Iceland And Us
ABOUT ABSOLUTE ICELAND
Absolute Iceland was created with one thing in mind – to provide customers with the trip of a lifetime to the incredible country that is Iceland.
Each of our team is an expert on Iceland and they have travelled the length and breadth of the country climbing mountains, sailing the seas, unwinding in hot springs and partying in the cities to ensure you get the most out of your holiday.
It is a passion for this stunning destination that drives us to continually deliver the best deals for our customers to ensure the world knows what a special place Iceland is.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are considering a trip to Iceland – we are sure you will end up loving it as much as we do at Absolute Iceland
ABOUT ICELAND
Iceland is a land of breath-taking landscapes, home of hip cities and host to some of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Spurting geysers, boiling mud pools, glaciers (Vatnajokull glacier is Europe’s largest glacier) and waterfalls provide a playground of epic proportions for the thrill seeker, while the country’s natural beauty is an inspiration to all who look upon her.
During the summer the sun never sets, providing a warm and lush environment to explore as well as the chance to play midnight golf – a popular pastime for locals.
The Icelandic winter is one of the natural wonders of the world and visitors who get to witness the incredible Northern Lights are truly blessed. However, the delights of Iceland are not restricted to its nature. The capital Reykjavík is a vibrant, friendly and clean city that boasts state-of-the-art buildings, exceptional restaurants and a buzzing nightlife. Reykjavík is also a city brimming with culture and there are plenty of galleries, museums and theatres to enjoy.
There is plenty to discover outside of the capital, especially if you want to witness Viking culture first hand. Hafnarfjörður boasts Fjörukráin, a restaurant that organises Viking banquets and the town also hosts the annual international Viking festival, where you can learn how the Vikings carved wood and bone, wove fabric, and made ornaments and weapons.
There is plenty more to explore, but dotted everywhere are the famous open-air thermal pools, most of which also provide fitness facilities. If you are looking to really embrace Iceland’s natural wonders, travel to one of the nature reserves such as Heiðmörk where you can walk, mountain bike or horse trek.
There are also plenty of activities to keep you busy such as midnight golf, climbing, glacier trekking, horse riding, fishing and whale watching.
Relax. Your Holiday Is Protected.
Absolute Iceland is a trading style of Holiday Direct North London Ltd and is part of Travel Safe which is protected by PTS Protected Travel Services No. 5592
How Is My Holiday Protected by Protected Trust Services (PTS)?
It’s not always easy to know if and how your holiday is protected. Whether you are going abroad, or staying in the UK, there are many ways to be protected, all with different conditions and specifics. It can get confusing to answer the question ‘Is my holiday protected?’ So, we wanted to give you the guidelines to put your mind at rest and just allow you to enjoy your holiday. Booking a holiday should be a joy, not a worry, and as such we hope this article gives you the peace of mind you deserve, and allows you to book your holiday with trust.
All PTS members must meet a good standard of service. PTS travel agents need at least 2 years of experience, and PTS tour operators need sufficient knowledge in their travel service niche, so you are guaranteed to be working with an experienced and passionate travel company.
All PTS members are also package travel regulations compliant, and operate under our PTS trust account. This means that none of your money will be used outside of paying the supplier for your holiday. Where the money does leave the account to pay a supplier early, it is insured by Supplier Failure Insurance (SFI), so no matter what, from the moment you book your holiday, to the moment you arrive home safe and sound, you can call, ask where your money is, and we can tell you.
How Is My Holiday Protected?
There are different types of protection for different situations. There are also smaller and less certain forms of protection that you can prepare for just in case something is not protected. First, the most reliable forms of protection are:
Booking with a PTS Member – because all our members must meet a certain standard to become members of PTS, and because we operate under a trust account system, you are guaranteed the best protection possible.
Package Travel Regulations – these cover issues with package holidays and linked travel arrangements. From a travel business ceasing to trade to the elements differing from those agreed upon.
The Air Travel Organisers’ License (ATOL) – This will cover any package holiday that includes a flight (you can find out more about how the ATOL Scheme protects your flights on the CAA Website).
Good Travel Insurance – you will need to do a lot of research to find good travel insurance, but it will be well worth it for medical issues, some cancellation issues, or issues with left or lost property.
When Will My Holiday Be Protected?
There are certain situations that will and won’t be protected. Before we delve into what type of protection you can expect for your holiday, it’s important to cover when it can be protected legally and financially. As you will see, using a travel agent and expert PTS member will undoubtedly be your best source of protection.
Your holiday will be protected in these situations:
If it is a package holiday – this is a holiday that includes more than one element (flight, accommodation, tour activity etc.), and is sold under one price and one agreement.
If it is a linked travel arrangement – as with a package holiday, a linked travel arrangement is a holiday that includes more than one element, but it is sold differently to a package holiday. You will be informed that you are being sold a linked travel arrangement in this instance.
If it includes flights as an element – this can’t be the only thing you’re booking
If there is a medical issue, a cancellation issue, a theft or lost proper, and you have excellent travel insurance – this is very dependent on the specifics of the situation and the travel insurance you have, we will cover this shortly, but for more detail on why travel insurance is important or how to choose good travel insurance, you can visit our pages.
If you book with a Protected Trust Services (PTS) member
Your holiday will either not be protected, or you will need to check for protection, in the following situations:
It is under 24 hours in duration or does not include over-night stay
It is a business trip – there may be exceptions in this situation, so we advise checking with your travel company.
You have booked the elements individually – For example, you book a flight with an airline, then book accommodation with a hotel and pay for these separately under separate contracts without targeted marketing involved.
It is a flight-only booking
Some of these situations are subject to conditions, for example, anything covered by travel insurance is something you need to investigate further within your travel insurance contract.