Crucial questions: how many krónur, layers and hours

Party Planner PK here. Below are some details that I just emailed out in response to requests for more Iceland details.

No, birthday boy is not privy to this information. So, please assist me in keeping him unaware! He will receive the emails if you post a comment to this blog entry. He has promised to forward them on to me, but start them with something like "Slim, don't even think about reading this" to keep him honest!


NEW DATES:
Flying to Iceland on the afternoon of 12 December

Returning to Ireland on the afternoon of 18 December

Below is some rough research that I've put together on the budget. I don't mean to sound discouraging, but Iceland is expensive. There is just no getting around that. But you'll cherish the memories forever!

You will notice the big ticket item that is missing is flights. You are on your own on that one since you are reading this from almost the four corners of the earth.

Notes on accommodations:
We're spoiled (working for a premium cruise line does not help travel budgeting later in life), so we aren't into hostels. We don't need four star either. But we like things to be comfortable, clean and quiet. I've found a very interesting apartment hotel in Reykjavik that looks to fit the bill. I've chosen this place for a few reasons:
1. reasonably priced, but looks nice
2. flexibility - they have a range of options from two person studios to 10 person apartments. We can share or not depending on preferences of anyone joining us on this fantastic adventure.
3. flexibility for meals - we can cut down expenses a little by having some meals 'at home', making picnics and doing some pre-func drinking (the duty free at Keflavik airport can be visited when leaving OR arriving in Iceland - make a note to stop there before you head into Reykjavik!)

We are staying at a hotel near the airport on the first night, as we are coming in so late. The airport is about 40 minutes from Reykjavik with regular shuttles, but that will be about 40 minutes longer than we will want to be awake at that point.

I have not reserved any hotel nights, but should in the near future. If you are really considering coming and would like to share an apartment in Reykjavik, please let me know.

Notes on activities:
Activities below are of course all optional. I've put in the ones that I think we'll be doing. Aurora Borealis tour is weather dependent and may not be necessary if we see Northern Lights from the city. Another activity/tour option that I've not included is renting a vehicle. This doesn't seem practical for two people, but if there is a larger group, we could look at it. The big question here is driving conditions, and I still haven't found much on that. For all the activities though, I'm not dictating, just providing ideas.

Budgeting estimates:
Prices are all per person and in USD/EUR (estimated based on current exchange for Iceland Kronur, ISK). I've done an estimate for average daily spending - these are educated guesses only, please don't hold me to them!

hotel (per person/per night based on two people in room): average $75/E50 per day
1st night - Icelandair Flughotel = $65/E45 (hotel price does not include breakfast or taxi from airport, but I've added both of those into this price because to me they are necessary)
rest of nights - Room with a View = $50 - 75/E35 - 55

transportation (per person): average $35/E20 per day
taxi to Reykjavik via blue lagoon = $75/E50. There are tours and shuttles, but they are all roundtrip Reykjavik. Since Blue Lagoon is near airport and we will be staying near the airport on the first night, this seems silly to me. Gray Line tour is actually about same price for two people as taxi, so I'd rather have the flexibility of coming/going when we want.
other taxis (I'm guessing, but pretty high, I think, as Reyk is very compact - mostly this would be if we were too cold) = $100
shuttle to airport, one way = $18/E12



activities: average $70/E45 per day
Perlan (rotating tower for city views) = free?
museums = $20/E15 (there are couple that look interesting, they are free on Wednesdays)
showshoeing/cross country/downhill skiing = having trouble finding info, would include bus fare, lift tickets ($13), equipment rental
Blue Lagoon entry/towel rental/etc: $44/E30
Golden Circle Tour (Golfoss waterfall, Geysir and more) = $95 half day /$110 full day (E60/70)
Aurora Borealis evening tour = $80/E50
walking tour maps = $5

food/drink (per person/per day): $150/E100
breakfast = $5
lunch = $15
dinner = $80
drinks = $12 (each, average 4 per day)

Then there are all of those little expenses that I never think of - forgotten shampoo, postcards, fancy water if you don't like tap, delicious coffee beverages for those of us that are deprived of them, etc.

The other big questions I have received are: how cold and how dark. I really don't know on cold - from everything I've read, it seems to be around freezing. I've been looking on eBay for some cheap, second-hand ski coats. On dark, there looks to be about five hours of daylight, from 10ish to 3ish.