Blog Archives

Iceland - A Summer Spectacular

7/27/2017

We sent great friends Janet and Sandy on a customized tour of Iceland - They had a blast!

Why Iceland?

Iceland is an island country of Scandinavian heritage located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Breathtaking natural beauty and otherworldly landscapes are what attracted Janet and Sandy, and they weren't disappointed!

Wildlife, especially birds
Glaciers
Glacial valleys and rivers
Countless and varied waterfalls at every turn
Mountains
Lava fields
Volcanic black sand beaches
Geothermal hot springs
Abundant hiking
A culture of outdoor exploration

Puffin on a coastal cliff

Tips for Your Iceland Summer Adventure

Here are a few notes that the girls passed along for anyone headed to Iceland in the summer.

Money

Don't bother getting cash/local currency at the airport
Use credit cards for everything

Car

Get a small SUV due to all the gravel roads, steep hills and small stream crossings encountered
Don't purchase the prepaid gas cards as they don't save you any money or time at the pump

Clothing

Dress comfortably and to stay warm and dry
All the locals dress like they just stepped out of an REI and are always ready to go for a walk or hike
Coastal weather is consistently mostly cloudy, damp and cool with light drizzle (not rain) being common
Inland weather is similar, but very unpredictable with sudden storms and rapidly falling temperatures possible

Food

Amazing fish and lamb are staples
Vegetables while available are uncommon other than potatoes
Food is relatively expensive with prices equivalent to what you'd pay in an airport ($8 for a hotdog or sandwich in a gas station)

Sleeping

Over 23 hours of daylight at summer solstice in June
Take an eye mask to block out all light as most lodging rooms do not completely block it out around windows

Alcohol

Liquor stores are only open for a few select hours per day and hours vary depending on your location
Friday seems to be the exception with very extended hours ahead of the weekend

Flying Home

KEF - Keflavik International Airport is about 45 minutes west of Reykjavik
Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure as it is very small and gets packed during the summer tourist season

Glacial valley with a rainbow

How They Did It

The ladies wanted to do a lot of hiking on a self-guided adventure on their own leisurely schedule away from large tour groups and crowds.

We mapped out the key sights of each area they wanted to explore, completed drive time estimates and reserved their flights, car and lodging throughout.

Dates: 24 May to 4 June 2017
Flights: Minneapolis > Reykjavik (6 hours)
Car: Toyota RAV4
Four Destinations (West & North Central):
- Reykjavik
- Snaefellsnes Peninsula
- Westfjords
- Akureyri

Some TV and Films Shot in Iceland

Many television shows and cinematic films are shot in Iceland due to its stunning landscapes that are often larger than life or stark.

Game of Thrones
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Fast & Furious 8
Justice League
Star Trek: Into Darkness
Batman Begins
Interstellar
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Thor: The Dark World
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Oblivion
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Die Another Day
Noah
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Captain America: Civil War
The Tree of Life
Prometheus

Geothermal Pool

Coastal Highway

Berserker Lava Field

Leave the work to us. You simply dream, pack and enjoy!℠

Avoid Bothersome Airline Seats: Seat Guru

7/25/2017

Bulkhead? Exit Row? Window or Aisle?

We all want the best seat option available to us, but you should know that all seats are not the same. There are numerous variables that ultimately can make it confusing or surprising if you are not aware:

Airline
Model of aircraft
Aircraft version and purpose
- Domestic
- Long-haul
- International
Aircraft age
Different seat classes and configurations (First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy, etc.)
Latest aircraft upgrade

Seat Guru: Know Before You Go

Seat Guru is part of the wonderful TripAdvisor family of products which focuses on providing information shared by actual passengers, users and people in the know. With so many variables between airlines and aircraft we always use it when selecting seats for ourselves and for our Hill Guys Travel customers.

Commonly Overlooked Bothersome Seats

Bulkhead

Legroom may be reduced since you don't have a seat in front of you to place your feet under
Tray table is in the armrest which results in
- a narrower seat width
- immovable armrest
No floor storage; all belongings must be stowed in the overhead bin

Exit Row

Limited or no seat recline
Underseat storage may not be available
Seat next to exit window or door may get very cold
Tray table may be in the armrest which results in
- a narrower seat width
- immovable armrest

Seats in Front of Exit Row

Limited or no seat recline

Near a Lavatory (Bathroom)

Lavatory traffic
Odors
Passengers waiting for the lavatory may congregate in the aisle and other areas nearby

Close to the Galley

Food and beverage prep
Crew conversations

Near Tail-Mounted Engines

Loud, droning noise
Blocked windows

In the Rear of the Plane

Bulkhead seats may have limited recline
Seats may be misaligned with the seats in front of them resulting in having to straddle the forward seats' supports (airline seat diagrams often do not reflect this, but Seat Guru's do)
Overhead bin space may be limited due to being reserved for crew

This information is provided as a tool to assist travelers with being informed when selecting seats on an aircraft. The Hill Guys Travel has no affiliation with any website, business or other entity listed in this post, assumes no responsibility for accuracy herein or of the listed websites or businesses, and assumes no liability for outcomes resulting from your use of this information or accessing or using the resources of those websites/businesses.

Hanakapi'ai Beach & Falls ~ Kauai ~ Hawaii

7/18/2017

Hanakapi'ai Beach ~ 4 Miles Roundtrip

Description:

Hanakapi'ai Beach is a stunning, remote beach that can only be accessed by a 2-mile elevated hike along the coast or by boat or kayak.
The trail is mostly hugging the coast about 100 feet above the water and has amazing ocean and coastline views, many beautiful plants and some small streams and falls.
The Hanakapi'ai River meets the ocean here.
Sea caves are accessible during low tide.

Trailhead:

Drive to Haena State Park/Ke'e Beach at the end of the road on Kauai's north shore.
The trailhead is to the left of the Ke'e Beach lifeguard post.

Hike: 2 miles from Ke'e Beach. This is also the beginning of the rigorous 11-mile Kalalau Trail.

Difficulty: 3-Moderate - This is a well-maintained, packed dirt trail with occasional uneven, rocky spots.

Precautions:

Much of the trail has full sun exposure, especially midday and in the afternoon. Be sure to wear a hat and protective clothing and/or sunscreen.
Take plenty of water and healthy snacks.

Hanakapi'ai Falls ~ 8 Miles Roundtrip

Description: A 300-ft waterfall spilling into a large, cool, rocky pool. The hike along the river from the beach is mostly shaded.

Hike: Follow the river 2 miles up from Hanakapi'ai Beach. The trail is uneven, muddy and sometimes slick and requires a couple of rocky river crossings (wading).

Difficulty: 3-Moderate

Precautions: There may be many bugs, especially toward the end of summer when the guava fruit litters the forest floor.

Cruise Benefits for Military Personnel

7/13/2017

Two Offers Available - Discount or Onboard Credit

Cruise Fare Discount

Receive a discounted amount off the per-person rate (may apply to an individual or everyone in a single cabin)
Amount is determined by the length of cruise and varies by cruise line when available

Onboard Credit (OBC)

Amount is determined by the length of cruise and varies by cruise line when available
OBC funds are deposited into your shipboard account and may be spent on a variety of onboard items such as...
- Spa Services
- Beverages
- Specialty Dining
- Shore Excursions
- In-Room Indulgences
- Shopping
OBC funds may never be used in the ship's casino
Unused OBC funds are forfeited

Military Benefits by Cruise Line

Disclaimer: Discounts and onboard credit amounts, availability, eligibility and paperwork submission requirements vary by cruise line, cruise length and select sail dates, are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed until booked. Benefits are capacity controlled, may not be available on all itineraries or dates, and may or may not be combinable with other special offers or discounts. Consult with your travel consultant or the respective cruise line directly for the most up to date and accurate information and offerings.

Passports, International Destinations & Flights

7/12/2017

Is your passport valid? Check again!

Passport Book and Flying:

A valid Passport Book is required for all international air travel
A Passport Book with less than six months remaining until expiration may not be accepted by all foreign countries (even though it technically has not expired)
Confirm entry requirements for your destination country several months in advance in case you are required to renew your passport
While a valid Passport Book is not required for domestic air travel, it is an acceptable form of identification
Get Your Passport Book for International Travel

Passport Book

Passport Card: Not Valid for International Air Travel

Passport Card

Passport Cards are not acceptable for international air travel
The passport card is a wallet-size travel document that can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings or ports-of-entry by sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card provides a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or sea.

TRAVEL
NEWS

Iceland - A Summer Spectacular

We sent great friends Janet and Sandy on a customized tour of Iceland - They had a blast!

Why Iceland?

Tips for Your Iceland Summer Adventure

How They Did It

Some TV and Films Shot in Iceland

Leave the work to us. You simply dream, pack and enjoy!℠

Avoid Bothersome Airline Seats: Seat Guru

Bulkhead? Exit Row? Window or Aisle?

Seat Guru: Know Before You Go

Commonly Overlooked Bothersome Seats

Hanakapi'ai Beach & Falls ~ Kauai ~ Hawaii

Hanakapi'ai Beach ~ 4 Miles Roundtrip

Hanakapi'ai Falls ~ 8 Miles Roundtrip

Cruise Benefits for Military Personnel

Two Offers Available - Discount or Onboard Credit

Military Benefits by Cruise Line

Passports, International Destinations & Flights

Is your passport valid? Check again!

Passport Card: Not Valid for International Air Travel

Archives

Categories

The Hill Guys®: Matt and Brandon Hill
brandonmatt@hillguystravel.com
Direct: (918) 771-9050 or (505) 466-6203
Toll-Free: (844) 876-0400
Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm Central / Closed weekends

TRAVEL​NEWS

Iceland - A Summer Spectacular

We sent great friends Janet and Sandy on a customized tour of Iceland - They had a blast!

Why Iceland?

Tips for Your Iceland Summer Adventure

How They Did It

Some TV and Films Shot in Iceland

Leave the work to us. You simply dream, pack and enjoy!℠

Avoid Bothersome Airline Seats: Seat Guru

Bulkhead? Exit Row? Window or Aisle?

Seat Guru: Know Before You Go

Commonly Overlooked Bothersome Seats

Hanakapi'ai Beach & Falls ~ Kauai ~ Hawaii

Hanakapi'ai Beach ~ 4 Miles Roundtrip

Hanakapi'ai Falls ~ 8 Miles Roundtrip

Cruise Benefits for Military Personnel

Two Offers Available - Discount or Onboard Credit

Military Benefits by Cruise Line

Passports, International Destinations & Flights

Is your passport valid? Check again!

Passport Card: Not Valid for International Air Travel

Archives

Categories

The Hill Guys®: Matt and Brandon Hillbrandonmatt@hillguystravel.comDirect: ​(918) 771-9050 or (505) 466-6203Toll-Free: (844) 876-0400Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm Central / Closed weekends

TRAVEL
NEWS

The Hill Guys®: Matt and Brandon Hill
brandonmatt@hillguystravel.com
Direct: (918) 771-9050 or (505) 466-6203
Toll-Free: (844) 876-0400
Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm Central / Closed weekends