Katie_H

Hello! Several of the newest Fodor's editions for European countries include a special feature devoted to your tips for beating the euro (or pound) in that particular country.

It's Finland's turn and admittedly there are far fewer threads related to Finland than Spain and France for instance.

Has anyone in Fodorville been to Finland? If so, did you find it relatively affordable?

If you haven't been---do you plan on going one day?

tower

Hi Katie:

Don't know if "old news" will be of much help, but yes, we've been to underrated Finland, last there pre-Euro and found everything quite on a par with US expenses...excellent central hotel (Torni) in Helsinki, less than $100, good choice of restaurants, typical full dinner under $15.

We drove a wide southern Finland circle, from Helsinki to Turku and its cozy Hotel Park, $80 (these prices are all according to my trusty journal), to Jyvaskala, Hotel Cumulus, $60, Lapeenranta, Hotel Lapee $60, back to Helsinki.

Here are some photos and map (all scanned pre-digital, of course):

http://tiny.cc/02yxm

Stu T.

tower

P.S.

The scanned photos are two or three to a page...suggest either "slide show" or using the magnifying glass icon to enlarge each photo.

Katie_H

Hi Stu! Well old news or not...just interesting to hear from those who have been.

Would you return? Have you been to other parts of Scandinavia?

Katie_H

Stu- some of your pics look like postcards. I miss those rounded edges.

tower

Katie:

The Helsinki marketplace is a post card scan..the rounded edges were common when printing regular film back then.

Yes, I would return to Finland if in the vicinity. We had just been to the USSR , including Uzbek SSR, before spending a week in Finland...what a breath of fresh air, literally!

Have been to Norway, Sweden and Denmark...thoroughly enjoyed each.

stu t. )

LaurenKahn1

I haven't been to Finland yet but it looks like I'll be going next summer. A home exchange is in the works.

Debs

Hi Katie - Next year's trip will take us to Helsinki, coupled with Vilnius Lithuania and Tallinn Estonia. Should be an interesting combo of cities and cultures! Looking forward to 'beating the Euro' in Helsinki, which no doubt will be challenging.

We've done both Moscow and St Petersburg a few years ago, then a separate trip to both Olso and Reykjavik - the Scandinavian countries are simply put - amazing in natural beauty! They are certainly the road less traveled on this forum - hopefully that will change as the beauty of these countries is discovered.

Debs

now if I could only spell - OSLO. Will be writing that on the blackboard 300 times!

bilboburgler

Ski most years in finland so only north of artic circle. Ski resorts work out pretty cheap once accomodation is sorted out (best to book a package)

Best deal is that most towns have a town restaurant where workmen, pensioners, traveling salesmen etc can eat at sensible prices cafeteria type food. No booze

Wifi is everywhere and public wifi often free. So you can surf sitting outside a hotel to your hearts content (even if -15C)

bratsandbeer

Have been to Helsinki twice. It is a beautiful city and one that we were able to walk everywhere. My ancestors were from Vasa and Helsinki - my great-uncle started the Sumoi Insurance Company in Helsinki back in the 1890s and it is now a very large company. My great-grandfather owned a general store in Vasa.

In Finland, they speak 3 languages English, Finnish and Swedish. In both Norway and Finland the children start learning English at age 7.

It is easy to take a ferry to Tallin for a day trip.

We took a 4 day trip to St Petersburg from Helsinki via train. Was a very interesting trip.

Went overnight on the Silja ferry to Stockholm - had a wonderful buffet dinner. Beautiful leaving Helsinki harbor in the fall with the leaves in color. Also, early morning arrival in Stockholm we were able to see the small islands in so much color and the twinkling lights from the homes - was beautiful.

Have been to Norway twice. Have been on 3 farms of ancestors in Norway. It is easy to drive in Norway so we did a lot of driving in addition to a couple of tours - "The Golden Triangle" which is Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and back to Oslo and "Norway in a Nutshell" tour from Oslo to Bergen and back also.

These countries are not cheap but worth the cost to go there. Very beautiful. You can find reasonably priced places to stay. I highly recommend both Finland and Norway.

bilboburgler

I guess they also speak Lapp

Odin

"Have you been to other parts of Scandinavia?"

Finland is not part of Scandinavia.

Katie_H

Odin-- That's an error on my part; I thought it was.

Thanks for all the other posts on here since I wrote earlier in September. Glad to see that there are some trips in the works.

bilboburgler

Interesting point wickie advises that technically it is not but by common practise it is.

I vote with Odin