ICE TRAVEL



Iceland is a spectacularly beautiful and modern country.  There are, 
however, things to consider when planning a trip there.  Customs and 
laws differ, as do economics and meteorology.  Here are a few other 
things, out of my own personal experience, to think about (please check
back for revisions from time to time); these comments are principally
directed to North Americans and especially citizens of the United States
and should not be considered professional advice.



DIPLOMATIC REQUIREMENTS:  Citizens of the United States currently
need a passport to enter Iceland; no visa is required for short stays.
If you do not have a passport, give yourself plenty of time to apply
and receive the document - perhaps at least two months.  Make copies of
your passport - keep a copy with you and keep a copy at home to aid in
replacement should the passport get lost.  For customs restrictions and
allowances, visa and entry regulations, and health information, go here.

GATEWAYS:  Currently, Icelandair is the only regularly-scheduled
commercial carrier serving Iceland from North America, with gateways at
New York (JFK), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Minneapolis-St. Paul, Boston,
Orlando, and Halifax.  Having used New York and Baltimore-Washington,
I prefer Baltimore.

TIME:  Iceland maintains Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - now sometimes
called Universal Standard Coordinated Time (UTC)  - throughout the year.
When the United States is on standard time, Iceland will be five hours
ahead of the Eastern Standard Time zone in the United States; in other
words, when it is 4:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, in the United States, 
it will be 9:00 PM in Iceland (on their twenty-four hour clock, this may
often read as 21:00).  When the United States is on daylight savings time
(early April to late October), Iceland will be four hours ahead of the
Eastern Daylight Time zone of the United States;  you will have to 
calculate the time difference for the other American and Canadian time
zones.  Do not forget that if the American time is PM and the Icelandic
time is AM, then Iceland is also a day ahead and the United States and
Canada are a day behind on the calendar, i.e., 9:30 PM, EST, Thursday, 
in the United States is 2:30 AM, Friday, in Iceland.  Click here to 
see the current time in Reykjavík and throughout Iceland.

COSTS:  One thing nearly everyone agrees on about Iceland is that
its economy is an expensive one.  Given its geography - the insularity;
physical environment, including growing season and landuse; small market
size and other considerations that require much importation of goods,
especially food - this is not surprising.  Expect to pay $5 - $8 for a
bottle of beer or $50 for a small cheese Pizza Hut pizza with a couple 
of drinks.  Of course, there are ways of economizing: buy things at the 
local grocery store (the Hagkaup stores in Kringlan Mall or Smáralind
malls are as nice and modern as any grocery you will find at home),
purchase bus passes, or take advantage of all-you-can eat breakfast
buffets.  A great bargain that you can get is the Reykjavík Card, which
is available at City Hall and other offices.  Around Iceland, you can
purchase a Full Circle bus passport.  Best of all, however, is simply to
observe the Boy Scout's motto.  I mentioned it somewhere here, but it
will not hurt to say again: whatever price you see marked on an item, it
already includes the tax.  Likewise, there is no tipping in Iceland.
Your bill is the bottom line.

LANGUAGE:  It will be a rare event when you find an Icelander who
does not speak English and virtually all tours are conducted in English
as well.  Fear not.  A simple "Pardon me" will stamp your language.  Oh,
while you're at it, take time to learn "thank you," "goodbye," and
perhaps a few other words in Icelandic; it will do wonders.

CURRENCY: The Icelandic currency is the króna (pl. krónur), or "crown," 
and normally abbreviated Kr within Iceland and either ISk or IKr in
international circles.  The Króna is based on a decimal system and is
divided into 100 aurar; however, the decimal units are rarely used.
The denominations of Krónur currently include coins through Kr 100 and
paper beginning with Kr 500.  In early 2005, US$1 = approximately 
Kr 60; thus, an item in Iceland costing Kr 1298 is approximately $21.63.
For the sake of simplicity, simply move the decimal point in the
Icelandic amount two places to the left, multiple by two, and you will
have a good ballpark conversion, e.g., ISk 1298 = USD/$ 24.00 (off a
little).  Further, if the cost of something is very near the century mark,
you may find that clerks will simply round off the price to the nearest
hundred.  The exact rate of exchange may be found at the Búnađarbankinn
bank site.

COMMON NECESSITIES:  Most common necessities, e.g., toothpaste and
toothbrushes, soap, contact lens solution, cough drops, and the like 
will be available in Reykjavik and suburbs, Akureyri, and in the other 
larger places.  They may be difficult to come by and will be very 
expensive, if available at all, in the smaller locales.  

FILM:  Film is available, but expensive.  Take as much as you think 
you will need.  Ask your film dealer about the safety of your film in
airport security systems.  Lead pouches are available and inexpensive, 
if you have doubts.  Since there are many cloudy days, fast film may be
your best choice; see what a professional film store would suggest in 
the neighborhood of at least ASA 200, or faster.  Increasingly common
these days  are digital cameras, which might be an alternative to consider
taking along.  In this case, make certain you have an ample supply of
disks,  video cards, batteries, or whatever other hardware you need with
such instruments. You can usually visit any camera shop in Reykjavik and
have your camera card transferred to CD's, purchase new cards, or obtain
information; this probably will be difficult outside the capital area.

HEALTH, MEDICINES, AND DRUGS:  For prescription medicines and drugs, 
carry a copy of the prescription with you, just in case (for both medical
and diplomatic reasons), and make certain that you have both the generic 
and brand names of the prescription.  It is also a good idea to carry
with you a list of health problems, allergies, and the like, and the
name and phone number of your personal physician at home.  Do you have
a spare pair of eyeglasses or contacts?  Iceland is a modern country
and physicians, hospitals, and emergency rooms are widely available
(though, of course, the best facilities will be in Reykjavík).  Iceland 
is a safe country, health-wise, and requires no special preparations
or inoculations or general dietary concerns while there: you can drink 
the water!  Just to be on the safe side, go to any search engine and 
enter "Iceland health" and see if there are any last minute suggestions.

HEALTH INSURANCE:  Contact your health insurance carrier to determine
the validity of your coverage in Iceland.  It may be possible to add
a contract.

IN AN EMERGENCY:  Make provisions for being located if there is some
kind of emergency at home.  Traditionally, American Express offices 
have been good sources of mail from home, but today's technology makes 
them close to obsolete.  If you are using a cellular (mobile) phone, 
make certain your number is working and that it is posted at home.  
Also leave a forwarding address at each stop along the way so that 
there is a trail that can be followed for you.  

For an immediate emergency, medical or otherwise, anywhere in Iceland, 
phone 112.

Lastly, the Consular Section of the American Embassy does provide emergency 
services for Americans.  You can register with them (and it is especially 
prudent if you will be in the country at least a month) and make certain you
know their locational information, including phone numbers of 342-894-2731 
or 342-562-9100, ext. 248; email address of  consularreyk@state.gov; and
street address of Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavík.  Make certain you read 
their Iceland - Consular Information Sheet.

TRIP INSURANCE:  Travel insurance is handy.  It protects you from 
loss if you are unable to begin the trip because of health reasons. 
The exact bases of cancellation should be discussed with a travel agent.
As an example only - and NOT a recommendation - see: Commercial Union 
Insurance Company's offerings.  Insurance for trip delays, lost luggage, 
and similar encounters may also be purchased.

SUNGLASSES:  Though the weather is rarely sunny, sun glasses come 
in handy in the often windy weather simply as eye protection.

CREDIT CARDS:  One of the things you will quickly recognize is that
Icelanders use their credit cards for everything - even to pay for a
candy bar and Coke.  There is no minimum amount to pay.  I would not believe
this to be a good practice; however, my personal experience has shown it
not to be a bad idea, after all.  As an example, I left a backpack with a
good camera, jacket, and incidental things in a taxi; had I paid for the
fare with a credit card - yes, they do that - the taxi number would have
been on my receipt and I likely could have gotten the backpack returned
immediately (it's gone, by the way). 

AND MORE CREDIT CARDS:  Credit cards, especially Visa and Mastercard (Eurocard),
are widely accepted.  American Express is less important because it is
generally accepted only in larger establishments and hotels but does 
have value because of its quick replacement in event of loss.  I do not
think that Discover cards are accepted anywhere (but could well be wrong).
One problem that Lonely Planet has reported is that ATM machines in Iceland 
accept only cards that are tied to checking accounts.  For purchases, 
some persons suggest that you always have the local currency written on 
your receipt so the amount will automatically be converted to American 
dollars by your bank.  Always examine your receipt immediately.  Before 
leaving for your trip, check the credit line with your credit card 
company and consider raising your available amount.  You may also advise 
them of the trip so that "different" charges will not raise eyebrows.  
Also make certain that you know your PIN in the event you wish to use 
your card for obtaining cash.  For more information, click here.

Do you know your PIN code in numeric as well as alphabetic form?  Some 
ATM keypads in Iceland may come only in numeric form (no letters on them).  
So what is the number equivalent of my PIN, which is (shhhhh, please do 
not share this with anyone) KEYPAD? 

RAIN GEAR:  The Icelandic Low, a pressure system of rising and unstable 
air, is more or less permanently centered on Iceland and produces 
copious amounts of rain to go along with the cool temperatures found 
at this latitude.  Wet weather clothing and protection will be necessary, 
including a raincoat or some kind of poncho (perhaps a better choice), 
an umbrella (although the wind may make this a dubious idea), and 
appropriate footwear.  Carrying a change of clothing with you on any
day trips - or anytime, for that matter - is not a bad idea.

WEATHER WEAR:  Iceland's weather and climate are controlled by
several important features: latitude, the maritime influences of the
Atlantic Ocean and the North Atlantic Drift current, and - in the
interior - elevation.  Geography recognizes the lowland settled areas
as being the Marine West Coast type of climate characterized by mild
winters and cool summers, with precipitation present throughout the
year.  There are fewer than four summer months of 50 degree (F) 
average temperature and precipitation (either rainfall or snow) will
average around 30-40 inches per year.  Such a description would make 
Iceland a slightly cooler version of the British Isles or the American
Pacific coast of Oregon or Washington.  Assuming you are going during
the summer, prepare for the worst in weather and take along what you 
would wear in raw fall weather here.  In summer, high temperatures are 
unlikely to exceed the low 60's and likely will be in the 50's most of 
the time (by the way, familiarize yourself with the Centigrade or
Celsius system of temperature before you go), with wind and rain more
often than not.  Short sleeve and tee shirts are not a good choice, 
therefore.  Some kind of ear covering might come in handy.  Tours almost
always involve walking, so include a pair of comfortable walking shoes
that will stand up to the rugged Icelandic terrain.  Also keep one
complete set of clothing with you in carry-on luggage.
 
SWIM WEAR:  Pack a swimming suit.  Every community has two things: a
church (Lutheran, the state religion; most other religions will have a 
place of worship somewhere in the larger settlements) and a swimming 
pool.  One thing you might look into is the protocol (near the bottom)
for changing into swimwear at public venues; it is a little different.

SLEEP WEAR: Nah, I don't mean pyjamas!  What I am thinking about is
the lack of darkness in Iceland's summer (roughly, June through August):
the sun actually does set, but it is so minimally below the horizon that
there is perpetual daylight in the summer, for all practical purposes.
Will that cause you any sleep problems?  Not all hotels, guest houses, 
or tents have opaque window coverings.  The point here is that you might
consider taking along a sleep mask of some kind.

SOCIAL WEAR: Two considerations: 1) Jeans and sneakers (tennis shoes)
will not cut it in certain restaurant and other social situations, so 
take along at least some casual wear for such occasions; in fact, I 
would recommend not taking jeans at all, period, but rather some casual 
wear like Dockers or L. L. Bean types; and 2) if you have an opportunity 
to visit a private home, take it by all means but remember: shoes off as 
soon as you enter the home.  

SKEETER BEATERS:  If you travel to the Mývatn area just east of Akureyri 
in the North in the summer to see the pseudo craters, some kind of whole 
face and head protection from the literally hundreds of zillions of midges,
e.g., here and here, is essential.  In fact, TravelSmith markets a
covering named Skeeter Beater, though you could fashion one out of
mosquito netting yourself.

SAFETY:  The Vatican probably isn't any safer than this place is,
but still be prudent, nevertheless.  While anything can happen anytime,
the most publicized danger is from pickpocketing teenagers downtown in
Reykjavik's City Center at late night on weekends.  Have a look at the
latest U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings and Consular Information 
on Iceland (check that site for a wealth of general information).

In another area of safety, you will find that Iceland grants you wide
latitude in protecting yourself.  There are few barriers or guards -
human or otherwise - at falls, hot springs, rugged terrain, or other areas 
where the threat of danger is very real.  Accept your responsibility.

ENVIRONMENT:  Iceland's environment is beautiful, but also very fragile.  
The cold climate requires an inordinate amount of time to recover from 
change and items that are biodegradeable at home might are grudgingly so 
there.  Please don't pollute; please don't despoil:  keep Iceland
beautiful.

SCHEDULE PROBLEMS:  Experienced travelers expect the unexpected.  Bad 
weather is frequently the culprit in Iceland.  Flights to places like 
the Westmann Islands (said to be the windiest place on earth) may not
run for days; and if you get there by plane, you may not get out.  
Consequently, do not make concrete plans when time is limited, e.g., 
the day or two before you expect to leave the country.  Be flexible 
and have a sense of humor and resignation.

OTHER MONEY MATTERS:  It probably is best not to use credit cards for
cash advances because of the high transaction fees.  However, debit cards
work very well.  It is always safe to have some money in travel checks in
case a card gets demagnetized or gobbled up in a machine.  For your 
answers to a variety of money and other travel matters, I suggest you have
a look at Rick Steves' website (it does not include Iceland, but does 
include many helpful tips).

NOTATION:  There are two significant variations in the way Icelanders
post certain information that will be read by Americans.  Be aware of 
these practices and you should not encounter any difficulty.

One common practice in Iceland (and throughout the world) is to use commas 
at places where American notation systems would normally use a period, i.e.,
decimal point, e.g., 102,34. That should be read as 102.34 by an American.
You will notice such a practice on exchange rate boards, price lists, and
other postings.

Calendar dates also assume a different form.  Iceland posts dates in 
either the ascending DD/MM/YYYY or descending YYYY/MM/DD format so that 
you might see something like 29/08/2002 rather that the standard American 
practice of 8/29/2002.  In either case, the month will be the middle 
figure in the series.  Further, the month figure may be posted as a Roman 
numeral, e.g., 29/VIII/2002.

SALES TAX:  Sales in Iceland include a tax called the VAT (Value Added
Tax),  which is 24.6 percent.  However, on a single purchase of at 
least ISK 4000/=, tax in the amount of 15 percent of the purchase can 
be recovered when you leave the country.  Check with your hotel desk 
clerk upon arriving about this tax and the minimum amount that generates 
a refund and shop at places that display the Global Refund sign.  Keep 
your receipts and keep them together.  One good thing is that the tax is
already included in the amount you see on the price tag.

PHONE CALLS:  International phone calls made from your hotel room and 
charged to your account frequently incur large surcharges.  The best way
to avoid this is to use a calling card.  Call AT&T or another carrier 
(MCI and Sprint may be available now) to obtain such a card if you don't
have one - and even more importantly, ask your company for instructions a
nd learn how to use it before you depart.  You can also purchase a prepaid
phone card at various post offices and phone companies in Iceland; the
cost of these cards, which are good for both international and domestic
calls, begins at ISK 500.  Many prepaid phone cards purchaseable in the
United States now also permit you to call from abroad; check for details
on the card before you purchase one.  As one example, you might wish to
check out the website for Qwest.  Lastly, you should know that public 
telephones in Iceland are either coin operated (as we are familiar with)
or card (símakort) operated; the cards can be purchased at post offices.
At least some card-operated phones will accept MasterCard and Visa for
both local as well as international calls (which I have used but could
never find on my bill, so I do not know the cost!).  Be careful that the
card inserts easily into the phone; if it does not, you are inserting it
incorrectly and will have difficulty getting it out - ask someone first
(said from experience).

Cellular phones, known as mobile phones in Iceland and throughout Europe, 
operate principally on the GSM (if you see these letters on a business 
card or elsewhere, they mean "cellular phone") network system and less so
on the NMT-450 network system.  Previously, your American cell phone could 
not be used while in Iceland; while this is probably yet true in many - 
indeed, most cases - the situation is changing rapidly and you would be 
advised to do some homework to see if your cellular phone is compatible 
with the Icelandic systems.  One thing you can do is to rent a cellular 
phone from any of several companies, including Landssíminn-Iceland Telecom 
or Tal-Talk.  Iceland is the most connected country in the world via 
cellular telephones and computers in the world.  Nextel, an American 
cellular company, also now rents phones for their worldwide network, with
coverage throughout Iceland's populated areas.  You should also check to 
see what kinds of services and phones AT&T offers for Iceland - they 
probably offer the best hope of using your current cell phone while there,
especially with their WorldConnect service.  One other thing that I have 
just recently read about that you might consider looking into further is 
Cellhire, as well as Globafone and WorldCell (and I know nothing about 
any of them).

One last word of advice regarding mobile phones: effective November, 
2001, it was reported that is it illegal for drivers to use mobile 
phones on the road unless the phone is equipped with a hands-free device.  
For another study on road accidents, see here.

STAYING CONNECTED/EMAIL:  Can't leave home without the Internet?
Not a problem - Iceland is the most connected country in the world and
if you want to stay connected while in Iceland, you will have no trouble
finding computer access.  In fact, the larger hotels now have separate
computer rooms for the use of their guests as well as connections within
guest rooms (but have the right connectors). For email, make sure you have
an account that is web-acccessible, however, rather that one that requires
a telnet or a dial-in function.  Yahoo!, Hotmail, Netscape - all provide the
kind of account (and free as well) that will make such access possible.
Public Internet access, at anywhere between IKr 500 and 1000 per hour, is 
available at many places.  Three such places are at Kringlan Shopping 
Mall, where S24 is a comfortable coffee-cum-Web cafe; the BSÍ bus
terminal, where Apple products are available; and the Net Café in City 
Centre (downtown).  Check out other sites in Iceland at Cybercafes.com.

There is one word of warning: cybercafe machines use the Icelandic
keyboard, which is different from the one you use at home, and you may
find a bit of difficulty using it.  For example, when sending email, the
" @ " sign probably will require the use of three keys.  There are two 
solutions to the problem: 1) ask where all the English characters
are (before you even start to use the machine); or; 2) copy addresses 
from a webpage or your mail program and paste them where you will always 
have access to them.  Cybercafes are also valuable for one other thing.  
They will frequently be able to copy, for a nominal fee, the contents of
your digital camera's storage device to a web site, a zip drive, a CD, or
floppy for you, thus freeing that device for more pictures.  (Thanks for
these two tips goes to Rick Steves.)

You may also want to investigate the possibility of accessing your own
AOL or Compuserve Connections in Iceland.  While you are at it, also
check to make sure that you have the correct Computer and Telephone 
Connections (including the RJ11 modem adaptor).  Do all of these 
preparations before you leave, however.

DOCUMENTATION:  Before leaving, make several copies of your passport,
keeping one with you and leaving another with a responsible party.
Do the same thing with your credit cards, travel checks, emergency
contacts, prescriptions, and similar information.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE:  At the airport, arrival and departure involve 
passport control/immigration and customs declarations.  American citizens
will use the "All Citizens" gate for passport control since the United
States is not a party to the EU's Schengen Agreement.  Assuming there are
no legal violations of any kind involved, these procedures are simple and
are quickly dismissed.  Don't even think about proceeding through these
areas in possession of drugs, however; the online Daily News from Iceland 
is replete with stories of the most ingenuous and devious miscreants
falling victim to the seemingly inocuous security here.  If you call
Icelandair before 21:00 (9:00 PM) of the evening prior to departure to
confirm your passage, there is a line at the far right end of the
check-in counters at the airport where your departure will be expedited.
After passing through government controls, either arriving or departing,
you will find a bank for currency conversion.  For approximately US$10, 
FlyBus (large and comfortable white buses with blue and white lettering)
connects with most major hotels in Reykjavík for all arriving and 
departing flights; the service maintains desks at the major hotels and at
the airport.

DRIVING:  Your American (Canadian conditions are unknown) driver's
license is valid in Iceland as long as your stay is less than three 
months and automobile rental agencies are a dime a dozen.  However, you 
might also consider obtaining an international permit at your local AAA 
club office before leaving.  You will need two passport-type pictures.  
The fee for the permit is minimal.  Traffic circulates to the right as 
in the United States.  Four-wheel and high-profile vehicles are common, 
but are unnecessary in the summer unless you are planning on going 
off-road.  Driving lights (headlights) must be on at all times.  Seat 
belts are mandatory for driver and all passengers, in both front and 
rear seats.  Alcohol levels are more rigorous than at home: the blood 
alcohol level for DUI is .05 (about half of most American standards);
suspicion alone is legal reason for the police to stop you; and the
police do not need your consent to draw blood for an alcohol test. 
Before leaving, make certain you consult your own automobile insurance 
agent regarding coverage; it is likely your American insurance will 
not be valid and that you will be advised to obtain the maximum coverage 
possible while in Iceland.  (Should you by any chance be driving your
own vehicle in Iceland, it is mandatory to have a "green card" or
some kind of proof of third-party insurance and you must purchase this.)  
Please familiarize yourself with driving practices in Iceland, but 
you should encounter no driving problems.  Be aware that the minimum 
age for driving a rented vehicle in Iceland is 21 for cars and 25 for 
jeeps.  Be prudent and check the license and insurance requirements 
yourself before leaving: do not rely on this information alone.

VISITING SCHOLARS:  For American or other scholars from abroad who 
are doing research in Iceland for an extended period, one apartment is
available from each of two institutions: The Árni Magnussón Institute and 
The Sigurđur Nordal Institute.  Contact The Árni Magnussón Institute,
Árnagarđur, Sudurgötu, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (phone: 354-525-4010 or 
354-525-4035).

TAPE SYSTEMS:  One of the nicest souvenirs of your trip to Iceland that
you can purchase is a video tape.  However, European and American tape
systems are incompatible - Europe uses the PAL system and North America
uses the NTSC system, and your tape will be worthless if you purchase
the wrong one.  Make certain that the tape you purchase is the NTSC
system; if what you want is unavailable in that format, the clerk can
probably obtain it for you inside of a day.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS:  There are two considerations for taking your
own appliances such as razors and hair dryers to Iceland (though some 
hotels may provide these for your use).  Iceland's electricity runs on 
220 volts, 50 cycles, AC current (an exception: the NATO base at Keflavík
uses standard American currrent).  Check to see what the electrical
requirments are for the appliances you take with you and do not use them
if they read other than the values noted above or do not say universal
current, i.e., will work on any system; otherwise, you will burn out your
appliance.  You can buy a voltage converter (transformer) unit for making
American systems compatible with Icelandic electrical systems at most
hardware, home, auto, travel (including AAA), and other outlets.  You
should buy the converter that handles the highest current rating, e.g.,
1600 watts.  In addition, the plug to the wall outlet in Iceland is the
double round plug with prongs that measure 4 mm in diameter and are
centered 2 cm (or about eight-tenths of an inch) apart (common to European
countries except for the United Kingdom) and you will have to use an
adaptor plug to make the connection: your American appliance first fits 
into the converter, which fits into that plug, which then fits into the
electrical outlet in Iceland.  For more information, see Voltage Valet or 
Magellan's Traveler's Guide to Iceland (those two sites disagree on the 
name of the plug - whether it is B or D - that is used in Iceland; I have 
used the Voltage Valet "B" type successfully).

SIZES:  If you intend to buy clothing as souvenirs or for yourself,
your American size probably won't be found in Iceland (though most of 
the clerks are knowledgeable and helpful in this regard).  Here is a 
guide to comparative sizes.

INTERACTING:  In some social or professional situation, sooner or
later, you will interact with your Icelandic hosts.  Be prepared.  Know
a little American folklore to share; have fun singing "Home, home on 
the range" or "Take me out to the ballgame," or some such thing.  Take 
along some collectors' pins of your city or college or baseball cards to 
give or exchange or perhaps one of the new American quarters from your
home state (suggestion: New York's is great if your state doesn't have
one out yet).  Offer that Cincinnati Reds cap or Notre Dame shirt off 
your back.  Don't ask what it is - just eat it.  You will be asked:
"Well, what do you think of Iceland?"  (Well?)  Know something of your
history and geography and be able to explain or to defend - your 
choice - whatever recent political activities your country has been in 
volved in recently.  Be a proud, but not an ugly, American. 

OTHER COMMENTS:  City.Net's Iceland Page.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:  Probably one of the best sources to begin your study of
Iceland is with McBride, Francis R., comp., ICELAND, rev. ed.  Santa
Barbara, CA: Clio Press/ABC-CLIO, 1996.  345 pp., maps, index.  The ISBN
for this work is 1-85109-237-4.  Frank McBride is a Reference Librarian
at Alfred University, visits Iceland often, and is an authority on the
Fiske Icelandic Collection at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
This work is actually an annotated bibliography of everything Icelandic - 
geography, history, politics, people, demography, economics, geology - 
the whole nine yards!  But what is best is the fact that there is a 
section devoted to travel guides and another section on electronic 
resources.

You should also have a look at my bibliography of current resources.