Tricia helped create a fantastic trip to Norway
Norway
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Aug 14 - Aug 20, 2022
Tricia helped create a trip in Norway focused on time in the fjords (including half a day of guide-led kayaking and another going out on a small boat to poke around a second fjord). Both experiences and the hotel we stayed at (the historic Kivknes, which may have one of the best fjord views possible) were amazing. The arrangements she made for train, ferries, hotels, experiences in Oslo, Flam, Balestrand, and the lovely Bergen all worked perfectly. She also, at my request, left us plenty of time to do activites that we planned on our own (sauna and swim in the Bergen fjord for instance). The daytime temperature was usually mid-70s and even the famous summer rain stayed away all but one day. (One minor glitch involving a pullout couch at the initial hotel was worked out very quickly using the KimKim emergency number -- and our own efforts with hotel receptionl.) If Tricia is typical of KimKim we would definitely use KimKim again. Norway was really wonderful
Hotel Reviews
A large hotel in the very downtown port area. Convenient if not that scenic an area. Everyone in the hotel was extremely nice and helpful. And the rooms were comfortable.
The hotel has an amazing setting in the middle of the fjord in the tiny town of Balestrand. We stayed in the old historic section, which has tremendous character and great balconies with stunning views, but be aware that the rooms are small. No king-sized beds here! Also since this part is "historic" the rooms are decorated in an older style but with all the basic amenitites. We loved the rooms and would happily have stayed longer. The dining room, where an emormous buffet is put on for breakfast, is open and glassy and overlooks the water. You can also dine there. We lunched one day on the long back porch overlooking the water. The activities did -- kayaking, boating, cidering -- were all within a 5 minute walk. There are a couple small restaurants nearby. We saw lots of hikers, but did not do that ourselves.
I'm giving this 5 stars because we had 2 rooms on the top floor with amazing balconies overlooking a very scenic part of the center of town. The hotel is very convenient, very helpful and has great beds. They arranged a pullout couch in one room that I'd love to find for my own house. Really comfortable. The hotel has a great location for walking around Bergen, which is a very pretty cobblestone-y city.
Activity Reviews
We had a guided kayak tours from the town of Balestrand which is so fantastic. A reason to visit again. Our guide "JT" was wonderful, helpful and just fun to kayak with. We were experienced kayakers and so he responded to that, but he often takes out people with no experience and clearly is a great teacher. There were 3 of us (adults) on this excursion and we all thought this was a highlight of our time in Norway.
This was a private trip for just 3 of us with a captain --Tor -- whose family hails from Balestrand for generations. As a result he was a wealth of info throughout the trip about places and people. Tor was really fun and intersting, slowing at certain places to talk or let us drink from a waterfall (without leaving the boat or getting wet--very impressive). Extra info: he has great warm jumpsuits for all his clients. He also does fishing trips, though we did not do that part.
Fun to hear about and see how cider is made. And then taste some of the ciders afterward.
John was our guide and despite having to walk in a downpour a lot of the time he was humorous, interesting about places and the history of those places and led us gently around the whole, mostly cobblestoned city.
Margaret - thank you for all of these lovely details! It's so fun reading through your descriptions and hearing about the other parts of the trips we haven't yet had a chance to chat about. I am so vey grateful that the sun shined for you and your sons while you explored the fjords together.
It was a treat to plan for you and your family. Hope you come back to Norway someday :)