Author: Mark Wolters

5 Things You Will Love & Hate about Visiting Iceland

Posted on by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! We’re in Iceland! We spent two weeks driving around the country of Iceland, seeing icebergs and fjords and whales and waterfalls. We had a great time in Iceland. Here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new country. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, about traveling to Iceland.

Hate #1: A Car is Necessary

If you really want to explore Iceland, you’ll need a car to get around. And if you’re from the US, be prepared for manual transmission vehicles or you will have to pay extra for an automatic. The roads can be challenging, too. You’ll see a lot of one-lane bridges, or switchbacks, and you won’t see a lot of guardrails where you might expect to in some places. The driving can be scary, but it’s totally worth it to be able to travel at your own pace.

Watch: Advice for Driving in Iceland

Hate #2: Lack of Accommodation

It’s getting better, but once you leave the main cities, it can be hard to find accommodation in Iceland. As soon as you start planning a trip to Iceland, you really need to sit down, map out your trip, and make reservations as early as possible. Especially in the summer! Iceland tourism has really ramped up, and they are struggling to meet the demand. On your Iceland road trip, you’ll be staying in guest houses, not hotels, and once they are full, the next guest house may be a few hours away.

Hate #3: Distance Between Services

Iceland is pretty sparsely populated, so it can be a long way between restaurants, guest houses, and even gas stations. It’s a good idea to fill up anytime you see a gas station, and always have some snacks in the car, especially if you are visiting Iceland with kids!

Read: Top Ten Road Trip Essentials

Hate #4: Weather in Iceland

The weather in Iceland can be temperamental. We visited in July and it rarely got over 50 degrees. You really have to pack carefully and bring lots of layers to wear in Iceland so that you can stay comfortable in the changing weather. All of that beautiful green scenery doesn’t happen without a lot of rain, so be prepared for any kind of weather when you travel to Iceland.

Bonus Hate: If you visit Iceland in the summer, you’ll have almost 24 hours of daylight. It’s a cool experience, but you’ll miss out on the Northern Lights and it can be hard for kids to adjust to it. Be prepared for arguments about not going to bed because it’s still light out!

Hate #5: Prices in Iceland

Yes, Iceland is expensive. Flights to Iceland are pretty inexpensive and with the free stopovers, tourism in Iceland has grown exponentially. Although it may be cheap to get there, it’s definitely not cheap once you arrive. Accommodation and food are expensive in Iceland. You can save money by shopping at the grocery stores. Most guesthouses don’t include breakfast, so if you bring your own breakfast and have picnic lunches along the way, you’ll save a lot of money on eating out.

Love #1: Natural Beauty of Iceland

The first thing you will love about Iceland is the scenery. It feels like you are on another planet at times. From lava fields to icebergs to geysers to mountains to fjords, everywhere you look in Iceland, there is something amazing to see. It’s a nature photographer’s dream, so bring plenty of memory cards and camera batteries because you will probably take thousands of pictures like we have.

Love #2: Icelandic People

The people in Iceland are the nicest, kindest, most helpful people. We’ve traveled all over the world and the people of Iceland are easily the friendliest people we’ve met. They speak perfect English and are eager to share their country with you. On top of that, Iceland is very safe with very little crime.

Love #3: Thermal Spas in Iceland

You can’t visit Iceland without visiting a hot pot or a geothermal spa. The Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik is the most popular, but they are scattered all over Iceland. Even if you don’t make it to one of the geothermal spots, a lot of the towns around Iceland have public swimming pools that have the same warm water as some of the spas.

Love #4: Outdoor Activities in Iceland

Iceland is an outdoor adventure paradise. There’s hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, whale watching, glacier hikes, and even snorkeling! It’s one of the best outdoor destinations in the world, so be prepared to spend a lot of time outside when you visit Iceland!

Love #5: Eco-Friendly Iceland

Iceland’s approach to energy and sustainability is really impressive. Most food you eat will come from Iceland and the menu will tell you specifically where everything is from. You’ll see this in the souvenirs, too. The most popular thing to buy is an Icelandic sweater; they are handmade from wool made from local sheep and often sewn by a local. There’s a very local-centric feeling in Iceland, and it feels very healthy.

Obviously, we love Iceland and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Iceland. Want to know more about traveling to Iceland? Check out some of our other blog posts:

The Best (and worst) Parts of Visiting Spain

Posted on by Mark Wolters

Five Things You’ll Love & Hate On a Spain Vacation

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Spain, one of my favorite places to visit in Europe. A trip to Spain is always a good time, whether you visit Seville, Madrid, Barcelona or elsewhere, Spain is awesome! Here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new country. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, on a Spain vacation.

Hate #1: The Weather

A lot of people come to Spain for the great weather because it’s supposed to be sunny and warm all the time. However, if you visit southern Spain in the summer, it’s oppressively hot, so you should stick to beach destinations in Spain at that time of year. In the winter, northern Spain can be cold and even snowy, so it’s not always sunny and warm in Spain.

Hate #2: Foreign Languages are Not a Priority

In much of Europe, foreign languages are heavily emphasized in primary school so that you can often find someone who speaks English, French or Italian nearby. In Spain, that’s not always the case. It is super helpful to learn a bit of Spanish before you visit Spain.

Read: Seven Tips for Learning a Foreign Language

Hate #3: Siestas and Sundays

What’s wrong with siestas, you ask? Who doesn’t love an afternoon nap? Well, siesta in Spain can be super frustrating if you happen to need something like aspirin at 2:00 in the afternoon. Stores, banks, pharmacies all close up during the afternoon siesta, and it’s even the law in some smaller towns. Keep this in mind when planning your day and don’t find yourself caught off guard needing something during siesta. The same goes for Sundays; pretty much everything, including grocery stores, is closed on Sundays, so you have to plan ahead!

Hate #4: Tourist Scams

As a traveler or a tourist, you will be taken for a fool in many places in Spain. Taxis, bars, and restaurants are known to take advantage of tourists, so pay attention to prices and review your bills before paying them. Have a good idea in advance how much a taxi should cost; you can easily ask at the hotel for an estimate so you know when you’re not getting ripped off. At a tapas bar, don’t fall for the “full portion” swap where you order a small plate and get the full-size dinner.

Hate #5: Pickpockets

Everyone warned me before visiting Spain to watch out for the pickpockets. It’s no surprise that Barcelona has been named the “Pickpocket Capital of the World” by TripAdvisor, with Madrid not too much farther down the list. It’s not just picking your pockets, it’s bag slashers and bag snatchers and a whole host of other ways to get robbed in Spain. Always be on your toes!

Read: The Most Common Pickpocket Techniques

Love #1: Regionality

One of the coolest things about Spain is that everywhere you go in Spain is completely different from the next region. Andalusia, Catalunya, Galicia, and Madrid are all so different and interesting. The cultures and cuisines vary from region to region, and much like the United States, there are so many unique places in Spain that you really have to visit more than just one big city to get a feel for the “real Spain.”

Read: How to Piss Off a Catalan

Love #2: Spanish Tapas Bars

No matter how much of a tourist you are, there’s something about sitting in a tapas bar, enjoying wine and good food that will make you feel like you are Spanish. It’s just such a part of the culture, and something Spaniards really do, so you can interact with locals and learn about the culture, all while filling up your belly with amazing food and drink.

Love #3: Spain Tourist Attractions

Spain is popular with tourists for a reason; the sights here are incredible. There are tons of museums and the Prado in Madrid is one of the top art museums in the world. On top of museums, there are fantastic cathedrals, forts, and towers. Not only does Spain have enough history and culture to fill several vacations, but there’s also a ton of natural beauty! You can hike in the Pyrenees, find remote beaches and so much more! You are going to fall in love with all of the Spain attractions.

Love #4: Nightlife in Spain

No matter where you are from, I challenge you to try and keep up with the Spanish and their nightlife. They can party all night long, every night. If you are looking for a nightlife destination, you can’t beat the nightclubs of Spain. (Don’t worry if nightlife isn’t your scene, you’ll still have a great time in Spain!)

Love #5: People of Spain

No matter where you travel in Spain, the people are what make this country so special. It seems counterintuitive that so many tourists get ripped off because when you actually meet Spanish people, they are so kind and welcoming. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, they will try to help you and make you feel welcome.

Obviously, we love Spain and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a trip to Spain. Want to know more about travel in Spain? Check out some of our other blog posts!

6 Rules for European Train Travel

Posted on by Mark Wolters

European Train Travel

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Lubeck Germany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just 45 minutes by train from Hamburg. We had a bit of a rowdy train ride coming here, so I thought it was the perfect time to share six unwritten rules of train travel in Europe.

#1 Be Quiet

Nobody else wants to hear your conversation on the train. This doesn’t mean you have to stop talking unless you are in a designated quiet train, but be mindful of the volume of your voice. Europeans are generally not as loud as Americans, and unfortunately, this is one way that we Americans stand out as tourists. (This applies whether you are talking to your travel companions or talking on your phone.)

Read: Ten Ways to Spot an American Tourist Abroad

#2 Don’t Steal a Reserved Seat

On European trains, you can pay extra to reserve a seat. These reserved seats are well marked, so don’t sit there unless it’s reserved for you. You can’t play dumb, either, because the translation is not difficult. In France, it will say réservé and in Germany, it will say reserviert. It’s not worth having to get up and move after you are settled, and they will ask you to move. We’ve seen some heated arguments over reserved seats.

#3 Pack Only What You Can Lift

On many trains in Europe, you will need to put your luggage in the overhead compartment. Make sure you are able to lift your suitcase over your head. Yes, this means packing light, but that’s really the only way to travel when you are using trains in Europe. Don’t count on getting someone else to lift your bag for you. There may be a lower luggage rack at the end of each cart, but not always.

Watch: How to Pack a CarryOn for Women

#4 Don’t Bring Stinky Food

Bringing stinky food on a train is inconsiderate of other passengers. This means fast food that fried, tuna fish sandwiches or anything else that has a strong aroma. What tastes good to you might not smell good to your neighbor. Go for cold foods, like a baguette sandwich.

#5 Let People Off Before Getting On

When you are waiting to board your train, let everyone get off the train before you try to board the train. By rushing on to the train while others are still exiting, it just creates a traffic jam and slows everyone down.

#6 Ticket Machines are Always Faster

When you are buying a train ticket, if there’s an automated ticket machine, it’s always faster than going to the ticket window. The machines almost always have several language options, including English, so unless you really need to speak with someone, you’re better off to use the machine rather than waiting in line. Once you have your ticket, don’t forget to validate it before boarding the train; this is required on some train lines.

These are my six unwritten rules of train travel. Do you have others to add? Tell us in the comments! For more travel tips and advice, check out our other blog posts and videos:

Rainy Day Travel Advice

Posted on by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re in Bamberg, Germany enjoying beautiful weather. But good weather isn’t always guaranteed when you’re traveling. So, today we’re sharing our tips for things to do while it’s raining. It’s always a good idea to have some rainy day activities planned during your vacation, just in case!

#1 Hop On Hop Off Bus

In larger cities, the Hop On Hop Off Bus is a great way to spend a rainy day. You don’t even have to hop off; you can just ride the whole route and scope out what you want to see when the sun comes back out. Many cities, like Vienna or Guadalajara, will have multiple routes for the Hop On Hop Off bus. Each route is about 90 minutes, so you can do one route after the other and spend the entire day riding around the city. Just check the map for the points where the routes cross and make sure your ticket includes all routes.

#2 Have a Museum Day

Most of the time, travel involves at least a museum or two, so when you are planning out your vacation itinerary, check the weather and plan your museum visits for the days that it’s supposed to rain. Museums are one of the best places to go on a rainy day. Maybe there are some museums you’re on the fence about; have a prioritized list of what you want to see, and if you get more rain than you were expecting, just keep going down the list. (Your Hop On Hop Off tour might alert you to some attractions you didn’t know about!)

#3 Laundry Day

If you’ve been traveling a while, chances are you will need to do laundry at some point during your travels. If it’s raining, you may as well spend your day at the laundromat.

Watch: How to Use a European Washing Machine

#4 Take the Day Off

Not every vacation day has to be go-go-go; it’s OK to take a day off just to chill out. The longer you are traveling for, the more important this will be. It’s easy to get burned out on vacation, and there’s nothing wrong with taking a down day to relax and do nothing. Read a book, watch TV, hang out in a local cafe on your laptop or go see a movie; all of the tourist attractions will still be there the next day.

#5 Prepare the Rest of Your Trip

Taking a down day is a good opportunity to reassess your travel itinerary and shift some things around as needed. You may have to reschedule some things based on weather, which affect other plans you had planned to do. If you are traveling long-term, you will need to do this often as weather forecasts become more accurate, and your appetite for exploration may change along the way, too.

#6 Shopping

Shopping is another good indoor activity to do on a rainy day. It’s a good time to buy souvenirs, or even pick up some new clothes if you don’t feel like doing laundry.

Watch: What Not to Buy When You Travel

As much as we would love sunny days every day while traveling, that’s rarely the case. It’s best to be prepared, especially if you are traveling during the rainy season. Hopefully, this list of things to do indoors will help you have some ideas in mind if you run into rainy weather while traveling. If you’d like more travel tips and advice, check out these blog post and videos:

London Airport Connections

Posted on by Mark Wolters

Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re at Heathrow Airport, one of five major airports in London. Since there are so many airports in London, I wanted to provide the basic transport information for each of the airports so that you can find the best way to and from the airport. Whether you are looking for the cheapest way to the airport, or the fastest way, these are all the ways you can get to the airports in London.

In general, taxi cabs are the most expensive method for getting to any airport in London. The airport express trains are also expensive. The National Rail lines are a bit more affordable. The Express Bus is pretty cheap, while the Tube is the cheapest way to get to any airport in London.

Heathrow Airport (LHR)

London’s Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with over 80 million passengers connecting through in 2018. As the primary hub of British Airways and a main base for Virgin Atlantic, many international flights land at Heathrow. Heathrow is located 14 miles west of central London.

There are several ways to get from Heathrow Airport to London or vice versa:

  • Taxi from Heathrow to London is the most expensive option
    • Cost: 70 GBP, or around $90
    • Travel Time: One Hour
  • Heathrow Express is the fastest way from Heathrow Airport to London
    • Location: Leaves Paddington Station every 15 minutes
    • Cost: 37 GBP return, or around $50, cheaper in advance and on weekends
    • Travel Time: 15 minutes to Terminals 2 and 3, 20 minutes to Terminals 4 and 5
  • TfL Rail (formerly Heathrow Connect)
    • Location: Leaves Paddington Station every 30 minutes, several stops between
    • Cost: 10.50 GBP at peak time, or $14
    • Time: 30 minutes to Terminals 2 and 3
  • London Underground (the Tube) – the cheapest way to get to Heathrow
    • Location: Piccadilly Line makes several stops between Heathrow and central London
    • Cost: Single fare is 6 GBP, or $8
    • Travel Time: 50 – 60 minutes
  • National Express Coach
    • Location: Victoria Coach Station
    • Cost: 10 GBP, $13
    • Travel Time: 40 – 80 minutes

Read: Ten Shocks of Visiting London

Gatwick Airport (LGW)

The next largest airport in London is Gatwick Airport, with 35 million passengers per year. It’s second only to Heathrow in the UK, and the eighth busiest airport in Europe. Located 30 miles south of London, Gatwick is a major hub for British Airways, EasyJet and Norwegian. Gatwick also handles a lot of charter planes, with Thomas Cook Airlines and TUI Airways.

There are several ways to get from Gatwick Airport to London or vice versa:

  • Gatwick Express
    • Location: Victoria Station
    • Cost: 20 GBP, $26
    • Travel Time: 30 minutes
  • South Train
    • Location: Victoria Station with extra stops
    • Cost: 17 GBP, $22 (cheaper off-peak hours)
    • Travel Time: 45 minutes
  • National Express Coach
    • Location: Victoria Coach Station
    • Cost: 10 GBP, $13
    • Travel Time: 40 – 80 minutes
  • Taxi
    • Cost: 100 GBP or $130
    • Travel Time: One Hour +

London City Airport (LCY)

This is the closest airport to central London in the Docklands, but it’s also the smallest, so it’s not used often by American travelers. Most flights are within the UK or other Europe destinations. There are a few easy ways to get to the city airport from Central London.

  • Taxi
    • Cost: 35 GBP or $45
    • Travel Time: 30 minutes
  • Docklands Light Rail
    • Location: Several stations connect to London Underground (Tube)
    • Cost: 2.40 GBP and up, $3 or more
    • Travel Time: 15-20 minutes
  • Bus – several local bus lines also go to London City Airport

London Luton Airport (LTN)

Luton is a hub for low-cost carriers in London, but it can be difficult and expensive to reach, especially on a Sunday, so carefully weigh your total costs before flying into or out of Luton Airport.

  • Train
    • Location: Luton Airport Parkway Station
    • Cost: 2.40 GBP and up, $3 or more
    • Travel Time: 30 minutes + 10-minute shuttle to airport
  • Bus
    • Location: Several options
    • Cost: up to 12 GBP, $16
    • Travel Time: 60 – 80 minutes
  • Taxi
    • Cost: 45 GBP and up, $60
    • Travel Time: One Hour +

London Stansted Airport (STN)

Stansted is the home of RyanAir, another low-cost carrier in London. Again, saving money on your flight may end up costing more by the time you travel into London. Stansted is nearly 40 miles from Central London, making it one of the furthest airports from the city center. If you are visiting London on the weekend, or have an early morning flight, you could end up spending more than $100 for a taxi, thereby erasing any savings you have from flying into Stansted. However, if you do decide to use Stansted Airport, here are your transportation options.

  • Train/Stansted Express
    • Location: London Liverpool Street Station, every 15 minutes
    • Cost: 17 GBP, $44
    • Travel Time: 45 minutes
  • Bus
    • Location: Victoria Coach Station
    • Cost: 12 GBP and up, $15
    • Travel Time: 70 – 100 minutes
  • Taxi
    • Cost: 80 GBP and up, $105
    • Travel Time: One Hour +

Watch: What to Know Before You Visit London

I hope this breakout helps you evaluate the best transport options for getting into London from the various airports outside London. London’s a great city, and you’ll love it once you get the travel logistics sorted out. For more travel tips and advice, check out these blog posts and videos: