Travellers from the Lower Mainland can visit two world class destinations for the price of one this year.
Iceland, known as the land of Ice and Fire, has some of the best affordable airfare for folks looking to fly overseas. The country is home to some of the world's largest glaciers as well as several active volcanoes. Over 80 per cent of the country is uninhabited, providing ample ground for exploration, including stunning black sand beaches, crashing waterfalls, glacial lagoons, and much more. From ice climbing to scenic hikes, northern lights viewing experiences to hot springs, there are endless things to discover.
Round-trip flights to the northern nation start as low as $506 with a stopover in Calgary from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»this October with WestJet. However, a direct flight costs over $1,000 with the country's flag carrier, Icelandair.
Many low-cost flight options from Vancouver to Europe include a stopover in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, including top destinations such as Paris, London, and Barcelona.
London is a gateway to the British Isles and a launching point to explore the rest of Europe. Many low-cost carriers offer cheap flights from Heathrow Airport (LHR) for a steal to cities across the continent.
Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and the National Gallery are just a few of the seemingly endless top-notch attractions in the English capital, attracting droves of tourists annually.
Unfortunately, travellers looking for a direct flight to London won't enjoy prices for under $1,000. British Airways and Air Canada each offer direct flights on the popular route, although the cheapest ones start around $1,200 with the former.
How to visit Iceland and London for the price of one destination (with convenient flights)
Travellers do not need to book two separate tickets to take advantage of a deal that includes a stay in England and Iceland. Since Reykjavik is Icelandair's hub city, stopovers in it don't increase the overall ticket cost when they continue to another destination.
You may need to play with dates to find the lowest price, but you can do this by using the "multi-city" trip option in Google Flights. Typically, the flight matrix is set to "round-trip," but the drop-down menu allows you to switch this option to "one-way" or "multi-city."
Before you do this, it is helpful to look up a cheap round-trip flight option using the software to see when the pricing dips. Naturally, summer's "peak" prices trend downward starting in September, providing more economical options.
For example, a round-trip flight from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»International Airport (YVR) to Heathrow Airport (LHR) departing on Sept. 24, and returning on Oct. 7 costs under $800 round-trip and already includes a stop in Keflavík International Airport (KEF) (the return "stopover" is already 24 hours).
This means it may be easier to work a longer stay on the way home during this period (this may vary depending on when you book).
In the multi-city Google flights menu, a flight departs YVR for LHR on Sept. 7 and includes a short, one-hour layover in KEF. A direct flight departs LHR for KEF on Oct. 7, and then the traveller stays in Iceland until Oct. 10, when the direct flight to YVR (see slide two).
The ticket costs $732 through Flightnetwork, including all taxes (several third-party options offer the flight at low-cost prices) (see slide three).
As displayed, using this itinerary means the flights to and from Iceland do not include an extra stop (unlike the previously mentioned WestJet option). The only stop is the short one en route to London, making it an affordable and convenient option.
Flight prices may change quickly based on seat availability. If you want to secure a price, book the ticket right away (some airlines and travel suppliers allow you to hold seats, although you will need to confirm). Prices shown in this travel deal were available at the time of writing and may not be available when you look for them.
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