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Destination guide – Gothenburg, Sweden

14 November 2022
by thebouncer

Sweden’s second city of Gothenburg is often overlooked in favour of the country’s capital of Stockholm.

In my view, this is a shame because Gothenburg is a very pleasant place to spend a relaxed city break.

I started my visit with a one-hour sightseeing cruise.

Gothenburg has a rich nautical history and a cruise along the Göta Älv river showcases the city’s past and present.

I followed that up with a visit to the Horticultural Society Gardens and a pleasant riverside stroll.

Gothenburg is a very easy city to navigate. I do not recommend renting a car, as parking is very expensive and the public transport is efficient and economical.

I chose simply to walk nearly everywhere, as the city is very compact and has some very scenic walking paths.

In conclusion, Gothenburg is a relaxing and picturesque option for a short city break, or to combine with a visit to Stockholm or Copenhagen.

Destination guide – Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danish capital of Copenhagen has always been my favourite of the Nordic capitals and once Denmark lifted all covid related restrictions, I decided it was time to explore this beautiful city again.

I found a city which is just as efficient, welcoming and down to earth as it has always been, as if the great covid panic had never happened.

I started by revisiting the iconic sights of the city, such as the Little Mermaid statue and the surrounding gardens.

Following on from this, I strolled around the vibrant Nyhavn district, with it’s vibrant and colourful bars and cafés.

This is the perfect place to stop for lunch, a couple of cold beers or just a sneaky lunchtime Irish coffee.

Copenhagen is a wonderfully verdant city, with many beautifully kept parks and gardens to stroll around and simply relax.

As the weather during my visit was perfect, with several days in the high 20s, I couldn’t resist a visit to the beaches around the Amager Strand Park, a very short metro ride from the city centre or airport.

GETTING AROUND

Like all major Nordic cities, Copenhagen is not designed for drivers. Considering the difficulty and expense of parking, I recommend ditching the car and using the economical and superbly efficient public transport network.

Single tickets are 24DKK (€3.20), while passes range from 80DKK (€11) for 24 hours to 300DKK (€40) for 5 days.

The Metro system is fast and convenient, with driverless trains running every few minutes.

One of the more pleasant ways to get around the city centre is to use the yellow water buses. These are included in the transport passes and offer a picturesque perspective on the city.

Copenhagen is a city I can highly recommend for a short city break, or even an extended visit. I was there for 15 days and found more than enough to occupy my time.

It is also a destination you can visit without worrying about any covid restrictions. Denmark had a brief wobble during the panpanic and introduced comparatively light entry requirements and domestic restrictions, but that is now a distant memory and every aspect of the experience is 2019 normal.

Canada drops all restrictions

5 October 2022
by thebouncer

In what may be a surprise move for a country which had among the most draconian covid restrictions in the world, Canada has announced that all entry restrictions relating to the covid panic have been dropped.

There is now no requirement for:

Covid vaccination
Pre-departure testing
Testing on arrival
Quarantine
Contact tracing

The federal mask mandate on board aircraft and other forms of transport has also been lifted.

Provincial and municipal mask mandates have also been allowed to expire throughout most of the country.

Whilst this is good news in theory, it is important to remember, firstly that Canada has a long record of covid restrictions among the harshest in the western world, and secondly that the country has a long winter ahead.

Whilst it would be politically embarrassing to u-turn on the often prohibitive entry requirements, I would not be surprised to see localised mask mandates and potentially some restrictions on movement springing up again in some parts of the country during the winter.

However, I do think this news bodes well for the summer season next year.

Whilst I am not necessarily advising against travel to Canada at the moment, I would recommend looking at more stable alternatives, at least until the winter season is over, if you are concerned about mask mandates and localised restrictions returning, particularly if you are unvaccinated.

Hotel review – Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret, Oslo

5 October 2022
by thebouncer

As part of my two month Scandinavia tour, I spent 5 nights at the Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret in Central Oslo.

I had known what to expect from the Clarion Collection chain from my previous visit to one of their properties in Tromsø.

However, I was still impressed with this property.

My Nordic Choice Unlimited Nights package included a room in the “moderate” category, the most basic of several categories.

I was given a small, but well fitted out room.

The deal included buffet breakfasts with a good variety, as well as a single choice main course for dinner.

There was also a small afternoon tea offered each afternoon, as well as a reasonably varied if expensive selection of beers.

The hotel is also equipped with a nice guest lounge, which is open all day and offers indoor and outdoor seating.

The best thing about this hotel was the location, less than 10 minutes’ walk from Oslo Cetral Station and with a tram stop right outside the door.

However, although I had a public transport pass for the 5 days of my stay, the hotel was central enough to walk to the vast majority of attractions.

Overall, this property was stunning value at around €51 per night with my two month pass.

Normal rates range between around €175 and €250, which for a very central location in a blisteringly expensive city, with meals provided, is not bad for a reasonable level of comfort.

Destination guide – Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian capital of Oslo is entirely free of covid restrictions and is a great place to visit at this time of the year.

I recently spent five days there as part of a two month tour of Scandinavia.

Oslo has something for everyone, from nightlife and fun parks, to serene parks and gardens, fjord cruises and even beaches.

As I had dinner included at my hotel, I decided to skip the dedicated dinner cruises in favour of several relaxing trips on the several ferries which are included in the city’s public transport system.

Above all, Oslo is a fabulous city for walking and has many miles of waterside paths suitable for cycling, running or simply strolling and enjoying the surroundings.

I particularly enjoyed the area around the Munch Museum and the main harbour area.

The area around the Royal Palace is especially pleasant for enjoying some green spaces, more or less in the centre of the city.

I rounded of my visit with a stroll along the riverside in the Grüneløkker area, a little way north of central Oslo.

In terms of getting around, the city’s public transport system is very efficient, although the trams and buses are often very crowded. As parking a car is difficult and very expensive, I chose to walk almost everywhere. The distances are not overwhelming and Oslo is a very safe city at all hours of the day and night.

In conclusion, Oslo is a pleasant and relaxing city to explore and nicely rounded off my 12 day tour of Norway.

If you have any questions or experiences to share, please visit our Norway Forum.

Trip review – Norway in a Nutshell Tour

21 July 2022
by thebouncer

On July 1 of this year, I took the spectacular one-day Norway in a Nutshell tour, including a fjord cruise and a trip on the world famous Flåm Railway.

Moving on from the charming coastal city of Bergen back to Oslo, I investigated several ways to travel between the two cities.

The obvious would be a flight at a cost of around €200 one way or a direct train for around €150.

In comparison with these options, the one way Norway in a Nutshell tour seemed to be an intriguing option at around €250. It turned out to be a good choice.

I started the day by dropping my luggage at the front desk of the Hotel Oleana to be collected at 06:30 and delivered to my hotel in Oslo. At around €30, this option saved a lot of hassle and I would highly recommend taking it.

The tour started with an hour’s train journey from Bergen to Voss and continued by bus to Gudvangen with a short break at the scenic Stalheim Hotel.

The next stage of the tour was a relaxing two-hour cruise along the picturesque Sognefjord from Gudvangen to Flåm, before joining the world famous Flåm Railway for a spectacular one-hour climb to Myrdal.

This was really the end of the scenic part of the day and it was time to settle back for the 5-hour train connection to Oslo.

One tip I can share is that, although there is officially no first class on these trains, some carriages are configured in the old first class layout and are decidedly more comfortable than the standard seats. There is no extra cost to reserve a seat in these carriages.

With a scheduled 20:45 arrival in Oslo, which turned out to be around 21:30 after a few delays, I decided to eat my evening meal on the train. The food on board is expensive and honestly nothing special, but it was worth it for the convenience. This little feast was mine for around €30.

On arrival in Oslo, I transferred to the Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret a few minutes walk from Oslo Central station, to find that my luggage was waiting for me at reception.

In summary, I would say that the Norway in a Nutshell tour is an excellent option for travelling between Bergen and Oslo. It is a long day, but very much worthwhile and the price of the tour is not much more than the basic direct options for travel.

Hotel review – Hotel Oleana, Bergen

My base for my 3 nights in Bergen was the Hotel Oleana, a centrally located boutique hotel, a 10 minute walk or 2 minute tram ride from the central railway station.

After a quick and efficient check in, I found my room along corridors decorated with colourful images of characters in various stages of undress and opened my door to find my room (or possibly boudoir).

Feeling rather relieved not to find a mirror stuck to the ceiling, I slept very well on the comfortable bed, aided by the efficient air conditioning. The shower overlooks the rest of the room of course, but this was not an issue for a single traveller and it was hot and refreshing.

There was a minibar, but the price list convinced me to head out for a couple of beers instead.

Breakfast was delicious, with a good range of hot items (actually served hot), smoked salmon, nice cheeses and pastries and good, fresh coffee.

On the morning of my departure, my luggage was stored and sent with a courier to my next hotel in Oslo, while I headed off on the Norway in a Nutshell tour.

I must admit that when I first arrived at this property, the gaudy decor was a little off-putting and I assumed that this was going to be just another “boutique” hotel that places style over substance.

I was wrong. This place has style and substance. It is a comfortable, efficient and thoroughly well run property, which grew on me considerably over the course of my three day stay.

Never judge a book by its cover.

Destination guide – Bergen, Norway

After my sojourn in Tromsø, I headed down to Bergen on Norway’s west coast to take advantage of the continued warm Summer weather. Here is my brief Bergen destination guide.

Bergen, known as the Gateway to the Fjords, is an engaging port city renowned for its sublime scenery and tasty seafood.

I started with a trip up the Fløyen on the funicular railway, which ascends a total of 320m in around 6 minutes. Departures are more or less continual during busy times.

Of course nobody can go to Bergen without getting out on the water and seeing some of the Fjords, so I headed out on a 3-hour cruise on board a comfortable catamaran, which was expensive at 740NOK (£62/€72/$74), but well worth every penny.

If you want to see the true essence of this part of Norway, this is the way to do it. The cruise heads out towards Mostraumen, passing lush, verdant hills and charming fishing villages.

I rounded off the trip with a stroll around the city’s pleasant parks and gardens and a taste of some of the famous seafood at the famous fish market.

I am very glad I had the chance to visit this appealing city. It is truly one if the highlights of Norway and I would highly recommend spending a few days here. If you do come I hope this Bergen destination guide has been useful and don’t forget to post in the forums!

South Africa removes all restrictions

It was announced last week that South Africa has repealed all covid related restrictions, including its mask mandate and all vaccination and testing requirements for entry.

This is very good news indeed for libertarian travellers seeking to escape the northern hemisphere Winter, as South Africa is a beautiful, varied and very economical country to visit.

On the flip side, however, it must be remembered that South Africa’s lockdowns were among the most brutal in the world. All social contact was forbidden for months and there was even a long lasting ban on any sales of alcohol or tobacco. Citizens were forced to wear masks indoors and out for nearly two years.

With this in mind, I have to greet this news with caution. With that said, all of the signs are positive. The government seems to be making all of the right noises about falling hospitalisation numbers and learning to live with the virus. This step has also been taken close to the middle of the South African Winter and outside of the main tourist season. I believe this bodes well for the upcoming Summer season from November to March.

I will be monitoring the situation closely in the coming weeks and months before I make any firm bookings, but I very much hope to be publishing a few articles on Johannesburg, Cape Town and the Garden Route this Winter.

Hotel review – Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora, Tromsø

My home for the 3 nights in Tromsø was the Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora, booked as part of my Nordic Choice Unlimited Nights package.

The hotel is perfectly situated, right on the picturesque harbour front.

The rooms are comfortable and functional in Scandinavian style.

The stay included breakfast and like all Clarion Collection Hotels, an evening meal. As this was my first stay at this particular brand, I was a little unsure of what to expect from the evening meal. I was however, pleasantly surprised.

Each meal consisted of a soup of the day and a main course. There was only one choice of main course, but I can honestly say they were all decent. Examples included pork neck and chicken cacciatore. I have pretty universal tastes in food, so I was very happy with it.

There was also a nice salad bar.

Water, orange juice and coffee were included and other drinks were available for purchase.

Breakfast, however, was somewhat of a let down. Most of the cooked dishes – bacon, sausages and meatballs – were stone cold on all three mornings of my stay and the milk ran out within about 20 minutes.

Breakfast aside, I was generally satisfied with my stay and it was superb value as part of my two month Nordic Choice pass, at a cost of €3,000 for 58 nights, which works out at a little under €52 per night.

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