Imagine, just for a moment, a country the size of England. Position it just outside the Arctic Circle so it receives 24 hours of daylight in summer and constant darkness in winter. Liberally sprinkle it with some of the world’s most dramatic geysers, waterfalls and glaciers. Make room for Europe’s largest desert and the world’s third-largest ice cap. Then populate it with 300,000 people descended from Vikings.
You have come to Iceland.
The road to Reykjavik from the airport traverses a moonscape of spiky black lava, reminding me why Nasa sent the Apollo astronauts here to acclimatise, and is distantly flanked by the steaming chromed towers of the Blue Lagoon, where bathers wallow in the outflow pools of a geothermal power station.
Reykjavik itself is a small city, with a population of just over 100,000 people. This makes it very easy to navigate by foot, though there is also a comprehensive bus service if you don’t fancy walking. Reykjavik looks and feels like a frontier town, appropriate perhaps for an island pitched geographically between Scandinavian Europe and the US. Reykjavik, the World’s most northern capital city, and the self-proclaimed “Capital of Cool” is enjoying a mini tourism renaissance, thanks to Iceland’s financial crisis which began in October 2008. With prices 30% cheaper than in January 2008, now is the time to visit this charming city.
“Reykjavik apartments for rent provide an exclusive but inexpensive accommodation alternative for families or small groups visiting Iceland from abroad, opposed to hotel rooms, which often are unsuitable for family vacations and can be prohibitively expensive,” says Gudlaug Dadadottir, the owner of Alaborg Apartments vacation rental agency.
Foreign tourists looking for affordable accommodation in Iceland without compromising on exclusivity and convenience get great value for their money while staying in vacation rentals, rather than in a hotel or a guesthouse. Traditional options for accommodation while on holiday in Iceland sometimes prove too costly for families and small groups. Owners of apartments have taken advantage of Alaborg’s convenient booking service. These privately owned apartments are available in Reykjavik and surrounding areas.
The vacation rentals are used both by Icelanders as well as foreign visitors. Most of the Reykjavik vacation rentals in the country are privately owned, but some belong to companies specializing in renting apartments to both Icelanders and foreign visitors.
The Japanese are especially keen on seeing the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights attract thousands of people to Iceland each winter, mostly from Asia, America and Europe. Two things make Iceland the ideal place for viewing the Northern Lights. The country is located in a place geographically well suited to see the Northern lights, and it is accessible in winter.
“About 80 percent of our customers spend their time here in Iceland during the summer season, which coincides with the traditional school holidays in Europe and North America,” says Dadadottir. Those visiting the country in winter can expect a different kind of experience, such as sitting in a hot-tub heated with geothermal water while gazing at the Northern Lights.
Alaborg Apartments represents the owners of a few select apartments in Reykjavik and surrounding areas who make their apartments available for rent online. The service began in 2007 and was founded by Mrs. Gudlaug Dadadottir.
Although each apartment is furnished and decorated differently, they all include a fully equipped kitchens with all necessary appliances together with one or more bedrooms. The apartments also include a shower or a bath, a laundry room, TV, DVD, CD and a wireless computer connection.
Information about Iceland vacation rentals is available on Alaborg’s website: www.alaborg.is, in English, Spanish and Italian.