Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Thoughts on itinerary through Scandinavia

Thoughts on itinerary through Scandinavia

Old Jul 29th, 2008, 07:19 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thoughts on itinerary through Scandinavia

We think we have finalized our June '09 trip to Scand. but would really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions for hotels, etc.
Day 1- Fly from Boston to Iceland on Icelandair, taking advantage of layover package for 2 nights/3days
Day 4- fly to Helsinki, stay 2 nights, taking day trip to Tallin
Day 6- Take escorted ScanAm tour to St.Petersburg
Day 9-return from St.Pete, stay overnight in Helsinki
Day 10 +11-fly to Stockholm,tour city, canals, etc.
Day 12 +13-fly to Oslo, see Folk Museum/Viking Ship Museum
Day 14- Take ScanAm Independent Fjord Tour, leaving Oslo to Flam.Stay at Fretheim Hotel
Day 15,16+17-Take express boat to Balestrand. STay at Balestrand Hotel,but want to see Josteral Glacier and Geirangefjord, too. Should we stay in Geiranger? How to get there?
Day 18-Depart for Bergen
Day 19-Bergen
Day 20-Fly from Bergen to Copenhagen
Day 21 Copenhagen
Day 22-train to Odense,on to Aero Island --bike around island,stay overnight
Day 23-train back to Copenhagen
Day 24-fly home
We enjoy the country and history, not into shopping. We are in our 60's but active! We'll be traveling by train or bus. PLEASE HELP!!!

teacup123456 is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2008, 07:45 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In the even you haven't booked your flights already, I think a more sensible order would bebr />
Iceland
Norway (Bergen, fjords, then Oslo)
Stockholm
Helsinki
St Petersberg
Tallin
Copenhagen
Home.

That way you could probably do almost the entire trip via train/ferry and get rid of several flights altogether (unless you love flying).
RM67 is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2008, 08:03 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for your imput. Our St Petersbury tour leaves only on Mondays form Helsinki. We both don't travel well on long train trips or long ferry trips, so that is why we opted for short flights.
teacup123456 is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2008, 08:16 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You got some backtracking early on in the itinerary that seems counterproductive; not sure why you need to go back to Helsinki for an overnight. IMHO, two days in Helsinki are definitely plenty (that includes Tallin...!).

My favorite fjord area were the Sognefjord and the Geirangefjord areas. Best way to see it is a combo ferry/car. Whatever you do, do NOT leave Norway without visiting a stave church. If I were you I would rent a car on Day 15, drop on day 20.
Viajero2 is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2008, 08:40 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We need to return to Helsinki because our St. Pete tour doesn't get us back to Helsinki until 9:00 pm at night. Too late to fly out to Stockholm. Appreciate your idea of car rental for fjord area.
teacup123456 is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2008, 08:43 AM
  #6  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi, teacup -

What strikes me about your itinerary is how much time you'll spend traveling and how little time you will actually have in most of these wonderful destinations. For example, it seems that you'll have less than 2 days in Stockholm. It depends on what you want to see and experience, but you might want to consider dropping a location or two so that you can spend some more time where you do choose to stay.

Hope that helps!
kja is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2008, 08:50 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Agree you havee way too much time getting from one place to another and not enough time anywhere.

Stockholm and St Pet deserve at least 4 days each, Copenhagen 3 days and Oslo 2. And that's not shopping - it's sightseing - major museums, boat tips, royalpalaces etc.

IMHO you have too much time in Norway - cute, but not that exciting and Helskinki.

Are youlocked into a tour to St Pet? Why not just do it on your own - it's perfectly simple - we had no problems - and then you can pick days/arrangements that fir yuor needs.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2008, 10:01 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree w/last poster: seems like a four day tour is shaping your whole itinerary and not in the most convenient way! This type route is beter laid out by flying out to the easternmost destination and traveling your way back west. That is, fly out to Iceland-St. Pete, train to Helsinki, fly to Stockholm, train to Oslo, rent a car, draft a road trip (Bergen-Oslo), ferry over to Copenhagen, fly home from Copengahen. the four day tour from/to Helsinki is nutty.
Viajero2 is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2008, 02:36 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Scandinavia is lovely to visit. If you need ideas about what to do in Iceland you can check this web-site: http://www.main-iceland.blogspot.com/
anda007 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gpm
Europe
26
Jun 22nd, 2016 05:01 PM
rtraveler1
Europe
6
Jul 24th, 2013 04:09 PM
dianeinsonoma
Europe
6
Jan 16th, 2008 10:39 AM
beaverpie
Europe
4
Jan 21st, 2006 01:39 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

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