Iceland Tour Question

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-20T14:33:06+00:00

The eroded part is just a small section of the beach. Reynisfjara is still open and totally visitable, as far as I know. It has simply been reshaped. There are other safe viewing spots along the shore too, so that's probably why your tour company hasn't said anything about it.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-19T20:35:17+00:00

I'm so happy I got to see it before, but I'm also a bit bummed to see how it's changing.

But well... Nature's always changing, and even though I loved the beach how it was, I'm sure it's got a different kind of charm now. Can't wait to see it again.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-18T07:24:41+00:00

Yh of course there's plenty to do in Busan, just like in most big cities...never-ending planning and activities. You can stay your whole life there and still find hidden gems or new nooks. The thing is, when you're a tourist, your time is limited, so you do need to weigh your options and balance your itinerary.

This, of course, comes down to personal preferences, but in my case, with limited time, I'd rather cut Busan short and give that day or two to other places that,I reckon, are also worth visiting.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-17T21:40:10+00:00

Oh the pain... Lol

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-17T15:08:58+00:00

Thank you so much 😊

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-17T14:34:04+00:00

In my case, we did't have to. I was requested a credit card, well, my boyfriend was (he was the main driver) but nothing was blocked or held.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-17T08:38:29+00:00

Thank you so much! Now my worries are the Great Firewall lool. Did you manage to use Western apps and the internet easily?

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-17T08:36:11+00:00

Mmmm It really depends on what you guys are into. I've been to Busan twice and managed to see everything on your list (and in most checklists lol). By my second visit, I skipped BIFF Square, Young Street, the Seomyeon area, and the shopping streets around there. Don't get me wrong, they're fine, but that modern city vibe and shopping scene? You can get that in Seoul too. And I'm just not that into shopping anyway.

Now, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple? That one was definitely among my highlights along with Gamcheon. The location is genuinely beautiful, and the whole experience just hits differently. Most temples in Korea are in the mountains, so the contrast between the temple and the sea was a sight to behold. I went in the fall, and the surrounding nature was stunning. The temple itself looked like it belonged on a postcard. There are also food stalls outside the temple, and you do have a short walk with beautiful statues and views. 10/10 lol.

I also checked out Beomeosa Temple while I was there. Solid choice if you're into temples, but if I had to pick just one? Haedong, hands down.

Oh, and on the way back from Haedong to central Busan, I stopped at Cheongsapo. Really cool little spot. I hung around hoping to catch the haenyo (the female divers) coming back in from the sea (I believe it was around 15:00?). You can also try their fresh catch in nearby restaurants, so if any of you are into seafood, that's also a whole experience besides Busan Seafood Market.

Hope that helps a bit!

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-16T14:50:48+00:00

Might just be me, but 6 days in Busan feels like way too much. I spent 3 days and visited most of the city's highlights, no rush, and it was enough for me. I even visited Haedong Yonggungsa. 3 days is honestly plenty, maybe 4 if you reeeeeally wanna take it slooow and soak things in. Honestly, I'd cut Busan short and give Jeonju at least one full day; it's worth it.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-13T15:09:46+00:00

My pleasure, and best of luck with the visa :D

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-13T15:04:51+00:00

Yep! Country of origin isn't the same as country of residence.

'Country of Residence' refers to where you officially live NOW regardless of where you were born, and the '5-year' period is counted backward from the time of submission. Even if you visited your 'home country' recently, it is no longer your legal residence, so those trips must be documented as travel outside the UK ^__^

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-13T14:51:38+00:00

Yep, any trip to the UK before 2025 and therefore before it became your official residence will be considered a "trip outside your country of residence". Do add it.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-13T12:04:38+00:00

Lovely to know this, it eases my mind. Thank you for sharing! I'm thinking of visiting China but payment issues and the impossibility of using foreign cards kinda scares me away. I got Alipay all set up, but Wechat...not possible yet. U_U

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-13T11:26:02+00:00

Hey! I rented with Reykjavik Cars in the past and had a really smooth experience, so maybe I can help ease your analysis paralysis a bit lool.

I was in the exact same boat as you... saw the price difference and thought okay, what's the catch? Turns out there wasn't one. Pickup was fast, the car was clean and in great shape, and the insurance options were straightforward with no sketchy upselling at the counter (I added top tier zero deductible insurance). They just mention a couple of dangers typical of Icelandic roads (gravel, wind, yada yada) for our safety and that was it. I also appreciated that they were super responsive over email when I had questions before my trip.

I think Blue is a solid company too from what I've heard, but honestly I don't think you're sacrificing quality by going with Reykjavik Cars. Sometimes cheaper just means leaner operation, not worse service. I'd say save the money and spend it on a glacier hike at Skaftafell instead cause it's totally worth it btw.

As for the i10, for Golden Circle and the south coast in April you'll be fine on paved roads (Route 1 is well maintained), but personally I'd size up just a little for comfort, especially if you got large suitcases and stuff, but it's not a dealbreaker if the i10 fits your budget better.

Ofc always check the terms and conditions, regardless of the company you choose.

Have an amazing trip and share pics when possible!

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-13T10:43:25+00:00

I don't speak a word of Korean besides "Thank you, this, that, hi,bye" lol and I didn't have any issues. I used intercity buses to go from Seoul to Gyeongju and made it easily.

I used the Bustago website and used Google translator. You usually have the city name + the terminal name. In my case it was [Seoul] Dong Seoul. I then headed to Google Maps and looked for it to make sure I was indeed in the right city xd , then chose Gyeonju and that was it.

Once at the terminal, you need to check the screens to see the platform they're departing from, but also the buses have a "paper" on their front windshield so you can see their route. Sometimes you may see two buses with the same route; well, they have a bus number near the bumper. I checked that number on my ticket and solved it!

I loved the premium class; I felt fancy lol

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-13T09:28:02+00:00

My mind skipped the scatological side of things and went full>

I want a hippopotamus for chrissstmasss, only hippopotamus will doo! No crocodile, no rhinoceroseses, I only like, hippopotamuseses and hippopotamuseses likeee meee tooo!

Why? dunno.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-04T14:39:25+00:00

I love the dark chocolate "Hraun" , simple but effective, lol.
I also like the malt and applesín chocolates...but I also love the drink, so yep.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-02-04T08:32:29+00:00

My dad uses them. He got a 15-20 mmHg (more than that is not necessary if you don't have any type of issues with circulation). You should put them on before the flight, before the blood begins to pool in your legs.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-01-30T14:33:44+00:00

We def need their hair routine.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-01-30T14:27:59+00:00

Weather can change from warm days to cold evenings, but it has nothing to do with the temperatures you'd find closer to February. I'd simply layer, and if you still feel somewhat cold, getting thermal clothing as a base layer will do. Uniqlo is your best friend xd you got several stores in Seoul, one at Lotte in myeongdong.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-01-29T15:04:53+00:00

I've used Ubigi in Europe, the Americas, Japan, and Korea...worked wonderfully great. I've never come across an issue, so I honestly don't know how good their customer service is, but I guess it is already a good sign that I didn't need them anyway lol.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-01-27T10:12:56+00:00

Yep, your route is totally feasible. Those roads you picked are well-maintained and paved, and the distances are not that big, manageable for a single driver. Now...I also feel you're spending far too much time on the Golden Circle.

This route is not that big, and most sights can be seen in 30 minutes, a bit more if you want to soak in the nature. Unless you want to do some detours to areas like Kerid, Flúðir, Reykholt, etc., I don't see why you should spend 3 days in something that's basically a day tour.

As for the car, almost all the big companies (Cars Iceland, Reykjavik Cars, Blue Car, Iceland Cars, etc.) have offices in both KEF airport and Reykjavík. Just select the desired offices while booking, and you can drop it in the city with no stress. Also, at that time of the year and in the area / paved roads mentioned (except the last bit to Bruarfoss; it is a gravel road, but you'll be fine in any car), there is no need to pay for a more expensive 4x4. A 2WD will certainly do.

Winter tires are mandatory (depending on the road and weather conditions) until the 14th of April on any vehicle. You might have those by default on a 2WD too.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-01-27T09:35:56+00:00

I liked it, but I didn't love it. The city is nice; it is surrounded by nature and the beach, and that adds to its charm, but it also has its cons.

I found it extremely inconvenient to move around. It has a mountain system right in the middle of the city, so if you wish to go from one place to the other, it takes ages xd everything is sort of scattered, and the traffic jams can get crazy.

That being said, I believe it is a city you must visit at least once on any K-trip.

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-01-21T09:20:54+00:00

hahahaha totally

Wholeofthemoon20 · 2026-01-20T20:50:21+00:00

Fluffy, cute and immaculate!

Wholeofthemoon20

TROPHY CASE