Also ask if your car is permanent 4-wheel drive or you need to activite it. We hired a Toyota Landcruiser that had 4-wheel drive, but it was in2-wheel drive by default. In the center console is a button to put it in 4-wheel drive. So be sure to check it and ask your rental company how it works. In most cases 4-wheel drive can only be be activated if the car is not moving.
We drove with Jeannie last February. This was a huge responsibility for me as my wife had me plan the entire trip. With Jeannie’s help, our trip was a huge success! Her tips are great! I know this video was endorsing a particular rental service, but if Jeannie says it is good, I am inclined to believe her. Keep up the great updates Jeannie! We will look at them again when we return some spring!
I think another very important tip to add is to pay attention to your gas tank. Keep it full or at least halfway full. That means perhaps stopping more often to fuel up. But if you're stuck for a while or you have to go a different way then that's one less thing to worry about. And you can run the car for heat off and on if you are stuck.❤
Brings back some good memories! Did this exact road trip in January 2018 and 100% agree with the 4wd part, saw a few cars that weren't and they were struggling.
Watched this video before we left. Still got stuck in the snow in Arnarstapi after a snow storm. Lol that’s what happens when 2 girls from California brave the Icelandic roads never having driven in snow 😅 Locals were super nice trying to help us out though (they did not want us to spend a fortune having someone dig us out. Apparently it’s reallyyyyyy expensive). Had to use our insurance so they could dig us out. Don’t skimp on your insurance get the most comprehensive one like we did. Enjoyed the trip without any worries.
Agree, self drive is the way to go and skipping GPS, go for the WiFi option and use your map app of choice. We preferred Apple Maps over Google in Iceland. In the states, we typically use Google. Our Blue car RAV4 was not a clean as your car but had the beefy studded tires.
When we were there in November and on the way to Snaefellsnes, the GPS on our rental car took us off our route and we went up a mountain pass that was apparently closed! We realized in time and turned around up on the mountain, but it was a bit unnerving (but exciting)! WiFi with Google Maps was so much more reliable. Blue Car were super helpful with everything as well, highly recommended.
I was in Iceland from 31 january to 11 february. We were 4 women in a land cruiser and we visited Snæfellsnes , golden circle , south ( to Jökulsárlón ) and Reykjanes peninsula. As photographers, it’s important to be by ourselves because if we want to spend 1 hour to take a photo, it’s possible. I loved Iceland and i will be back for pentecote week-end so i will use your code to rent bluecar. Thanks Jeannie.
Planning our FIRST trip in December! (First week) quite a experienced traveler. We ALWAYS get good travel insurance that covers weather delays , cancellations! We will be safe AND COVERED if need to change reservations! Thanks for all the tips 😎👍
I rented from Blue Car in January and they were great. A Toyota RAV4 with studded tires was amazing on icy and snowy roads. However, we did get stuck in Vik for a day because the roads were closed. We were also in the parking lot for the plane wreck on the Monday that the Chinese tourists died. Winds were very high and visibility was low. They would have had the extremely strong wind right in their face on the walk out. Based on the conditions, we did not hike to the plane and returned a few days later when the weather was better. Weather is in charge when you are in Iceland! The only complaint I have with BlueCar, and this might apply to any rental company, is that the ice scraper they provided was tiny, like credit card size. There was a few inches of snow on the car that had to be removed. I had to buy a proper snow brush/scraper when I got to a supermarket. Otherwise, I would highly recommend BlueCar.
I am a bit late but I will be there the last week of December. It’s the only time in the year I can get off work. It’s my one bucket list place to go. I will be driving but did get 4 WD. I have watched I think all of your videos by now! You are so helpful!!!
I had a minor fender bender with our rental SUV driving there in Feb two years ago. We're Canadian so we are used to driving in snow, but we're not used to driving in snow through traffic circles and that's what got us. My advice is make sure your rental insurance is going to really cover you. My freind had to pay the car rental company $30,000 CDN before leaving, but luckily was reimbursed by insurance (from her credit card company) when we got home. The rental company also tried to claim there was more damage than there was so keep an eye out for that as well.
Self drove end Jan to mid Feb. First time in Iceland and first time driving in winter. It was amazing and scary at times, but really fell in love with Iceland.
Thanks so much Natashia! If you're looking for the perfect guide for your trip, be sure to check out my pre-made WINTER itineraries (icelandwithaview.com/?s=winter+itinerary)! I hope you have the best.trip.ever!
Excellent video with very sound advice. We will be renting next Dec./Jan. when we visit Iceland once again to visit Mosfellsbær, Iceland (home of Alafoos Wool Yarn). A side trip will be north to Krauma, as well.
11:27 I will be renting a 4x4 with WiFi starting this Friday and driving the ring road. I worry about weather even though it isn’t winter yet. Hoping roads won’t be slick or that something will happen to delay us as we have a horse trip that we need to be to on time at the end of the trip. Your tips have been great!
I'm thinking of renting a car in iceland and driving myself. We decided on late September, which I guess is still okay for a 2WD, but we decided we would feel safer with a 4WD. Also we would like to try to drive to the highlands (only if still possible) But we still don't know if we want to rent a campervan or a normal car, but then we would have to try to find places to sleep...and we would always be under time pressure. So... still don't know xD
I’m planning on coming. I was going to come in summer til I watched your video on unlimited sunlight during summer then I was going to come anyways til I saw your October one so now I think October is the best time to come for me
Hi Jeannie I'm new to your channel found it doing research on Iceland, I love your videos very informative and fun. I'm planning on visiting end of March early April 2023 can I please get your help and advice on some questions I have? 1. Can I drive the ring road comfortably in 12 days? OR is it better to concentrate on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Ring Road and Southern Coast to Hofn (3 nights) and spend more time in those areas eg. Vestrahorn, Eystrahorn? 2. I want the best chance to see the Northern Lights & have the opportunity to take photos of snowy mountains, craters etc... 3. What will the road conditions be like in those areas at that time? I look forward to hearing from you soon thank you. Eric
Hi Jeannie! Thank you for your wonderful vlogs about Iceland! They're really helpful! Me and my wife plan to spend our postponed honeymoon/1 yr marriage anniversary in Iceland and we cannot wait! We are planning to go from Nov 18-Dec 3 which will be I believe the start of winter. I have a question about rental 4WD. Can we hire them from one spot, then drop them at a different spot? Is there a car rental that allows that? Hope to hear from you soon! Again, your videos are great! 🙏🏼🙌🏼
Pretty cool tips. However, the video felt more like an ad for the rental company. You also forgot to mention that EU residents do not need to buy a "wifi kit" as they already can use roaming for "free".
Yup. This is a very US centric channel, the paid promotion is not declared but it isn’t subtle either 😆. It became clear very early that a lot of these ‘tips’ were going to be related to a feature of the car, or of the rental company.
Im traveling the first week of Nov this year, going to get over the fear of driving. We plan on staying along the south and going as far as Vik. Deciding between a Toyota RAV4 or a Toyota Land Cruiser also going with Blue, reccomondations would be great!
March is generally still winter in Iceland, so expect all those icy snowy road. However, their weather can be very unexpectedly beautiful or the opposite - you can experience all 4 seasons along your trip such as sunny clear days like in summer, windy days, rainy days, snowy days- as you travel from one place to another even in winter. Weather can change very quickly within minutes and their winds can get very crazy. I travelled here in early March last year and I superbly agree with what Jeannie had told in this video. Always regularly check vedur.is, road.is and safetravel.is for updates, follow their rules, drive slower, have good data coverage, use 4 x 4 especially if you want to attempt the whole ring road, don't do all the dangerous stuff for the sake of a picture, be flexible with your itinerary (even if you think you can finish the road trip in one week make sure you add one or two extra days here just in case you are stuck in road closure or bad weather), do not rush and be mindful of the daylight hours.
We’re planning to drive around next week! So what do you do when you’re stuck on the road, like your situation, when the road ahead is closed, but then you try to turn around and that ended up close too? Just wait it out, park somewhere safe?
Hi there! Mid-late March is still winter so I would say that many of these rules still apply, especially when you reach North Iceland. Check vedur.is, road.is, safetravel.is EVERY morning and throughout the day. There probably won't be a flood risk, more likely is snow, ice, and wind. However, in South Iceland you'll probably find the roads to be quite manageable. Happy planning!
I understand that your trip is already done. So, I'm just posting this link to a global mobile (incl. GSM, LTE/4G, etc.) coverage information service to help later viewers and travelers. You simply select the country and operator you want, and then view a map with current coverage information, where you can zoom in on areas, etc. Start from this link: www.gsma.com/coverage/
Hey, your videos are very helpful to plan our trip to Iceland. Good Job. I have a question on the GPS. Will the GPS app (TomTom or Google Maps) on a smart phone work through the iceland (complete ring road) ? or Should I be using a dedicated handheld GPS ? Thank you. How is the data reception there ?
Hi Sujay! Great question! Google Maps is the BEST!!!!! Be sure to rent a portable Wi-Fi device either from your rental car company or Trawire and you'll have solid internet access on your entire trip around the Ring Road! To help you out even more, my Ring Road guidebook (icelandwithaview.com/product/self-drive-road-trip-guide/) includes a Google Map with ALL of the places, toilets, gas stations, grocery stores, accommodations, hidden gems, etc. to help you while you're traveling! I find that a true GPS device is difficult to use and less accurate! Oh, and although this video is old, much of the information is still accurate in 2023, it may help answer any other questions you have about connectivity issues: icelandwithaview.com/5-wi-fi-internet-options-iceland/ ~ Happy planning!
thanks a lot, lots of useful details, but it seems you're telling it for "average Joe" who'd never seen uncleaned icy roads, and probably relying on all those electronics now installed in cars and so on, I'm not so sure 4*4 is mandatory unless you know what you're doing, and use proper winter tires. Slow down is really best advice, it always is the best one, for such weather no kidding, Any way Id prefer to go there by my car rather than rent
A 4*4 solves many problems, but also creates other problems. I am a native Icelander (West Fjords) with more than half a century of driving experience in these conditions. I have owned genuine 4*4's (Pajero & Musso) but in my waning years I make do with a front wheel drive mini-car (Kia Picanto) that serves me well, traveling year around, anywhere in Iceland (on proper spiked winter tires). The trick is to know when NOT to travel (know how to read weather information). Your best advice is excellent: SLOW DOWN is what matters if you encounter conditions you feel unsafe in. In Iceland I find slushy conditions to be the most insidious and dangerous: The "race line" might be slush-free with good grip, but if you accidentally wander into the slushy regions of the road you instantly stop being the driver, the master of your vehicle, and become a terrified passenger instead. In such condition, SLOW is the magic word!
@@Halli50 thanks! The slow thing is just about experience, and previous accidents, had one in winter on ice, when you re just cannon ball, and cant do much )))), another thing i'd like to ask is about F roads will Duster lifted +5cm will be enough to cross river in the morning in beginning of may/end of september, and searching the right path by feet previously (i use fishermans boots for that),
@@billybones7613, I live in the West fjords and have little experience driving in the interior of central Iceland (have only done that twice). An elevated Duster SHOULD be OK for all normal circumstances. If you have doubts about fording a river, you should wait until another car comes along and either watch how he fares - or ask for advice if that driver is experienced. Keeping company with other cars is advisable, that way you can render or receive help if needed. Always carry a long and strong towing rope in the car when adventuring!
Rental companies who rent out cars and campervans should be illegal! They put profit above personal wellbeing..stay away if you're not experienced in driving in the snow or unfamiliar with the weather and road conditions in ICELAND..this video is basically an infomercial for the rental companies...for profit!
