Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [272]
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MAPS
In general, maps of Iceland are not fantastic – many are based on prewar land surveys. Most Icelandic maps are now published by Ferðakort. The largest selection of road maps and hiking maps can be found in Reykjavík’s bookshops, or from the specialist Ferðakort map department at Iðnú bookshop (Map; 562 3376; www.ferdakort.is; Brautarholt 8; 10am-5pm Mon-Thu, to 4pm Fri). UK readers could contact Dick Phillips ( 01434 381 440; Whitehall House, Nenthead, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3PS), which stocks more than 200 Icelandic maps.
The best map for general driving around Iceland, the 1:500,000 Ferðakort Touring Map (Ikr1545) includes all the larger villages and roads, and many small farms and B&Bs. The more in-depth 1:200,000 Road Atlas (Ikr3530) has full mapping plus details of accommodation, museums, swimming pools and golf courses.
More detailed maps include the 1:250,000 maps of Westfjords and north Iceland, west and south Iceland, and northeast and east Iceland (Ikr1985 each); and 1:100,000 hikers’ maps for Hornstrandir, Skaftafell, Húsavík/Lake Mývatn, and Þórsmörk/Landmannalaugar (Ikr1230 each).
Serious walkers should get their hands on sheet maps from the 1;50,000 American series, based on surveys completed by the US military, which cover much of the country in detail. Sheets cost Ikr1115 each.
The tourist offices of the various regions produce useful maps showing sites of tourist interest and they stock the free tourist booklet Around Iceland, which has bags of information and town plans.
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MONEY
Iceland is an almost cashless society where the credit card is king. Icelanders use plastic for even small purchases. As long as you’re carrying a valid card, you’ll have little need for travellers cheques and will need to withdraw only a limited amount of cash from ATMs.
For information on costs, Click here.
ATMs
Almost every town in Iceland has a bank with an ATM, where you can withdraw cash using MasterCard, Visa, Maestro or Cirrus cards. Íslandsbanki ATMs additionally allow withdrawals using a Diners Club card. You’ll also find ATMs at larger petrol stations and in shopping centres.
Cash
The Icelandic unit of currency is the króna (Ikr). Coins come in denominations of one, five, 10, 50 and 100 krónur. Notes come in 500-, 1000-, 2000- and 5000-króna denominations. In July 2009 the Icelandic parliament applied for EU membership. Iceland is expected to join the EU in 2011, at which time the currency will probably change over to the euro.
For exchange rates, see the inside front cover, or online at www.xe.com.
Credit & Debit Cards
Icelanders use credit and debit cards for nearly all purchases, and major cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus – and to a lesser extent Amex, Diners and JCB – are accepted in most shops, restaurants and hotels. You can also pay for the Flybus from the international airport to Reykjavík using plastic – handy if you’ve just arrived in the country. If you intend to stay in rural farmhouse accommodation or visit isolated villages, however, it’s a good idea to carry enough cash to tide you over.
Moneychangers
The Icelandic love of plastic makes changing foreign currency almost unnecessary. Nevertheless, if you prefer more traditional methods of carrying cash then foreign-denomination travellers cheques and banknotes can be exchanged for Icelandic currency at all major banks. Most banks charge a small commission fee for the transaction, but Landsbanki Íslands offers the service free of charge. Out of normal banking hours, you will have to rely on the poor rates and high charges of commercial exchange offices, or hope that your hotel or guest house can help you out.
Tipping
As service and VAT are always included in prices, tipping isn’t required in Iceland.
Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques in major currencies such as euros, US