Jökulsárlón or glacial lagoon

Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. Situated at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the glaciers.

Jökulsárlón has been a setting for Hollywood movies: Die another day, Lara Croft Tomb Raider and Batman Begins!

Next to Jökulsárlón  and after the boat ride you can spend more fun time at the Diamond beach. Diamond beach is a strip of black sand belonging to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain, located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the South Coast of Iceland.

This lagoon is a recently formed one, since its the result of climate changing. The surface is at the sea level and sea water flows into the lagoon at high tide. Huge blocks of ice constantly break off the glacier, Breiðamerkurjökull, and large icebergs float on the lagoon. The lagoon is not very wide but it is up to 250 meters deep which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland. Breiðamerkurjökull is an outlet of the Vatnajökull glacier.

AMPHIBIAN BOAT TOUR

The ultimate experience at the Jökulsárlón  Lagoon is of course the Amphibian Boat Tour which allows you to wander in the lagoon between the icebergs and learn interesting facts about their formation and geology. And we re talking about a real amphibian travellers, since you will be able to board on the land and bloom… in just a few minutes you will find yourself within the lagoon! You will get really close to a real iceberg, enjoy the peacefullness of the lagoon and admire nature and its blue colours. If you are lucky enough you ll get the chance to meet seals and moreover you can literally taste a 1000 year old ice.  Unique and exciting experience in unparalleled beauty scenery!

• Perfect for families, friends and large groups of travellers.
• The experience lasts 30-40 minutes.
• Includes an English speaking guide.
• Other languages may be offered upon request.
• Passengers are provided with life jackets.
• Cost 5900 ISK (approx. 42 euros).

To book this activity prior your trip to Iceland click here!

ZODIAC TOUR

For those of you who d love to find themselves just a breath away from an iceberg of the Jokulsarlon Lagoon we recommend you to choose the Zodiac tour! In this tour you ll be able to cover large areas of the lagoon and get closer to the icebergs and the glacier itself. Its a more private tour which takes you as close as possible to both the glacier and the icebergs (if there is no indication of bad weather conditions in the period you will be traveling there) as the zodiac boat is more flexible! Unique and exciting experience in nparalleled beauty scenery!

• Perfect for small groups and couples.
• The experience lasts 60 minutes.
• Includes an English speaking guide.
• Other languages may be offered upon request.
• Passengers are provided with life jackets.
• Cost 10500 ISK (approx. 75 euros).
• The passengers are provided with flotation uniforms.
• Passengers must be 10 years or older or at least 130 centimeters tall

To book this activity prior your trip to Iceland click here!

Glacier lagoon  it is told to be one of the greatest wonders of nature in Iceland.

Our experience with Glacier Lagoon

The Boat tour at Jökulsárlón  Lagoon is once in a lifetime experience and a perfect addition for all travellers in Iceland! We had an amazing experience with Glacier Lagoon which is located right at the lagoon, close to highway number one, about 370 km (230 miles) east from Reykjavík. In case of bad weather conditions you can always have your money back or reschedule the tour, actually thats what we did, due to a windy day! Be agile and feel free to ask the kind staff on the field who is always there willing to help you out! So dear travellers, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the extraordinary boat tour and view of Jökulsárlón  Lagoon, a real wonder of nature!

The Amphibian boat tour was complimentary by Glacier Lagoon , though all opinions remain our own and are based on personal experience during the Ring Roadtrip in Iceland! Many many sincere thanks to Glacier Lagoon for the amazing experience!

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As you may already understood we did a lot of preparation and came up to a very strict itinerary for our roadtrip in California, of course thats not something you all have to do when travelling but we guess it depends on where you travel and when! To be more specific… US is considered to be an expensive country especially for low budget travellers, so the more informed and prepared you are the less money and time you ll get to spend! This idea of travelling doesnt fit all your trips but surely worked out for us (also has to do with how many days you travel, we only had two weeks available…)

usa roadtrip

Mobile Card-Internet

There are various prepaid companies in America (eg. T-MOBILE). We did not locate these companies at any airport but found a lot in the streets of the cities we visited but we had it all done in a different way! US Mobile! Enter the website, ask them to send you a starter kit with SIM cards in one of the places you plan to stay in Usa! When you arrive ask for the package and activate in simple steps the package that best suits you! You won’t find a cheaper way than this one, honestly! Of course, in rough and desert areas there is no signal but don’t worry because there are tourists and locals everywhere for any help you may need!

roatrip usa us mobile

Parking

For those of you who ll rent a car, you will definitely be concerned about the parking lot. This is because while parking is available everywhere, the time allowed for parking is limited, eg. For two hours on Monday between 9.00-10.00 in the morning. Always consult the signs on every street! So either you move it all the time or you put it in a public parking lot! By saying public parking we mean $20 a day with extra charge for nightly parking! Do not risk it, they are constantly  municipality patrols who lift the illegally parked vehicles!

Gas stations

Here we laughed a lot, as you will laugh too trying to understand the self service system while you see that no one will try to help you! What you need to know is that you leave the car next to the pump of choice, go inside the store to pay and exit to start the filling process! You will be surprised that there is a really slow mood at the gas stations, where you can stay even for a whole quarter, because nobody is in a hurry! So arrange your times!

Uber

In USA, the use of Uber is widespread! They use all the services that Uber provides at very low cost, easily, quickly and without the stress of finding any parking, etc. You’ll see Uber-crowded cars going to work while taking care of the environment after sharing the route with other fellow travellers! Car pooling applies perfect to travelers like us! We’ve been able to discover whole cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami with the use of Uber with incredible ease and absolutely no stress, while enjoyed the sightseeing along the way!

roatrip usa

Tolls

Tolls? What tolls? There are no such things in Usa, or rather there are.. but don’t worry about it because everything is automatically charged in the car when it passes eg. from bridges, etc. (read your agency’s rules while renting a car!).

Car Rental

We chose the agency Alamo car, which has a free shuttle bus that picks you up from the airport, takes you to the parking lot and there after you complete the process of declaring your data you choose one of the huge cars that are parked there and you just take off for your roadtrip! At the end of your trip you leave it at one of the cooperating car rentals that are available in almost all the cities and you still leave with the same ease and the corresponding shuttle bus!

Red street lights

More generally, the driving consciousness of Americans is enviable! Do not rush, do not run, follow the rules and respect the other drivers! Your experience on the streets of USA will definitely be enjoyable and relaxing! If you have a red street light in front of you and you want to turn right while you are free from your left, just pass slowly!!

Extras:

• Credit card everywhere (but keep some change too)
• Do not be confused with different time zones from city to city
• Only stop at vista points-specially designed points on motorways to enjoy views
• Download a good app with maps like maps.me and offline Google Maps

We hope you find our tips useful and follow them when you are having this dreamy roadtrip in California!

The post ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PLAN A ROAD TRIP IN CALIFORNIA appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

Andalusia, the heart of the Spanish South, is one of the 17 autonomous regions of Spain and the southernmost one. It is the second largest and the first bu means of population. Its capital is Seville, and in general Andalucia is now divided into eight provinces: Seville, Huelva, Cordoba, Haen, Almeria, Granada, Malaga and Cádiz. Finally, there are almost 8 million inhabitants, it is the city where Pablo Picasso and the painter Velasquez were born, while its beauties fascinated and inspired the novelist Ernest Hemingway! All the above makes it the ideal destination for roatrip !!!

The budget for 2 people!

We traveled 700 km in 7 days! We spent 50 € on gasoline, rented a car with 10 € a day (prices start at 5 € / day) and for accommodation, bicycle, food and attractions costs 60 € / day. Airfares with a good search (not last minute!) Cost from Athens around 150 € / person, with airlines such as Aegean, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and are valid for direct flights or via Italy. Total for two people for 7 days;

50 + 10 * 7 + 50 * 7 + 150 * 2 = 770 € + (approx. 40 € from & to Airport) = 810 €

The cost of course can fall a lot if you choose to travel with company to share the common expenses, also the prices are indicative of a relatively well-paid trip. Surely the budget goes lower.

50 + 5 * 7 + 40 * 7 + 150 * 2 = 665 € + (approximately 25 € to & to Airport) = 690 € A

And of course it can cost you even more cheaper, if you choose to stay in a hostel, eat fast food every day and do not visit any museum etc!

The roadtrip

1 Day – Malaga

The first day we said … is devoted to feeling the vibes of the city (as long as the trip will last for several days)! We do not panic! We arrange our stuff and start wandering around! Malaga is the heart of Andalusian tourism, yet has retained its traditional character almost unchanged! Nice houses, rich nature and a high standard touristic center! Do not miss to visit the Picasso Museum at Palacio de Buenavista!

2 Day – Costa del Sol

On the second day, take a trip to the favorite beach of millions of travelers in Marbella where you can enjoy your Mediterranean air and sea! On the same day a little further north visit the city of Ronda, the rock city  with the well-known bridget (famous image among travelers). A city full of olive trees that reminds something of … Greece! Late in the afternoon you have to travel north to Seville.

3-4-5 Day – Seville (and maybe one day Cordoba?)

In the ancient city of Seville, which is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Andalucia, we recommend staying for 3 days! The historical route of Seville is the depiction of the history of all Andalusia and the different cultural influences that shaped its identity throughout the centuries. A city full of magic and fairy tales, as it is the city of Don Quixote! Also, visit the Alcázar, a palace complex with amazing gardens, now used to host the royal family. Ideal city for endless cycling or scrolling rides to feel like kids again, in the historic center, pedestrianized and full of bicycle infrastructure! Well-kept gardens full of flowers, many universities give youthful vibes to the city, boats to Piaza Espagna, and fabulous fresh fish make up the great scenery of Seville. The words that describe Seville the best are the relaxed rhythms and the smiles of the people! Fortunately, the tourism has not changed its genuine beauty! For those of you who want more adventures, one day you can escape to the city of Cordoba, the capital of Muslim Spain, located in the center of Andalucia!

Tips for Seville:

• Book your tickets online
• Try some shrimps and fish dishes

6 Day – Granada

Granada is … music, poetry and culture. It is the Andalucian rose! This province is located at the foot of the mountain and includes the rugged peaks of Sierra Nevada, a city with stunning architecture on calm plateaus, white villages scattered over hills and valleys descending to the rocks and impressive Costa Tropical beaches. The Alhambra, the “red fortress” of the Moorish monarchs in the city of Granada, is the most emblematic of the city which has been declared a Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1984. Nature at its Best !!!

Tip for Granada:

• Get lost amongst musicians and artists in San Nicolas and watch the Alhambra!
• Search for the authentic caves of flamenco!
• Learn the local gypsy stories!

plaza-espana andalucia non stop travellers

7 Day – Málaga

Return to cosmopolitan Malaga. Enjoy for a while Spanish smells and the lively nightlife and return home more cheerful and wiser!

Extra tips!

• Try the various wines of  Andalucia with prices at about 3 €  per glass on average, sparkling and semi-sweet!
• Especially in Granada, you will try taparia,  our favorite tapas !!!
• In Seville you can eat  for about 50 € / 2persons in a well rated restaurant while with about 4 tapas you will be happy enough all day!
• Try some bull tails !!!
• Experience: for those of you who are in a great tense enjoy a hamam!

Meet people from every corner of the world and of all ages!

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