I have arranged some fantastic holidays for Steven since 2016 when he and a friend drove the iconic Route 66.
Singapore was high on his bucket list, and he was due to travel in September before the ongoing restrictions sadly enforced a postponement until next year.
With Iceland on the UK’s green list at that time, it presented an opportunity for Steven to tick off another desired destination instead…
I've booked many holidays with Amanda, always a seamless and great experience, so with Singapore still unable to accept UK visitors this summer, I chose to go to Iceland, which has been on my bucket list for some time.
My mission was simple for my 7-day itinerary: to cram in as many experiences and sights within this wonderful country as was possible.
Amanda kept me updated and informed about the ever-changing rules since COVID-19 and the pre-travel experience was fine, just having to complete a PCR test 72 hours prior to the flight departure time.
The checking-in process and security at London Heathrow was good with no queues and I felt comfortable and confident within the environment.
Keflavik airport was an immaculate process from deboarding the aircraft, through border control and collecting bags. They asked if I was double vaccinated and to scan my pre-register arrival form.
First impressions of the Grandi by Center Hotel that Amanda had recommended were great: first-class amenities and a splendid location, within walking distance of the city centre and eateries.
The hotel did indeed turn out to be fantastic, busy but with enough space for everyone to enjoy the surroundings, and I was able to do all that would have been possible prior to the pandemic, and it wasn’t compulsory to wear a mask within the hotel.
I managed to explore Reykjavik - a very friendly place, easy to navigate with a multitude of bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops. It is also quite flat to walk around, a bonus for people who don't like a lot of hills!
Everything was impressively clean, and the staff in restaurants, shops and the hotel were exceptional.
Exploring the south of Iceland was incredible. Amongst many amazing things, I managed to see the largest glacier lagoon within Europe, multiple waterfalls, volcanoes, mountains, plus the beautiful Northern Lights.
There were so many highlights.
Sampling the local cuisine - lamb is a speciality - was hugely enjoyable, snowmobiling on a glacier was epic, whale watching was awe-inspiring and the dolphins racing our boat, exhilarating.
I booked multiple tours prior to travel, and they surpassed my expectations. Each was absolutely outstanding with informative guides and multiple stops to enjoy the sights along the way.
It was back to reality and the return journey too soon. There were long queues to process bags at check-in, but once at the desk, the airline staff were helpful, checking to ensure you had a negative antigen test 72 hours within flight time and that the passenger locator form had been completed correctly.
The queue at the UK border was insane, taking around two hours to get through.
It was a great decision to visit this stunning place. I had a superb time and created some fabulous memories and would hugely recommend and encourage others to visit. It might be small, but it packs a mighty punch with the things you can see and do.
Amanda was magnificent, I cannot thank her enough. Even when I asked for an excursion to be cancelled, due to a last-minute change, she was on the case and achieved a refund.
5⭐️service.
Steven