2009 has been a great year! Rich and I got to jet set to some fantastic places including Buenos Aires, Argentina-Punta Del Este, Uruguay-Prague, Czech Republic- and Reykjavik, Iceland. We are now working on our destination list for 2010 which I hope will be as exciting. With the new year almost here, I thought I’d share my Top 3 personal Travel Resolutions for 2010. My mantra is still the same- “travel more, but be smart about it!”

1- Travel to more “Off-the-Beaten Path” Destinations: It’s always great jet setting to a big city, but sometimes it’s cooler staying in a smaller ... Read More »]]>

2009 has been a great year! Rich and I got to jet set to some fantastic places including Buenos Aires, Argentina-Punta Del Este, Uruguay-Prague, Czech Republic- and Reykjavik, Iceland. We are now working on our destination list for 2010 which I hope will be as exciting. With the new year almost here, I thought I’d share my Top 3 personal Travel Resolutions for 2010. My mantra is still the same- “travel more, but be smart about it!”

1- Travel to more “Off-the-Beaten Path” Destinations: It’s always great jet setting to a big city, but sometimes it’s cooler staying in a smaller town just outside of the city. It’s a great way to get a better feel for how the locals really live, and it’s a smarter way to travel because you can probably get a hotel for half the price.

2- Go Green When Making Travel Plans: Look for hotels that are Environmentally Friendly, or take a train to a destination instead of flying- it’s better for the environment and it’s smarter because you could end up saving money on your total travel costs.

3- Take more Road Trips: A Staycation is not really my thing- I like to get out there, but it doesn’t always have to be by way of an airplane. Sometimes, hopping in the car and traveling to a new city or town can be just as fun- plus, with all the new airline fees, it may be smarter because it may end up being cheaper than flying.

Written By: Lori McNally

The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is created when particles are electrically charged by the sun. Supposedly, you can see the Northern Lights on cold, crisp nights between September and April.

We thought that a trip in November would have been the perfect time to see the Aurora Borealis, ... Read More »]]>

I’m sure by now, by my abundance of posts about Iceland, you can tell that I have fallen in love! The people are warm and welcoming, the country is absolutely beautiful, and it’s so close. I cannot wait to return, and I have a perfect reason…to see the Aurora Borealis.

The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is created when particles are electrically charged by the sun. Supposedly, you can see the Northern Lights on cold, crisp nights between September and April.

We thought that a trip in November would have been the perfect time to see the Aurora Borealis, but unfortunately, we did not see it. We got conflicting information while we were there about the odds of seeing it. Bottom line is, Auroras are difficult to predict with precision- it’s Mother Nature’s call. So if you go out to see them you need to be patient and hope that you get lucky. You can’t know if you’ll see the lights until the last minute.

We talked to locals while we were there and many said mid-January through mid-March is a better time of year to see them. The air is so cold and crisp during that time, that many Icelanders say you can even see the lights while walking around downtown Reykjavik. I just looked into flight & hotel deals for February, and I see prices starting in the low $400′s per person. I’m going to keep my eye on it, because it’s very easy to jet set there on a Thursday night and come back on a Sunday…I’ll let you know what happens.

Written By: Lori McNally

One thing that reassured me of this when I was there was the abundance of baby carriages with babies inside of them outside of restaurants, coffee shops and stores. This is pretty typical in Scandinavia from what I’ve heard and read. Mothers and fathers will leave their ... Read More »]]>

In this crazy world we live in, safety is of the utmost importance to me when I travel. I have to say that when I was in Iceland, I felt very safe. In fact, Iceland has a relatively low crime rate according to the U.S. Department of State.

One thing that reassured me of this when I was there was the abundance of baby carriages with babies inside of them outside of restaurants, coffee shops and stores. This is pretty typical in Scandinavia from what I’ve heard and read. Mothers and fathers will leave their little ones bundled up in their strollers while they go inside a venue to do whatever it is they are going to do. Nobody ever disturbs the carriages, and no one even seems to notice they are even there- except for the occasional American tourist (that would be me) who is not used to seeing such a thing on U.S. soil. I couldn’t help but do a double-take the first few times I saw this, and even snapped a picture of this to show to you all.

Could you imagine if someone did this in the U.S.? They would probably be arrested and have their baby taken away from them! It’s nice to jet set to a place these days where you can feel so safe.

Written By: Lori McNally

Believe it or not, the silver plant towers are your backdrop as you sit in the hot steam and cover yourself in white silica mud. The lagoon is filled with hot pots, and the algae and minerals condition and exfoliate your skin- you come out feeling as soft as a newborn baby. You should know that like the other geothermal pools ... Read More »]]>

No visit to Iceland would be complete without a dip in the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa that is filled with hot water (38*C) fed from the adjacent geothermal plant.

Believe it or not, the silver plant towers are your backdrop as you sit in the hot steam and cover yourself in white silica mud. The lagoon is filled with hot pots, and the algae and minerals condition and exfoliate your skin- you come out feeling as soft as a newborn baby. You should know that like the other geothermal pools in Iceland, you must shower naked before entering, and also know that the water makes your hair feel like straw…so you will need tons of conditioner afterward. Nonetheless, it’s amazing! We loved it so much that we went at night one day (so cool & romantic) and during the daylight on another day. Also, it’s very close to the airport, so depending on when your flight lands or departs, it may be a good time to go.

Author: Lori McNally of jetsetsmart.com

RYK, owned by Kristin Kristjansdottir, off of Laugavegar in downtown Reykjavik, is a store that I absolutely fell in love with and wanted to transport back to the U.S. Kristin is a designer who ... Read More »]]>

You quickly realize in Iceland, that if men and women take the time to dress up (not in jeans) to head to the bars for the Runtur when it’s cold outside, then obviously fashion is important to Icelanders. Shopping is incredibly expensive in Iceland, but it’s worth shelling out the extra krona (ISK) for local designers’ stuff…their creations are unique and fashion forward.

RYK, owned by Kristin Kristjansdottir, off of Laugavegar in downtown Reykjavik, is a store that I absolutely fell in love with and wanted to transport back to the U.S. Kristin is a designer who literally makes the clothes she sells in her own shop.

She has beautiful tops, dresses, and cute jackets that range in price of about $60-$300USD. I got a tunic that can either be worn as a dress or paired with leggings. I can’t say enough about her stuff…and the fact that her little Pomeranian keeps her company in the store while she’s working…she’s a woman after my own heart. Another trip to Iceland for the weekend just to shop in Kristin’s store would not be out of the question for me! She is working on getting her website up and running, but you can check out some of her awesome designs by clicking here, or email her at kristinryk@simnet.is

Another store, which you’ll see all over Iceland, is 66* North. Their slogan is “Keeping Iceland Warm since 1926,” and they live up to their words. They carry hats, gloves, scarves, coats, etc., and you see people all over Iceland wearing their stuff. My friend Laura and I couldn’t resist when we saw almost every woman walking around downtown Reykjavik in one of their furry hats. It cost about $70USD for one, but we both wore ours the entire trip, and know we’ll get good use out of them in the wintertime in New York…so they were a good investment!

Now, if shelling out a lot of krona (ISK) for clothing is not your thing, then I suggest heading to Kolaportid Flea Market.

It’s a Reykjavik institution, open on Saturdays & Sundays (11am-5pm) where you can find second-hand clothing, Icelandic sweaters, antique jewelry, trinkets & art for the home, music, and food. I mention food, in particular, because this is the place where you can try hakarl- rotten shark. Sounds gross? It is! (Just take a look at my face!) It tastes and smells like ammonia. But, it’s an Icelandic delicacy- which is usually eaten more as a right of passage (i.e. when you join a fraternity/sorority in college).

All in all, there’s something for everyone when it comes to shopping in Iceland. Yes, it is still a fairly expensive country to visit, but the U.S. dollar is worth twice more there today than it was just three years ago…so if you can, jet set there soon. You will love Iceland!

Author: Lori McNally of jetsetsmart.com