Matador Network's Blog, page 1325

Vacations that help you recharge

While there is always something to be grateful for, life can sometimes be a mixture of hectic, demanding and down right rough. If you can feel yourself approaching complete depletion, it may be time for a well needed escape to collect and regroup. Or maybe you’re experiencing a period of change or just need for a change of scenery. If so here are seven travel experiences that will help you recharge your batteries — no exhausting, jam-packed itineraries included.

1. Canyon Ranch, various locations in the US

Our society tends to glorify the word “busy” and that can inevitably mean burning the candle at both ends. If rest is what you seek, Canyon Ranch may just be the #treatyoself vacation you need to reset those adrenals.

Photo: Canyon Ranch

A globally recognized leader in luxury spa and healthy living holiday’s, Canyon ranch has many award-winning wellness programs such as an all-night sleep study, healthy lifestyle consultation and digital detox.

Photo: Canyon Ranch

They have locations in Tucson, Arizona; Lenox, Massachusetts; Las Vegas, Nevada; and even at sea aboard several cruise ship lines, like Celebrity and Oceania.

2. Sha Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain

While mental health topics are finally being spoken of more publically, there is still a ways to go. Anxiety affects 40 million adults in the US and yet only 36.9% of those people receive treatment. If this statement resonates with you, perhaps a healing holiday may be a good place to begin.

The Anti-Stress Programme at the Sha Wellness Clinic in Alicante, Spain looks closely at imbalances, health issues and biological contributors that may trigger stress and anxiety.

Photo: Sha Wellness Clinic

The program begins with a general medical examination to evaluate your current health profile.

Photo: Sha Wellness Clinic

During the week, consultations with a nutritionist and natural therapy professionals will focus on mental, spiritual and physical exercises appropriate for your personal needs.

3. The Sanctuary, Ko Phangan, Thailand

We’ve all fallen off the health wagon, maybe more than we’d like to openly admit. If you are in a place where you hardly recognize yourself (inside and out) and are desperately looking to get back on track, a holiday focused on resetting your health habits may be just what you need. The Detox Programs at The Sanctuary in Ko Phangan offers a variety of detox programs ranging from a quick 1-day detox to a 10.5 day complete cleanse.

Photo: Sanctuary Thailand

Programs include an interview and consultation to assess your current health and comprehensive detoxification and nutrition information. The beachfront resort offers daily yoga and a variety of spa treatments to indulge in during your stay.

4. Anamaya Resort, Montezuma, Costa Rica

Maybe your body is beginning to ache from lack of movement or you need a fitness makeover to jumpstart some new health goals. At Anamaya Resort in Montezuma, Costa Rica you can sign up for a number of retreats focused around yoga, surfing and exploring the beautiful Costa Rican jungle.

Photo: Anamaya Resort and Retreat Center

Days usually begin and end with yoga and the rest can be filled with activities such as surf lessons, waterfall hikes and ziplining.

Photo: Anamaya Resort and Retreat Center

And if you want to get SCUBA Certified, Anamaya offers this as well and those signed up for this specific retreat can obtain a CMS 1-Star SCUBA certification.

5. Renew Breakup Bootcamp, upstate New York

Renew Breakup Bootcamp retreats are focused on helping people gain their personal power back from a breakup.

Photo: Renew

During this retreat, you will digitally unplug to be fully immersed in a multi-day program filled with sessions with coaches, healers and meditation teachers. PhD psychologists are on staff to lead small, intimate sessions with the group about detaching and letting go of the past and events that no longer serve you.

Photo: Renew

For those seeking more individualized attention, one-on-one sessions with a relationship coach or an energy healer are available.

6. InterExchange, worldwide

While there are many options for taking some time off, InterExchange offers opportunities to work in another country for up to a year, enabling you to earn money to offset your travel costs and while allowing you to immerse yourself in the culture during your stay.

Photo: InterExchange

Job placement or an in-country job search support is provided by the InterExchange program. Outside of the US, work-travel programs are available in Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.

7. Digital Detox Retreat, various locations around the US

Posting your adventures to Instagram is great but it’s more important to be present and not get lost in the rabbit hole of social media or emails. Studies have shown the average individual spends up to 4 hours a day on their phone. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the constant need to look on a screen a Digital Detox Retreat may be just what the doctor ordered. This one of a kind tech-free personal wellness retreat gives attendees an off-the-grid experience filled with community, creativity, and mindfulness in exchange for giving up their electronics. Though you’ll have to give up looking at dog memes for your brief stay the alternative time passing activities aren’t too bad. You will get to experience daily yoga, guided meditation and breathwork, digital detox best practice discussions, hikes, writing & art workshops, mindfulness practice and some good old peace and quiet.

More like this: 9 wellness retreats you can actually afford

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Glamping in Disneyland

Always wanted to experience Disney World without the crowds? Normally, that would be a pipe dream, but this summer, Walt Disney World is giving two lucky guests the opportunity to spend the night glamping inside the new Pandora theme park. Since it opened last spring, the Pandora theme park has proven one of the Disney World’s most popular attractions. This July, the winner of Disney’s D-Camp contest (and a guest) will get to spend the night “on Pandora” in a luxurious tent, after the park closes to the public.

Disney World is only the latest attraction to take advantage of the glamping craze. Luxury camping, or “glamping”, has seen a recent rise in popularity at sites like Mt. Rushmore and other cool outdoor destinations.

To win the coveted Avatar glamping experience and sleep within Pandora’s bioluminescent flora, you’ll have to visit the contest’s website and share a video explaining why you deserve the escape.

The experience is for one night only and only one winner will be selected. All entries must be submitted before June 22nd.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

More like this: Glamping on Mount Everest is a thing now, so you don’t even have to hike

The post Have the ultimate glamping experience in Disney’s Pandora theme park appeared first on Matador Network.

Biggest inflatable theme park

Welcome to your new favorite theme park. The Inflatable Island in the Philippines opened in 2017 and can lay claim to being the biggest inflatable playground in Asia. It’s designed like an obstacle course, with several inflatable hurdles to complete. Thanks to Unicorn Island, its newest addition, it now covers over 44,132 square feet — or more than ten basketball courts placed side by side. In addition to all the features already offered by the park, including a wobbly bridge and a “human launcher”, the Unicorn Island expansion brings six new obstacles to the park: Baba’s Super Slide Slippery Slopes, the Rainbow Walk, Mini Jump and Fly, Climby the Seaunicorn, and the Wavy Dinosaur.

Photo: Inflatable Island

Unicorn Island is set apart from the main Inflatable Island but can be easily accessed by swimming. If you’re worried that the island and its obstacles are a little too childish for you, think again. Many adult visitors have actually found the course too difficult to complete, though the difficulty did not detract from the level of entertainment. Whether you conquer the inflatable obstacles or they conquer you, take a beach and drink break at the Pink Bali Lounge, unmistakable for its pink, purple, and fuchsia lounge chairs and umbrellas, and located across from the island.

Une publication partagée par Home of Unicorn Island (@inflatableisland) le 17 Avril 2018 à 8 :31 PDT

Une publication partagée par Home of Unicorn Island (@inflatableisland) le 22 Mai 2018 à 5 :00 PDT

While getting to the Philippines itself might not be cheap, a visit to the Inflatable Island sure is. You can pay $9.50 for one-hour, or $17 for a full day, with discounts for advance booking. Life vests are required, as the water depth ranges from four to 15 feet, and though lifeguards are always on duty, it’s recommended that you know how to swim. You also won’t be allowed to wear any jewelry, or clothes with zippers. Do you really want to be the one who “deflates” Climby the Seaunicorn?

H/T: Bustle

More like this: South Korea has a whole theme park dedicated to cheese

The post Relive your childhood on this inflatable Island in the Philippines appeared first on Matador Network.

My toilet tour of Europe

Where was Starbucks when I needed them? I could have used their new bathroom policy when I embarked on my toilet tour of Europe.

There are 868 Starbucks in the United Kingdom, 157 in Germany, and 28 in Greece. Had they thrown their bathroom doors wide open and enticed me with unfettered access and a fresh toilet paper roll, I would have located every Starbucks in Europe and mapped out my sightseeing strategy accordingly.

Instead, I plunged heedlessly into my travel adventure without an adequate plan.

As an American, I never thought much about bathrooms. Gotta go? Pull off the highway at the next McDonald’s. I’ve used bathrooms in Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Macy’s and Burger King, to name a few. I never thought to ask permission; just waltzed in, took care of business, and left.

So, arriving in Europe and discovering that toilets were a lot less ubiquitous and accessible was a culture shock.

“Every traveler has one or two great toilet stories. Foreign toilets can be traumatic, but they are one of those little things that can make travel so much more interesting than staying at home.” -Rick Steves

In Greece, I climbed a rocky hill to the Acropolis, consumed two glasses of wine, and wandered around Athens for a couple of hours when the need for a bathroom became urgent. I entered a cafe, headed for the back and was stopped midway by a frozen-faced waitress. Despite a language barrier, she got the point across that bathrooms were available only if I dined there.

By this time, things were getting desperate. I took the extreme measure of entering a clothing boutique and paying 17 Euros for a blouse I didn’t want in hopes of buying toilet privileges. It didn’t work. A tall, beautiful girl collected my Euros, then became as frozen-faced as the waitress and directed me to a public bathroom four blocks away; twelve blocks after I got lost trying to read Greek signs.

By the time I got to Italy, I had a UTI. Probably from holding it in during my 12-block Athens trek.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I got to be an expert at sauntering into a restaurant, acting like I was a paying customer, slipping into the bathroom, then hightailing it out before the Italian police force could be summoned.

Not only were public bathrooms as few and far between in Italy as they had been in Greece, but I had to pay to use them. Since payment was in Euros, and I didn’t always have on my glasses when I was on my way to the toilet, I’m sure from the overly enthusiastic thanks from some of the bathroom guardians, those men and women who sit outside taking your money, that I mistook a 1 EUR coin from a 50 cent coin more than once.

But what did I care? I had found a WC!

“Paying to use a public WC is a European custom that irks many Americans. But isn’t it really worth a few coins, considering the cost of water, maintenance, and cleanliness? And you’re probably in no state to argue, anyway.” -Rick Steves

With so few toilets available, you would think they would be more uniform. But in Europe, there are as many different flushing mechanisms as there are flavors of gelato.

You find pull strings instead of handles, buttons on top of the tank, pump toilets that require precision to get the job done, and toilets with flushing mechanisms so elusive that I never found them.

When I was on a German tour bus, a teenage girl disappeared into the toilet for upwards of an hour. Finally, her mother pounded on the door and the girl emerged, shame-faced, admitting she couldn’t figure out how to flush.

“In Great Britain, you’ll likely come across the “pump toilet,” with a flushing handle that doesn’t kick in unless you push it just right: too hard or too soft, and it won’t go. (Be decisive but not ruthless.)” -Rick Steves

But my worries are now over. All I need to do is plan my sightseeing so that a Starbucks is always only a few blocks away. Unless their open-to-all bathroom policy doesn’t apply in European stores. Then I’m back to square one. I’ll have to take Rick Steve’s advice and learn to be more “Euro-peein.”

This article was originally published on Medium and is republished here with permission.

More like this: The world’s weirdest toilets

The post My toilet tour of Europe appeared first on Matador Network.

China is building solar farms

Soon, plane passengers will have no doubt about their location when flying over China. The country’s newest renewable energy program will call for solar energy farms that, from above, resemble pandas. The idea originated in 2015 with Ada Li Yan-tung, a 15-year-old who presented the idea at a United Nations youth climate conference. She hoped to get more young people in China interested in renewable energy, and, a year later, the United Nations Development Program and the Panda Green Energy Group teamed up to make her vision a reality.

Photo: Panda Green

In 2017, the groups built a 248-acre solar power plant in Datong, China, that looks like two smiling pandas from above. The plant is capable of generating power for more than 10,000 households annually. A second panda-shaped power plant was completed in Guigang, Guangxi, in October 2017, and can accommodate 6,000 homes per year. But the pandas might not just be confined within Chinese borders. China plans to build power plants, bridges, railways, and power grids along the “New Silk Road,” which spans more than 60 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, to reinvigorate trade in the region.

Photo: Panda Green

Now the companies are collaborating with the Chinese government to build 99 more similar solar farms across the country. This massive project will require $3 billion in investments. China is already the largest investor in renewable energy, having spent $126.6 billion on it in 2017. By 2020, China hopes to power 30 million homes through solar energy.

Photo: Panda Green

Check out more aerial views of the Datong Power Plant here.

H/T: Insider

More like this: Mapped: electricity produced by renewable resources in the US

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An exploration of La Ciudad Perdida

If you are looking for an epic escape away from mass tourism in the heart of the rainforest, the Lost City in Colombia is your answer. The five-day trek to the Lost City, or La Ciudad Perdida, isn’t for those looking for an easy trip to check off their list. Expect to forge rivers, slog through mud, and battle mosquitos before arriving at the Lost City – where, if you are lucky, you will have the place to yourself without a selfie stick in sight.

While Machu Picchu has been a destination for adventurer-hunters (or wannabe adventurers) for the last several decades, La Ciudad Perdida sees only a fraction of the traffic. The 2017 change by the Peruvian government, making Machu Picchu tickets valid for only a half day entry, actually increased tourism by doubling the number of tickets available per day. Not only that but many tourists who’ve arrived in the morning linger past their appointed time slot. La Ciudad Perdida is the new backpacker’s dream. Take a look at the stats comparing each section of the Lost City versus Machu Picchu so that you can choose which hidden city speaks to you.

Breaking it down: La Ciudad Perdida vs. The Inca Trail.
Distance

The Inca Trail: 27 miles
La Ciudad Perdida: 27 miles

Altitude

The Inca Trail: 12,010 ft at highest point; 2,430 ft at Machu Picchu
La Ciudad Perdida: 3,937 ft at Teyuna Ruins

Cost

The Inca Trail: $500-$1000+
La Ciudad Perdida: $300+

Guide Required

The Inca Trail: Yes
La Ciudad Perdida: Yes

The history behind these South American lost cities.

Inca Pachacutec, the emperor, and statesman of Tahuantinsuyo built Machu Picchu as a refuge for the elite Inca aristocrats after winning the last battle verse the Chanca. The location of Machu Picchu was hidden to the Spanish for years until Hiram Bingham found the remote ruins in 1911. The now popular Inca Trail to Machu Picchu snakes its way through the Andes Mountains, following winding rivers, tiny villages, and ruins that once supported the Machu Picchu site in the 15th century.

La Ciudad Perdida is located along the North Coast of Colombia between the Buritaca River and the Caribbean Sea. Although equally as hard to find as Machu Picchu, La Ciudad Perdida is actually much older, thought to date back to 800 A.D., making it a solid 600 years older than Machu Picchu. Between 4,000-10,000 Tairona people used to live in over 180 houses on the 32 acres of land within the city’s borders. The conquest by the Spanish in the 17th century, as well as the spread of disease and war, wiped out the ancient civilization.

Given its age, it’s no surprise that most of the site’s wooden buildings have disappeared. What does remain are a series of terraces carved into mountains, connected via circular plazas and stone roads. Most of La Ciudad Perdida is still a mystery. It’s believed that only about 10 percent of the city has been discovered. While most of Machu Picchu is still visible and the stone block dwellings and temples are still fully intact, not all of it is original. Currently, 30 percent of Machu Picchu has been reconstructed and restored to recreate the original structure for tourists.

Unlike Machu Picchu, indigenous tribes still live in La Ciudad Perdida, making the site more like Cambodia’s Temples of Angkor in that respect. Descendants of the original Taironas live a nomadic lifestyle, using the city for ceremonies and treating it as a sacred site. The indigenous tribes view the Sierra Nevada region of Santa Marta as the heart and lungs of the world. Therefore, they’ve taken on the responsibility of balancing increased tourism and exploration from Colombian business with preserving their home. One tribe in particular, the Wiwa, strike this balance by running their own tours to the site, focusing on educating their guests about the history and culture of their native lands.

La Ciudad Perdida: Remote by nature.

More than 3,000 tourists reach Machu Picchu every day. The influx of those arriving by train, car, and via the Inca trail has brought a wave of hotels, restaurants, and hawkers selling souvenirs. Conversely, in 2011, only 8,000 people reached La Ciudad Perdida over the course of the entire year. There are no roads or trains making their way to the site. The only way to get there is to do it the old-fashioned way and embark on the four or five-day trek. You’ll join up with a tour in either Santa Marta or Palomino. Before beginning the actual trek, you will spend several hours in a 4WD vehicle on a bumpy jungle road to the starting village, nestled deep within the Colombian forest.

You must carry all your own belongings for the entire trek, with the exception of tents and linens as those are available at the campsites. There is an option to hire a mule to carry you and your belongings for an extra fee, but there is no guarantee that one will be available when you arrive. Since there are no cars or roads, there is no easy way out of the trail to La Ciudad Perdida, so be prepared to commit and make the entire journey.

The Trek to La Ciudad Perdida.

Even though the Inca Trail and the trek to La Ciudad Perdida are the same distance, the journey to the Lost City brings a different set of challenges in terms of terrain and climate. The high point on the Inca Trail is 8,000 feet higher than the highest point on the Lost City Trek, which means budgeting for additional time to adjust to the altitude. Since the Lost City is closer to shore and a more subtle change in altitude, you may need less time to finish the trek. The weather can also change dramatically on the Inca Trail, swinging from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 77 degrees Fahrenheit within hours, whereas the Colombian counterpart tends to hover around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The Inca Trail is closed in February for maintenance and is often too rainy to hike in January. The dry season (December through March) is the best time to hike to the Lost City but the trail is still accessible during the wetter months – just expect more downpours and muddier conditions.

Despite the lack of elevation gain, La Ciudad Perdida brings its own set of challenges including heat, humidity, mud, and mosquitoes. Expect to cross rivers via high ropes and climb mud-laden trails in sweltering dry heat interspersed with heavy spouts of rain. As an added perk, however, there are a number of naturally flowing swimming holes located along the trail to relieve you from the heat.

While trekking to La Ciudad Perdida, you will meet the Kogi people who have inhabited the Sierra Nevada region for hundreds of years. You’ll have the opportunity to take pictures with them (always ask first) and visit their villages made of hand-crafted wooden huts. After your journey, it is not uncommon to arrive at the Lost City and have the place to yourself. The relatively unknown ruins of the Incas has only been open to the public for a decade.

There are local vendors scattered throughout the trail selling food and drinks. The campsites have beds equipped with mosquito nets, roofs, sit-down toilets, and tables to use at most sites. All campsites also have cold showers and toilets — a luxurious amenity to the seasoned trekker.

More like this: Everything you need to know about New Zealand’s Great Walks

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cheaper alternatives in Europe

There’s a reason why the most popular European cities are also the most expensive. As tourism rises, and demand for a city’s attractions increases, so does everything related to it (airfares, restaurants, accommodations, etc.). Many times, lesser-known cities can provide more value for your dollar, and often an even richer cultural experience since they aren’t diluted with tourists. Luckily, MyVoucherCodes has done the work for you, compiling a list of alternative locations for travelers on a budget.

Photo: My Voucher Codes

The comparison between Istanbul and Izmir might be the most stark example. To visit the Turkish capital, be prepared to shell out at least $118 for a hotel room per night, while you can stay in the smaller, less touristy, coastal city of Izmir for about $60 cheaper. There are also 5% more restaurants in Izmir classified as “cheap eats”, and a pint of beer costs about half the price of a pint in Istanbul. A similar value can be found in trading London — one of the world’s most expensive cities — for Manchester. You might not get to stand in line for the London Eye or snap photos of the Tower Bridge along with hundreds of others, but you’ll get to experience Manchester’s diverse music scene, catch a Manchester United or Manchester City game, and enjoy far more value when it comes to food, drink, and lodging.

H/T: MyVoucherCodes

More like this: Why I ditch capital cities for small towns when I travel

The post This infographic shows 10 cheaper alternatives to the most popular cities in Europe appeared first on Matador Network.

Man and doll kicked off flight

There are certain obvious behaviors that will get you kicked off a flight, which you have probably heard about, witnessed, or (maybe for some of you) experienced first-hand. We’ll bet, however, that you’ve never encountered this man’s unique way of getting himself kicked off his Jet2 flight. En route from Belfast, Ireland to Ibiza, Spain, the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in France after a passenger, who was traveling with a blow-up doll, exhibited belligerent behavior.

One passenger on the flight posted about the incident on twitter:

@belfastairport Nice one guys! Together with a blow up doll at 7am in front of my kids & long queues. Way to go!!

Disruptive passengers cause Belfast Ibiza flight diversion – https://t.co/0gTRVkftmH

— Small Axe (@SmallAxe3000) June 9, 2018

Since Ibiza isn’t exactly a hotspot for elderly vacationers and book club enthusiasts, it’s not surprising that the man was a member of a rowdy bachelor party. The delay caused by the diversion nearly doubled the flight time, from three hours to six, and we can bet his fellow passengers weren’t exactly pleased.

A spokesperson for Jet2 told The Sun that the customer was “aggressive to both crew and fellow customers on board, something which will not be tolerated,” and that “consuming alcohol illicitly contributed to this behaviour…we will not under any circumstances tolerate this type of disgraceful behaviour onboard our aircraft.”

The nature of the blow-up doll’s involvement in the incident is unclear, but some details are better left to the imagination.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

Passenger’s ridiculously foul stench forces an emergency landing

The post A drunk man and his blow-up doll forced an emergency landing appeared first on Matador Network.

Spend like a local in Iceland

Iceland is a very trendy destination, but, despite the recent increase in crazy-cheap airfare, it’s certainly not the most affordable country to visit — by far. But for what it’s worth, there are ways that the thrifty traveler can enjoy a trip to the land of fire and ice — without breaking the bank!

1. Shop at the arrivals hall duty-free store.

Une publication partagée par Tom Gaikowski (@surferjoe123) le 3 Mai 2017 à 7 :52 PDT

According to Icelanders, it’s a sin to skip the obligatory trip to the duty-free store in the arrivals hall at Keflavík Airport. To put things into perspective, a bottle of red wine from the duty-free store costs 1.599 ISK ($15 USD), while that same bottle costs 2.199 ($21 USD) from the liquor store, Vínbúðin. So get your jet-lagged self off the plane, grab a basket, and follow the crowd of Icelanders into low-price heaven.

If you missed the obligatory trip to the arrivals hall duty-free store (or already ran out of your supply), the next best thing you can do is buy your booze at Vínbúðin. There really isn’t anything better than enjoying a Víking Classic beer for 249 ISK ($2.50 USD) while watching a cascading waterfall.

2. Spend the day at the Nauthólsvík geothermal beach.

Une publication partagée par Bec Theobald (@bectheo) le 11 Oct. 2017 à 6 :51 PDT

Sure, Iceland has no shortage of swimming pools that you can frequent, but it has only one geothermal beach! Spend the day at Nauthólsvík in Reykjavík for exactly 0 ISK ($0 USD) during the summertime and feel like a true local. There’s even a non-stop barbeque at the beach during the summer where you can always get a cheap meal — a burger or hot dog will cost you around 500 ISK ($5 USD). This (free) access to the beach also includes a chance to dip into the surrounding hot tubs and, of course, some priceless conversation with locals!

3. Hang out in gas stations.

Une publication partagée par Hersteller Photography (@hersteller.photography) le 4 Nov. 2017 à 3 :51 PDT

Though the thought of spending an afternoon chatting with a buddy in a gas station might sound a bit odd, it’s a strangely Icelandic thing to do, especially in remote towns outside of the capital. Olís and N1 are the two gas station chains in Iceland, and both serve surprisingly tasty coffee and food. A “combo” meal including a burger, fries, and a drink will cost you around 2.000 ISK ($20 USD). It’s not cheap-cheap, but it’s certainly cheaper than a meal at a café somewhere in Reykjavík.

4. Eat at the famous hot dog stand in Reykjavík.

Une publication partagée par Laura (@lauraherlevnyholt) le 28 Juin 2016 à 3 :05 PDT

Gas station not cutting it for you? Try out Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur — the one and only (famous) hot dog stand in downtown Reykjavík. Hot dogs are, oddly enough, a quintessentially Icelandic food; and Icelanders take them very seriously, not to mention the many sauces and toppings they’ve whipped up for them over the years. A simple hot dog will run you about 700 ISK ($7 USD) and will leave you feeling full but not broke!

5. Camp when the weather allows it.

Une publication partagée par Emily Hensley (@eandeadventure) le 30 Mai 2018 à 8 :37 PDT

In a country where it’s nearly impossible to book a single room in a hotel for less than $100 USD, camping ought to be given a bit more credit. Sure, Icelandic weather can be a beast at times, but if you travel to the country during the summer months, pitching a tent in one of the country’s many camping sites is a fantastic option and one that Icelanders take very seriously. Nobody wants to be inside anyway when there are jaw-dropping landscapes in every direction. It costs 1.200 ISK ($12 USD) to camp at any of the sites, and only 800 ISK ($8 USD) more for electricity. But who needs electricity when you have the midnight sun all summer?

6. Buy discount meat at Kjörbúðin.

Une publication partagée par Skúli Jónsson (@skulijons) le 4 Août 2017 à 5 :33 PDT

Oh, Kjörbúðin — the Great Icelandic Supermarket! Make sure you head here to stock up on your camping grub, but don’t waste your time browsing the aisles for (overpriced) items when you have a whole section of the store devoted to discount meat. Look out for plastic-wrapped, pre-seasoned lamb and horse meat (yes, that’s a thing in Iceland) with a sticker that says “Tilboð 50%” — a piece of meat for two will run you about 1.300 ISK ($13 USD). Unlike many things in Iceland, the discount meat at Kjörbúðin is surprisingly normal-priced (and better-than-normal delicious).

7. Shop at the Kolaportið flea market.

Une publication partagée par N I C E I C E L A N D (@niceiceland) le 13 Avril 2017 à 9 :05 PDT

Kolaportið is Iceland’s only flea market. Even if you don’t have anything in particular that you want to buy, simply browsing the labyrinth of Icelandic licorice (a local favorite), antiques, and records promises to be fulfilling. There is no entrance fee to the market, and even if you do have some cash to spare, prices here are far cheaper than elsewhere. A traditional hand-knit Icelandic sweater (Lopapeysa) costs around 10.000 ISK ($100 USD) at the flea market as opposed to in clothing shops around downtown Reykjavík, where you probably can’t find one for less than 20.000 ISK ($200 USD)!


More like this: 10 things tourists do in Iceland that drive the locals crazy

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Most dog-friendly places

There’s evidence on both sides as to whether