make sureto book the blue lagoons and Snowmobiling. Snowmobiling is excellent
Soldato
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what are prices like in supermarkets and shops if self catering
think i'd have to abstain from alcohol at those prices
think i'd have to abstain from alcohol at those prices
Don't the northern lights go in cycles and I think 2018 is when the lights are in decline.