Norway help..How expensive to visit? How do we best do this itinerary?
Aug 19th, 2019, 05:58 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Norway help..How expensive to visit? How do we best do this itinerary?
We're considering Norway for next summer (July) and have been reading that many people wait until they can afford it. Wondering just how expensive it is?
We would fly into Oslo and want to head to Bergen, see the Fjords and then the Lofoten Islands. Wondering the most efficient way to do this while enjoying the country?
Many thanks in advance
We would fly into Oslo and want to head to Bergen, see the Fjords and then the Lofoten Islands. Wondering the most efficient way to do this while enjoying the country?
Many thanks in advance
Aug 19th, 2019, 06:04 AM
#2
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 26,778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This will probably get moved to the Europe forum, but I will offer that, for food and drink, Norway is the second most expensive place I’ve ever been, behind only Switzerland. That being said, a lot of the big ticket costs (hotels, transport, etc.) are knowable in advance, so if you find a decent price on a hotel and any internal travel, you can always scale back you food budget (and avoid alcohol) and still have a good time.
Aug 19th, 2019, 06:14 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Norway help..how expensive to visit? How do we best do this itinerary?
We're considering Norway for next summer (July) and have been reading that many people wait until they can afford it. Wondering just how expensive it is?
We would fly into Oslo and want to head to Bergen, see the Fjords and then the Lofoten Islands. Wondering the most efficient way to do this while enjoying the country?
Many thanks in advance
We would fly into Oslo and want to head to Bergen, see the Fjords and then the Lofoten Islands. Wondering the most efficient way to do this while enjoying the country?
Many thanks in advance
Aug 19th, 2019, 06:44 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Take a look at the Norway in a Nutshell. It will take you from Oslo to Bergen, or vice versa. We really enjoyed it. As for Norway being expensive, yes it can be. For us, we had already been to Iceland and Denmark on that trip, so I think we were used to the costs by then
But you can also make budget choices and it won't be too bad. Our hotels in both Oslo and Bergen were reasonably priced, but the food was expensive, and we did not go anywhere nice, just very casual/low key places.
But you can also make budget choices and it won't be too bad. Our hotels in both Oslo and Bergen were reasonably priced, but the food was expensive, and we did not go anywhere nice, just very casual/low key places.
Aug 19th, 2019, 06:57 AM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks mms, I was recently in Iceland too and good to know it's similar. Our hotels weren't too bad, it was mostly the food & drink that were crazy expensive.
We're foodies and love to experience the food in the different places we travel but I think if we know we need to reign that in here we can set those expectations. We love to cook too so might be fun to do that if we get an Airbnb using ingredients we can't find at home.
We're foodies and love to experience the food in the different places we travel but I think if we know we need to reign that in here we can set those expectations. We love to cook too so might be fun to do that if we get an Airbnb using ingredients we can't find at home.
Aug 19th, 2019, 07:22 AM
#12
Yes you can, but I don't know how to book that. I would call the local agent, I found them very responsive. Supposedly you can book day trips etc. on the Norwegian website, but I couldn't figure it out myself.
Aug 19th, 2019, 07:28 AM
#13
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We're considering Norway for next summer (July) and have been reading that many people wait until they can afford it. Wondering just how expensive it is?
We would fly into Oslo and want to head to Bergen, see the Fjords and then the Lofoten Islands. Wondering the most efficient way to do this while enjoying the country?
Many thanks in advance
We would fly into Oslo and want to head to Bergen, see the Fjords and then the Lofoten Islands. Wondering the most efficient way to do this while enjoying the country?
Many thanks in advance
You might want to take a look at my trip report. I usually try to give prices and we try to travel fairly modestly. Click on my name to find the report, which is getting old, but it will give an idea of what is available at a lesser cost.
Aug 19th, 2019, 08:14 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>>> have been reading that many people wait until they can afford it. Wondering just how expensive it is?
It appears you are looking this as something static. Looking at your other threads, it looks like you are coming from the U.S. Presuming your travel fund is in USD, then one of the relevant info is how much NOK you can get out of your dollar fund. This is far from static. Just look at the exchange rate over last 10 years. If you asked someone who traveled before 2014 without this context, you will be given a bleaker budget view of traveling in Norway.
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?f...o=NOK&view=10Y
It appears you are looking this as something static. Looking at your other threads, it looks like you are coming from the U.S. Presuming your travel fund is in USD, then one of the relevant info is how much NOK you can get out of your dollar fund. This is far from static. Just look at the exchange rate over last 10 years. If you asked someone who traveled before 2014 without this context, you will be given a bleaker budget view of traveling in Norway.
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?f...o=NOK&view=10Y
Aug 19th, 2019, 08:20 AM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good point Greg, had thought about that too. We're going on restaurant menus and looking at pricing and realizing it's not much different than here (NY metro area). Prices for alcohol have been pretty ridiculous lately at restaurants in our local area so we're used to it. It has been so nice traveling to Spain, Croatia, Geece Italy where it's so reasonable compared to here.
If comparing Norway to the rest of Europe it's definitely MUCH more expensive...but these other locations have been a huge decrease in what we're used to.
If comparing Norway to the rest of Europe it's definitely MUCH more expensive...but these other locations have been a huge decrease in what we're used to.
Aug 19th, 2019, 09:07 AM
#18
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,033
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No you won't need airco. Just take the train to bergen rather than doing the NIN route. It is still a stunning tri and you will lose some of the crowds.
You can book the Hurtigruten for part of the journey. You do not have to do the whole thing. On the Norwegian site there is the option to book havn til havn. It is pretty easy even without Norwegian. Alternatively email or phone them. You want Bergen to Svolvaer. You can fly back from Bodo to Oslo.
It is an expensive country, eating out is very expensive, hotels seem expesnvie, especially to Americans i think, because the rooms tend to be small. It can actually be worth buying the city cards for the free public transport and the discounts they offer at certain restaurants. DOn't let the expense put you off though!
DO book accomodation early, especially on Lofoten which has (sadly) become a trendy destination.
You can book the Hurtigruten for part of the journey. You do not have to do the whole thing. On the Norwegian site there is the option to book havn til havn. It is pretty easy even without Norwegian. Alternatively email or phone them. You want Bergen to Svolvaer. You can fly back from Bodo to Oslo.
It is an expensive country, eating out is very expensive, hotels seem expesnvie, especially to Americans i think, because the rooms tend to be small. It can actually be worth buying the city cards for the free public transport and the discounts they offer at certain restaurants. DOn't let the expense put you off though!
DO book accomodation early, especially on Lofoten which has (sadly) become a trendy destination.
Aug 19th, 2019, 01:10 PM
#19
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aug 19th, 2019, 03:47 PM
#20
Bergen and Oslo & other parts of Norway had record high temps this past July , 92 on a few days and up to 97 on one day.
Amerikalinjen Hotel has a good location and nice, quiet air conditioning. Ask for 5th floor or higher/ no street noise.
Thon Hotel Cecil is great value, includes a great breakfast and even a light dinner, and has air conditioning.
Amerikalinjen Hotel has a good location and nice, quiet air conditioning. Ask for 5th floor or higher/ no street noise.
Thon Hotel Cecil is great value, includes a great breakfast and even a light dinner, and has air conditioning.
