Driving UK to Norway
Oct 11th, 2016, 04:54 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Driving UK to Norway
Hi,
We've always wanted to visit Norway and I'm looking into the option of either ferrying from Harwich to Hook of Holland or Eurotunnel to Calais (we live in Essex), driving up to Denmark, and then a ferry over to Norway to spend the majority of the holiday there (although I'll break up the journeys with 1 or 2 overnight stays).
Interested to know if anyone else has done similar, any tips, and also what time of year might be good to do this? I'm thinking either Easter break (first 2 weeks of April) or beginning of Summer holidays at the end of July 2 kids in school and want to avoid pulling them out for any time as we may need to save that option for Florida later in the year).
We've always wanted to visit Norway and I'm looking into the option of either ferrying from Harwich to Hook of Holland or Eurotunnel to Calais (we live in Essex), driving up to Denmark, and then a ferry over to Norway to spend the majority of the holiday there (although I'll break up the journeys with 1 or 2 overnight stays).
Interested to know if anyone else has done similar, any tips, and also what time of year might be good to do this? I'm thinking either Easter break (first 2 weeks of April) or beginning of Summer holidays at the end of July 2 kids in school and want to avoid pulling them out for any time as we may need to save that option for Florida later in the year).
Oct 11th, 2016, 05:09 AM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Winter/early spring you may need to fit winter tyres. Have snow chains/socks etc.
Use the link on the right for PDF of specifics for each country.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...equipment.html
Seas can be rough in winter.
Ferry prices via this website.
http://www.aferry.to//GWmapRefer.asp?ReferComp=AF173
Use the link on the right for PDF of specifics for each country.
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...equipment.html
Seas can be rough in winter.
Ferry prices via this website.
http://www.aferry.to//GWmapRefer.asp?ReferComp=AF173
Oct 11th, 2016, 05:22 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Because of the distance involved and the cost of ferries, it probably makes more sense to fly to Norway (there are some low-cost airlines serving Norway) and hire a car. Taking your own car only makes sense if you are a big family, or towing a caravan.
Oct 11th, 2016, 10:20 PM
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You need a real reason for driving - like taking your dogs, going for several weeks so wanting to take all your office kit to work with, intending to stock up on wine in France en route or need lots of special equipment.
Otherwise it's two long and expensive ferries or a really boring trek across northern Germany to Copenhagen and an even longer, boringer, schlep up through Sweden. Plus two nights' hotels in places like Malmo few of us want to be in. Almost certainly far, far pricier than a cheapo on Norwegian or Easyjet, then a local car hire.
Don't get me wrong: I love three-day cross-Continent drives. But those six days are a large proportion of your two weeks. Six days that are easily used productively as part of a four-week season in Italy or Spain, because you've got so much to see and do en route.
To Norway, though? Spending almost half a planned tour of the fjords on Dutch motorways and Belgian Travelodges? Even Ryanair must be preferable - not least because Norway's only 90 mins of modest discomfort from Stansted.
Cost the alternatives (in money and your time) carefully. Driving makes sense for very few people.
Otherwise it's two long and expensive ferries or a really boring trek across northern Germany to Copenhagen and an even longer, boringer, schlep up through Sweden. Plus two nights' hotels in places like Malmo few of us want to be in. Almost certainly far, far pricier than a cheapo on Norwegian or Easyjet, then a local car hire.
Don't get me wrong: I love three-day cross-Continent drives. But those six days are a large proportion of your two weeks. Six days that are easily used productively as part of a four-week season in Italy or Spain, because you've got so much to see and do en route.
To Norway, though? Spending almost half a planned tour of the fjords on Dutch motorways and Belgian Travelodges? Even Ryanair must be preferable - not least because Norway's only 90 mins of modest discomfort from Stansted.
Cost the alternatives (in money and your time) carefully. Driving makes sense for very few people.
Oct 12th, 2016, 12:57 AM
#6
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Driving in Norwegian mountains around Easter time on summer tyres would not be too smart. Also RHD car in Norway would be a disadvantage. If hiring a car from a city around this time and intending to make a trip over the mountains be sure to specify winter tyres as this is the time of year that tyres are changed in cities.
Oct 12th, 2016, 01:20 AM
#8
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree flying and hiring makes the most sense, certainly that early in the year.
Depending on which part of Norway you want to see in your two weeks you can fly from the UK to many Norwegian airports. Look at Norwegian air as well as the usual Easyjet and also the legacy airlines.
If you choose to go by car take the ferry to Hook of Holland, and the ferry from Denmark to Norway. No need to go near Sweden if you don't want to.
Don't stock up on booze before you go, tempting as it is. Norway is not EU, (though it is Schengen) and has strict limits on importing not only booze, but coffee and other stuff.
As to timing, there can be snow on the passes as late as the end of June, so unless you are confident about snow driving I would go in the summer, when you can also take advantage of the long hours of daylight. It will be a lot warmer too!
Remember too that there are tolls and low speed limits in Norway, and hotels, food and fuel are not cheap, not to say downright expensive!
Depending on which part of Norway you want to see in your two weeks you can fly from the UK to many Norwegian airports. Look at Norwegian air as well as the usual Easyjet and also the legacy airlines.
If you choose to go by car take the ferry to Hook of Holland, and the ferry from Denmark to Norway. No need to go near Sweden if you don't want to.
Don't stock up on booze before you go, tempting as it is. Norway is not EU, (though it is Schengen) and has strict limits on importing not only booze, but coffee and other stuff.
As to timing, there can be snow on the passes as late as the end of June, so unless you are confident about snow driving I would go in the summer, when you can also take advantage of the long hours of daylight. It will be a lot warmer too!
Remember too that there are tolls and low speed limits in Norway, and hotels, food and fuel are not cheap, not to say downright expensive!
Oct 14th, 2016, 10:28 PM
#9
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RHD car in Norway with narrow roads and few overtaking opportunities would be a bigger dissadvantage than European highways, but of course it is doable - just another factor to add in the pros and cons.
Fuel is pretty much the same price as UK, and the difference in cost wouldn't make a significant difference to the total budget. Do note that fuel is significantly cheaper on Sunday evenings/Monday mornings in cities where there is price competition - well worth filling the tank then. Thursday mornings tend to be cheaper too.
There are generous duty free allowances entering Norway. If you don't take spirits and tobacco you can take up to 4 ½ litres (6 bottles) of wine per person (over 18) and 2 litres of beer. If you can, buy in Germany or Denmark, but do check allowances in any country you are passing through. There are significant savings.
There are few restrictions on buying coffee and other stuff - in fact you will find huge shopping centres on the Swedish side of the border where Norwegians day trip to stock up on cheaper food items. The only restriction I can think of is max 5kg of fresh meat products per person.
Fuel is pretty much the same price as UK, and the difference in cost wouldn't make a significant difference to the total budget. Do note that fuel is significantly cheaper on Sunday evenings/Monday mornings in cities where there is price competition - well worth filling the tank then. Thursday mornings tend to be cheaper too.
There are generous duty free allowances entering Norway. If you don't take spirits and tobacco you can take up to 4 ½ litres (6 bottles) of wine per person (over 18) and 2 litres of beer. If you can, buy in Germany or Denmark, but do check allowances in any country you are passing through. There are significant savings.
There are few restrictions on buying coffee and other stuff - in fact you will find huge shopping centres on the Swedish side of the border where Norwegians day trip to stock up on cheaper food items. The only restriction I can think of is max 5kg of fresh meat products per person.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gragusha
Europe
6
Apr 5th, 2012 07:52 AM
