When I visited Iceland, I went with an Icelandic friend to watch a geyser that would regularly erupt. There was a warning sign, but other than that, there was nothing to prevent you from walking directly up to the geyser hole and looking in. I mentioned to my friend that in the US there would probably be either a fence to keep people back or a guard who would stand there to move people away from the hole. I said that in the US if they only had a sign by a geyser and someone went over to the geyser and got hurt or killed then the government would be sued for not doing more to protect them. My Icelandic friend said, “If you tried to do that here, you would be told that you were an idiot for sticking your head over a geyser.”

Knowing what and not what to do beforehand makes the vacation more enjoyable.

The off road thing: 100% accurate. I report every single person i see driving off road and give the police their license plate number. Most people will do the same and the fine you get if you do drive off road can reach absurd amounts.

Warning signs have traditionally been sparse in Iceland. I you see a warning sign, however understated, you have to read it AND heed it. Warning signs in Iceland REALLY mean business!

Thank you for mentioning not stopping in the middle of the road. The elves hate that and nobody should mess with them

Off road driving, and littering? I can't believe people are so arrogant. The simplest way to put it is: Don't act like you own a country you are visiting. Iceland is someone else's home.

I live near Yellowstone National Park. Every year someone falls into the hot springs thinking they are “ soaking pools”. They also think they can pet the Bison. Usually a trip to the hospital follows, if they are lucky.

It’s so sad that a lot of us Americans don’t even research the customs of other countries before we vacation. It’s so embarrassing.

When I visited Iceland last year there were so many warning signs at the geysers telling people not to walk across the terrain as it would damage the eco-system and was very dangerous, and this tourist family just ignored it and walked across the terrain. It's a miracle they didn't get scalded!

I feel like these are rules THE WHOLE WORLD should be doing anyway.

Having lived in San Francisco and now living in Seattle l learned how to master wearing layers.

OMG...You’ve sold me on Iceland...I now have to visit there! Thanks.

I went in 2014, we went around the island visiting various places, it was the single most amazing thing I ever done! We were able to see the nothern lights, there was a vulcanic warning, we got strained on the top of a rocky mountain with our cars and almost died(DON'T GO OFF ROAD!!), I forgot my suit case in one B&B and couldn't come back for it(we would miss our flight) so the lovely lady sent it back to me no costs added. So many wonderful memories ❤

Sell this video to Icelandair.... exelent points you got .... vel gert !

The trick to having perfect Icelandic weather wherever you go is of course to make friends with an adorable Icelandic Troll, named Fred, and praise him before you embark on an adventure😁

please send this to everyone that is coming here. We are so tired of dealing with some of these problems

irrelevant but your hair looks amazing

As a boorish American, I feel like this list is directed at me.

I'm from Hawai'i, we have nearly the same exact problems with drivers!!!!

Hey Jewells! Just wanted to take a moment to tell you that I've done a great deal of listening to your station before my first trip to Iceland, and all of the stuff you've included in here has been super helpful. Thank you for sharing it!

I feel like this is good advice for life in general, not just Iceland. Great video!

I'm in the UK and people litter and it annoys me too! I've seen people standing next to a public bin (trash can) and have still thrown their trash on the floor! It's like - ARGH!! Iceland looks stunning so who would want to trash it up?

In 2017, I landed, got my car and drove straight to akeuryi. It was so great to get away from a large city, and I loved the area. I think most people park in Reykjavik and do day trips. I did all mine from the north. It was the best two weeks of my life! I got a room at a house in Petersbourg, and went to Bonus and bought basics.

I just got introduced to your channel this week - and I love it 🥰 and something I love is the way you speak English ... it’s so clear and has a wonderful rhythm

This should be mandatory to watch before you enter the country

Pretty much the same thing in our lovely mountain town in Kimberley bc ..tourist are everywhere and they stop anywhere 😂 for wildlife ,tree, mountain etc ..trash everywhere suck bad

I despise litterbugs!!

You make a great representative for Iceland. I love your videos. And also you have such a beautiful smile and thank you for taking care of our planet!👍👍✌️🙋♥️🇺🇸💐

If you are planning to visit Iceland, make sure to get my free Ultimate Packing Checklist. It has all the essentials you need and more to have an awesome trip - allthingsiceland.com/iceland-packing-checklist

Many of these same rules apply to Maui Hawaii.

Having just returned from almost two weeks in Iceland, I can say this is all very on point and helpful! We knew most of it ahead of time and other stuff became obvious quickly, but this video is a great reinforcement of rules specific to Iceland but also ... most other places. Thanks, Jewells.

Great list, these are very important. It hasn't changed much in 15 years. I was only able to live there a year, it was the best year of my life. Will add: Don't scald yourself with the hot water tap and never let go of your car door, in the wind, until it's closed. We called it the Keflavik crunch. The water is so good! I camped all summer and would fill up my water bottle "in the wild". 🤯 The south coast is amazing but I love the north. Would actually get better weather around Akureyri. Had magical moments all around the country. Have been hesitant to go back because there were very little tourist when I lived there. So afraid it won't be the same.

When we were in Iceland and rented a car we got a very stern, detailed warning about what to not do, where to not go, what we were responsible for, what could get us in trouble... If someone gets a fine, they can't say they weren't warned!

Just stumbled upon your channel today. Some of these remind me of my home here in Alaska: glaciers, windstorms, northern lights, tourists stopping in roads for pictures of bears/moose, etc. I hope to visit Iceland one day and thank you for all of your wonderful insights!! Love your channel!

I love your channel and hearing you talk about Iceland! Thank you so much! BTW, you and your husband are adorable.

I have no intention of ever going to Iceland, but I just love these videos. You are so cute!!

I recently developed an interest for Iceland and the Nordic countries. Thank you for the informative video and thank you for touching on that whole "overcrowded" theme I keep seeing all over the place. I am Puertorican, that's all I have to say about overcrowded... lol

to everyone who dont know people have died from some of those so be safe

Our water in the north west of England is beautiful. My son and family live in Milton Keyenes say that even food tastes better and we only need a teaspoon of shampoo to wash your hair, also we don't need water softeners in dishwashers or washing machines plus our kettles last longer.

thank you, and learning more about Iceland online.

Love your vídeos lots of good information, thank you

I’m so happy that you are living this experience with your husband. You appear so happy! Thank you for your channel and videos!

Super informative and smart info! Thank you!!

Clearly people need to hear this advice, or you wouldn't be talking about it, but...my mind is still boggled by how basic the things are you're talking about as far as safety and like basic courtesies...I just can't even. Your videos are great, you're so well spoken and you're just really kind while explaining these things. Like unbelievably kind. I'm also an American, currently been living in rural Japan for over 5 years now. I don't get why people, in general, in like the US just seem to not care about keeping things places and just like litter and do other disrespectful or weird things when they travel...but it's not great. Again, I don't get it, but people legit need videos like yours here...and I hope people actually listen to this. "annoying and strange that anyone has to say this." Perfect quote.

Good one. Hope to go there one day

Super helpful, thanks!

I am delighted to have come across you. You get it. I could and I have said all of these these things myself. But somehow you are a better representative of my my country here than I will ever be. Go girl go!

Did you mention that in winter the car tyres should have spikes? There is a story of 4 teenagers driving a spiked car responsibly in very icy conditions in the Hafnarfjordur harbour and the car just kept going and fell into the sea. They survived some suffered vmbrain damage. I'm not trying to scare you but do not muck around when it is icy or blizzard wether. If the Icelandics are worried about the weather you definitely should be too.

Don’t anyone Fricking dare off-road in our country, the ground is so precious and filled with moss.

Good job! Thanks for the info. Makes me want to move to Iceland!! 💕

I was expecting more social norm information but this was helpful too. tysm :)

Thank you for the tips. Planning a trip in March 2020.

Thank you so much for pointing out the off-road driving and poop people. It's very annoying that people still do this!

I can't wait to visit Iceland again. I didn't get out of the city last time, so I've so much more to explore!

Love your video:)

"Inspired by Iceland" should offer you a job.

Number #13 is a good rule for basically every country. I'm from Amsterdam, and though I find it a cool city, I know there's much more out there. We're not the only old place of the country and we do have an overcrowding problem, so I'd urge tourists to definitely check out other towns and cities. Outside of capital cities it's often cheaper as well.

Being from the hill country where we get flash floods I must agree about the water crossing advice. People think it's all hunky dory to cross and then all of a sudden they have lost their vehicle or even their lives.

Informatively enlightening

I love learning about how to be respectful of countries but still learn. I would love to hear your thoughts of the coolest places to go to that you wouldn't think to do in Iceland. Like I heard there's an elf school. Are there any things off the beaten path you would recommend?

thats a reason to go there the water !love water

Who are these savages that just litter, poop and pee anywhere?? Sad that you have to say this... Anyway, love your content❤

We just spent 4 weeks in New Zealand. 4000 plus km in a camper van. It took us three days of driving before we saw the first piece of trash on the highway. The country is so clean. All the hiking trails were so clean, not even a candy wrapper on the ground. We started to play a game, " spot the trash" as we drove but there was nothing to see.

Thank you for a good video. From a thankful guy in Iceland.

Amazing what is allowed but I can understand the logic behind it. Very informative and I wish you the best in your studies there be safe ❤

I love your Locs!!!!!!

I've told tourists buying lots of bottled water that it's the same water as from the tap (because I genuinely felt offended), they looked at me like I was some kind of a psycho and went on to buy the water anyway. It was like 12x 2L bottles

Some of those things are common sense. And it's indeed sad that they need to be spelled out in a video FOR adults.

Great advice video!

Glad I found your channel. Awesome video.

Very informative. Thank u

This is my new favorite channel

We had tourists getting too close to a vulcano and it blew! People got killed or burned. It was terrible!

Hi. Great content.

Am planning to visit Iceland in December this year....

In Scotland if you do #14, you'll also likely catch some buck shots. Lol

Excellent advice!

...thanks so much for the vid, very helpful!

I was just looking up countries because of this riot here in America 😂 like I have the money to go to Iceland 🤣🤣🤣

I used to live in a beach town and I could not believe the number of fools who would go swimming when hurricane flags and signs warning of undertow and rip currents would go up. And every time a couple of those fools would invariably drown

A lot of the things you said do no do is fairly common sense esp in the western countries. You’d think, but washrooms do they provide facilities in the out doors? Example Canada, it’s big and distances are great but you’ll get anything from flushing toilets to septic toilets dotted on the highway, we have a potty in the car if your kids just can’t wait then we bag it to dispose of it in the next stop. But we have a lot of potty stops so most adults can wait. If you are elderly then put on ‘depends’ or go before you set out.

In Amsterdam tourists look up at houses and walk backwards on a cycle path to get a better view of said house. Some even walk backwards on a road with cars. I never understood that. I saw beautiful things in Thailand but was always careful.

Thanks for the advice

Thank you beautiful young lady for the important info visiting Iceland . You do tours or a tour guide ?

Point# 14: Are there conspicuously advertised restroom areas in out of the city locations? When you're planning to go to rural areas, I suppose you should consider if and where there might be rest areas. I can understand doing NUMBER2 just anywhere could be an issue. Number1 not so much!!

Great information. I'm a retired senior citizen and my daughter is treating me to Iceland in January 2020. I'm concerned about walking because I'm handicapped. Is it safe to walk the streets or should we rent a car to get around? I'm not dismembered, but after looking at this video I thought I would ask what's safe for me. We are staying in town and we have three activities scheduled. We are staying for a week. Would you mind sending me the names if the two places tou suggest to buy basic priced food. Thank you.

Nettó was closer than Bonus tho😩 it was by Nova, and easier to walk to...

11:03 I live in Tennessee within America. It is normal for people to pop a swat in nature here and the environment is bioactive and warm enough that the soil can slowly turn it into dirt. But, with how cold Iceland is and there not being bioactive soil, I imagine it would not biodegrade like it does here in TN. I don't think visitors think about the ground being different.

_#7 Do Not Stop in the Middle of the Road to Take Photos_ Imagine having to tell people this. I discovered your channel this morning BTW, I'm really enjoying everything I've watched so far! :D

Their tap water is just so delicious 😍

You could take almost all this and give as advise to tourists coming to Disney World!!

Alot of that is common sense, but it's good that you're pointing it out

Pls write the points you say in the description box it is always easy to check up on some points also you make good videos💙💙

I recently came across a video of tourists getting out of their cars to look at bison who were walking down the road in Yellowstone. Not smart - some of them weigh 2000 pounds.

Good Tips ! 👌🏽

Nice!!! It’s been my dream to travel there

I have been watching your videos. Visiting the first week of December. Any suggestions for shopping?

Southern folks stop in the middle of the road just to chat. So like if I want to leave my house, I might have to wait for Sally and Debbie to finish sharing recipes or church gossip. It's considered completely normal.

So many great places to visit where other tourists will not spoil your experience.

about #14 go before you go. lol. there are no rest areas like in the states. none. zippo. and do not count on any being open at any remote areas like seltun . they have specific times and hours when the rest huts are open. and not many gas stations like in the US. plan plan plan. oh...and another thing....do NOT let go of your car door when getting in and out...lmao. i was warned of this when picking up our rental car and thought how stupid. i did not think it was stupid after the first time i got out of the car. oh my....these are my two tips i give friends who are going for a visit. enjoying your videos...