Iceland-top winter travel destination- eco-friendly, cheap and unusual vacation

Here are 5 reasons to make Iceland your winter holiday destination for 2009.

1. Location

Iceland is almost half way between the North America and Europe and it will take you only five and a half hours from New York and three hours from London.

 2. Shopping

The world economy makes shopping in Iceland advantageous. The exchange rate stands at $1 to 124.7 ISK. And a cup of coffee is about 200 ISK. Iceland has many unique and unusual  products that would make original Christmas gifts. There is also a 15% tax refund for tourists when spending a minimum of $40 (5,000 ISK).

3. Natural wonders

Iceland has volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls and hot water springs, black sand beaches and even fields of volcanic lava. There is also the midnight sun in summer and in winter you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis can only be seen from certain places in the world and under certain conditions. See here for the ideal conditions for seeing the Northern Lights. To top it all off take a dip in a geothermal lagoon.

4. Unique

You won't see or experience anything like Iceland anywhere else in the world. There is the unusual landscape, and winter sports such as skiing, snowmobile rides and glacier climbing. Among the unusual Icelandic foods you can try skyr (curd), rotten shark, slatur (like the Scottish Haggis), pickled ram's testicles and to washing it all down there is Brennivin, Iceland's famous Schnapps.

5. Green travel

Iceland is a pioneer in eco-friendly living. Renewable energy supplies 89% of the countries energy needs. They also are working towards becoming the world's first hydrogen economy, using hydrogen fuel for all forms of transport. They are harnessing all the forms of renewable energy available to them including hydropower and geothermal power. You can visit the Hellisheiði Power Plant Visitor Center just 20 minutes from Iceland's capital. Iceland emits 62% less carbon dioxide per capita than the USA. There is even an Icelandic Green Map, which is a data base of all eco-friendly information throughout the country.