Service in small Iceland is reminiscent of „service“ in New York City. Horrible!
Apart from those fooled into coming to Iceland to visit the „party“ capital of Reykjavik for some fun nights out people arrive here to be enchanted by stunning nature. But due to the Speedy Gonzales efforts of locals to sell you guys something and make a buck there are few signs of any real and friendly service to be found in this country nowadays.
This, team Total Iceland, has verified as we´ve been in all parts of the country making inquiries and done some guiding too along the way. We have been traveling this land of ours for decades and never before have we witnessed the almost total lack of any friendliness as we did in spring, summer and autumn of 2013.
In the years before mass-tourism, only five or six years ago when no massive efforts were made to get people to visit this wind-blown island in the North, the places to stop en-route around Iceland to have coffee, lunch, dinner or just meet locals were indeed few but certainly you got what you wanted. Something to fill the stomach, a beer or two and usually advice or two from the local owners about smart places to see not found in any guidebooks. In other words, travel as it should be.[blockquote type=”blockquote_line” align=”right”]you´ll probably not find much decent service anywhere in Iceland in the next years[/blockquote]
Now you are lucky to get a hello!
We estimate over half of places advertising any kind of service to foreigners in the summer of 2013 has either foreigners working for them or very young people with anything else on their mind than being nice and showing some effort. Ergo; you´ll probably not find much decent service anywhere in Iceland in the next years since this downward service spiral will continue with ever more ignoramuses fighting for the tourist dollars.
Then again, perhaps no one should be very surprised since quantity has been shown to fill bank accounts more quickly than quality. But it is sad since Iceland had an opportunity to change travel for the better. Make people REALLY feel welcome.
Alas, it is too late now. Prepare for stinking service or no service on your travels around Iceland.
