Alex Mottler

This hotel was perfect for what I was looking for! It even had a sauna and fitness center, which was a nice surprise. It is located on the historic Bryggen, which is a UNESCO site in Bergen! It was so nice being able to step out of my quiet hotel and be right near shops, cafes, and the fish market.

I loved this aparthotel! It is right on the fjord, with not a single thing in your view. Most Aurland businesses are closed in November, which Alex had told me, but it is so close to Flåm that I loved the idea of being a bit outside of the crowds. This aparthotel has a full kitchen and a grocery store next door, so I was able to make my own meals which was a really nice change of pace during traveling!

This hotel has an incredible breakfast and view of Bryggen! I suggest waking up early, while still dark, and seeing Bryggen. It was all lit up and the water was still, creating an amazing mirrored image! My specific room left a bit to be desired, but it was due to my choice of a standard room. I was still quite happy with the amenities and location though! With the location and amenities, it's a great choice - I'd just suggest upgrading to a top-tier room that will be more updated and with a balcony.

This hotel is right on the water and on the edge of the main street with shops, cafes, and restaurants in Ålesund! When I checked in, since I was early, I asked if I'd get a better room in the same tier if I were to wait to check in - they said yes. They suggested I waited a few hours and I could probably get a room with a view to the water. This is exactly what I did and exactly what I got. I just dropped my luggage in their luggage room and explored for a bit, then got back and enjoyed my room. This hotel has a great breakfast and a restaurant for dinner. They also have a small menu that they offer 24/7 with paninis, pizzas, and such. This was so nice for me, getting in and just wanting something quick.

This place is a must if you can! It is so quaint, with amazing views, and incredible dinners! It has a kitchen which was nice, given that my daylight was short. I was able to go to the store and grab some things and enjoy my cozy place after my activities. The only con of this place is that it is across the bridge, so if it's raining, you just have to walk about 10-15m to get to the shops, but the hotel had a large umbrella in my room, so this wasn't a problem for me. The floating sauna in Svlovær is also part of this property, so I loved having just a quick 2-minute walk from my room to the sauna (the views from this sauna are unreal.. highly suggest!)

This is right out of the airport (about a 5-10m walk) and was exactly what I wanted since I was only staying one night in Oslo to catch my flight the next day back to the US. This is a bigger hotel, but was very clean, quiet, and had an incredible breakfast, which opens early. I'm an early riser, so I really appreciated being able to get some nice coffee early!

Very cool experience! Marianne, my guide, was born in Bergen and knew so many ins and outs! The pace of this tour was perfect, we saw (and tasted) quite a bit, but it didn't feel rushed. We went all through Bryggen, the fish market, and even to the first coffee shop in Bergen (the owner is still working the cafe and making the baked goods and coffee). There were many things that I would've just walked right past if it weren't for this tour. Great experience!

This is a must if in Alesund! It's a short walk right in town (lots of steps, but plenty of spots to take a break). I suggest doing it during the daylight and again in the evening if you can - it's cool to see the lights at night!

I thought I was going to be chillllllly on this (winter kayaking?!), but in fact, I was quite warm - who knew?! It was the perfect amount of effort (moderate, and the guide was flexible with going slower or faster, depending on what you wanted) and we had suits on that kept us dry and cozy. We did a loop around the island and then ended at the floating sauna (where you can jump into the water too!). This was a fun experience!

Eric, my guide, feels like my new best friend! I specifically chose a private experience to get a flexible/personalized experience. Right when I met my guide, he asked if there was anything specifically that I wanted to see/visit. I didn't know much of the area and trusted his judgment. We drove all around, stopping at hidden gems as well as some popular sites (Henningsvær soccer field, Haukland Beach...). This was a really cool time to visit these spots since they can get busy in peak season - I feel like I got the private showing of the hot spots. Eric also drove me through his village (11 houses, 13 residents) and showed how the locals live. Very cool and authentic experience with a knowledgeable guide! This is a must-do if in the Lofoten Islands and just wanting to make the most of your time there!

This floating sauna is unreal - the views are amazing! Highly suggest trying to do the sauna during daylight (to appreciate the views even more) and jumping off of the roof into the water!