Trip Planning Guide

We have to admit that Bergen is our one of our favorite towns in Norway… because there is so much history there, and because the old center seems so small and manageable.

Our most personal reason is because we have good travel buddies who have a summer hutte (a summer house) on nearby Varaldsoy Island in the middle of the Hardangerfjord. That’s relative of course…. As the crow flies, it’s not far, but by narrow roads and two ferries, it’s a two hour drive. Still Bergen is the closest airport to fly into.

And what a great city. … read more

Oslo is one of those European capitals that is just far enough away that it may take you a while to visit it.

Far away from what? …Well from the capitals popular with tour groups and tourists. As far as Nordic capitals, go Stockholm and Copenhagen are bigger, but you see, Norway’s capital called to me because Grampa was from Norway.

The Oslofjorden gives the city a beautiful backdrop. It is a pretty city. Yes, it’s an expensive city… it’s probably the most expensive of the Nordic capitals, but that doesn’t mean you should leave it … read more

Here’s a travel tip… take advantage of one of the the popular Norway in a Nutshell trips. The “Norway in a Nutshell” name is a registered trademark of the Fjord Tours.

Everyone starts in the cities, and you need to see Oslo and Bergen, but to really see Norway, you want to get out to the fjords.

We think the very best thing about Norway is the scenery… the fjords top our list, but you’ll love the mountains, the glaciers, the waterfalls…. The first time we drove through Norway was in spring, and one thing I remember is all the … read more

When you’re planning what to see on your travels, try to balance your itinerary. When you’re in cities, you want to see museums and churches, but mix it up with outdoor activities and fun things.

There is a long list of cities in Europe that have an abundance of museums and churches. Cities like Rome, Florence, London, Paris, Berlin, Madrid… In any one of those cities and others, you could spend all of your time inside looking at “important” art, but you’ll be better off if you balance your itinerary with a walk in the park, window shopping … read more

Being house guests can be almost as much work as having house guests. When we travel, it really adds an extra dimension to a trip to stay in someone’s home, or even just to go to a home for an afternoon or dinner.

One of the joys of travel is meeting new people… making new friends. If you’re lucky, you might receive an invitation for a dinner or a stay. If you do it right, the experience of being house guests will be a little bit of work, but it will also be worth all … read more

When you start looking for a travel guidebook, it can be a little bewildering. There really are as many types of guidebooks as there are types of travelers. Where do you start to find the right one for you?

Traditional guidebooks make up the largest chunk of your selection… and there are plenty of these. They usually contain lots of good information, some … read more

You’ll run into toll roads all over the world, so what do you need to know about driving on them? How to use them for one thing. Tolls are collected differently in different countries.

Toll roads anywhere in the world are almost always marked as such… and you can use your credit card for many of them, but you may need cash or coins. Check with your local automobile association or guidebooks for information on the countries you will be visiting.

There are a couple of common types of fee collection systems for toll roads.

One is … read more

Let’s hit the highways. OK… but what is a highway?

“Let’s hit the highways” is what a lot of Americans say when they want to get away, whether it’s for a short trip or a longer road trip vacation. There are probably similar expressions around the world.

When you climb into a car close to home, you pretty much know what the roads are going to be like, but what if you’re renting a car in a foreign country? Well, then you’re going to need to do a little research to learn what a highway is. … read more

Where to go and what to see in Ireland?  This is truly a dilemma for tourists because there is just so much to see and do.

How you plan your trip pretty much depends on where you’re going to land, how much time you have, and what your interests are.  And do you want to see both parts of the country, or just the Republic, or just the North?

Are you interested in castles?  There are plenty of them….  Some are just ruins, some have been converted to luxury hotels like Dromoland Castle and Ashford Castle.  You could devise … read more