Backpack & Budget : Warming Up to Iceland’s prices

Iceland--volcanoes, geysers a capital city heated by bubbling hot springs, a lunar-like landscape, a language that echoes Old Icelandic and national telephone directory that lists residents by their first names, are all features of this offbeat land that travelers will find fascinating.

But the country is expensive to visit. Fortunately, each summer, temporary budget accomodation is made available in facilities such as schools, called Edda-Hotels (bring your own sleeping bag), and 27 youth hostels, which prove economical lodging and facilities for preparing your own meals.

One recommended hostel is the Reykjavik Youth Hostel at Sundlaugavey 34, Box 1045, 121 Reykjavik, Iceland; telephone 011-354-1-38110. Not only does it accomodate 104 travelers, but the Icelandic Youth Hostel Assn. has a travel desk where you can arrange “do-it-yourself” or group tours.

This year independent travelers are being offered a Hostelling Around I package, which includes a Full-Circle bus pass and seven vouchers for overnight accomodation at youth hostels or Edda-Hotels. The pass is valid for travel on scheduled bus services in one direction around the 1,097-mile road that circles the island. You can make the stops wherever you want. The price is $197.

A Hostelling Around II package is aso available, which includes an Ominbus pass and seven vouchers for youth hostel and sleeping bag accomodations. The Omnibus pass allows you to travel in whichever direction you want on the long-distance bus services for a set period of time. The package with a one-week bus pass costs $356, two weeks is $425, three weeks $512 and four weeks $563.

Packages can be started any day until Aug. 31.

This summer the price for staying at any of the 27 youth hostels is $17. Prepared breakfasts are available for $10 and linen rental (if you don’t have your own sheet sleeping bag) is $4.50

Other packages available include day tours from Reykjavik, and walking, bus and mountain biking programs.

Pre-trip information is available from the Iceland Tourists Board, 655 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022; tel. (212) 949-2333.

A few years ago, Iceland became known to budget travelers because of the attractive air fares to Luxembourg on the national carrier Icelandair, and stopovers were permitted. Now Icelandair flies from a variety of East Coast American cities through Reykjavik to different European destinations, but Luxembourg is still an option.

Luxembourg is a independent sovereign state with a population of about 400,000 which is bordered by Germany, france and Belgium.

Luxembourg City is known for its fortress with 1,000-year-old history, its Grand Ducal Palace, and a network of casemates, or underground bunkers, hewn in the rocks.

Stopover packages for independent travelers visiting Luxembourg City are available until the end of September. these include two nights8 dormitory accomodation in the youth hostel, breakfasts and dinners, a city map, information and vouchers for a city tour, a visit to the casemates of Bock and a historic presentation at the fortress. the price is $72.50

Hikers are offered packages with vouchers for seven nights’ accomodation in any of the 13 youth hostels in the country, three meals a day and two topographical maps. The price is $174. Luxembourg claims to have the densest network of trails in the world. The walking paths are maintained by the youth hostel association and marked with white triangles. This package is available until Oct. 31.

For details, contact Centrale des Auberges de Jeunesse Luxembourgeoises at 18 Place d’Armes, B.P. 374, Luxembourg.