rholmes27 Posted May 11 #1 Share Posted May 11 Is the Icelandic krona the appropriate way to tip in Iceland? What per cent tip is the norm for private tour guides and drivers? We’re trying to determine how much $$ to exchange before we sail. TIA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted May 11 #2 Share Posted May 11 The guides on our ships excursions accepted $5 and $10 bills gratefully. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis1138 Posted May 11 #3 Share Posted May 11 19 hours ago, CruiserBruce said: The guides on our ships excursions accepted $5 and $10 bills gratefully. In USD? I had been wondering this, because we have an NCL excursion the moment we get to Iceland, so I won't be able to go to a bank to exchange for ISK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted May 11 #4 Share Posted May 11 9 minutes ago, Ellis1138 said: In USD? I had been wondering this, because we have an NCL excursion the moment we get to Iceland, so I won't be able to go to a bank to exchange for ISK. Yes, USD. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted May 13 #5 Share Posted May 13 Tipping is not encouraged in Iceland. When we tried to tip in a restaurant they ran after us. That being said, tour guides will accept tips but they are definitely not solicited. We usually tip in USD and not nearly as much as we would in the US and other developed or less developed countries. They have the ability to change USD or EUR into ISK. You do not need ISK for 99.7% of things in Iceland, so we stopped changing money on our last land visit there. Pretty much everyplace takes plastic or electronic payments. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon-t Posted May 16 #6 Share Posted May 16 There is really no expectation to tip at all in Iceland (as in the rest of Scandinavia). You're not going to offend anyone by doing so, but in reality it is pretty much only American tourists who tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueMo Posted May 21 #7 Share Posted May 21 We spent 10 days driving the ring road in Iceland and never needed ISK. Even hot dog stands took credit cards! The only tip money we needed was for a “free” walking tour in Reykyavik, and the guide made it clear they welcomed euros, USD, etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis1138 Posted May 21 #8 Share Posted May 21 3 hours ago, SueMo said: We spent 10 days driving the ring road in Iceland and never needed ISK. Even hot dog stands took credit cards! The only tip money we needed was for a “free” walking tour in Reykyavik, and the guide made it clear they welcomed euros, USD, etc. Even for the pay toilets? That's what worries me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted May 21 #9 Share Posted May 21 (edited) 1 hour ago, Ellis1138 said: Even for the pay toilets? That's what worries me. most take plastic. Some have "honor boxes" where you can use ISK, EUR, or USD. We took advantage of gas station rest rooms. They are all free if you buy something. Always a candy bar or a bottle of soda or some local trinket (or fancier) worth buying to make it an easy transaction Edited May 21 by Nitemare 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueMo Posted May 22 #10 Share Posted May 22 20 hours ago, Ellis1138 said: Even for the pay toilets? That's what worries me. I honestly don’t recall pay toilets in Iceland. We usually stopped at gas stations where they were free. There might have been one at Thingvellir, but I remember everybody holding the doors open for the next “customer”. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted May 22 #11 Share Posted May 22 1 hour ago, SueMo said: I honestly don’t recall pay toilets in Iceland. We usually stopped at gas stations where they were free. There might have been one at Thingvellir, but I remember everybody holding the doors open for the next “customer”. They weren't pay toilets at Thingvellir when we were there two years ago. I also don't recall any pay toilets in Iceland. We stuck to the tourist sites. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted May 22 #12 Share Posted May 22 I recall pay toilets at Dynjandi and another spot in the Westfjords. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljandgb Posted May 23 #13 Share Posted May 23 We encountered several pay toilets on our last trip, particularly around Snaefellsnes. Most took credit cards, a couple were honor boxes for cash. None were coin only where inserting a coin opened the door. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellis1138 Posted May 24 #14 Share Posted May 24 7 hours ago, ljandgb said: We encountered several pay toilets on our last trip, particularly around Snaefellsnes. Most took credit cards, a couple were honor boxes for cash. None were coin only where inserting a coin opened the door. We're doing Jewels of the North and Golden Circle. I'm going to get maybe $50 of ISK to use for small things, based on this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveling Library Posted May 24 #15 Share Posted May 24 3 minutes ago, Ellis1138 said: We're doing Jewels of the North and Golden Circle. I'm going to get maybe $50 of ISK to use for small things, based on this thread. We've been to Iceland several times. All on cruises and all with tours both ship sponsored and private. We never exchanged any money into ISK. All purchases (including a bottle of soda at the Blue Lagoon) were paid by credit card. We never saw anyone pay in cash and finally we asked a tour guide to show us what ISK looked like. After searching in his wallet he found one sad looking bill to show us. He said he made all transactions by debit or credit card. Tips are not expected though they are appreciated. Bring small USD or Euro bills and you'll be fine. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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