The famous Eyjafjallajökull vulcan during eruption earlier this year in Iceland

Just returned from my 6th wisit to Iceland. I was happy to realise that even at the end of August and the beginning of September the evenings are quite light – on arrival it wasn’t before 10 o’clock in the evening it was dark in Reykjavik.

The capital of Iceland Reykjavik in clear weather seen from the east over the city and sea.

But as ususal the weather is very changeable in Iceland. Normally I would therefore recommend you to stay in Iceland for several days. In fact a full week will make it possible to drive around along the coast of the whole island with a few exceptions. During a week you should be safe with good weather for some days if not for all days.

Anyway a few days of a stop-over for example if you are going from US or Canada to Europe would make much sense as the route over Greenland and Iceland is the shortest for many European destinations – depending on your departure airport in North America.

Please add your Icelandic experience below, thanks:

To visit Iceland is a beautiful island vacation experience. I love the landscape of Iceland with its huge areas of natural beauty without much influence of human activities.

On a visit to Iceland you have to accept that the Icelandic weather is very changeable as a precondition for your travel conditions. The weather conditions of Iceland in the different regions might be very diverse on the same day, too.

You find the weather forecast for Reykjavik here at http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Reykjavik/forecasts/latest – including a five day prognosis for the weather in Reykjavik.

You find the weather forecast for Iceland here with an interactive map that shows you the expected weather in each of the Icelandic regions for the next 5 days and even longer weather forecasts http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/areas/.

These weather maps are extremely useful when you plan your travel in Iceland, e.g. if you hire a car and chose different regions to explore for each day with a permanent stay in Reykjavik or elsewhere in Iceland.

See 10-Day Forecast for Iceland weather here in Reykjavik.

Having just returned from my first visit to Easter Island, or Rapa Nui that is the official name nowadays, I am full of the impressions of the marvellous stone heads and the story behind.

This post is the first in a series of posts about Rapa Nui that I will post to condense my experience from our stay at Easter Island and our travel around the small island far out in The Pacific Ocean.

Like most tourists to Easter Island we stayed in the small town Hanga Roa that functions as the main town or capital of Easter Island. As the only town of Easter Island the smallness of the population is obvious. Easter Island has a total of around 4000 inhabitants.

On excursions with a clever local guide we travelled to the most impressive sightings of Easter Island and developed our understanding of the history of Easter Island and of the amazing stone heads.

Since childhood when I read Thor Heyerdahl’s widely published book Aku-Aku I have been fascinated by the stone heads at Easter Island and all the mystery around their history. The cultural heritage not only in the form of the stone heads and other historical artefacts but also in the form of the stories of Easter Island is outstanding.

For good reasons Rapa Nui National Park is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

I list some helpful resources below and will soon return with my personal experience and advice concerning travel to Easter Island.

Big list of guide books and other resources about Easter Island – Rapa Nui culture and nature.

Here are some useful links about Easter Island – Rapa Nui, – Rapanui (opens in new windows)

• Easter Island Foundation
• Wikipedia about Easter Island
• Rapa Nui – Easter Island home page
• Information about Easter Island from a fan of Chile
• Easter Island excursions
• Extract about Easter Island from the 8th edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific by  David Stanley,

Read more about Easter Island – Rapa Nui at our sister site.

Clubhotel Riu Funana has a sister hotel ClubHotel Riu Garopa of the very same architecture and standard just beside Riu Funana. When you stay at Riu Funana you will also use the facilities of ClubHotel Riu Garopa as you just pass without any border between the two large and very similar club hotels. Facilities shared between the ClubHotel Riu Funana and ClubHotel Riu Garopa:
Include  “Sal” beach bar,  “Renova Spa” wellness centre with different treatments, beauty salon and massages (additional charge), Complimentary gym, jacuzzi and sauna, Hairdresser, Mini-club and children’s playground, Hobby club, and the “Pacha” night club.

Review of the beach of Sall next to Clubhotel Riu Funana

As I have mentioned in my earlier post about Sal Island, Sal has a very dry climate and excellent sandy beaches, and the best beach at Sal Island is just beneath Riu Funana Club hotel as it is a beachfront hotel of very high standard.

It is a very broad beach with white sand, clean and attractive. Just close to the path from Funana there are obviously many people enjoying the beach life with a bar, different offers of play and equipment for water sports etc. Plenty of beach chairs are available for your sun bathing

If you want some solitude you just enjoy walking some hundred meters away and settle down in the white sand.

All along the beach the water is really beautiful, torques and clean. The waves and the current can be strong at times, but during our stay in November we didn’t have any restrictions on our swimming in the real nice water.

The coast is famous for windsurfing and other water sports.

For small children and if the beach should be too windy or the sea too tuff you can enjoy a large swimming pool area with all facilities you can imagine. The swimming pool is heated in winter and sun loungers, parasols and towels by the pool area are complimentary.

For lunch or for a snack it isn’t far to walk up from the beach to the nearest restaurant, see also later.

Review of the rooms at Clubhotel Riu Funana

The rooms (500 guestrooms) are nice and clean with what you need, including a balcony or terrace, a safe in the room and satellite TV. The only thing I am missing is a free lan connection in the room.

Food and dining as all inclusive

When you have the all-inclusive package to Riu Funana you have all meals, drinks etc. free of charge all day. In the spacey resort you can chose between four restaurants with each of their special styles of cooking. You have to sign up for three of them the day before to be sure to have a table. The breakfast is a huge buffet – your only problem with the food and drinks is that it demands a strong will not to return with more kilos in weight than you arrived with.

The list of eating and drinking places looks like this:

* “Ponta Preta” non-smoking main restaurant with terrace
* “Cabo Verde” Cape Verdian speciality restaurant
* “Mandalay” Asian restaurant (at ClubHotel Riu Garopa)
* “Mambana” African restaurant (at ClubHotel Riu Garopa)
* “Santa Maria” poolside restaurant/Barbeque restaurant
* “Grogue” lobby bar
* “Batucada” lounge bar
* “Botafogo” poolside bar with swim-up bar
* “Abacaxi” plaza bar
* “Barracuda” dance bar (at ClubHotel Riu Garopa)

The food is very good. Beer and wine is local (Portuguese) of a decent quality and with no restrictions for adults. Spirits are of international brands.

Concluding the review of Clubhotel Riu Funana

All in all we had an excellent stay at Clubhotel Riu Funana  at Sal Island in the Cape Verde Islands with the all-inclusive stay. .We stayed there as a single couple but I will underline that with all the varied facilities and the safe environment Clubhotel Riu Funana should be an excellent vacation destination for families with children of what ever age groups. Like wise Riu Funana should be a super holiday destination for larger family groups for example celebrating the birthday of an older family member or the like.

Find more info about travel and stay in Cape Verde Islands.

Here you will find the web address of Club Hotel Riu Funana at Sal Island, Cape Verde Islands with all-inclusive stay

Read more about Cape Verde Islands at our sister site.

In a number of years the Icelandic economy has been booming, too, known in financial circles as the Icelandic geyser economy. The geyser economy has been clearly visible for tourists as well as the inhabitants of Iceland: Lots of new big cars and housing development in the luxury class out of proportions to the limited population of around 250.000 Icelanders.

The Icelandic geyser economy has been built on huge investments in other countries, like Great Britain and Denmark funded by enormous loans from Icelandic banks and others.

The Icelandic krona has dropped dramatically in value and the country Iceland has been near to be bankrupt, see ‘Iceland is all but officially bankrupt’ and

What an Economic Collapse Looks Like: The Icelandic Crash Visualized

These economic difficulties for the people of Iceland are at the same time an opportunity for foreigners to sign up for a cheap summer vacation in Iceland. I guess you will never forget an island vacation in Iceland.

In fact Iceland is much nearer to North America than most people imagine and Iceland can be reached in a few hours from many big cities, see the Official travel guide to Iceland
You will find an interactive map of Iceland here

And a few facts about Iceland from Lonely Planet here.

Please add your comments and experience from visiting Iceland by going here.

I love vacation on islands but it is a fact that we tourists are not only bringing some wealth to the island, we are also increasing the environmental impact on the island, and on the environment in general when we travel.

Learn what you can do to minimize the environmental impact during your stay on a beautiful island.

Transportation to the island

One of the bigger environmental impacts during a vacation will often be the air pollution and use of natural resources during the transportation to the island and back again. Far away islands like tropical islands will often imply that you have to fly to reach the island. In other cases a combination of driving with a car and going on a ferry might be the needed transportation form. Many small islands don’t have an airport or are too close to the mainland.

Reduce your impact from your transportation by some of the following tips:

- Going by car:

* Go together in the same car and don’t use a bigger car than needed for the number of people and goods.
* If possible use public transportation.

- When flying

* When flying, plan the vacation of the year to stay longer time and travel less times. This way you might be able to reduce your environmental impact to half of what it would be else.

Reduction of your environmental impact during the stay at the island

You will have an impact through
- your consumption of natural resources during your stay on the island
- your generated pollution from your activities and consumption during your stay at the island
- your use of the natural environment.

Consumption of natural resources on the island
Fresh water is often a scarce resource on islands as smaller islands have less resources of clean ground water compared to the mainland.
* Use the shower thoughtfully – it is easy to reduce your water consumption through your shower behavior to the half of normal without missing anything.
* Don’t let the water run in the sink or elsewhere.
* Check if the toilet is running – call for technical assistance if needed.
* Don’t have your towels and sheets wasted everyday as washing is having a big impact on the local resources.

Waste and pollution on islands
Systems of recycling and hazardous waste is often missing on islands
Many islands are missing even the most basic systems to handle waste in an appropriate way. The waste is being burned or dumped in the environment without the needed technology and concern in place. Please take that into account when you through something in the wastebasket:
* Especially hazardous waste is what you can help with.
* Bring your used batteries with you home again and make a proper deposit of them well back at home.
* Don’t leave any electronic outdated device as waste at the island – take it with you home.
* Don’t through any poisonous liquids or medicine into the toilet or wastebasket – take it with you home.

Using the natural environment
When we use the beach and other parts of the natural environment at the island we should be careful not to make any impact from our stay and activities.
* Don’t break corals when swimming or diving.
* Bring all waste with us from the outdoors
* Do not harm wild plants and animals.
* Follow the restrictions, explained by CITES etc. about which kinds of threatened animals and plants to take into consideration especially at that island / in that country. CITES about Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
* Follow the instructions in using trails and parks to minimize your impact and helping the environment, so also the place will be nice when you visit it again.

Appreciate any progress of environmental clever management

* Tell the responsible people how happy you are with new initiatives at the island to reduce the environmental impact of the stay of tourists.

* Ask for measures to combat environmental problems when adequate to the right people. Communicate your concern to the local media.

* At home write to your local media about the environmental situation at the island.

Please add your comments about what we can do to reduce our environmental impact during island vacation >>>  CLICK HERE

To meet the Spanish language and the Spanish cultural influence as an English speaking tourist will be a reward. The food and the special local dishes will often be the way we experience the Spanish culture directly from the beginning of our stay at a Spanish speaking island.

To get in contact with the local people you should learn a little Spanish for general communication – it’s about food and about other daily matters. The Spanish language isn’t at all difficult for English speaking people. And just a few words and sentences will increase your opportunities for a nice experience very much.

Here I have found a fre*e Spanish course – its just an introduction but I learned quite a lot from it in a very short time. – Have fun!

YES! I want to claim my free instant access to the Rocket Spanish 6 day Learn Spanish course ($27 value).

Your Name:
Your Email Address:
(This is a private and fully protected mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time).

When you have used this free Spanish language course please post a comment below about your experience.

Besides the main island Unguja Zanzibar is a archipelago with many smaller islands. The old name The Spice Islands refers to the cultivation of cinnamon, cloves, Nutmeg and other crops.

You can easily come around with a cheap taxi as the price of that is comparable to hiring a car – and then you get the guide for free. The life of Zanzibar is slow and relaxing and you will enjoy small fishing villages and to visit old palaces now in ruins.

The Jozani Forest is a forest with rare animals, like the leopard and with many exotic birds for the keen birdwatcher to spot. The beeches are obvious attractions, too.

Take a look on many pictures from Zanzibar here.

Island vacation is truly a very special offer. You have to cross water to go to an island so you will have to fly or to go by boat or may be just cross the water on a bridge by driving.

Be well prepared for your first travel abroad and remember a number of things. Some are essential for your safe travel, like travel insurance (Read more here). Other items and things to remember might just help you to get the most out of your first travel abroad.

If you haven’t found your choice of island to visit you will still have a lot of options to get good travel information and vacation tips here at IslandVacationTips.com and at our partner site Island-Vacation-Tips.com (Opens in a new window).

But do not forget the packing checklist for vacation:

Print and keep the packing checklist and bring it with you to the island – check off the list at home to remember everything. Use it again when your stay abroad is coming to an end and you prepare for leaving the island. This is my best island vacation tips today. (Printer friendly button below.)

___ Travel tickets – check beforehand the date and time, and keep informed about changing schedules. If online booking remember booking numbers etc.

___ Passport – and valid in long time enough. Some countries demand at least 6 months.

___ Photocopies of your passport as backup and kept separately, for example in your suitcase or by a fellow traveler

___ Travel payment documentation

___ Phone numbers of travel agency and accommodation

___ Hotel vouchers or the like and their addresses

___ Local money for the island and may be transition countries

___ Some back up money in your own currency

___ Credit cards – make sure you remember the needed pin codes

___ Visa or other needed admission document to the country of the island

___ Needed vaccinations and proper documentation

___ Travel insurance – make sure it covers all risks of health hazards

___ A hard suitcase with code lock or other safe lock

___ Leave your itinerary and information about addresses where you stay at the island to people you trust (family or a friend)

___ Bring your driving license – an international diving license if you expect to drive on the island

___ List of phone numbers and addresses on paper – your mobile phone list isn’t enough if you loose it.

___ List of phone numbers for reporting problems with your credit cards on your travel

___ Your prescription medicine

___ Medicine to prevent seasickness or the like

___ Some emergency medicine and tools if you get problems with your stomach or infections.

___ List of addresses you want to send postcards from the island for friends and family

___ List of the emails you might need during your island vacation

___ Insect repellent and treatment of insect bites

___ Sun lotion with a high protection factor to prevent sunburn – often a big problem during an island vacation.

___ Cloths for the relevant kinds of weather conditions – often a big difference of the temperature from midday to late night on an island.

___ Different equipment for the different kinds of activities you expect to take part in: swimming, snorkeling, running or other kinds of sport etc..

___ Cloths for special occasions: parties, may be churches, mountain walking, running, dancing shoes …

___ A notebook – no, not the computer, I mean an old fashioned notebook of paper as you will often like to make some notes of people you meet during vacation, addresses for good eating places, booking numbers, or to tear a page to give some information to a person you have met at the island etc.

___ Electric adapter to fit your own electric equipment with the local options

___ Digital camera and memory card, battery and battery charger. An extra battery might be very helpful depending on the situation of electricity on the island.

___ Your iPod or what you use for music.

___ A good up-to-date guidebook about the island with travel tips. Find lists of many good travel guidebooks at Island Vacation Tips.

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Such a travel checklist is partly a list of essential items to include and partly a personal choice, but I recommend that you go through everything and make your final decision. Every packaging checklist need to be extended by your own extras. Here I just mark for 3 extra travel accessories but I am sure you have more.

Read on what this ‘Young retired bitch’ has to say about an island vacation in Molokai, Hawaii, as part of an ‘Unfettered Pursuit of Happiness’ according to her blog at  http://retiredsyd.typepad.com/retirement_a_fulltime_job/