Summer cottages in Iceland great alternative to hotels

By: Stefan Helgi Valsson

"Summer cottages provide an exclusive but inexpensive accommodation alternative for families or small groups visiting Iceland from abroad - opposed to hotel rooms, which often are unsuitable for family vacations and can be prohibitively expensive," says Petur Oskarsson, the co-owner of Viator summer cottage rental agency.

Usual options for accommodation such as hotels and guesthouses can prove too costly for families and small groups. Foreign tourists looking for less expensive options for accommodation while on holiday in Iceland get great value for money when staying in summer cottages. Viator is a summer cottage rental agency that provides an exclusive but inexpensive booking service on behalf of 160 owners of privately owned summer cottages in all parts of Iceland.

There are 14,000 summer cottages in Iceland, and more are being built. The cottages are used both by Icelanders as well as foreign visitors. Most of the summer cottages in the country are privately owned, but some belong to labour unions such as The Commercial Workers' Union (VR) and The Association of Academics in Iceland (BHM). About 40 summer cottages belong to each one of the associations which are hugely popular amongst members, especially during summer.

Most of the summer cottages that are built today are made of wood imported from the Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - as well as from Finland and Russia. Nearly half of all summer cottages in Iceland are located within an hour's drive from Reykjavik, the country's capital, where 65 percent of the population lives.

Northern Lights in winter

The Northern Lights attract thousands of people to Iceland each winter, mostly from Europe, America and Asia. The Japanese are especially keen on seeing the Northern Lights. There are two reasons for visiting Iceland rather any other place for gazing at the Northern Lights. First, the country is located in a place geographically well suited to see the Northern Lights, and second, it is accessible in winter.

"About 80 percent of our customers spend their time here in Iceland during the summer season, which coincides with the traditional school holidays in Europe and North America," says Oskarsson. Those visiting the country in winter can expect a different kind of experience, such as sitting in a hot-tub heated with geothermal water while gazing at the Northern Lights.

Useful service to families and small groups

Viator.com is an online reservation/booking service founded in 2002 by Petur Oskarsson and Bjarnheidur Hallsdottir. Viator represents the owners of 160 privately owned cottages, located in all parts of the country, who make their cottages available for rent to foreign tourists visiting Iceland.

All summer cottages available for rent include hot and cold water as well as heating. They include a fully equipped kitchen and one or more bedrooms but they are individually furnished and decorated.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com

Viator inc. is a summerhouse agency that rents summer houses in iceland to foreign visitors. All the cottages on offer are privately owned and well equipped. They vary in design and furnishing, according to each owner's taste.

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