Lonely Planet Iceland, Greenland & the Faroe Islands (3rd ed)

Rating:
Summary: What can you believe?
Review: Having travelled to Iceland twice and purchased/read three different Iceland travel books, I wholeheartedly recommend LP's book over the others.

Although some folks prefer not to plan their trips ahead of time, the high cost of travel in Iceland combined with early sellouts of daytrips outside of Reykjavik necessitate some planning before arrival. This book contains more of the relevant details than the others.

While other books have more pictures, LP Iceland is the only one I've seen that contains enough specific facts on where to inquire about activities/meals/daytrips/etc to keep from wasting 1-2 expensive days after arrival figuring out what to do.

The additional sections on daytrips to Greenland and the Faroes are also particularly useful as planning tools.

Rating:
Summary: Never leave home without it
Review: I count on Lonely Planet to help make my travels a success. This book is another winner.

Rating:
Summary: Indispensable
Review: I don't think this book ever left my hand from the moment I stepped off the plane at Keflavik Airport until I loaded my bags into the Flybus for the return trip. This was the only book I was able to find specifically on Iceland, with enough information on Reykjavik and the surrounding towns to give me a little confidence while exploring this breathtaking land. The section on South Central Iceland is a must read for anyone planning to see the Golden Circle.

Rating:
Summary: Icelandic History
Review: I have for sometime been an enthusiatic user of Lonely Planet guides for travels in Asia and in Europe. The guides I have used have been excellent sources, not only about the countries and their people but of the historical perspectives on how the country became what it is.

For this reason, I was disappointed with the contents of the Facts about Iceland section of the Lonely Planet Iceland Guide. Throughout the guide, there are political biased and incorrect statements about Iceland's recent history, especially regarding Iceland's relations with the United States.

Regarding the Post -Indepence section of the guide, American troops stayed on a Keflavik after the end of the war by treaty, mutually arrived at by the two governments. The American forces had come to Iceland by invitation of the Icelandic Government during WordWar II to preserve their security. Iceland has never had armed forces of her own.

Iceland willingly became a member of NATO to serve her own interests,especially regarding security during the Cold War.

There are other politically biased and incorrect statements in the guide regarding this time period. I e-mailed what I thought was a polite message to Lonely Planet advising them to have another look at their history sections, but I received no reply. I, and I suspect a lot of others, feel that a travel guide should not be a political forum.

Rating:
Summary: It's a lonely planet indeed!
Review: I used this book heavily during two trips around Iceland in 2000 and 2002, albeit the third edition.

The authors know where the "odd" things are to be found. Thanks to them, I located strange stuff which isn't on the average tourist's agenda: geothermal areas, bubbling sulfurous mud pots, Asian restaurants (in Iceland!), cemeteries. I experienced some lovely, desolate terrain where no one was to be found for miles and miles.

But, then again, that's why this is the "Lonely Planet" guide!

This guide, like other ones published by Lonely Planet, is clearly oriented toward the type of tourist who backpacks and/or hitch-hikes. Nonetheless, it still has much use for the independent tourist who prefers hotels to huts and cars to cabins. Just pick a place and start exploring. Their detailed maps and descriptions won't lead you astray.

A special bonus provided with of Lonely Planet books is the company's "eKno" service, which allows one to call nearly anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world, with tolls automatically debuted from a prepaid account. eKno also allows one to listen to one's email messages. Toll-free access numbers are available in most countries. eKno cards come with Lonely Planet books, ready to be activated. I've found this service extremely valuable when calling from Europe to the US.

Rating:
Summary: It's a lonely planet indeed!
Review: I used this book heavily during two trips around Iceland in 2000 and 2002, albeit the third edition.

The authors know where the "odd" things are to be found. Thanks to them, I located strange stuff which isn't on the average tourist's agenda: geothermal areas, bubbling sulfurous mud pots, Asian restaurants (in Iceland!), cemeteries. I experienced some lovely, desolate terrain where no one was to be found for miles and miles.

But, then again, that's why this is the "Lonely Planet" guide!

This guide, like other ones published by Lonely Planet, is clearly oriented toward the type of tourist who backpacks and/or hitch-hikes. Nonetheless, it still has much use for the independent tourist who prefers hotels to huts and cars to cabins. Just pick a place and start exploring. Their detailed maps and descriptions won't lead you astray.

A special bonus provided with of Lonely Planet books is the company's "eKno" service, which allows one to call nearly anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world, with tolls automatically debuted from a prepaid account. eKno also allows one to listen to one's email messages. Toll-free access numbers are available in most countries. eKno cards come with Lonely Planet books, ready to be activated. I've found this service extremely valuable when calling from Europe to the US.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing about the birds?
Review: Iceland is famous for its millions of seabirds, especially puffins, that nest on the cliffs and shores. Unfortunately they all depart by September 1 (the puffins often in mid-August), and nowhere did I find that information, although I admit I didn't read the Lonely Planet guide from cover to cover. A group of us who visited in mid-September were very disappointed. In fairness, the other Iceland guides don't seem to warn of this either, nor do the travel brochures.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing about the birds?
Review: Iceland is famous for its millions of seabirds, especially puffins, that nest on the cliffs and shores. Unfortunately they all depart by September 1 (the puffins often in mid-August), and nowhere did I find that information, although I admit I didn't read the Lonely Planet guide from cover to cover. A group of us who visited in mid-September were very disappointed. In fairness, the other Iceland guides don't seem to warn of this either, nor do the travel brochures.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Guide-best choice on the market
Review: Since 1999, I have been to Iceland twice and Greenland twice, for a total of seven weeks--extremely unusual for an American. Those trips included extended excursions by bicyle, backpack, and cross-country ski, with some bus excursions as well. Throughout, this book was my primary guide. I found it reliable and an extremely good source of inspiration, particularly for hikes.

I cite my own experience because I clearly fall into the target readership for this book. Car travelers aren't the intended audience, and may be disappointed. This book presumes (as do I, even at age 49) that the best way to see Iceland is afoot, a-pedal, or on one of that nation's wonderful backcountry bus routes. If you're not prepared to carry a backpack onto or off of the buses, you'll probably prefer another guidebook.

My main quibble is with the maps, which were hard to locate when I wanted them, and not very detailed. But you can get great maps in Reykjavik, so that's only a minor problem.