I've been to Iceland this year, partly because the weak kronor made it merely expensive rather than eye-watering. Its easy to get round independently, plenty of youth hostels, but a car is jolly useful to see scenery. Its also easy to spend a few days their breaking a journey to Canada or the US, as IcelandAir and Iceland Express encourage it. Lots of interest, but dreadful weather put a downer on it.
Madagascar sounds a lot more exotic and exciting, and would need an organised trip.
Basically I was utterly amazed that a fairly straightforward-looking fortnight's circumnavigation of Iceland (http://www.exodus.co.uk/holidays/avd/itinerary), admittedly in comfortable hotels, could contrive to cost three thousand pounds!
I was there in 2006, in December, staying with both my brothers in a student-accommodation single room; we rented a car and drove round to Vik and back. It grew light at about ten and dark at about three, and the room with loud live music was just below where we were sleeping. Mostly I remember making multi-coloured cupcakes.
Organised tours in Europe always seem expensive. It shows how much overhead and profit the companies charge, which is only acceptable in the 3rd world when the bulk charges for accommodation get the price down to reasonable levels, and the hassle factor is much higher
We managed it in 2006 or 7 for £1200 each, including 4WD hire and YHA. Drove North through the middle to the top, and then circled around the Eastern side back to Reykjavik. Mind blowing, painfully pricey and gorgeous. I would very much like to go back.
I cannot decide which is cooler out of sagas and lemurs. They are both totally totally fantastic. However, my other choices lead me to suppose that on balance, Iceland is cooler in most regards (including, of course, temperature).
My travelling companion did, repeatedly, observe that I had never mentioned that Iceland would smell of rotten eggs. I kept pointing out in my defence that this was not true of all of the country, just most of the bits we had chosen to visit.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-01-04 03:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 04:28 pm (UTC)Madagascar sounds a lot more exotic and exciting, and would need an organised trip.
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Date: 2012-01-04 05:01 pm (UTC)I was there in 2006, in December, staying with both my brothers in a student-accommodation single room; we rented a car and drove round to Vik and back. It grew light at about ten and dark at about three, and the room with loud live music was just below where we were sleeping. Mostly I remember making multi-coloured cupcakes.
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Date: 2012-01-04 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 06:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 06:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 08:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-04 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 12:31 pm (UTC)