A Good Idea

-Around Iceland with Icelandair HERTZ and Icelandair HOTELS

There is no country in the world like Iceland. It�s a land still evolving, the most sparsely populated place in Europe, and one of the few lands in the world with large, untouched expanses. For those who wish to enjoy beautiful, pristine nature at its boldest, surrounded by peace and quiet, then Iceland is the land for you.

The best way to see and experience all that Iceland has to offer is in your own car. Icelandair HERTZ offers a wide variety of vehicles: from small cars such as the Volkswagen Polo to powerful jeeps such as the Toyota Hi-Lux and Mitsubishi Pajero, as well as comfortable family cars and agile jeeps to navigate the difficult mountain roads.

When planning a holiday to Iceland, it�s necessary to organize and prepare well. That�s why it�s advisable to spend a few days in Reykjav�k before setting out. The capital is a lovely, peaceful city that offers exciting cultural activities, cozy coffee houses and wonderful restaurants. For those looking for luxury accommodation at reasonable prices, H�tel Esja is the place to stay. There are 172 good rooms with a great view, of which 12 are panorama-rooms. H�tel Esja has good restaurants and various convenient services such as stores, a bank and beauty salon to name but a few.

The Planet Pulse health center on the Saga Class floor has fine facilities for keeping fit. Across the road is Laugardalur, Reykjav�k�s main athletic and recreational area, which also houses the city�s largest swimming pool (heated by geothermal water), with facilities such as hot pots and steam baths.

When taking a trip in Iceland the southeast corner is a natural place to begin, as it�s home to many of the country�s best sightseeing attractions. H�tel Kirkjub�jarklaustur is located in a friendly village of the same name, and the surrounding area is known for its natural beauty: glaciers, black sands, vegetation and lovely countryside. The climate is mild, and traveling from place to place is quite relaxing.

From here it�s a short and beautiful ride to Hornafj�r�ur and H�fn. The town of H�fn is a lively, charming community that revolves around fisheries. H�tel H�fn is a comfortable and cozy place to stay, with 36 well-appointed rooms and a good restaurant serving deliciously fresh seafood dishes. Towering just beyond the town is Vatnaj�kull, larger than all other glaciers in Europe combined, and considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world. Taking a tour up and about the glacier is an opportunity not to be missed.

From H�fn it�s another short and beautiful ride to Egilssta�ir and H�tel H�ra�, a recently constructed hotel with very good accommodation. Egilssta�ir is situated like the hub of a wheel with spokes pointing to wonderful sites in all directions.

It should be mentioned that during the fall and spring seasons Icelandair HERTZ offers very economical rates. This is a good time to travel around Iceland, especially for those looking for real peace and quiet. Spring is the ideal time for bird-watchers to visit Iceland, with H�tel Kirkjub�jarklaustur or H�tel H�fn being the perfect spots from where to watch birds as they arrive for their summer stay. Spring is also a wonderful time for photographers looking to capture untouched nature as it wakes up from a long winter�s sleep.

Autumn in southeast Iceland is also a marvelous time. H�tel H�ra�i is beautifully situated to enjoy nature�s amazing color changes. And for those interested in trout fishing at very reasonable prices, both H�tel H�ra�i and H�tel Kirkjub�jarklaustur are centrally located.

Many who visit Iceland �circle the island.� This makes for a very interesting trip, indeed, but one should not be deterred from leaving the highway to take the occasional �byway�: some of Iceland�s most beautiful landscapes are �hidden� off the main roads. Icelandair HERTZ offers a variety of vehicles perfectly suited to traveling in Iceland. Icelandair HERTZ can provide whatever information is needed to select the right vehicle to fit your needs, whether it�s a powerful jeep, mini jeep or good 4x4 car.

Icelandair HERTZ has branches around Iceland where it�s possible to rent or change cars. It�s also possible to fly one way, for example to Akureyri or Egilssta�ir, and drive back to Reykjav�k or Leifur Eir�ksson Airport in Keflav�k. For those thinking about traveling the Ring Road around Iceland, we would like to point out that apart from Icelandair hotels, we also recommend staying at Edda Summer Hotels, all of which are beautifully located.

Their rates are very reasonable, service is good and the staff is well acquainted with the surrounding area and can advice on walking trips, mountain treks or horseback riding tours. Swimming pools are in the neighborhood of most Edda Hotels, ideal for relaxing tired muscles. The hotel restaurants are open from morning to evening, offering food made from fresh ingredients from the area farms and villages.

Before leaving Iceland, staying for a few days in Reykjav�k is the ideal way to end your holiday, and H�tel Loftlei�ir is the place to be. It�s the country�s largest hotel, and offers a wide range of first-class services. The hotel has a swimming pool, hot pot, health club, beauty salon, bank, shops and more. Across from the hotel is �skjuhl��, a popular outdoor area great for walking or jogging. The hotel has two particularly good restaurants: L�n and Bl�masalur. Brasserie L�n is undoubtedly the best place for a buffet in Reykjav�k, offering a wonderful selection of Icelandic and Scandinavian delicacies.

H�tel EDDA

16. H�tel EDDA
Laugum
371 B��ardal
Tel: 434 1265

Icelandair Hotels

H�tel Loftlei�ir
Vi� Hl��arf�t
101 Reykjav�k
Tel: (+354) 505 0910
Fax: (+354) 505 0915
[email protected]
www.icehotel.is

H�tel Esja
Su�urlandsbraut 2
108 Reykjav�k
Tel: (+354) 505 0960
Fax: (+354) 505 0915
[email protected]
www.icehotel.is

Flugh�tel
Hafnargata 57
230 Reykjanesb�r
Tel: (+354) 421 5222
Fax: (+354) 421 5223
www.icehotel.is

H�tel Kirkjub�jarklaustur
880 Kirkjub�jarklaustur
Tel: (+354) 487 4799
Fax: (+354) 487 4614
[email protected]
www.icehotel.is

H�tel H�fn
V�kurbraut - 780 H�fn
Tel: (+354) 478 1240
Fax: (+354) 478 1996
[email protected]

H�tel H�ra�
Mi�vangur 5-7
700 Egilsta�ir
Tel: (+354) 471 1500
Fax: (+354) 471 1501
[email protected]

Visiting Reykjav�k during the winter is particularly interesting: it was named by Newsweek magazine as one of the ten hottest cities in the world. The cultural life and nightlife blossom in Reykjav�k in winter, and the flora of restaurants compares to cities abroad many times its size.

An Icelandair HERTZ can await you at the airport at an incredibly reasonable rate, and accommodation rates are better than one might imagine. Staff at the two Icelandair hotels, Esja and Loftlei�ir, can provide excellent advice on where to go and what to do so you get the most out of your winter stay. Many take advantage of special weekend packages in Reykjav�k for an experience quite out of the ordinary.

Travelers who would rather go directly to the airport after touring the countryside sometimes choose to stay at Icelandair Flug Hotel in Keflav�k, a friendly, quality hotel just five minutes from the airport. It�s also popular to spend the first night at the Flug H�tel, just a 40-k, in order to enjoy some of the area�s attractions, for example, the well-known Blue Lagoon, and whale watching. Contact us for detailed information on how we can make a stay in Iceland one to remember forever.

Icelandair HERTZ
Car rental Reykjav�k
Tel: (+354) 505 0600
Fax: (+354) 505 0650

Icelandair Hotels
H�tel Loftlei�ir
Reykjav�k
Tel: (+354) 505 0910
Fax: (+354) 505 0915
Homepage: www.icehotel.is
Email: [email protected]