Norway and maybe Denmark

Old Sep 20th, 2014, 11:16 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Norway and maybe Denmark

I am considering a tour of Norway for which consists of 8 nights accommodation. As with alot of tour companies there is no actual sightseeing on the 1st and last days ( 1 and 9).
For someone travelling solo this trip is about $330 dollars a day with no sightseeing on days 1 and 9. I have listed options below, and with Norway being epensive as it is, cost is an obvious consideration. I will have atleast 17 days starting frm the last week in August, so hopefully the europe holiday crowds will have dissipated. Any thoughts on my ideas are appreciated!

Option 1

1) Do the 9 day tour and have extra nights in Oslo, maybe the Norway in a nutshell tour aswell with other activities

2) Use public transport ie travelling between towns cities and base myself for multiple nights
ie 3 nights in Bergen then use trains and ferries for sightseeing as an example

3) Car hire in Norway, although I believe is around 200 dollars a day and a bit high for one person

4) My main flight most likely will be to Copenhagen Denmark. I am thinking of hiring a car from here which is much cheaper than Norway; I would work my way up the coast into Oslo and then do the tour.

5) Same as 4 but no tour , just using the car as transportation, continuing travel within Norway with dropoff in Oslo. Not sure at this stage about parking availability in alot of places.

6) Same as 4 but drop car off in Oslo upon arrival and use public transportation.

7) After doing the tour , I would have about 8 days. I would train it to Gothenburg Sweden, and hire a car there with dropoff in Copenhagen

Things for me to consider with these options

1) Is it possible for a solo person to travel in Norway for less than $250 a day including sightseeing costs and staying in ensuite accommodation?

2) I know this is subjective, but is 16 days in Norway too long? As per one option I may hire a Car in Copenhagen and return it there with the benefit of reduced hire costs.

Thanks in advance for any assistance
theotherside is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2014, 01:09 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can tell you which ones I think you should discount from your optionsbr /> 7) Picking up a car in GOT and dropping off in CPH will be expensive. Have you looked into the cost?

4) Picking up a car in GOT and driving to Norway and dropping it back to GOT will be less expensive than picking it up in DK. There is the cost of the ferry or the bridge to consider. Plus rental rates are more expensive in DK than Sweden. Normally there is not an issue with taking the rental car between Scandinavian countries, I do this regularly and take the rental car in the ferry. I mention this as several posters keep giving wrong info about taking rental cars on ferries and between Scandinavian countries.
Odin is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2014, 02:22 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When are you visiting? Summer or Winter?
Copenhagen-Oslo is best by overnight ferry - I see no advantage in driving this. What are you doing on the tour - no point in repeating that - though why tour when you could be doing the whole trip as an independent?
USD 200 per day is expensive for car hire in Norway - if you seek out the best prices you should be able to get it down to under NOK 600/day over several days depending of course on size and insurances.
Not much in the way of hotel accommodation (and everything is en-suite nowadays except hostel) under NOK 1000, so USD 250 wouldn't leave you much over for transport, food and attractions, though perhaps you could try AirBnB - look that up and prices.
If you are in to walking the mountains then 16 days is easily spent and cheap (but not en-suite), but if it is just museum bashing then 16 days may be way more than enough.
dyoll is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2014, 03:13 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What does the tour cover? Are there a lot of places on it that you specifically want to go or do you just want to experience Norway?

I was there this past June and only did Bergen and the Norway in a Nutshell as a day trip. I originally planned a few days in Oslo but as I researched I didn't really feel that was much there I wanted to see, especially given the cost. If money were no object then I could certainly see spending a couple of weeks, including Oslo and going up north. But I decided on just four days, basing in Bergen and seeing the fjords.

Bergen was wonderful and I feel like it deserves more than the one day most tours give it. I did the one day trip (Sognefjord - Myrdal to Flam to Gudvangen) and had planned another to Hardangerfjord but felt like after a while the fjords, beautiful as they are, look alike whereas there was a lot to do in and around Bergen.

I stayed at Bergen B&B and highly recommend it. It's right in the center of town so walked to everything, but on a quiet little street. It's only three rooms sharing two bathrooms. So not ensuite but might as well be and it was "only" $163/night. Norway is soooooo expensive compared to most of the rest of Europe (even compared to Denmark). It has a kitchen you can use which helps keep meal costs down (breakfast is included). There's a great fish place nearby with prices half what they are at the touristy fish market (Torget).

I've never found it a good deal financially to drive when I'm traveling solo - always costs more and you can't enjoy the scenery when you are driving. I don't know about some of the small towns in the north, but you can take a variety of one day tours out of Bergen if you want to see some areas that you can't get to by regular public transportation.

If I had 16 days I'd probably do close to half of it in Denmark (or even some in Sweden) and do it by public transportation.
isabel is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2014, 05:13 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I see your problem.

You may think differently. Norway is mostly coast. There are a few cities which are worth seeing (Oslo and Bergen) and there are the fjords (Geiranger is brilliant) and glaciers (also close to Geiranger). This makes Norway ideal for cruises.

You can either take the Hurtigruten or one of the usual cruise lines. Often, you can catch a special offer for the cruise along the coast of Norway. If the cruise starts and ends in Copenhagen, you have additional value.
traveller1959 is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2014, 09:13 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car hire in Norway, although I believe is around 200 dollars a day and a bit high for one person

A quick check with Autoeurope.com indicates that the smallest car with manual transmission and with the CDW carried by your credit card would cost $399 for a week. The price doubles if the CDW option is not available to you.
Michael is offline  
Old Sep 21st, 2014, 03:28 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello and thanks to all for the detailed responses.

This is the tour and it seems to be quite well paced (slow enough) and provides a decent itinerary. I would be paying the single supplement

http://www.globus.com.au/2015/europe...x?prod=2015.ZQ

My research thus far has been a bit rush rush in part due to some really good airfares available at the moment for next year.I originally planned on a trip to France,a place I have hired a vehicle previously and enjoyed the experience, but have always wanted to take in Norway at some point and time. I will be traveling from Australia and you can save a good $600 in flights if you find a great deal.

Odin thanks for the info about the car hire cost from GOT and in particular the ferry costs(didn't think of that at all)

dyoll and Michael - The figure I gave may have been in Aust Dollars (extra 10%), and I think the search was also for less than a week, so that would make a difference as well. I would also be looking for an automatic vehicle which I believe in most cases results in a compact vehicle minimum size. Apologies for limited detail in information. As you have mentioned I am sure it will be less than $200 with a bit more research

dyoll - the trip would be late August

isabel- thanks for the detailed response of your experience and yes possibly incorporating Denmark sounds like a good idea, more to research. Any suggestions on Denmark are most welcome!

After submitting the original post,I did a bit more research which including Copenhagen and Sweden.
Other thoughts include

1) Training it to Stockholm with a fews in the city, possible a day tour here and there. I would then catch the train from Stockholm to Oslo for the tour. This could also be done in reverse and depending on how active I am would probably be better as initially I do suffer from jetlag, particularly after being awake for about 6 hours to catch a plane mid afternoon for a total travel time of 24 hrs( I generally do not sleep much at all on the plane.) The reverse would also have me in Copenhagen prior to my flight home.

2) Do the Norway tour with an extra few days in Oslo, then train it down to Copenhagen. Maybe Hire a car or public transport in Denmark as isabel suggested.

Both options could incorporate the Sleeper cruise from Copenhagen to Oslo or the other way round with DFDS Seaway cruises

Thanks again and any further comments welcome!
theotherside is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2014, 11:45 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wouldn't do the tour and do Norway by public transport, mostly from Bergen. And either do Danmark or Norway, but not both.

Point is, Norway driving distances are pretty long, so you'll spend a lot of time on the bus and not much you can do about that. And you'll have to rise early. All in all, you'll be on someone else's schedule and I like to be on my own schedule, while on holiday.

Public transport in Norway is excellent, and late August will give you more bus routes. For instance, there is a bus route that goes along the Sognefjord and will get you to Lom, which can be a base for good walking and hiking.

Also consider huts for your stay: they're still open if you go end of august, but it's more of a rural thing.
menachem is offline  
Old Sep 23rd, 2014, 07:00 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your comments menachem,

I do need to have a bit more of a think about this, in particular what the costs are going to be. I do have 17 days in total and prior to your post was thinking about booking the tour with a bot if time in Oslo, training it to Stockholm for a period of time and finishing in Copenhagen, where I fly home from.
Can I ask you a couple of Q's
1) There will be more bus routes at the end of Aug because the holidays are over and business is back to usual?
2) With regards to the tour, is there anything the tour doesn't cover which you would rate as high on your list of things to do?
I also appreciate that with most tours some destinations are included as they are conveniently on the route traveled instead of sidetracking to something which adds to the overall time available.
Thanks in advance
theotherside is offline  
Old Sep 24th, 2014, 10:30 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are more transport options in the summer in tourist Norway - by end of September you'll find far fewer departures and special tourist routes will close, as will some accommodation options in remote areas.
dyoll is offline  
Old Sep 24th, 2014, 12:05 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dyoll said it.

also, as far as the tour goes: it's a standard tourist itinerary: doesn't look rushed, but you'll spend a lot of hours on the bus and not too much time at the stops.

for instance, this day:

LILLEHAMMER-LOM-DALSNIBBA-LOEN.

Is pretty packed. Gudbrandsdal is beautiful, but you'll see it from a bus and you can't stop anywhere. Lom is lovely in its own right and would make a great overnight stop (and has a fantastic, world famous bakery), but either your stop will be short or you won't stop at all. I think the ferry to Hellesylt will be one of the few moments of leisure you'll have.

It's a wonderful triangle to explore, and they'll take you to all the hightlights, but you'll have seen them briefly or have driven by them on the bus. That area has great public transport too, because it is tourist country for Norwegians too and august is the ideal month to still be able to rent cabins and take it a little easier.

For instance, Lillehammer is not far by train from Oslo. Lom can be reached by bus across Sognefjell, there are good fast ferries and express busses from Bergen, trains go to Myrdal and Flåm... will take a little more organizing, but you'll be in contact with Norway and Norwegians much more.

If you have a chance, try to book a night or two at Elveseter Hotel near Lom and go walking with a guide, there's glacier walking too. Better than a bus, and far more memorable (imo)
menachem is offline  
Old Sep 24th, 2014, 02:19 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
dyoll thanks for the info re; transport availability

menachem
thanks for taking the time looking at the tour Itinerary and providing possible alternatives . I've done all 3 types of travel, tour bus , public transport and car hire. Car Hire would be my prefered option for the reasons u have mentioned, re find a special place and taking the time to appreciate it.

Some thoughts

1) If not doing the tour, I am thinking of maybe concentrating on the west coast region. This may involve some solo travel and possibly some trips with http://www.nordicvisitor.com/ as well


Can I ask the following?

1) My understanding is the accommodation options are much less than other european countries such as Britain and France, and finding ensuite accommodation could be a struggle(away from the big cities). I would usually base myself in one place for 3 or 4 nights and radiate from there for site seeing.
2) If using public transport or car hire, I would get by not knowing the Norwegian language? I have travelled in France a few times and this has never created any issues, you do get by.
3) I will research this some more , but the area around lom can be experienced without a vehicle?
I have found this info for transport to the Elvestor culture and art hotel and is easily accessible by public transport.

http://www.ton.no/en/elveseter-cultu...ow-to-reach-us

Thanks again
theotherside is offline  
Old Sep 24th, 2014, 09:45 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some of the tours at nordic visitor are close cousins to the bus tour: that's no coincidence of course: they're well established tourist routes.

So you could take parts of those and mimic them, with more time at the overnight stops, and an activity in the surroundings. That goes for any stop on such a route.

As far as English goes: you'll be fine

Getting the good accommodation is a little bit dependent on where you'll stay, but, because they are such established tourist routes: the hotels are there. You'll be surprised by the out of the way places that have a Thon or a Rica hotel. You can use booking.com or similar to find them. For instance Geilo is ski country and has both self catering cabins and plush luxurious ski hotels that are empty in summer, but still open, and may offer fantastic deals. Near Lillehammer I've stayed in ski hotels during summer that had their own cabins, really to sleep 6, all to myself. And there was a sauna to each cabin...hmmmm.

Fjord bus Otto - Lom -Sogndal no 144 goes past Elveseter.

That hotel really is an experience and has an interesting history and gorgeous art. They do walking tours from there.

accommodation in Lom (for instance)

https://www.booking.com/city/no/lom.html

The point is: it' ll take a fair amount of research, but if I'd have to choose, I'd rather have an experience that includes this, than a bus tour:

https://www.booking.com/hotel/no/kva...nedLpRecProp=1

Fjord Nettbus

http://www.nettbuss.no/

Public transport in the west country

http://www.fjordnorway.com/en/TRANSPORT/Getting-around/
menachem is offline  
Old Sep 25th, 2014, 02:27 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
menachem,

Thanks again for your detailed reply,

I do have in total 17 days or 16.5 to be exact with the first 1.5 days in Oslo. I am also considering a few days in Stockholm and one day in Copenhagen before flying home from there.
I am considering the train from Oslo to Bergen and then radiate from there with public transport(a car is still in mind as well). After Bergen I would have either 11 extra days or 15 depending on the Stockholm option.

menachem, not wanting to waste too much of your time, but could you roughly suggest possible sites to include in an itinerary concentrating on the west coast with extra 11 or 14 days after Bergen. I would not be visiting Lillihammer in this instance.

PS the tour I attached is for 8 nights accommodation and the first day and last day there is no activities. Going on 8 nights accomm', a single person would pay $375 aus or roughly $337 US.

thanks again
theotherside is offline  
Old Sep 25th, 2014, 11:14 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What is it that you like to do? Move a lot around and travel from place to place, or base yourself somewhere and explore, hike and walk?

For instance, from Bergen, you can do day-long tours into the fjords by public transport with a bit of walking, so Bergen is also a good base. It always surprises me how close "the outdoors" is to the city.

Towns and even cities are relatively small, nature is ever present, and there is the Norwegian predilection for "the life outdoors" (Friluftsliv), and many Norwegian tourist destinations are designed to facilitate this.

It's an entire philosophy and, I think, specifically Norwegian

http://norwegianjournaloffriluftsliv.com/index.html

http://www.godtur.no/ (google translate)

Has many ideas for this. And that could mean basing yourself in , say, three places for 2 or 3 days convenient for a tour and then move on.

I think you Globus tour focuses on the Westfjord region. And it will offer you much variety in a short space of time.

If you go the outdoor route: pack accordingly and bring good clothing and boots etc for hiking.

Personally, I love the Sogn and Fordane very much, but also Hardangervidda.
menachem is offline  
Old Sep 26th, 2014, 01:08 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One day allocated for Copenhagen is nowhere near enough time.
Odin is offline  
Old Sep 26th, 2014, 03:30 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree odin, but too much to see in so little time.

menachem,
Yet again thankyou

I have discounted the idea of car hire. I certainly enjoy the outdoors and would enjoy walks of up to 2 hours, not full day unless it is truly special.

The 2 options are
1) Do the tour, train it to bergen and then flam area in particular for ferry rides. Train it back to Oslo and then back to Copenhagen for a day or 2 (a bit of doubling up with this option)
2) No tour, train it to bergen, then southwest , back up to Flam area. Return to Oslo and back to Copenhagen.

Thats the plan at this point and time
Any suggestions, criticisms welcome!
theotherside is offline  
Old Sep 26th, 2014, 06:02 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bergen has very nice walking trails up on Fløyen.

I'd go for option 2, but you know that already.
menachem is offline  
Old Sep 28th, 2014, 03:58 AM
  #19  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello menachem

I've decided on the following and considering my previous experiences of going it alone as opposed to a tour and Norway's very good transportation system, I think I will gain a lot more of an experience with the following. It will still give me two full days in Stockholm and Copenhagen as well

day 1 arrive oslo
day 2 Oslo
day 3 train Oslo to Bergen (overnight accomm)
day 4 bus to Stavanger (3 nights accomm)
day 5 pulpit rock or lysefjord cruise
day 6 opposite to day 5
day 7 bus to Bergen
day 8 Bergen day tours or city sights (tours of fjord or to flam etc)
day 9 Bergen day tours or city sights
day 10 Bergen day tours or city sights
day 11 Bergen day tours or city sights
day 12 Bergen day tours or city sights
day 13 fly Bergen to Stockholm
day 14 Stockholm
day 15 Stockholm
day 16 train stockholm to Copenhagen
day 17 Copenhagen
day 18 copenhagen

The start is a bit rushed but once I get back to Bergen I can take things at my own pace to my pleasing. I'm also looking forward to a relaxing ride on the train from Oslo to Bergen.

Appreciate your assistance

Cheers
theotherside is offline  
Old Sep 28th, 2014, 07:17 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Doesn't make much sense taking train to Bergen and then backtracking for a Norway in a Nutshell trip later and an excursion to Stavanger and backtracking again to Bergen - 2 days backtracking! I suggest south coast rail Oslo to Stavanger, days in Stavanger, bus Stavanger - Bergen, days in Bergen, train to Oslo doing the Norway in a Nutshell route, days in Oslo, train or fly to Stockholm etc.. Assuming you are stuck with flying out of Copenhagen - otherwise Oslo-Copenhagen with overnight ferry, days in Copenhagen, Copenhagen-Stockholm with high speed train, days in Stockholm and fly out from there. 5 cities in 18 days - doable.
dyoll is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -