How should we spend 6 nights in Norway?
Apr 18th, 2011 | 01:01 PM
#44
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,818
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<i>Well, maybe she'll report back. Or maybe DebitNM will share a few nuggets from her trip with us!</i>
For all of you regular contributors like myself, are you not puzzled why some posters never provide even a tidbit of a feedback? A simple thankyou after asking so many questions and receiving some very thoughtful guidance. (Thanks Mom, for giving me a set of manners).
stu tower
For all of you regular contributors like myself, are you not puzzled why some posters never provide even a tidbit of a feedback? A simple thankyou after asking so many questions and receiving some very thoughtful guidance. (Thanks Mom, for giving me a set of manners).
stu tower
Apr 18th, 2011 | 08:32 PM
#49
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 685
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Imagine my surprise when I noticed that this thread was gotten a second wind. I have planned hard and long to allow the most cost effective yet most comfortable way of seeing this part of the world.
We will leave Miami Thursday afternoon the 7th of July and arrive in Stockholm July the 8th a bit past noon. I was able to get a flight with just one connection through Frankfurt on Lufthansa Airlines. We will be using 50,000 AMEX points and $124 each.
We are spending 4 nights in Stockholm and flying on SAS for $70 each to Oslo. We will spend 3 nights in Oslo before starting the Norway in a Nut shell tour towards Bergen.
Upon arriving in Flam half way through the nutshell we will stop and spend 2 nights in Aurland along the Fjord. Then we will finish the nutshell tour from Flam to Bergen.
We will spend 3 nights in Bergen and then fly onto Copenhagen. This flight is the first leg of our return to Miami so it is paid for by Continental (our original airline for this trip.)
After 5 nights in Copenhagen we finish the stopover and complete our flight back to Miami. This system of stopovers and open jaw flights saves a lot in flight expenses.
We are staying in Clarion Collection hotels in each city which offer breakfast, afternoon snacks and a free evening “light Buffet” These are all included in the price. A huge savings over the horribly expensive restaurants found in this part of Europe.
Lastly I was able to get a 40% summer sales for all of our hotel stays so we will pay around $130/night for a nice, upscale hotel with all these free meals in almost every city.
The savings are unbelievable. Most of these hotels normally go for $240 to $280 per night. Thus the economic sting will be taken out of our coming trip.
Does anyone know the best place to buy wine? i have read that buying wine at the airport at the duty free shops as you enter each country is the way to go. Any ideas?
We will leave Miami Thursday afternoon the 7th of July and arrive in Stockholm July the 8th a bit past noon. I was able to get a flight with just one connection through Frankfurt on Lufthansa Airlines. We will be using 50,000 AMEX points and $124 each.
We are spending 4 nights in Stockholm and flying on SAS for $70 each to Oslo. We will spend 3 nights in Oslo before starting the Norway in a Nut shell tour towards Bergen.
Upon arriving in Flam half way through the nutshell we will stop and spend 2 nights in Aurland along the Fjord. Then we will finish the nutshell tour from Flam to Bergen.
We will spend 3 nights in Bergen and then fly onto Copenhagen. This flight is the first leg of our return to Miami so it is paid for by Continental (our original airline for this trip.)
After 5 nights in Copenhagen we finish the stopover and complete our flight back to Miami. This system of stopovers and open jaw flights saves a lot in flight expenses.
We are staying in Clarion Collection hotels in each city which offer breakfast, afternoon snacks and a free evening “light Buffet” These are all included in the price. A huge savings over the horribly expensive restaurants found in this part of Europe.
Lastly I was able to get a 40% summer sales for all of our hotel stays so we will pay around $130/night for a nice, upscale hotel with all these free meals in almost every city.
The savings are unbelievable. Most of these hotels normally go for $240 to $280 per night. Thus the economic sting will be taken out of our coming trip.
Does anyone know the best place to buy wine? i have read that buying wine at the airport at the duty free shops as you enter each country is the way to go. Any ideas?
Apr 18th, 2011 | 11:23 PM
#50
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,214
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Wow InMiami, sounds great I am sure you will have a brilliant time.
I only know about wine in Norway. You can buy it at the duty free shop in the airport before you go through customs. I think , but really can't remember correctly, the duty free shop is after you go through customs and collect your baggage. There are also shops in Oslo and Bergen that sell wine (Vinmonopolet) - you cannot buy alcohol except low alcohol beer in a supermarket. The duty free allowance is (if I remember correctly) 3 litres per person over 21 and the authorities are very strict at enforcing this.
Enjoy Scandanavia
I only know about wine in Norway. You can buy it at the duty free shop in the airport before you go through customs. I think , but really can't remember correctly, the duty free shop is after you go through customs and collect your baggage. There are also shops in Oslo and Bergen that sell wine (Vinmonopolet) - you cannot buy alcohol except low alcohol beer in a supermarket. The duty free allowance is (if I remember correctly) 3 litres per person over 21 and the authorities are very strict at enforcing this.
Enjoy Scandanavia
Apr 19th, 2011 | 09:55 AM
#53
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,214
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Sorry don't know about Stockholm and don't know if Sweden has the same restrictions on alcohol as Norway. I understand that Sweden is cheaper than Norway but as I have never been (will be able to tell you at the end of June as I will be there then) I can't say for certain.
Apr 19th, 2011 | 10:13 AM
#54
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
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Greetings from Oslo! We drove up from Sweden today with our new Volvo [which is beautiful].
Nice drive up E6 but boy oh boy, once we got into the city - it was awful. The map was bad, the directions were worse and the street names - they all look like this: Bsdogjeuywuggii
Seriously, there was lots of construction, so street were blocked and the signs were really hard to read [they don't seem to have directions on them like I40 EAST, or WEST. There are also seemingly the same roads with signs pointing in different directions. It really was pure luck that we found our hotel. I have new found respect for people visiting the US who don't speak English. We were lucky, we could stop in for directions and always found someone who could speak English. I don't think if someone from Sweden or Norway could stop in a 7-11 in the US and find someone who could speak Swedish or Norweigan.
Food and drink in all of Scandanavia is unbelievable! A simple meal was easily $50 and up, tap water is often served at a charge of a few $ per person, tap water. Beer is around $10 a glass. Gas is around $10 for 4 litres.
But we are having a grand time.
I will post a TR with pictures as time permits.
Deb
Nice drive up E6 but boy oh boy, once we got into the city - it was awful. The map was bad, the directions were worse and the street names - they all look like this: Bsdogjeuywuggii
Seriously, there was lots of construction, so street were blocked and the signs were really hard to read [they don't seem to have directions on them like I40 EAST, or WEST. There are also seemingly the same roads with signs pointing in different directions. It really was pure luck that we found our hotel. I have new found respect for people visiting the US who don't speak English. We were lucky, we could stop in for directions and always found someone who could speak English. I don't think if someone from Sweden or Norway could stop in a 7-11 in the US and find someone who could speak Swedish or Norweigan.
Food and drink in all of Scandanavia is unbelievable! A simple meal was easily $50 and up, tap water is often served at a charge of a few $ per person, tap water. Beer is around $10 a glass. Gas is around $10 for 4 litres.
But we are having a grand time.
I will post a TR with pictures as time permits.
Deb
Apr 19th, 2011 | 10:19 AM
#55
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,818
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Cambe and InMiami...June and July can be nippy especially if you venture far to the north. We wore jackets and sweaters
all the way to Tromso in August! Same for Sweden, coming down from Narvik to Stockholm. You're both in for great trips...TR's?
stu
all the way to Tromso in August! Same for Sweden, coming down from Narvik to Stockholm. You're both in for great trips...TR's?
stu
Apr 19th, 2011 | 02:08 PM
#56
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
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DebitNM,
Norway is expensive, and with the crack in most of the western economies it only gets worse for those less fortunate than us in Bsdogjeuywuggii. Keep up the grand time and enjoy springtime coming. These days most of people in Oslo are up in the mountain areas to catch the waning winter...
And you are definitely in the wrong place if you have to pay for tap water (the best), never done that in 45 years in Oslo.
Norway is expensive, and with the crack in most of the western economies it only gets worse for those less fortunate than us in Bsdogjeuywuggii. Keep up the grand time and enjoy springtime coming. These days most of people in Oslo are up in the mountain areas to catch the waning winter...
And you are definitely in the wrong place if you have to pay for tap water (the best), never done that in 45 years in Oslo.
Apr 20th, 2011 | 07:30 AM
#58
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
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We are now in Voss, we drove from Oslo. It was a long but amazing drive. We followed the Nutshell suggested drive and even did the longer route through the mountains. I will post some pictures and details later after I grab some dinner.
Apr 22nd, 2011 | 12:58 PM
#59
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,882
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Deb,
Great to see your post. Reminding me of our visit to Norway now almost 2 years ago. We definitely want to go back and see more of the countryside, but I think we'll have to go on a diet to avoid those high food costs.
Your experience reminds me of why we like to use public transport or our feet whenever possible, but I am sure you are seeing more off the beaten track places than we did.
Great to see your post. Reminding me of our visit to Norway now almost 2 years ago. We definitely want to go back and see more of the countryside, but I think we'll have to go on a diet to avoid those high food costs.
Your experience reminds me of why we like to use public transport or our feet whenever possible, but I am sure you are seeing more off the beaten track places than we did.
Apr 24th, 2011 | 07:03 AM
#60
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2004
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DebitNM, are you going to be in Aurland or Flam? We are breaking up the Nutshell with a 2 night stay in Aurland.
I am considering visiting the Borgund Stave church, hiking the Royal Post Road, the FjordSafari or taking the train back toward Myrdal and biking back.
All of these can be done with public transportation but we will have time for only one. Any suggestions?
I am considering visiting the Borgund Stave church, hiking the Royal Post Road, the FjordSafari or taking the train back toward Myrdal and biking back.
All of these can be done with public transportation but we will have time for only one. Any suggestions?
