I’m back from my Iceland trip, and I can say that one word truly describes how it was — EPIC. This country is loaded with true natural beauties — volcanoes, geothermal spas, caves, millions of waterfalls, lava fields, lagoons, glaciers, fjords and more. I know people warned me about how expensive it would be to go to Iceland (boy, were they right and then some!), but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

This place is truly magical. I was left speechless many times during my eight-day road trip around the island. The weather started out worse than expected — cold and rainy — but it didn’t stop us from driving the golden circle and going out in Reykjavík for some crazy-expensive drinks.

We were determined to chase the sun, and after three days of chasing, we caught up with it on the fourth day. Here are a few tips and observations to remember before you get there:

• Be prepared to spend a lot of money.
• Book early for your trip, as things get booked up quickly. As it gets closer to your travel dates, prices go up and up (we spent over $300 for a three-star hotel in one of the small towns on the south side.)
• Stop by a duty-free store at Reykjavík for some alcohol to bring to your hotel room. Trust me. You’ll thank me later.
• Don’t bother buying bottled water. Tap water is sourced naturally and some of the best in the world. Drink up!
• Taste the island’s favorite dishes: langoustine (Icelandic lobster), lamb, horse (yes, I tried it and was blown away how tasty and tender it was), reindeer (yes, I ate this, too, but I’m a veteran of this one from Denmark) and all of the fish available.
• Americans are the highest number of visitors coming into the country (tied with the UK.).
• Rent a car to get around the island. Parking was easy to find and, shockingly, one of the least expensive things.
• Most importantly, take lots of pictures! Make sure to have enough memory on your phone because, if you’re like me, you will need all the space.
• Travel on!

— Banu Yilmaz, advertising director