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We choose to pay extra for balconies and mountain views, but it was unnecessary because we didn’t get to the hotel until late every night and left right after breakfast each morning, so we never got to enjoy it. A few essentials include: * a sturdy pair of walking shoes to explore the stunning landscapes * sunglasses because it can get very bright up in the mountains * bathing suit if you’re staying at a place with a pool Switzerland has a great public transportation system that will take you everywhere you need to go, but if you’re there for a short time and want to fit in a lot of sightseeing then a car is the way to go. I still can’t believe I finally got to see Blausee in person which has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. The day started at an alpine spa resort with the prettiest pool in the world followed by a short visit to Lucerne for lunch and ended in Zurich, Switzerland’s capital city.

Recently, you can’t scroll through Instagram without seeing at least a picture of someone posing under the rainbow at Skogafoss, or sitting on the basalt columns at the black sand beach (I am guilty of both! ). Regardless if you’re a seasoned traveler or a novice, you can’t help but feel in awe of this stunning country that is sparse and yet hauntingly beautiful. Learning from our experience traveling around the island, I put together a few helpful blog posts to help you find the best places in Iceland and plan your own amazing trip. * This Iceland  comes with maps and recommended activities by day will help you plan your own trip

For the best view of Vik and the rugged southernmost point of Iceland, go to the parking lot at top of the hill behind Vík í Mýrdal Church. So when I heard about Borgarfjarðarhöfn, a small protected island in east Iceland and home to thousands of puffins, I knew I had to visit even though it was a 2 hour detour. Here, the puffins are so close, I felt like I could almost reach out to touch them. For the most Instagrammable photo, hike around the rim to get an aerial shot or climb down to the lake for an up-close photo with the water.

The fall can be viewed from the pedestrian bridge, but what makes this particular place special is the fact that you can walk behind the bridal veil fall into the mossy cavern for a different perspective. The name originated when a local chieftain threw wooden carvings of old Nordic gods into the fall to symbolize Iceland’s conversion to Christianity around 1000 AD. The horseshoe shaped fall stands at 39 ft (12m) and 98 ft (30m) wide, making it one of the largest falls in the country by volume. There are two ways to view the waterfall: at the top near the gift shop where you’ll get an aerial view of the fall, or at the bottom near the lower parking lot where you can feel the magnificent force of the water.