Tourists in Iceland standing too close to the ocean almost got swept away by dangerous 'sneaker waves'

In 2021, I gave up on major airlines for my regular flights between Paris and New York—despite being a frequent flyer club member with a cache of points. I had purchased economy tickets for my toddler, my husband, and myself, and called the airline to double-check that we could sit together. The customer service rep said seat selection was a privilege for the half-step above economy, but they would let one of us sit next to our daughter—as an exception. Or what? I wondered. Have a stranger tend to our two-year-old?

As options for the traditional chalet ski break have dwindled and prices risen, venturing to Europe’s far corners and beyond for a ski break can reap rewards. Costs are often lower, while luxury accommodation can be similarly priced to budget options in mainstream European ski resorts. As well as being potentially cheaper, skiing in territory off the beaten track can offer a rich cultural experience, plus better flight routes, less crowded slopes, sunnier days and a friendlier welcome.

On a trip to Iceland in June, I visited Costco and found items that I've never seen at US locations.

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Located about 60 miles from downtown Reykjavík, Buubble by Airmango offers guests the chance to sleep in clear plastic bubbles in the woods for uninterrupted views of Iceland's natural beauty.

According to recent reports, Iceland’s tourism industry is on track for a banner year in 2023, producing record highs in visitation and spending.

Deserted beaches, ink-black cliffs, glacier-gouged valleys, snow-crusted peaks: the Westfjords encapsulates all the natural splendor you’d expect from Iceland – only without the crowds.

Thirteen years after the Eyjafjallajökull volcano famously spewed ash into European airspace, multiple eruptions across Iceland have spawned an unlikely new travel trend - volcano tourism.

Iceland’s volcano watch continues. For several weeks, thousands of small earthquakes have pointed to an increasingly likely eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano located near Grindavík, a fishing town located just 16 miles from Keflavík airport, the country’s largest airport and the main hub for international flights.

AccuWeather meteorologists warned Nov. 13 that flight disruptions could be a possibility in the coming weeks if a volcano in Iceland showing increased signs of seismic activity erupts.

Safety is a top concern for many when choosing where to travel — a consideration that carries even more importance given the current landscape in the Middle East with the Israel-Hamas war and the U.S. State Department’s worldwide caution travel advisory. To help pinpoint safe countries for travel in 2024, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has published its “Safest Destinations” report for the ninth year in a row. The report ranks both the top safety countries and the top safest cities globally.

Icelandic authorities have declared a state of emergency after hundreds of small earthquakes have rocked the Reykjanes Peninsula - the island nation’s most populated region - for more than two weeks.