Norway Self Guided
Norway | Aug 19 - Sep 2, 2022

B
Bayard T.
Tilton, NH | Reviewed on Sep 24, 2022

I substitute the word "Excellent" for your term "Amazing".
All things considered and relatively, our trip to Norway went extremely well. The logistics worked according to plan. The weather was very good. It was great fun. Julia was a big help with the hotels and area attractions. The few glitches we had were attended to and resolved quickly. I appreciate Julia's attentive and prompt responses to our requests. Good job!
As kimkim's role here was to find us hotels along the itinerary we designed, I am providing our comments on your recommendations which might help with other clients
Excellent (5 Stars!!): (1) The Rosvang Gaard. Otto and Albert provided a memorable experience. The lodging, the food, the hospitality and the conversation were the best of the trip. (2) Juvet Landscape Hotel: unique, rustic, great views, excellent food and accommodations.
Very Good (4 stars and in this order): (3) Hotel Christiania Oslo: Central location, large ,quiet, cool room, good breakfast and an excellent pizza restaurant on property, (4) Det Hanseatiske Hotel: Older historic building with character helped with a very accommodating staff. Our room was recently renovated being very well done and was quiet and cool. Central location was a big plus. (5) Scandic Ishavshotel is the best combination of location and facilities in Tromso. The service staff went out of their way to help us with logistics and accommodate us with our room preference. Breakfast was very good. The hotel is big and busy. Lot's of dogs (and big ones) were guests too! (6) Hamn i Senja: Location, facilities, dinner and breakfast were very good. I recommend a second floor room as other guests are constantly walking by and near to one's first floor room window. (7) DragsvikFjordhotel is 200 meters up from the ferry crossing but was very good for out in the country. We had a 2 room suite and a very good dinners on site. (8) Grand Hotel in Oslo was just that: Grand! Unfortunately, the day & night we were there the weather was hot and with little air conditioning , our street side room limited a good night's sleep. (I should have changed rooms...) Very good breakfast and location.
Not Recommended: (9) Hardanger Fjordtun. The owner/operator is a nice guy but his cabin facility was not up to our expectations. (Maybe if we were in our 30's or 40's). This is a much diminished version of the Juvet Landscape Hotel. The cabin was too small all around. For a shower, one stood in was a dish pan! The 'view' was of trees directly to the cabin's front. There is no place to eat in the area so a picnic dinner is required. He and his partner went out of their way to make us a very good breakfast.
Question: What more information could we have provided to you regarding our preferences understanding that you must balance the product with the price?....For example, what description could we have given you to have put us in the old section of the Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand?
Thanks for the help. The trip was great
Regards,
Bayard and Susan Tracy

Activity Reviews
Tromsø Cable Car
Tromsø Cable Car
Tromsø

This was a good idea. It's close to the city and gives very good views of the fjord and surrounding mountains. You can watch the paragliders takeoff beside you!

Finnafjord RIB Boat Tour
Finnafjord RIB Boat Tour
Balestrand

This was great fun even on a rainy day. It's just amazing to see the clouds off the mountains and the farms along the shoreline.

Drive to Kristiansund over Molde (Atlantic Ocean Road)
Drive to Kristiansund over Molde (Atlantic Ocean Road)
Åndalsnes

It was a beautiful day. I think this road is better seen in a storm with the surf coming over the road. But no one is complaining about a beautiful day at the ocean.

Local specialist: Julia Plaschke
Julia
Julia Plaschke
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Oct 03, 2022

Hi Bayard, thanks so much for writing such a detailed review! This is highly appreciated and I will definitely take it into consideration for the next time!
I am also really glad to hear that you had over all an amazing time! Albert and Otto are really one of a kind and I always love meeting them!
I wish you all the best!
Julia