"Where in the world is Kristen and her CPAP?" Part Four: Iceland

Kristen Cascio is a CPAP user from the United States who has a never-ending sense of wanderlust. In this series, Kristen will share her experiences travelling the world while managing her Obstructive Sleep Apnea, one destination at a time. Continued from Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Chilling in Iceland

Last year I spent my 34th birthday at one of the most relaxing places on Earth: The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. While many people complain it is too “touristy,” the milky blue waters, swim-up face mask bar, and water temperatures of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit make for a perfect experience.
Summer in Iceland means almost 24 hours of daylight. The days feel never-ending, in a good way. When it is time to settle in for bed, all the hotels have blackout curtains to allow for a good night’s sleep.

Communicating with the airline

Speaking of sleep, this trip was the first time that I brought my portable CPAP battery with me. While it is under the battery size and strength for TSA regulations, I informed IcelandAir that I would be bringing it with me in my carry-on. I did this by filling out a medical equipment request form on IcelandAir’s website about a week before my flight. I received an email from IcelandAir permitting me to bring my CPAP battery for use on board, which eliminated my concerns about getting through security.

On my way home I was pulled aside -- very briefly -- by security in the Keflavik airport. However, once I showed the agent my IcelandAir approval and the instruction manual for the battery, they sent me on my way. Informing the airline in advance is the best practice, though some airlines may not require it. I have seen airlines post on their websites that portable batteries are allowed on their flights; in those cases, I do not make a specific request.

Finding the right adapters

Another best practice for traveling internationally with a CPAP is to check whether you need a plug adapter and/or a voltage converter for the country’s outlets. Plug adapters allow you to plug your appliance from the USA into the outlets of another country; many countries use 2-prongs versus 3 on their outlets or their outlets are different widths. These are inexpensive and easy purchase online or in many major retail stores. Voltage converters are becoming less necessary, as most appliances are now “dual voltage.”

The voltage of outlets in the USA is 120 volts and 60Hz. Many other countries, like Iceland, is 230 volts and 50 Hz. To make sure your CPAP does not get overwhelmed and fried by the additional voltage of the international outlet, you must check that it is a “dual voltage appliance.” To check this, look at the black box on your power chord. It will list the “AC input” of your CPAP. As long as the voltage of where you are going is in the AC input range, you do not need a voltage converter.

Amazing views

Okay, back to my Iceland trip! The most important thing to know (according to me) about Iceland in the summer is that it is puffin season, and they are SO CUTE. Thousands of puffins lay their eggs and form colonies on the islands of Iceland. Tour operators will take you close enough to the island to view the puffins, if the weather cooperates.

During my trip we also joined a tour that took us to two waterfalls, a glacier, and a black sand beach. At each of the waterfalls we witnessed double rainbows. We hiked close to the glacier, but not onto it; however, there are tours that allow you to hike a glacier. I am not sure that I am daring enough to attempt that.

My favorite things

While I am lucky to have many memories to share from my trips, I’d like to share my “FAVE” list, standing for “food,” “activity,” “view,” and “experience.”

Kristen’s Iceland “FAVEs”

F: My husband and I like to try local breweries when we travel which led us to find the newly-opened taproom for Lady Brewery in Reykjavík. As the name implies, it is a female-owned and led brewery. The owners were there creating merch when we arrived, and we had a lovely and welcoming time chatting with them and a group of schoolteachers from Slovakia who had also stumbled across the location.

A: This activity is not specific to Iceland, but it was my first time trying it and it was so fun. To get around the capital city many people use electric scooters. My husband and I took to renting them to cruise the city, even getting caught in warm summer rainstorms on a few of our journeys.

V: Sky Bar is a rooftop hotel bar in Reykjavík that offers happy hours with a breathtaking view of the Reykjavik harbor, with its calm blue waters and snow-capped mountains in the distance.

E: Did you know that there is one volcano in the world that offers tours inside? Yes, inside. That volcano happens to be in Iceland but don’t worry, the volcano is inactive. Only available in the summer months, “Inside the Volcano” allows small groups to descend 120 meters (393 feet) into a 4,000-year-old volcano. The colors of the walls inside the volcano, preserved from the outside elements since it became inactive, are an unbelievable array of reds, blues, and oranges. I found myself staring in awe, surrounded by complete stillness as my fellow tour-goers did the same.

I am always planning my next trip with my CPAP. Follow me on Instagram @meandmycpap to see where I go next!