In one of the earlier posts, we described how we traveled through Iceland in a van. We usually don’t do “here’s how to travel” posts, but with so many people planning trips to Iceland, we decided to post a few observations.

The country's enigmatic landscapes attract millions of visitors every year. Budget and not-so-budget airlines bring tourists in hordes. Of course, we have no right to complain as we came to Iceland on a no-frills, cheap Greyhound in the sky, aka WOW Air. Recently, WOW Air abruptly canceled all its flights and announced its closure. I blame Julia for cheap-skating and not saving WOW by refusing to pay for the airline’s overpriced food and water by bringing our own.

But tourists do outnumber residents: the population of Iceland is just around 350,000, while the annual visitors exceed 2 million. Tourism levels are out of control right now, potentially posing a threat to sustainability and the country’s future. The only crowd control mechanism in place right now is the skyrocketing cost of everything; therefore, most people limit their stay to a short 5-10 days. The best way to avoid crowds is to travel during a low or shoulder season. We were there around the U.S. Labor Day (the first weekend of September), and the crowds weren't so bad.  At times, our rental car was the only car on the road, and we had the breathtaking views to ourselves. Our friend, who was in Iceland during the high season a year before us, described bumper-to-bumper traffic jams on the Ring Road, something everyone wants to avoid.

Because tourists outnumber residents, the country experiences a severe shortage of workers in the service industry. To deal with the problem, Iceland employs a lot of immigrants, especially from Poland. Wages in the service industry are decent, and working several months during the high season allows seasonal workers to live comfortably for the remainder of the year in their native Poland. We heard Polish everywhere: in restaurants, stores, and national parks. At the airport, I was pulled aside for additional screening, only to hear two agents speak Polish to each other. Because almost everyone in Iceland also speaks English, I wish we heard more of the tongue-twisting local language.

Another thing missing, in addition to the local language, was Icelandic money. Cash is king, right? Not in Iceland. It's almost non-existent there, and virtually all places accept credit cards. Usually, we bring small bills and coins as souvenirs from countries we visit. We brought nothing from Iceland. For all five days, we paid for everything with credit cards. We don't even know what the Icelandic krona looks like. What is on the bills? Vikings? Geysers? We will never know.

Not only does nearly every business accept credit cards, but some places accept only credit cards. The best illustration of the cashless society happened to us in Þingvellir National Park. Before embarking on a hike into the wilderness, we wanted to use a bathroom. We quickly identified the bathroom by a long line of people nervously caressing credit cards in their hands. It turned out the fee was €2, and the only way to pay was with a credit card. And of course, the line moved very slowly because people weren't sure how to use the payment machine.

If €2 for a bathroom sounds expensive, then you're in for a big surprise if you want to go to the Blue Lagoon. Soaking in its neon blue waters will cost you about $60 per person. Despite the price, the Blue Lagoon is the highlight for most people.  It's an enormous, open-air geothermal spa situated in the midst of a sprawling lava field— a perfect place to relax. It's also a great spot to either start or finish one’s trip. It's just a short 15-minute ride from the airport. Here, you can either recuperate from your flight on arrival or relax before going back home.

Unfortunately, the Blue Lagoon’s popularity means that you can’t just show up and pay the hefty entrance fee. These days, a reservation is a must.  We didn't know that and were turned away as all tickets for the day were already sold out. The consolation was that we did have a chance to swim in thermal spring waters during our trip. We discovered an outdoor thermal pool near Eyjafjallajökull Volcano (yes, the one that erupted in 2010 and disrupted flights across the Atlantic Ocean for weeks). The experience wasn't as fancy as it could have been in the Blue Lagoon, but it was free—something that every backpacker and budget traveler cherishes in an über-expensive Iceland.