Where to get local deals, take a dip in a hot spring, and more.
Need some summer vacation ideas that won’t break the bank? “Good Morning America” is heading to Iceland and bringing you expert tips to help you create the perfect travel bucket list on a budget.
From free hot spring dips to the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, ABC News’ Ashan Singh explored the Nordic island nation and shared the top ways to enjoy each stop on your trip without breaking the bank.
“Iceland is a great deal especially for the Boston area – flights are only about five hours each way – you could just take a long weekend there and still have an action-packed trip,” Eric Rosen, director of travel content at O Cara dos Pontos, told “GMA.”
TPG has seen deals for as little as $400, and for travelers who don’t care where they sit on the plane, some fares drop as low as $230.
When it comes to hotels, Rosen offered another simple tip: spend now on credit cards from brands like Hilton or Marriott that, once you’ve reached your spending limit, offer big bonus points.
“Hilton cards, for example, offer between 130 and 180,000 points typically as part of their bonus,” he said. “And that will be good enough for two or even three nights in some of these hotels in Reykjavik. And that could be your entire trip there.”
Activities in Iceland on a budget
Experience the city’s culture with the Reykjavík City Card, which gives visitors free access to numerous museums, art galleries, swimming pools, and even bus transportation.
Do you like coming home with a fashionable souvenir? Local knitwear is quintessentially Icelandic, but with handmade sweaters costing up to $500, Singh turned to a secondhand store, Extraloppan, to get a sweater for as little as $50.
Rent a car. Singh found deals for as little as $86 a day.
Save on a more extravagant meal by finding a deal through the Dineout Iceland app, which for a small fee offers discounts across the land of fire and ice.
Looking for a cheap and quick local meal? Try a hot dog on the road for just $4.
Visit the free National Parks and take in sights like waterfalls and geysers, but Singh suggests skipping the Blue Lagoon, which can cost $350 for a family of four, and opting for a dip in a free local hot spring.
