It will be hard to visit the Icefields Parkway in just one day. There are so many points of interests and hikes that you won’t be able to see it all.
Below you’ll find tips on places to visit on the Icefields Parkway and a summary of our little road-trip.
Since we had a long drive ahead of us (380km) and multiple stops along the way to break up the ride, we set off early. On our way from Banff, we decided to try our luck at Moraine Lake (again), it was before 9 a.m. and no luck. Third attempt, another fail.
Things to remember before you visit the Icefields Parkway
Before setting out on the long stretch of the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper, DON’T FORGET to gas up. There are no gas stations between those two towns.
Also, download a map just in case as there is no cell reception and bring food to be able to picnic.
While doing my research on The Rockies, a place whose name came up a few times was Laggans. Apparently, they can provide packed lunches and great slices of pizza. This is perfect if you are looking for food on the go, and don’t want to have to pack your own lunch.
Laggans is located in Lake Louise. There is also a supermarket next door from it and a gas station.
By bringing your own lunch, you’ll be able to eat it where ever your heart desires. Otherwise, the only real place we saw where you can grab a bite to eat is that the Columbia Icefields Visitor Center.
When you visit and picnic on the Icefields Parkway, don’t forget to pick up your trash!
Herbert Lake
We decided to make our first stop at Herbert Lake, located at the beginning of the Icefields Parkway.
This lake is supposed to be the warmest lake in Banff that you can possibly swim in. That might be true, but if you saw it you’d be disappointed. Don’t stop there unless you have to.
Crowfoot Mountain/Glacier across Bow Lake
Approximately 30 minutes North of Lake Louise, we stopped to admire the view of Crowfoot Mountain/Glacier across Bow Lake.
Although it was a bit cloudy we could get an idea of the beauty of it. It’s a great place to unwind and have a picnic and it’s also one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park.
Located on the shores of Bow Lake is the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge that we caught a glimpse of when we stopped. This could make for a great overnight stop on your way to or from Jasper. However, one night there costs $400, and dogs aren’t allowed as it’s considered a historical building. The view from it though is priceless.
Not far from Bow Lake lies Peyto Lake. I know, we saw a lot of lakes during our trip but this one was stunning. Admired from the Peyto Lake viewpoint, this lake is glacier-fed and is of turquoise color. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
If you get to the Peyto Lake viewpoint while everyone and their mother are there, no worries, just continue on to the Upper Lake Viewpoint.
Off the beaten path
The Upper Lake Viewpoint isn’t exactly indicated because they probably want to keep it off the beaten path but there is another trail.
Just continue uphill from the first viewpoint which will take you to a circuit. Look at the map and you’ll notice a tiny trail leaving the circuit on the right. THAT is what you want to take.
So go counter-clockwise on the circuit and keep an eye out on the right for a man-made dirt path. Follow that dirt path all the way up.
This is not stroller friendly at all. You’ll be climbing up rocks. It’s not too hard, a bit steep but totally doable even if you are not super fit.
The view is so spectacular that if you get blinded by the beauty of it you just might take a tumble from the rocks. So pay close attention during the climb.
Once we arrived on top, there was nobody and it was late morning. We ventured a little past the viewpoint to check out some snow that remained. Blondie Bear inadvertently slipped down from it, but no harm was done.
After that, we came back down to the Peyto Lake Viewpoint. It was completely empty as the tourist buses had all left. Perfect timing for some more picture ops.
We picked the less expensive one. The prices are of course outrageous, and the food is just ok. Blondie Bear and I shared a soup and Big Boss had a burger. The meal, including 2 sodas and 1 energy drink cost us around 40$. Luckily we had decent snacks in the car to hold us over.
It is very crowded inside and in the parking lot as well. The only upside to stopping there is the view of the Athabasca Glacier, the bathrooms, and the water fountains to refill your water bottle.
Activities to do from the Columbia Icefield Visitor Center
From the visitor center, you can book activities such as the glacier skywalk which cost 37$/adult and 19$/child or go on glacier walks.
The Glacier Skywalk is only accessible by shuttle bus, so you can’t even take a sneak peek of it by driving up to it.
In my opinion and from what I have read, it sounds more like an expensive tourist trap than anything else, much like the Banff Gondola. I guess the only worthwhile experience is the walking on the glass skywalk part.
For a more interesting experience, check out this company.
If you want to experience the glacier walk, similar to the one we had in Iceland, then you need to book a private tour. It will take you with a special all-terrain vehicle up to the glacier and then with a guide to walk on it.
In order to participate in these activities, you need to book in advance, have steep pockets, as they don’t come cheap, and have time. However, walking on a glacier is a once in a lifetime experience.
Free activity – Athabasca Glacier
We opted for the free version of driving across from the Visitor Centre parking lot to the Athabasca glacier parking lot.
We would have walked from the visitor centre but it is quite a walk actually on a gravel road. Don’t worry, there is plenty of walking left to do to get up close the glacier from the parking lot including a nice little hill. Don’t wear sandals and bring a sweater or light jacket as it can get windy up there…just look at my hair!
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get very close to it as it is prohibited by a rope. I assume it’s to preserve it as much as possible as it has melted quite a bit. Who said Climate change isn’t real? Probably another idiot.
DO NOT cross the rope, it would be silly to put yourself in harm’s way just for a picture. There are solid crevasses in which you can fall into that you might not be able to spot until it is too late. Keep a keen eye on your kids and elderly companion so that they don’t wander off.
Tangle Falls
Moving along, we stopped by Tangle falls. According to the park’s guide, you can spot goats.
The only thing I spotted was Blondie Bear dangerously striking a pose by the waterfall and Big Boss trying to climb on top of the fall looking for goats. Yep, we like living on the edge.
The falls are actually nice. You can’t miss them as they are right by the road not very far from the Columbia Icefields Visitor Centre (about 6.5 km).
Athabasca Falls
Our final stop before heading to our lodging outside of Jasper was Athabasca Falls (roughly 30 km South of Jasper).
At the time we arrived, there were two rangers presenting various animal antlers. These were great and so freaking heavy!! We learned a lot of things that I don’t remember and could ask useful information such as where to spot certain animals etc…They are there for that purpose. Kids will love them.
The falls little ballad is a lot of fun and very accessible. They throw themselves into a river where there is a small little pebble beach that can be reached by following the trail that leads through a canyon that was created by earlier erosion. This could make for a great picnic spot just as long as you pick up after yourself.
Finally, we saw mountain sheep, bears along the way and stopped by the Sunwapta Falls which is an easy walk.
To visit the Icefields Parkway, you should allow yourself at least 2 days. There is plenty to see, hikes to take, wildlife to spot.
We visited the Icefields Parkway on our way to and back from Jasper. It’s a long drive, but with lots of stops, the ride will be a lot more enjoyable.
Our getaway travel to New York City for Big Boss and I began by car.
We journeyed from Montreal one Wednesday afternoon for the Big Apple with crappy weather. Our first winter storm of the season in Montreal had just hit us. We returned on a Sunday to the same greyish crappy weather with more snow. The roads hadn’t been cleared up from the previous snowfall and it had already been 4 days!
Brooklyn Bridge Photo by Jerome Dominici from Pexels
However, between our departure and our return, we were in New York City. We were there to ring in the New Year, with our home base in BROOKLYN.
The song from the Beasty Boys “No Sleep till Brooklyn” was renamed by Big Boss “No sleep in Brooklyn“. We ended up not sleeping much and that wasn’t even due to too much partying! So just be prepared. When you travel to New York City, you won’t get much sleep in the city that never sleeps.
New York City, just like much of the rest of the United States is an expensive place to travel to, especially when you are on a budget. Fear not, however, as this blog article might just be what you are looking for if you need budget travel tips to New York City. We’ll share with you our itinerary and how we managed to keep our cost as low as possible while still enjoying our little 4-day getaway.
First stop: Brooklyn
After a good 9-hour drive, we arrived at our destination: Brooklyn in New York City.
One hour and 10 minutes of that was spent at the American border while it only took us 15 minutes to cross the border on our way home. Go figure!
We went to grab a bite to eat at a local joint recommended by our B&B, Burger Mexicano. Unfortunately, it is now closed.We didn’t want to look for another place as it was already late. Honestly, we weren’t going to be too picky about our first meal there.
This is what’s great about New York, everything is open late. There is something for everyone’s schedule and taste. You can go and have a late-night manicure or get your braids done in a salon at 10pm, any day of the week, even on holidays. We can’t say that Americans are lazy, at least not in Brooklyn, not in that hood.
Where we slept
I found a Bed and Breakfast “Lefferts Manor” in the borough of Brooklyn. New York City has 5 of them. Manhattan is the most popular one as that’s where everyone goes. However, lodging there can get pretty EXPENSIVE. Then, comes Brooklyn. Even Miranda from Sex & the city called this borough home. It has a laid-back feel giving out a home away from home vibe.
Lodging is a tad bit cheaper in Brooklyn. It’s not Manhattan and you’ll be far from all the points of interest but don’t brush off Brooklyn just yet. It does have hipster bars, lofts, shops, and of course restaurants.
Since we were driving to New York City from Montreal, we felt that it would be easier for us to stay in Brooklyn. We didn’t want to have to pay for a spot in a parking garage for the whole length of our stay. That adds up quickly. Instead, we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn where it is easier to park on the side streets and FREE. However, just be aware of the cleanup days of the streets as you can’t park on certain sides of the street.
The neighborhood where we stayed was really nice but the main avenue nearby not so much. What a contrast between this main artery and the side residential streets.
When booking our B&B it looked cute, old, and romantic … In reality, it was, and clean, but the plumbing karaoked ALL NIGHT LONG. It was dreadful, not to mention the toilet on our floor which kept clogging up… Nonetheless, I was able to sleep a good 5 hours each night but Big Boss wasn’t so lucky.
Moreover, breakfast was not included in the price. So we had to pay an extra $15 per person. It isn’t a real Bed and Breakfast if the breakfast isn’t included! Right?
Getting around New York City
Avoid at all cost-driving around Manhattan when you travel to New York City. You’ll end up getting stuck in massive traffic jams. Then, you’ll waste time trying to park on a street or paying an atrocious amount to park in a Parking Garage.
Your best way to get around Manhattan is on foot or by riding the subway. If you have to, hail a yellow cab, good luck! Of course, the bus exists, but I have never been on one.
Moreover, the red double-decker tour bus does exist, even in New York City. Back in 2009, I believe it was around $60 per person for a 24h hop-on hop-off pass. I personally find that to be expensive. However, if you are in New York City just for the day, it could be a viable option. At least you’d cover all the major sites.
Riding the subway of New York City
Even though we love to walk, we had no choice to ride the New York City subway during our New Year’s Eve travel.
Driving our own car into Manhattan every day was not a viable option. The only easy way onto the island of Manhattan was with the subway.
Luckily at our B&B in Brooklyn, there were some useful tips on the metro. For example, lines Q & B both go through the Prospect Park stop. The B line stops at 9pm and the Q line works 24-7 (awesome).
did buy a 7 day MetroCard with unlimited access for $32/person. One ride costs $2,50. We thought that in the long run, we would benefit from it which we did.
Tip 1:Grab a map of the New York City subway.
Ours was provided free of charge at our B&B. You will be needing it to navigate through the intricate New York subway signals and corridors.
I have to admit that having the subway map sort of helped us navigate better.
Tip 2: Pay attention.
Listen to the announcements. Read the signs on the front of the subway train or panels. The same train line might be heading in two different directions.
As a foreigner without English knowledge, this must be a nightmare. That is probably why you don’t see too many tourists riding the subway then. People say and think the Paris subway is complicated, the New York City one beats it.
Tip 3: Group your visits by area
This tip is good for any major city traveling. In order to save money on public transit, focus each day on a different area of the city which you are visiting. This way, at the most, it will cost you a round trip ticket per person each day.
However, while we were in New York City and to make our life a bit easier, we bought a 7 day MetroCard with unlimited access. The cost at the time was $32/person. In comparison, a one-way ride costs $2,50. We thought that in the long run, we would benefit from it, which we did.
DAY 1 : Central Park, Times-Square & Greenwich Village
We started our first day by heading into Manhattan with a subway ride. Miraculously, we did not get lost.
We are extremely lucky to not only speak, read, and understand English but also have a great hearing as it is so COMPLICATED to navigate!
My past New York experiences hadn’t forced me to explore too much of the NYC subway. The few times I had used it made me squirmish at the idea of using it again.
We had decided to focus on the northern part of Manhattan where the main highlights of the city are. Since it was Big Boss’s first time in New York City, I thought it would be a good place to start.
Central Park
Photo by Jerome Dominici from Pexels
We took the subway from Brooklyn and started off with the Northern part of Central Park . It was my first time in this part of the park. I had always gone to the southernmost tip to the right of the park (ok East).
We walked anti-clockwise around the reservoir like Dustin Hoffman in the movie Manhattan. Apparently, not everyone had the same guidebook as us as multiple people were going about it the regular way…people…they know nothing…
As we strolled around the park, I finally got a chance to see some of the park’s bridges, just like in the movies. I saw a bride and her groupies, a couple get engaged and a LIVE wedding ceremony on a bridge just when they were exchanging vows…that was so special. I got a bit emotional seeing all these lovers in New York City on the last day of the year… Big Boss did not seem to be affected by it at all…typical male.
I forgot to mention that I walked around our first day in New York City in my PJs. Yes for real (see picture below), not that you care.
I needed to be comfortable and I had forgotten to bring clothing for that. I know it sounds like a real girl problem but honestly, this is a rare time that I actually tried to coordinate a decent wardrobe during my travels.
In New York City, you are going to walk A LOT if you are sightseeing. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a small backpack and warm clothes if it’s not summertime. Forget about making a fashion statement, unless you are comfortable or just bring a change of clothes. That’s what many people do.
We tried to spot the Imagine sign in Central Park to honor John Lennon who was murdered in that area. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find it. That’s ok, there is always next time.
Times Square
After 2 hours of walking in the cold through Central Park, we stopped by St-Patrick’s Church, the Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. STOP STOP STOP. People are insane!
Times Square was completely packed. We didn’t even attempt to go through it as the access was blocked by checkpoints Charlie on every corner.
I just wanted to show the place to Big Boss and eat. So all we saw was the northern part of Times Square through the upper floor windows of a brasserie. Meal with a view. Not bad.
Unfortunately, I don’t even remember the name of the place where we ate, nor what we ate. It was very touristy and I probably just got a soup just to warm up and keep our meal cost down. Don’t eat in or near Times Square if you are on a budget.
Now, if you must, you might as well grab lunch at Ellens Stardust Diner. At least, you’ll get your money’s worth because your food comes with entertainment.
The Diner is a retro 1950s theme restaurant located at 1650 Broadway on the southeast corner of 51st Street.
The diner is regarded as one of the best theme restaurants in New York owing to its singing waitstaff.
New Year’s Eve on Times Square
Please explain to me why you would want to wear adult diapers for 12 hours straight just to see a small ball drop for the New Year’s Eve countdown? Don’t you see that it is ridiculous? That being said, if you gave me free VIP access, guarantee me a spot at 10pm, I’ll agree to hang out for 2 hours in the cold. But the absurdity of the whole thing ends there.
By the way, we came across a lot of police officers who were extremely friendly. What a contrast with the border-control immigration officers we encountered on our way to New York City.
Greenwich Village
We continued on our stroll towards Washington Square. This is where you can see the famous Arch of Triumph which you see in the movie When Harry Met Sally.
Ever heard of it? No? OMG, am I really that old? or are my movie references that bad…Big Boss has never watched it. It is such a classic though, don’t you think?
While making our way towards the Arch we realized that all the city noise had died down. It was calm, less crowded, and no more honking sounds. Obviously, that’s because the 1 million crazies had finally made their way to Times Square.
So we peacefully walked by the Empire State Building (King Kong wasn’t there) and the Flat Iron Building (the first skyscraper to be built in NYC).
After a 6-hour walk in the cold, we went back to our B&B to relax and unwind a bit before heading back out for some New Year’s Eve celebration.
New Year’s Eve in New York City
We had bought tickets for a rooftop party in Brooklyn at the Kimoto Rooftop Beer Garden. It was a choice to spend the evening in Brooklyn to make things less complicated. Therefore, when we realized that we could even get there by subway (sweet), we wouldn’t have to waste money on a cab.
As the USA is so expensive, especially if you come from Canada, anything to save a buck or two was fine by us. So no cab fare to spend and a 24h/7 subway. FANTASTIC.
Anyways, we had a good time. The unobstructed view of the Manhattan skyline at midnight with the firework extravaganza from the 25th-floor terrace was an explosive experience.
The music was good, the wine was ok, not complaining. It was relatively an inexpensive New Year’s Eve as the cost for both of us was $114CAD. Included in the price: free entry, open bar for 3 hours (we made great use of that), and a glass of champagne at midnight.
That being said, we had to give up our table around 11pm. Apparently, they were all VIP tables and reserved to Snow White and Flash look-alikes. Don’t ask. So we had to stand and let ourselves get pushed around. Luckily a couple took pity on us (they hadn’t gotten kicked out from their table yet) and invited us over.
Moreover, the service was slow and the place was crowded. We quickly learned that since it took a good half hour to get our free drink, we had to order 4 at a time instead of 2. Our champagne toast didn’t come out until 12:30 am.
Nonetheless, it was still a better option than wearing an adult diaper for 12-hours in Times Square.
It was Kimoto’s first year doing that so hopefully, it has gotten better since then. If you are in the hood, you should check it out, at least for the view and the vibe.
DAY 2: Chinatown – Wall Street
After a wonderful night spent listening to the singing of the radiators, old pipes, and clogged toilets, we left our B&B to eat some Dim Sum in Chinatown.
While researching things to do in NYC, I stumbled upon an article Best Brunch Places New Year’s Day, and the name Nom Wah Tea Parlorwas on the list. Clearly sticking out from the list of the city’s trendy restaurants and bistros with affordable prices.
It was an excellent choice. As Big Boss‘s first time trying out some Dim Sum, he ‘liked’ it. Mission accomplished!
It is while there that I realized that the alley and the Nom Wah Tea Parlor had been used as part of the last scenes of the movie Premium Rush with Joseph-Gordon Levitt. In fact, I had just watched it two days prior to leaving on this trip. This movie doesn’t ring a bell either?
With delicious food in our bellies, we were ready to start our second day of exploring. This time, the southern part of New York City.
Brooklyn Bridge
Starting the very first day of the New Year with some dim sum was just perfect. We were in the heart of Chinatown, not far from the Brooklyn Bridge. This bridge, I had never gotten around to seeing it up close for some reason so that was new to me.
Unfortunately, it felt like everyone who was at Times Square the day before had decided to do the same thing as us. Luckily we found a hidden passageway underneath the bridge leading to a staircase bringing you onto the bridge. So we were able to bypass some of the crowd that way. This saved us a good 20 minutes!
The Brooklyn Bridge is the first suspended bridge built in North America, which I got to study in History of Art back in College.
It is absolutely worth a look and you get a wonderful view of Manhattan from it. The access is FREE! We did, however, have to buy ourselves some hats. It was so cold on the bridge as the wind was strong. We were completely frozen and knew that the hats would come in handy for the next activity on our list.
Staten Island Ferry
We made the most of our subway pass as we hopped on the subway to go to Battery Parc. Not that we were in a rush, but we were so cold and still had a few things to see before the end of the day. So this allowed us to save a bit of time.
So our next stop was the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry is FREE and goes back and forth daily between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island.
About 60 000 passengers use this transportation system each day. For budget-minded travelers or those who don’t want to waste a half-day, this is a great way to see the Lower Manhattan skyline including the new World Trade, the Brooklyn Bridge, and also the famous lady the Statue of Liberty.
The ferry takes about 25 minutes to cross. If you don’t want to wait for the return ferry when you arrive, I strongly suggest that you post yourself 5 minutes prior to your arrival at the entrance of the boat. Then, dash out to make the return ferry, or just wait 30 minutes for the next one. We opted for the dash part and saved 30 minutes in our day. It’s crazy how many extra minutes we gained in our schedule that day!
If you want to make it even more special, take the ferry for the sunset! I hadn’t checked at the time but maybe you can take it around midnight on New Year’s Eve. That would make for an awesome prime location to watch the fireworks.
Wall Street
We finished off our day walking around the new World Trade Center. Beautiful…and sad.
Oh I forgot, the famous Bull of Wall Street….extremely popular stop. You now have to wait in line to take a picture of yourself while touching its balls. So no picture, not enough time.
Dumbo
After resting and warming up a bit, we set out to go out to eat.
In terms of the nightlife for New Year’s Day, there were some places open in our hood and some closed. It was like playing the lottery, unsure of what we were going to get.
We wanted to try out the best pizza in town, Grimmaldi’s Pizzeria in the arear referred to as DUMBO in Brooklyn. That way, we could Manhattan from afar. We saw nothing. There was a crazy line for Grimmaldi’s Pizzeriaand at Juliana’s, its rival. No way were we going to stand in line for a slice of pizza!
So we left with our insides crying FEED ME! However, thanks to our Guide du Routard, I found the address of a restaurant in a neighborhood near ours.
We went and tested our luck in the trattoria Al Di Là with a real Italian waiter, accent and all. Si si senor! It was delicioso. The best meal of our trip.
The neighborhood is called Park Slopeand even by night, it looked really cool. If we were to go there again with the kids we would definitely stay in that area. There are lots of restaurants and nice shops. The brownstones are incredibly well taken care of. It’s pure delight walking around that area.
DAY 3: Soho – Meatpacking District
The final day of our little getaway travel to New York City. My feet, my knees, and my legs were killing me by then and I was still freezing. Luckily, I had brought the new winter jacket Big Boss had gotten me for Christmas. Despite that, we still walked all day. A city is meant to be visited on foot and not in stores.
Soho
We strolled around Soho and admired the cast-iron buildings including The Queen of Greene Street Building and The King of Greene Street Building.
While strolling through that area, we came across our very first Invaders. It’s a form of street art that can be found in multiple cities across the globe. We have since then seen some in Paris and Rabat (Morocco).
We explored the underskirts of Greenwich Village. This is the area where the building of Friends is located (the TV show that lasted 10 years). Ah AT LAST you know that reference!
Also, it’s located near the narrowest home in NYC that was previously owned by Drew Barrymore’s grandfather (little blond girl in E.T.). During my last trip to Paris, I actually saw a narrower home, but who’s counting right?
High Line
Big Boss and I finished the day off at the High Line, which opened in 2009 by repurposing old train tracks for people to stroll.
It’s a very pleasant walk with lots of artwork and it’s FREE. Supposedly there is free Wifi there but we did not connect.
This project was inspired by a similar one done in Paris, la Coulée Verte.
That evening we returned to DUMBO for the pizza and the view. Another failed attempt. So we had a mediocre pizza on a side street but with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges all light up. You can’t travel to New York City and not check it out. It’s worth the detour and (you got it) it is FREE.
We finished off our evening in a bar in DUMBO called Superfine and then chilled at Midwood Flats close to our B&B. During our New York City trip, we tried out a lot of local beers that were all good. I liked the one from Long Island but I don’t recall its name,unfortunately.
We really enjoyed our little travel journey to New York City and hope to go back there someday with the kids. For sure we will be adding some museums to the list (some are actually FREE) and see a Broadway musical ($$$). To be continued…
Last tip:
If you have the time and want to make an interesting pit stop on your way to or from New York City, why not explore Lake Placid? It’s only roughly 2 hours away from Montreal and was home to the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Travel New York Now has an in-depth article on all the activities you can do there. It’s worth checking out right HERE.
Anyone who has ever done a home renovation project, whether it be for the kitchen, bathroom, or living room, will tell you that it didn’t quite go as planned. Always expect the unexpected.
Our initial ‘idea’, to put it loosely, was not the end result and I am so happy for it.
When Big Boss and I bought our condo, the living room was up front and the kitchen in the rear.
The living room was long but not very wide. So there wasn’t much configuration we could do with the furniture we had.
We had just bought a sofa for our old condo from Crate and Barrel. It is a mammoth and one I had waited 3 years to buy. However, we got lucky and were able to purchase the floor sample at a very reduced price. All it had was just one little stain barely visible.
What is great about it is that it’s super comfortable and sits comfortably a family of 4. Also, you can sleep on it if you have to as it is wide enough and the slip covers come off easily to wash (in case of some uncontrolled drooling).
Replacing this sofa was not an option because it answered our needs. This is why we needed to come up with a renovation project for our living room so that we could actually enjoy and be comfortable in.
Our initial renovation plan for the living room
Originally, we had thought and planned on taking down part of the bearing wall in the living room to at least try to make the space appear wider, more open.
However, during our house warming party, before the destruction, one of my friends made a suggestion. Why I hadn’t thought of that, I don’t know.
Possibly the thought had crossed my mind but because of all the work it entailed, I brushed it off.
Instead of taking the wall down from the actual living room, take the one down from the bedroom adjacent to the kitchen. Turn the bedroom into the living room and the old living room into a bedroom. Ta dah.
Once my friend put it out there, there was no turning back and so here we are, 9 months later, with a brand new baby living room. It was the best decision EVER and totally made sense.
Living room or dining room
Since dining rooms are becoming OBSOLETE, at least they have in my life since I became an adult, the living room needs to be close to the kitchen or at least not on opposite sides of your house.
Dining rooms are a waste of space especially if you have room in the kitchen to eat. I mean, unless you are the Queen of something, you will use that space like what, 4 times a year?
We had struck gold in our last condo because the whole kitchen-dining-living area was open. It was a lot more practical to live in. This was especially the case for us because of the kids and our dog and to receive the occasional guest(s).
I just couldn’t imagine myself receiving guests in this new condo with the way the floor plan worked. Imagining our guests in our tight living room sitting next to each other on the one sofa, trying to have a conversation while I was at the opposite of the house getting things ready made me cringe.
By relocating our living room to the back of the house where the kitchen was at would make it easier for us to receive guests and give us more room to live-in. Most importantly, I’d get to be with my family while still tending to my mommy duties. SPACE IS IMPORTANT.
How to take down a wall
This project was not meant to be done right away. However, since I wanted to get the kitchen done, I had to make this project our first priority because of all the dust it was going to create.
If I had known beforehand that we would be tearing down this wall, I would have waited to redo our kitchen floor.
We barely survived but amazingly Big Boss and I pulled through.
The whole process was a nightmare especially when you do all the work yourself (except tearing the wall down) while working full time, taking care of kids, baby Nouki, etc.
Renovation projects can really put your relationship to the test. HERE, you will find ideas of exercises you can do as a couple to overcome some of these problems, based on a book I read.
Hire a professional
Since tearing down a bearing wall to install a beam is structural, it is highly recommended, no, MANDATORY, to get it done by a professional.
Between the engineer and contractor, we had to shell out $5000.
We had an engineer draw the plans and hired a contractor to take down the wall, put up the beam, move electrical outlets, take scrap out and replace drywall where need be. This is what cost the most for us.
Living room renovation
After the contractor did his thing, we took care of the rest. What did that entail exactly?
We removed the bedroom closet and pantry doors. Removed not 1 but 2 coats of wallpaper, hilariously fun.
Removing wallpaper
The best way to remove wallpaper without buying products: use your finger nails for the first layer. Ok, I’m just kidding but I did do it that way at first.
Then, apply a sponge or paint roller that you have dipped in warm water onto what’s left of the paper. Only do small sections at a time. Once your section has been soaked, use a scraper to peel the paper off.
Expecting the unexpected
Unless you are doing some renovation in a brand new building, you will stumble onto things you hadn’t foreseen. If you think that it will take say 2 weeks for you to bring your renovation project of the living room to completion, double that.
We had a hell of a good time removing very thick and wide wood moulding glued to the wall installed prior to the wood ceiling. Therefore, after the wallpaper was removed and so was the moulding, we had to replaster the parts of the wall.
Taking the wall down, installing the beam, and removing the wallpaper took us a good 3 weeks to do.
Since our living room was originally a bedroom, there was a closet. We had to remove the linoleum flooring that was in the closet. Of course, underneath the linoleum was not the same flooring as our living room.
Once everything was removed from the walls (and floor), we started priming EVERYTHING. This included the wooden ceiling and part of the floor where the bedroom closet used to be.
Setbacks
We got set back a few days because of the drain that was going through the wall. I already knew that and had made my peace with the fact of having a column in the middle of this open space I wanted to create.
Our contractor thought that it might have been possible to move it, so we had to wait for a plumber to come and look at it.
Everything is feasible when you have time and money. We didn’t, and it wouldn’t have been worth it because it could have been like opening Pandora’s box. We would have had to go and open walls up in the condos upstairs….bla bla bla…all I was seeing right there and then were more dollar signs adding up and I wanted to be smart about this.
So we kept the column which gives our beam even more support.
Dressing up your walls
Paint, paint and paint. I love accent walls.
Even though I can’t seem to bring myself to do a whole room in just one colour and by that I mean anything but white, I can’t bring myself to have all white walls either.
Although, for example, I enjoy looking at a Scandinavian inspired space and I do find some quite exquisite, I just can’t picture myself living in it. It doesn’t represent me, who I am. I need some colour, even if it is just a grey.
For ideas on how to dress up your walls on a budget, I tell you about it HERE.
Accent walls
For the renovation of our living room we used one main accent colour. It’s one I had never used before so I wanted to try it out. I have to admit, and this usually never happens, I was starting to second guess myself, did I pick the right colour? It seemed a bit too punchy.
While I was looking back at my notes and my research, I realized that yep, I had found another colour I liked more. However, since I had done my material board a few months back I stuck with it and forgot to change it.
So after two coats of paint here I was, wondering, hmm is this what I want? Had I wanted to, I could have changed it. However, that meant extra cost for the change of paint and extra labor (our own).
Finally, I really like the colour as it works well with the other accent wall opposite it in the kitchen. I might change it one day, after all its just paint, but for now, I’m going to enjoy it and finish off ALL the other projects before making changes.
I added a mirror as an accent piece to my accent wall which I found at Zone(on sale). Since I felt the wall was missing something, I found a little poster while traveling to Vietnam which I thought would make a sweet addition.
Can you have two accent walls?
Since ONE accent piece wasn’t enough in my living-room, I used other non-white colours.
I fell in love with the grey I used in Blondie Bear’s room, which gave me an idea to create an accent niche for our TV.
However, I couldn’t reuse exactly the same grey as it didn’t work well with the lighting in the space, so I picked another one, similar but different.
It is a strong grey but it doesn’t fight off my accent colour which is what I like and wanted. They actually work well together.
To dress up, even more, our TV niche wall, I had some of our photos printed on canvas from this company. They were easy to make and it was fast delivery.
The only draw back is that they don’t have a little hook in the back to install. It makes installing a little tricky but doable if you are handy.
How to dress up structural items in your room
I had to ‘dress’ the elephant in the room: THE DRAIN, the beast, the column…that thing in the middle of the space. We couldn’t just pretend it wasn’t there, so I decided to acknowledge it with more paint.
Since I was missing the birthday wall we had in our last condo I decided to implement it on the BEAST. All you need is some chalkboard paint. That’s it, folks.
We use it to indicate what items are missing from the kitchen and who is getting a year older. It also ties in nicely with the existing black kitchen ceiling.
The rest of the walls are either white or pale grey (walls with windows).
Beam me up Scotty
Well, this was not originally part of the plan. The beam was supposed to be just white, I know right?
While I was looking at our gutted ceiling and at our new support beam which was an orangey/red within the space, I thought hmmm, that actually looks cool, works well with my kitchen bar stools.
Since I already had a red paint sample picked out on my material board which was just there to represent my stools, this was a no brainer.
Big Boss didn’t shy away from the idea, he is colour blind anyways. He trusts me. So we went ahead and highlighted our beam with red paint. It was really a pain to paint.
Living room flooring
We kept the existing original wood floor as is. A cherrywood transition strip was installed between the kitchen cement tile and the living room wood floor.
We got very lucky with the stain we picked as it pretty much matches our existing floor. Again, I eyeballed it in the store, just like in Ikea, guess I still hadn’t learned my lesson from renovating Blondie Bear’s room.
However, this time I didn’t mess up, but I do admit I tried to match stains with a picture of the floor on my cell phone. Ya, I did that!
As for the TV niche floor, we just primed it and painted it white. It had been hidden under linoleum but it also had some cement strips. It gives it a rough industrial look to it, which I like, and works well with our metal/wood TVstand. I got it in one of our local stores on sale. Bois & Cuiroften have some sales which are really worth the wait because their prices are through the roof.
West Elm Rug
As I am, according to Big Boss, a big fan of area rugs, I bought one from West Elm (on sale) to bring comfort to our living area.
West Elm is great but the prices are heavy, but you know, sometimes you have to get something that you really like. I had a gift certificate for the store and they were having sales, so it was the perfect time to get the rug and later on my coffee table, also on sale.
The only problem with West Elm, while living in Quebec, is that it doesn’t have a website so you can’t order online nor check out their line.
So if you stumble on a picture of said coffee table on a blog or Instagram and if they don’t physically have it in-store, then check out their US page. Find the product, call up your local store, and order it that way. If you can, pick it up yourself at the store and save on delivery cost.
The rug is made of wool and yep it is white, crazy I know! They say that it sheds for 3-6 months, try more 9 months! We already had Nouki shedding and at one point we didn’t know who was shedding more our Nouki or our rug.
How to clean a natural white rug
As our rug is natural, it is however very easy to remove stains.
Just a few weeks ago, Nouki got really sick on it and I am talking doodie kind of sick. Half of the rug was covered in runny doodie. It was awful and smelled so bad! What a great way to start your day! To top it off, it was still Winter, not the best time to try to clean a rug outside.
Anyways, quick research on the Internet and the solution was as follows:
Use paper towels to pat down as much as you can.
Pour baking soda on the stains which also helps eliminate odors. We used 3 boxes!!
Let it sink in 10 minutes.
Then spray (we just poured) a half and half mixture of water and white vinegar.
Use a gentle brush and brush over the mixture covering the stains.
Hose it down and have it hang dry.
Lighting a Living Room
As with any room, lighting is important.
For now, we haven’t really addressed that issue. This would entail hiring an electrician and redoing our ceiling, plus the cost of new lights.
So for now, I just replaced the existing lighting fixture with one I found at Ikea. It gives a more organic feel to the space in our living room.
Funny enough, since I installed it, I have been seeing it everywhere. Recently I had lunch at Venice Montrealand they have so many of them! Speaking of which, if ever in Montreal, definitely check them out!
Planning a renovation soon? In order to keep your costs down when hiring a professional, see what you can do on your own and what you can delegate. Labor is what costs the most in any given project, aside from materials.
Despite the cost of the renovation of our living-room due to the removing of the bearing wall, we are so happy that we took care of this project the first year we were in our condo.
This is the space in our home where we spend the majority of our time and the fact that it is an open space, makes it a lot more breathable.
Travel to the Canadian Rockies and expect to be blown away by their natural beauty.
Ever since we moved to Canada back in 2009, it had always been on my to-do list to travel to the Canadian Rockies. Somehow, I had never made my way there until now.
It’s funny how while I was flipping through my Lonely Planet from back then, that I had already highlighted all the points of interests.
If you are a budget traveler, this might not be the right destination for you. Even though there are ways to save money, the Canadian Rockies remain an expensive destination to travel to.
That being said, this is an absolutely wonderful place to discover with and without kids. The best part is that you can even travel to the Canadian Rockies with your dog!
The Canadian Rockies is comprised of two major National Parks: Banff and Jasper. These are the ones we will focus on.
GETTING THERE (FROM MONTREAL)
The Canadian Rockies are located in the Western part of Canada.
By Air
The closest airport to Banff, a popular destination in the Canadian Rockies is located in Calgary.
Despite the airfare being cheaper than traveling from Montreal to Vancouver, it’s still a good chunk of money. For the same price, I could pretty much travel to Europe!
However, I did find a ‘decent’ price ($500) through Skyscanner, only 3 months before our trip! OMG.
If you’ve read some of my other articles, you’ll know that I usually plan things way in advance. Three months is like last minute to me.
The best time to go
You might think that I’m a little cray-cray but in all honesty, if you plan to travel to the Canadian Rockies in July or August, you’ll have to plan ahead.
The Summer months is peak season in the Canadian Rockies and prices double or even triple during that time. The reason is because that’s when the region is basically snow-free and all the trails are supposed to be open.
By train
Another way of getting to the Canadian Rockies from Montreal is by train (ViaRail). You’ll have to take another train or bus from Calgary to Banff or rent a car.
I believe it is a 3-day journey from Montreal with not the most scenic view.
By car
Are you nuts? The drive from Montreal to Calgary is 37 hours! Euh…NO thank you!
Since we only had 8 days to spend in the Canadian Rockies, this was absolutely not an option. People do do it though.
They buy a crappy car, drive it across the country and dump it somewhere in Vancouver and then fly back to Montreal.
Had we had a good month of traveling and exploring to do, I probably would have considered that option (not the car dumping part). That way, we would have brought our newfie Nouki along with us!
Another travel option
There is the option of flying into Vancouver, exploring the area and then taking the train from there to Banff and then Calgary.
You can have a halt in Banff, explore the area, and then fly out from Calgary to Montreal. A much nicer train ride from what I’ve heard.
From what I’ve read, you cannot rent a car in Vancouver and drop it off in Calgary as they are in two different provinces.
GETTING AROUND
The easiest way to get around the Canadian Rockies is by car. That way, you don’t have to rely on a shuttle or bus schedules and can travel at your own pace.
Not having your own vehicle does limit you to what you can see. You won’t be able to explore off the beaten paths places without a car.
Rent a car
Car rental is at least double what you might normally pay outside the peak period. It’s cheaper to get your car in Calgary then at Calgary airport.
However, we got it at the airport because our outbound flight was really late. We didn’t want to have to grab a cab late at night nor waste time etc…
Calgary is not the safest town and it doesn’t score points on the beauty aspect either.
Since we were traveling with Blondie Bear, the airport pick up and drop off was the best option for us. It cost us around $520 for an 8-day rental (small car) with Hertz.
Finally, picking up your car at the airport is super easy. We landed early in the morning around 9:30 and were already in our car by 10:30, which actually ended up being a pickup truck. That was a first for everyone. It was fun, but it totally exploded our gas budget.
Big Boss had never driven one so it took a while to get adjusted to the driving. We should have said no to it because the cost of filling it up was outrageous but at least we had better views in it than in a car.
Rent an RV
Another rental option is, of course, an RV.
For a small one for a week, it costs around $1,500 before taxes and you can only do pick up on Mondays and drop off on Sundays or something like that. However, this could be a fun option.
It didn’t work with our travel dates so that’s why I didn’t look further into it. Throughout our exploring, we saw a lot of these badass campervans on the road. I don’t know the cost but here is their link.
Don’t forget the gas
In your expenses, if you opt for the car rental, make sure to budget a good chunk for gas. You’ll be doing a lot of driving and contrary to popular belief gas isn’t necessarily less expensive in Alberta.
If you can, gas up outside the national parks. You can save some money that way.
National Park Pass
You need a Park Pass to visit. Order it online a good 2 weeks before leaving if you can to make sure you get it on time. Otherwise, you can buy it at the gate but it will make you lose a bit of time.
If you are going to be going to National parks for a good 4-6 days, it’s better to get the annual pass. You can save money that way.
They have family passes as well which are a good bargain.
The annual cost is $136.40 for a family or group of up to 7 people in a vehicle. If you have to lodge outside the parks you’ll be able to go in and out as much as you want.
All the National Parks in the Canadian Rockies have great brochures with maps and distances etc.
I recommend getting or printing one before your arrival. There isn’t much cell phone reception between Lake Louise and Jasper. Therefore, they are great to have just in case. Also, you can always burn it at your campsite later on if you have one, pay it forward, or recycle it.
WHAT TO PACK
You’ll be doing a lot of walking in the Canadian Rockies surrounded by nature.
During the summer, the higher up you’ll go the colder it might get. However, you’re not going to Antartica either. A long-sleeved T-shirt, 2-in-1 pants that also make shorts, a fleece, a rain jacket, hiking socks should do the trick. It is better to dress in several layers so that you can take them off than to dress too warmly and suffocate.
Here are some useful items that you should consider packing, either for your own comfort or that are eco-friendly.
Hiking shoes
As I said, you’ll be walking and hiking a lot. Wear very comfortable and durable shoes. We got our hiking shoes at MEC.
Travel towel
Whether you are swimming or camping, you’ll need a towel. Bring a travel towelas it’s more compact and doesn’t take much space in your luggage. Also, they dry super fast.
Bathing suit
A bathing suitwill come in handy if you decide to take a dip in one of the many rivers or lakes. Also, you can enjoy yourself in hot springs in either Banff or Jasper.
If you’re like myself, you tend to take loads of pictures with your phone. You’ll need a portale charger to be able to carry on until you get back to your lodging at the end of the day.
Pots and bowls
Since we were planning on doing some camping, we did bring some of our camping cooking gear. They are compact and don’t take too much space in the luggage. We got ours from MEC (again).
Reusable sandwich bags
They can be used for different purposes. You can store your travel documents, cables and yes food in them. This is perfect when you go hiking and don’t want to leave waste behind. Store your sandwich or dry food inside them.
You can’t hike with a stroller. You’ll need a baby carrier in order to explore more remote places.
Insect repellant scarf
Keep the bugs away with a scarfthat does just that.
Mosquitoe repellant
Summer months means hello mosquitoes and other insects. Don’t forget your bug spray that you can buy once there and some after bite. I read that lavender oil helps ease the pain of the bites.
Whistle
To keep the bears away, use a whistle. This is not necessary, if you make enough noise, the bears will stay clear of you. This is the only time when you can encourage your kids to be loud.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Lodging in the National Parks of Banff and Jasper is super expensive. The closer you get to booking your lodging for a stay during the peak months, the pricier it gets.
Lodging price doubles or triples during the summer months because that’s when the parks are the most accessible. Some trails have snow until June and start having snow again in September.
However, you might be able to find lodging that fall within your budget if you book in advance or before peak season starts or after it ends. If you absolutely want to stay inside the parks it’s never too early to book, even if you don’t have your plane ticket! A rental or hotel room for 2 adults and 1 child is anywhere between 250-400$ a night and a dorm in a hostel in the low 100s. Yikes! Just so you know, Airbnb is as expensive as a hotel room.
There are a few hostels that you can find within the parks that are worth checking out. Even if you are traveling with kids, it’s possible to stay in hostels with them. We did so when we traveled to Peruand my brother did that with his wife and 3 children when they traveled around the world for 14 months.
Hostels are always a great option when you are traveling on a budget and often offer either private rooms or dorm rooms of 4. At least, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
At the time of our planning, this was not an option for us. We didn’t want to have to bring our camping gear on the plane and have to pay for extra luggage.
You can camp in the parks but most of the campgrounds are on a first come first serve basis. This means that you can’t book them ahead of time. However, I later read that there are plenty of them to go around for everybody. So not finding a spot shouldn’t be an issue. One night of camping costs less than 30$.
There are some camp grounds where you can book beforehand but they sell out quick. Again, plan in advance.
If I had had more time to plan, maybe I would have looked more into this option. Did you know that you can rent camping gear? Who knew?
I found the company Rent-a-Tent based in Calgary and Vancouver. There is a supplement if you pick up and drop off the gear at a different location. Other than that, they offer a complete camping package, minus the sleeping bag which you can bring with you on the plane.
Teepees
Finally, another way in saving money is to sleep outside the national parks which we did. It did mean more time in the car and gas, but we stayed in some beautiful locations. We don’t feel like we missed out on anything. Since we are early risers anyways, we were always ahead of the game on the sites, except Moraine Lake. Somehow, that lake just eluded us for a while.
We ended up sleeping in Teepees, 1 hr outside the Banff and Jasper National Parks. They came with mattresses and you could rent sleeping gear. We had brought Blondie Bear’s sleeping bag so as to not have to pay extra for him.
We had slept in a teepee before when we traveled to Gaspésie. If you’ve never slept in one, you should try it. Kids love it!
PLACES TO VISIT IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
As we only had 8 days out West, we did try to make the most of it. Even though we saw a lot, I’m ready to head back out there and see more. Below are ideas of what you can visit and the number of days you should consider spending in that area. Technically, we only spent 6 days in the Canadian Rockies as the 2 other days were spent in the Calgary area. However, we did see all the places listed below.
Banff (3 to 4 days)
What’s great about Banff is the traffic. You’ll feel right at home if you live in the city.
In all fairness, we didn’t spend much time in Banff as we only stopped there for a meal and to visit the very first canadian national park. Otherwise, we were busy exploring everything around the city. It’s a good place to use as a base camp if you only have a few days.
Also, there are plenty of boutiques and fancy restaurants there that you won’t find anywhere else around.
You can learn more about Banff and things to do there right HERE.
Kananaski and Canmore (1 day or 2)
Canmore is the last town before you access Banff National Park. It has really expended in the last few years as the lodging there is much cheaper than within Banff. Also, it’s about 30 minutes away from Banff.
Don’t forget to get your gas there before entering the park.
About half hour away from Canmore is the Kananaski area. It’s actually where we slept in a teepee. It’s quiet, you can go horse back riding and spot some grizzlis!!
If you want to find out more about our stay there, you can read it HERE.
Jasper (2 to 3 days)
We found the town of Jasper to be a lot quieter and less touristy than Banff. It was nice to walk around the town and it felt more authentic. There are some beautiful sites to visit around the town. I wouldn’t be able to choose between Banff and Jasper, but everyone tends to go to Banff and skip Jasper.
Jasper is located at the end of the Icefield’s Parkway and is about a 4-5 hour drive with stops from Banff or 288km.
Visiting glaciers in the middle of Summer in Canada, yes it’s possible. The first time I had seen a glacier was during our trip to Iceland. I was happily surprised and impressed to see more during this trip. We didn’t go and walk on it as it required booking ahead. Also, we didn’t have enough time nor the budget for it.
Along the Icefields Parkway, you’ll come across more lakes and waterfalls. It’s a must-see when you travel to the Canadian Rockies.
Yoho National Park (1 day)
The Yoho National Park is located in British Colombia, only 20 minutes away from Lake Louise. It’s often overlooked which is great if you don’t want to be bothered by busloads of tourists. The Emerald Lake and the Sunwapta Falls are worth a look, right HERE.
So now that you have gotten a taste of what it takes to travel to the Canadian Rockies, where will you go?
What started out as a simple getaway to Iceland during the Winter holidays ended up being a full on travel experience. My husband and I traveled there to ring in the New Year of 2018 and to meet up with my family from France.
Spending New Year’s Eve in a foreign country is something that I’ve been doing for the last 8 years. It’s usually the time of year that I don’t have my kids which makes it easier for me to travel. Don’t worry, I do bring them along once in a while (Fès, Paris, Peru). Also, work usually gives us extra days off which allows me to travel longer without busting my vacation bank.
Spending New Year’s Eve in Iceland was by far one of my wildest experiences.
I researched and read about Iceland for weeks and the more I did, the more I wanted to explore this incredible country. Had I known it would be so, I would have done things a little differently in terms of organisation from the beginning. However, it wouldn’t have worked out since we were meeting up with my family.
So, here is my first tip. After booking your flight to Iceland, do your research and plan your itinerary. Then, book your lodging and/or tours accordingly.
How to get there
The only sure way to travel to Iceland is by air. You can use companies such as Icelandic Air or Wow Air. Both offer planned layover stops in Iceland on your way to and from North America and Europe. How awesome is that?
If you have the time, you should consider doing a layover in Iceland for a night or two on your way to or back from your holiday. The land of fire and ice is definitely worth a stop.
The downside of traveling during the holidays is that it’s more expensive and not always easy to find inexpensive airfare.
However, WOW Air is a low-cost company. The basic fair does seem cheap ($500 CAD), but you’ll have to pay extra for just about everything else.
You need to check a bag? Pay up. It’s hard to not check a bag when you travel to Iceland during Winter, but Big Boss and I managed to just check in one bag. If you get cold on the airplane or are thirsty it will cost you a few bucks. So, don’t forget an extra sweater and to refill your water bottle before boarding the plane.
Need more travel planning tips? We’ve got just the guide for you right HERE.
What to do when you arrive early morning in Reykjavik
We left Montreal on a chilly day, arriving in Reykjavik on the last day of 2017 at 5am with a good 18 degree difference but still in the minuses.
We had to endure a woman singing Rudolph the red nose reindeer for 20 minutes while waiting to pass airport security and another one reciting her life story on the plane. She just wouldn’t shut up and was very condescending. Apparently, she was a retired divorce attorney, born in Denmark, raised on the anglophone side of Montreal hence ‘English is for smart’ people comment. I really wanted to get violent with her as her talking woke me up and I could have used the sleep. Namaste, namaste, namaste. More often than not, I seem to always end up with an airport or airplane story when I travel and Iceland was no exception.
So what is there to do at 5am in Reykjavik? I tell you all about the places where you can eat and activities you can do at the wee hour of the morning in Reykjavik before you are allowed to check into your lodging, right HERE.
Getting around
If you are staying a few days in Iceland, you should consider renting a car, especially if you aren’t traveling solo. It will be more cost effective that way than going on organized tours.
We found a great deal through Guide to Iceland. The company offers great service and also a lot of tours. We booked our ice caving tour on the South Coast through them.
However, renting a car during winter in Iceland is more expensive than in summer. Furthermore, driving can become tricky when you end up stuck in the middle of a blizzard. That’s why it’s best to check on the road conditions with THIS WEBSITE, to make sure it’s safe to hit the road.
Just know that the car rental company might freeze a large deposit on your credit card. Therefore, if you don’t have a huge limit on it, you might want to bring a second credit card just in case.
Do you speak the language?
Most people you’ll encounter in Iceland are foreigners and will speak English. The only time I heard ‘Icelandic’ was at a gas station. I felt completely dumb when the guy spoke to me and I didn’t understand. We had already been in Iceland for a few days and wrongly assumed that everyone spoke English.
What’s in your wallet?
We didn’t withdraw any money while we were in Iceland because we paid by credit card the whole time or my mom who was traveling with us, paid by cash.
Iceland is VERY EXPENSIVE. Food and lodging will explode your budget.
There are ways to save some money in Iceland, but it will still be expensive. However, all the natural points of interests are FREE to access and so is parking (in most cases).
If you want to visit museums, pools, ride the bus or take a ferry to a neighbouring island of Reykjavik, consider buying the CITY CARDwhich will allow you to save money that way. Also, with the city card, you can get a discount on drinks in certain bars or on food in certain restaurants.
Food and beverage
Having been forewarned about Icelandic high prices wether be for food or alcohol, we stopped by the duty free liquor store at the airport on our way out. This store and others are always open. You pass by them on your way out so its a good way to check out prices and compare them with city prices. In the pictures below are the description of the amount of alcohol you can buy in the duty free store per person and it is a lot less expensive to do so this way.
Also, if you do enjoy a drink or two, go to the bars at happy hour as they serve up special deals. It’s a good way to save money.
Cook your own food
I don’t have to tell you that eating out is always more expensive than eating in. If you don’t want to live off lamb soup (least expensive option) during your entire stay in Iceland, you might want to consider going grocery shopping.
You don’t tip in Iceland!
The Bonus grocery store is the least expensive one to shop at and can be found in Reykjavik and its surrounding area. You can’t miss it as its logo is a huge pink pig with a bright yellow background.
Where to sleep
Staying in a hostel, private rooms do exist, an airbnb or renting out an apartment might be a more budget friendlier option.
We stayed in a hostel at Hlemmur Square which is now closed due to Covid-19. It was a dorm room of 12 people and we did not like it. The hostel was great and the beds super comfortable. We just didn’t like sharing the dorm with 10 other people and being in the dark all the time as someone was always sleeping.
Luckily when my mom, brother and nephew met up with us in Reykjavik, they had rented an apartment. We decided to crash with them and slept on the sofa.
Activities to do during winter travel in Iceland
One thing that you will have to factor in while you travel through Iceland during winter is the daylight. While we were there, there wasn’t much of it. The sun would start rising around 9:45 am and go back to sleep by 5pm. That is not a whole lot of daylight to play with.
However, you can still see plenty of gorgeous sites in one week in Iceland.
Some activities that you can do in wintertime that you can’t do during the summer is Ice caving and spotting the northern lights. The frozen waterfalls, glacier lagoons, windy black sand beaches, hot springs in the mountain all make up for an exciting trip.
What to bring back from Iceland
If you have the budget and the use for it back home, get yourself a Lopapeysa.
I wanted to go to the flea market Kolaportid to see if I could find one but luckily I had checked ahead and found out they were closed on New Year’s Eve. They are only open on Saturdays and Sundays.
So I went to the next best thing, the Hand Knitting Association located on the main street that leads from the big church in Reykjavik. The service at the store was very good and I was able to find one that fits just right. If you purchased Reykjavik City Card, you’ll get 10% off your handknitted sweater.
Prices can vary a lot from store to store and being machine made versus hand made makes a big difference in price. Sometimes it’s even machine made outside Iceland! The type of yarn and pattern can also affect the price. So do your research before splurging on one of them sweaters.
Also, I heard you can also find some at the Red Cross unworn or outside the city up north directly from thefactory (I don’t recall the name, unfortunately).
At first, they can be very itchy so wear clothing underneath that covers the whole sweater area to avoid contact with your skin. Also, they lose a lot of hair at the beginning.
If you do happen to find curly hair in your soup, it’s most likely from your sweater and not from somebody’s body part.
Now, if you are into fashion and enjoy the outdoors, you might want to check out 66 North. It’s an Icelandic brand and we bought hats there for my boys back home.
Winter in Iceland, is just like back home when you go up to the mountains to ski.
You’ll need winter hiking boots, awinter coat, snow pants, hats, gloves, sweater. Whatever you usually wear when you go skiing. Try to wear layers of clothing as the weather in Iceland is ever-changing, even in wintertime.
It might sound silly, but if you know anything about Iceland, you’ll know about their hot springs. Don’t forget to pack a bathing suit, a travel towel, and possibly some flip flops. Flip flops will come in handy when you are walking around outside in the cold.
Because of the lack of daylight, a lamp torch will come in handy.
Also, a portable phone charger and pocket warmer will prevent you from missing out on capturing shots of the serene landscape because your phone caught a cold and died.
Places to visit in winter in Iceland
When you travel to Iceland during Wintertime for a week, we were there the first week of January, there isn’t a whole lot that you can do. This is partly due to the fact that some of the roads are closed due to heavy snow and difficult driving conditions.
It’s usually not possible to drive the ring road loop entirely during winter. However, if you do want to try it, keep in mind that the loop is 1400km, and due to the scarcity of daylight and the ever-changing weather conditions, driving might be slow and difficult.
You’ll need to build flexibility into your plans to allow for changes due to weather.
Once you’ve walked around Reykjavik, enjoyed their street art, and the major sites such as the Harpa, the statue of the Sun Voyager, the Hallgrímskirkja church, the parliament building, you might be ready to venture out of the city.
Of course you can travel with kids to Iceland. It’s safe, clean and friendly. They have all the commodities that you have back home.
You can even go into hot springs with them, so you won’t have to pass up that opportunity. However, it isn’t recommended for kids under the age of 2 to go into them.
We really enjoyed our time in Iceland, especially on New Year’s Eve. If you have kids, they will forever remember that night, at least, just as much as you.
Travel to Iceland during the winter holidays and discover on your own what Icelandic culture is all about.
