Tired of giving soap-on-a-rope again to your dad? Or a pair of slippers for mom? Break out of the rut with a unique product from Iceland, the Niceland. The 15 percent tax-free refund for tourists on a minimum purchase of about $40 (5,000 ISK) adds to the shopping nirvana. Here are some ideas:
Laugarvegur – Iceland’s Fifth Avenue
Strolling down the main shopping street, Laugarvegur, in Reykjavik will make you think you’re on one long catwalk of tres chic boutiques. Some of our favorites are:
Kisan with its ultra sumptuous hand-knit sweaters and unique home goods (www.kisan.is).
Fashion forward KronKron located in a loft-like boutique filled with bold Prints and patterns (www.kronkron.com)
Trilogia is the jewel in the crown of Laugarvegur shopping. Part boutique, part art gallery, it is named as having one of the city’s strongest mixes of Iceland and international collections, selling work by recent fashion graduates alongside big brand heavyweights. Find designer labels like Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Preen, Erotokritos, Orion, Pepa Delight, Robert Cary Williams, and Antipodium – serious fashion with a lot of attitude thrown in. The store is frequently converted into an art gallery for true fashion is really an art.
Naturceuticals from The Blue Lagoon
You don’t need to go to Iceland to give the best skincare Iceland has to offer. Blue Lagoon Iceland skin care is a true naturceutical brand, providing a perfect harmony between nature and science, and it’s available to you right now. The spa’s production methods are green and environmentally friendly, and high-performance formulations pamper all the senses and make one’s daily skin care regime a joyful Icelandic experience. All products are hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested so skin feels pure, rejuvenated, glowing with energy.
All bath and skincare products are available online at bluelagoon.com/Shop/. There’s an on-line store locator, or you can order on-line – product is stocked in the U.S. for faster delivery. U.S. residents that order in November receive free shipping on orders over $100.
Shop for gifts and souvenirs ‘til you drop
Making your shopping trip complete are a wide variety of traditional Icelandic gifts and souvenirs. Iceland’s largest souvenir shop is called The Viking, located in the hearts of Akureyri and Reykjavik.
Throughout the country you’ll find hand-knitted Icelandic woolens, sheepskin outerwear, lava-laced pottery, Viking inspired novelty gifts, stunning photographic books, music and artwork from local artists – all are available in shops throughout the country and in the duty free stores of Leif Eriksson International Airport in Keflavik (www.dutyfree.is).
“A stopover in Iceland on the way to or from Greenland has become more and more popular – and convenient. The cosmopolitan capital city of Reykjavik provides a complete contrast to anywhere in Greenland, while nearby outdoor-oriented excursions – including the famed Blue Lagoon, waterfalls, geysers and more – make for an easy add-on combination.”
“Rumors of the dollar’s collapse have been greatly exaggerated – at least for now. In fact, the greenback has risen against many foreign currencies, making overseas travel cheaper. Couple that with a weakened travel industry offering big deals in airfares and hotel rates and you have a nice selection of overseas vacations at bargain prices. But given record deficits and a still-shaky economy, the dollar might not hold up long. So get abroad while the getting’s good.” 
“When I flew back to RKV later that day, reeking of shark, I tallied my results. Out of 26 interviews, the average happiness score came out to an amazing 8.9 out of 10. I learned later that my stupid question was similar to a formal survey method developed at Princeton called the Cantril Ladder. Experts using this scale consider everything above 7 as “thriving.” Even as Iceland’s economy [went] down the toilet, her people stood squarely in the “thriving” category, especially those in the countryside.”
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon was named the tenth best spa in the world by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller, the U.K. version of the top-flight American magazine. (Which is spelled “Traveler,” lest anyone get confused.) The readers were asked to choose the world’s best spas and rate their choices according to various criteria such as ambience/decor, body treatments, cuisine and service. The Blue Lagoon received a score of 94.44 – the highest possible score is 100. The Blue Lagoon was ranked alongside spas in Spain, Oman and the U.S., but we’re betting ours is the only spa doing it with clean, geothermal power. Read all about it 