Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Scandinavian Heritage Tour

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Scandinavian Heritage Tour

http://www.goaheadvacations.com/dest...SCA_body01.asp Hi all, The address above is a link to a specific tour a few of us are thinking of doing; if anyone could take the time to give it a look, it would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has done a similar tour, stayed in any of the listed hotels, or used the same tour company, I'd love to hear about it. All information is welcome! Thanks, Jenn

Hi, Looks like you are going on a interesting trip. I think you have too little time in Norway. Two days is hardly enough to see the Fjord region. The Grand Hotel which you are staying at in Oslo is cosidered one of Oslos best hotels, and it has a very good location. You will be right at the main street (Karl Johan), five minutes walk to the Royal Castle and five minutes to the waterfront shops and restaurants (Aker Brygge). Have a nice trip, Kaja

Hi Jenn, I have stayed in Seaside Hotel in Helsinki. No complaints, but it's located in a somewhat dull part of Helsinki. However, it's quite close to terminal where Estonian ferries leave so I would recommend the optional cruise to Tallinn. Tallinn is really beautiful because it has preserved its medieval centre.

Hi Kaja, Thanks for the response. I agree with you, 2 days is not enough in Norway. Unfortunately, my other half does not have the same travelling tastes as I do. If he's in the same place for more than 3 or 4 days, he's bored! He digs those get on a bus and be driven around to all the important and history sights deals; I detest them. I, on the other hand, would love to be dropped off in the center of a city with nothing but a subway map and left to fend for myself for a couple of weeks,lol. Anyway, this trip is the best thing I could come up with to satisfy both of our tastes. One or two "unguided" days in each city; but not long enough in any of them for him to get bored. Thanks for the advice, Jenn

Janne, We're considering the Tallinn excursion. When you say that the hotel is in a "som ewhat dull" section of town, could you please give a little more info? Is it less populated, less visually appealling? Nowhere interesting to eat or browse around? None of us going on the trip have ever been to Helsinki before, so we're not familiart with the city's traits. Hope to hear from you again. Thanks! Jenn

Hi again I've decided to post the itinerary for the tour so that you don't have to leave the forum & message boards to check it out. Also interested in opinions on the planned and/or optional excursions. What would you consider must sees or not worth it? Again, thanks for any advice. Here's the itinerary: Copenhagen Palace Hotel Days 1-2 Board your overnight flight to Denmark, arriving on Day 2 in Copenhagen. A representative greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Days 3-4 A professional guide leads your tour of Copenhagen, Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale city. Pass by the town hall and Tivoli, the city’s glitzy amusement park. Continue past Christiansborg Palace (seat of the Danish Parliament), Rosenborg Castle, the old stock exchange, and the Royal Theatre (home of the famous Royal Danish Ballet). Stop at the courtyard of Amalienborg Palace before seeing the fabler’s Little Mermaid, watching over Copenhagen’s harbor. On Day 4, you might opt for a full-day excursion to the towns of Roskilde and Dragør. Cruise to Norway Scandinavian Seaways Ferry Day 5 Walk in the footsteps of Hamlet on today’s optional excursion to Kronborg Castle in Elsinore, setting for the Shakespearian play. Returning to Copenhagen, board your overnight cruise to Oslo. Oslo Grand Hotel Days 6-7 A local guide meets you as you arrive in Oslo and leads a sightseeing tour of the Norwegian capital, with a visit to the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Viking Museum, as well as a stop to see the intriguing Vigeland sculptures in Frogner Park. On Day 7, opt to travel west to the scenic fjords region. Stockholm Hotel Anglais Days 8-9 Traverse the bucolic Swedish countryside, past lakes, meadows and small villages, as you make your way to Stockholm, Sweden’s sophisticated capital. On Day 9 you’ll have a guided sightseeing tour. Visit the Vasa Museum on the island of Djurgården; here you’ll see the Vasa warship, which sank in 1628 before ever leaving Stockholm’s harbor. Then stroll along the winding streets of the Old Town. You’ll also visit the architecturally unique Town Hall, site of the annual Nobel Prize banquet. Day 10 See more of Stockholm on your own today; one popular choice is a visit to the outdoor museum of Skansen. You might wish to join an optional excursion to the Palace of Drottningholm, a magnificent royal residence on the shores of Lake Mälaren. Cruise to Finland Viking Line Ferry Day 11 Opt for an excursion to ancient Uppsala, considered the birthplace of Sweden, and the thousand-year-old city of Sigtuna today before you depart Stockholm on another overnight cruise ship. Enjoy a delicious smorgasbord dinner late this evening as you sail toward Finland. Helsinki Seaside Hotel Days 12-13 See the sights of Helsinki, from the modern Olympic Stadium to the Temppeliaukio Church, carved out of a rocky hillside. See the unusual Sibelius monument, honoring Finland’s famous composer, and pass by the red granite Parliament building. With free time on Day 13, you might choose to visit Helsinki’s zoo or the National Museum. Alternatively, join an exciting full-day excursion to the lovely city of Tallinn, capital of the newly independent Republic of Estonia. Day 14 A representative accompanies you to the airport, where you’ll check in for your flight home; or continue on to St. Petersburg for our tour extension. OPTIONAL ADD-ON: St. Petersburg,3 nights Travel to St. Petersburg, Russia’s Window on the West, for a 3-night stay. Begin with an included tour that introduces you to all the highlights of Peter the Great’s beautiful city; visit St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Hermitage and Peter and Paul’s Fortress. Then opt for a half-day excursion to Petrodvorets, once the summer residence of the tsars. Thanks, Jennifer

Jenn, You could say that Seaside Hotel is located in one corner of the city centre. Or perhaps to put it better, the centre starts just behind the hotel. I wouldn't say it's visually ugly around the hotel, just a bit boring compared to the architecture close to the dome. However, it's not further than 1 mile from the more interesting parts of town, so I'm sure that's not going to be any problem.