The Dash for Cash!

A lot of people have been talking to me about the currency issues for Iceland and as I mentioned at the meeting - this is a difficult issue and advice changes daily. Many of you have struggled to get icelandic currency and I have listed below on an earlier post one of the places where I know you can get your hands on some Icelandic Krona (as I got some myself!)

Advice on what currency they take in Iceland is varied. Some people have told me that they DO take Dollars and Euro but others have said that this is NOT the case. The one thing I would say on the matter is that while we are in Iceland it is going to be very difficult for us to be able to visit a bank. The banks open at 9.30 and close at 4.30 and we are unlikely to be in Reykavik during these times. Therefore if you bring traveller's cheques or currency that you want to change into Krona - you will need to do this in the airport. Some information sources note that many shops will ONLY take icelandic currency but all agree that plastic is the way to go for Iceland. Though, you might be cutting things fine a bit with that option now!

Wikipedia notes the following

Tourists to Iceland will generally not need to carry much Icelandic currency, as in most cases electronic payment is accepted. Other currencies are very rarely accepted in Iceland. A notable exception is Keflavík International Airport (which has many transfer passengers), where the US dollar, euro and some other currencies are accepted by all merchants. Certain stores in downtown Reykjavík, accept some foreign currencies.

The overall level of technological sophistication is noteworthy in Iceland. Iceland has, for example, among the highest per capita computer usage in the world (far higher than the UK or USA).^{[citation needed]} The saturation of technology in Iceland has had ramifications in their monetary system; a very large percentage of all transactions in Iceland take place through electronic forms of payment, such as debit and credit cards and online bank transfers. It is also worth noting that the value of banknotes is relatively small, e.g. the largest denomination banknote is the 5000 króna note, while a mid-range dinner for two in Iceland, without drinks or dessert, can easily exceed 5000 krónur (ca. EUR 30 in December 2008, EUR 16 in June 2009). This effect may accelerate the Icelandic move towards a semi-cashless economy.

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If you want Icelandic money in your pocket as we leave Belfast then please go to the CHANGE Group web site (see the link attached) and then make an appointment to change money with them before we fly!

The Final travel documents arrived today!

The excitement is definitely building!   The final travel documents arrived today.   I will make a copy of any of the stuff that you need and also put the details into your final trip pack that I will give to you when you arrive at Belfast airport. 

I have some luggage tags that I will give to you in the airport - make sure you have a pen handy for the airport!   

I was up at the airport today.  We will meet up just in the entrance of the departures hall at the International Airport.  Come into the airport and we will try and meet pretty close to the door.  Please be on time because if we want seats together on the Aer Lingus flight we need to book in pretty early and together!   

There are some roadworks on the way to the airport but these should be ok.  Doubt there will be too many DoE workers up at the time we are going to be there for!  

You can get last minute currency from the Change Group at the airport.  It opens at 0500 in the morning but my advice is to book this in advance and pick it up!  they do look for photo ID as well as hard cash or credit cards  - so do please be ready for this.  It too me about 10 mins to pick my money up today and there was no queue and I had booked ahead!!!  

See you at 0530 on Monday 22nd June! 

The problem with money . . .

Hi folks,  I hope that you are all well.  It is now less than 2 weeks before we go to Iceland and the excitement is building.  We had Lauren's parents in with us on Friday and they mentioned there were problems in getting money here for Iceland.   There is a place at the Belfast airport where you can get money changed into Icelandic Krona - it is called the Change group.  Do a google search for Belfast International Airport and you will find a link to their site from the main page.  You can book a time to pick up the currency - before we go away. 

It seems that it can be quite difficult otherwise to get currency -  lot of other places like banks and the post office dont seem to be stocking Icelandic money.  Maybe getting a pre-paid Visa card is a better option!   Apparently it is easy to use plastic for anything in Iceland!