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Ask our expert: Iceland cool
Shortbreaks expert Tom Marchant offers advice to two honeymooners looking for a luxurious honeymoon break in Iceland
Tom Marchant, from Black Tomato, has the inside track on the hottest trips in 2007 including...
Blue Lagoon, Iceland: steaming geothermal seawater (Bruno Morandi/GETTY)
Myself and my fiancee Simon are going on our honeymoon to Iceland this year, either 26 or 27 October. We are living in Carlow, south east of Ireland and don't think we can fly direct to Iceland. We want to stay in Reykjavik and hopefully travel out on day or night trips and see a bit of Iceland, we are staying for 5-6 days. Could you advise us on the best, poshest and plushest hotel or accomodation in Iceland? Could you advise us with ideas for travel to see the best bits of Iceland? If it is possible in a condensed six days. We don't mind spending a night or two away from Reykjavic, somewhere out in the countryside of Iceland? Rozz Normington and Simon, Carlow, Ireland
Shortbreaks expert, Tom Marchant responds: To get from Carlow to Iceland, I'd suggest taking a British Airways flight from Dublin to Gatwick with a connecting flight on to Reykjavik.
The best hotel in town is the Hotel 101, which is stylish and minimalist. Try to book one of their five junior suites. Outside of Reykjavik I'd suggest the Hotel Budir, which is secluded, remote and romantic. The hotel is located on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and surrounded by ridged extinct volcanoes and towering waterfalls.
In Reykjavik, I'd check out the Blue Lagoon. Book ahead for a spa treatment using geothermal seawater active ingredients.
For a romantic night on the town, try Siggi Hall, which serves traditional Icelandic food with a twist, like filet of reindeer with creamed celery. The fusion tapas served at B5 is also worth a stop. After dinner, head to Pravda for a tipple or Cafe Oliver.
My top tours would be:
Lobster & Lights: This is a magical evening. Your A 4x4 Super Jeep takes you on a twilight tour across the surreal lava to chase the Aurora Borealis. Then you'll head down to the South Shore to the small seaside village of Stokkseyri to the warm and friendly Fjöruborðið restaurant. Order the specialty, the Stokkseyri lobster; which is served whole on a platter and is cooked in butter and garlic and accompanied by a specially made sauce and bread.
The Pearl Tour: This full day tour showcases the natural highlights of Iceland and includes the infamous Geyser region, Pingvellir National Park, where you can walk between the tectonic plates and onto to powerful waterfalls of Gullfoss. You will also have the opportunity to ride your own snowmobile across of Iceland's glaciers.
Diving the Silfra Crack: This is one of the most amazing experiences in the world. You'll be able to dive between the continents and view the earth's tectonic plates. For those who do not have PADI certificates, snorkelling would be just as impressive as the gin-clear waters have 100 metre visibility.
Glacier Picnic: For a romantic picnic with a twist, consider a picnic on top of a glacier. Take a snowmobile or a Snowcat up to the top of a glacier and feast on Icelandic specialties like lobster and Arctic char.
Tom Marchant is a founder of Black Tomato, a travel company that specialises in helping its customers make the most of their precious time-off.
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wow!
we cannot wait and have booked our flights very cheaply with British airways, so thanks for your advice!
Rozz and Si, Carlow, Ireland
To be honest before reading this article the choice of destination would not really have been on my radar. The extensive variety of dining experiences and dramatic activities on offer has turned my head and has aroused curiosity for a location I had not given much thought to in the past. The more I research the company Black Tomato the more I realise what an impressive and dynamic outfit it is. Definitely worth visiting their website.
Henry Hayns, London,
I'd like to visit Prague in the Czech Republic. I live in Los Angeles and want to travel to Prague sometime in during the summer. When is the best time to go? I would like to stay in the center of the city for the night life, but I would like to venture out of the city during the day. Where would be a good place to stay and do you have any recommendations on sightseeing during the day.
stephen naraine, Los Angeles, ca
Tom's right about Stokkseyri and its lobsters - fantastic. On the tour issue, I just wanted to add that many of the amazing natural features on the tours - the tectonic plates, Geyser, the Gulfoss waterfalls - can be seen just as easily if you hire a car and drive yourself. They're all less than half a day's drive from the capital.
I'm sure the tours are great - but Iceland is so sparsely populated that when we travelled alone in our car, we felt like the only people on the face of the earth, and it was one of the most memorable holidays of my life. Just a thought - have a good time.
Tim Wild, Shoreham by Sea,