I've always wanted to spend some time in the Scandinavian countries but with my South African Rands its always been too expensive. I have a month vacation due and was hoping with the economic crisis things be a bit cheaper up north. Is this a good time to visit Iceland and Sweden in particular? Are there are any bargains to look out for? Thanks!

Hi friends,

All my life I have been working and working and working. After being told by my doctor that I need to do surgery to remove some growth. Reality check have triggered me and since my school days, I had always dream of travelling to all the countries in Europe. And Scandinavia is my first choice. I really need more information on how to maximise my trip for 1-4 month's vacation sometime middle of next year that is after my operations in December 2008.

JN

THe Swedes are the lovliest people you will ever meet and themost organizaed,too. Have been many times and stayed with relatives, Rotary friends and in hotels. E-mail me at NGrandquis@aol.com for more info

Im a South African and on Holiday in Norway.I kid you not.I came here at the wrong time.Scandanavian countries are flippen expensive.My advice to you is to go to Iceland.The rand ther will have more value.Sala kakuhle!

Im from the northern part of Sweden and i can only recomend a visit to Sweden. Most of the tourist only stays in the southern parts and in the big cities. But Sweden is more than that.
If your interest is partying and shopping the big cities like Stockholm or Ghotenburg is recomended. If you are interested in the nature and if you would like to relax you should visit the northern part. All people fell free to email me on johan.svedberg@live.se if you have any questions.

sorry should say Ryanair not ryanait

sweden is a lot more expensive than helsinki. talinn is a really good deal, and only an hour's ferry ride from helsinki.

from my research (going to iceland - that is how i came across this site), reykjavik is a lot cheaper now (w/ the devalued currency) than sweden et al.

Hi mate...

Yeah, being a Norwegian I can definately agree that we are expensive countries, yet worth a visit because you won't find anything like the Scandinavian light, atmosphere and freshness anywhere in the world. If you manage to make your way up here all countries are worth a visit (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) and also Finland & Iceland (even the latters are Nordic countries, not Scandinavian... guys you should learn this..!). Iceland will definately be your cheapest option at the moment, they have been significantly hit by the crisis and Icelandair offer cheap as chips flights from Europe to Reykjavik. Then you can fly on with the same airline to Norway, to explore the coast. I live in Bergen and I can tell you that the fjords are amazing, if you have the gods on your side and (aka sunshine) I can guarantee that you will have an unforgettable experience!! The fjords are stunning! If you only have a few days stay in Bergen and do a day trip to the Flåm and Nærøyfjords (called Norway in a Nutshell, book through NSB.no...). Last time I did this trip was in May 2006, cost me something like NOK 1000,- but it is the cheapest and most enjoyable way to see this amazing places!

If you have some time hop on the coastal steamer "Hurtigruten" which will take you through some charming villages and breathtaking scenery. But expensive.

Then forget Oslo unless you are in transit. The north of Scandinavia is dull and cold, but some cultural aspects may prove interesting... do your research before deciding.

Then Sweden is also a nice place to visit, the west coast again (Vestküsten) between the NOR/SWE border and Skåne is amazing. Furthermore take the canal boats through Göta kanal, all the way to Stockholm and In think you have the highlights of the country in a week or so... Stockholm is classy and upbeat but a bit snobbish... And expensive too, let's not forget... Then a cheap (and sometimes fun) alternative to flights is the ferries from Stockholm over to Helsinki if you want to head over there. Expect drunken behaviour on the ferries, you might as well get into the swing yourself to make the most of it! Helsinki is cultural sights mostly, legendary drinking and city sightseeing. They have beaches for hot summer days (Finland can get surprisingly hot despite it's latitude...). If you go in winter (you shouldn't unless you ski) hit the North for the ultimate winter getaway!!

Then as a final head down to Denmark, by plane this time. Up here in Norway we call Denmark the playground of Scandinavia, if you travel with youngsters it is an essential stop on your journey. Theme parks are plentiful, beaches as far as the eye can see are plentiful, and the culture is rich and people are very friendly - which is kind of a rarity in the Nordics (don't listen to what many people say that we Nordics are rude and shy.... I have lived many years overseas and I know that we are rude, have cold personalities and don't share... with Danes deviating the most from this stereotype...). Finish up in Copenhagen for a few days, which also will be the best connection for your flights back home to RSA.

Well I really didn't mention the prices, but as mentioned above add 20-30 % to UK prices and you have an idea of the costs. Hotels are not that expensive as in the UK though....

Well hope you make it up here and take somke of my advice with you!!

Take care

Pål.

I'd recommend to everyone to check out Couchsurfing.com, wherever you're going. You can make a profile and then search for people who will let you sleep on their "couch" (or extra mattress) for free. It's a much cheaper way to travel, and a great way to meet locals.

I just got back from a visit to Stockholm and Helsinki. I can only speak for those two cities, but I definitely found Helsinki to be FAR more expensive. Stockholm has a lot more small, ethnic restaurants where you can find cheap food whereas in Helsinki it seems like you need to shell out a fortune wherever you want to eat - the prices there are on par with Paris.

However, cost aside, Helsinki is worth a visit. Finland is a fascinating place, and especially so if you're an armchair linguist (as I am) since the Finnish language is unique and wonderful. Helsinki is full of different subcultures, some of which are bizarre in appearance, but most people are very friendly and almost everyone under 40 speaks English. If you're there for a few days, take a ferry to Tallinn, Estonia, and spend a day there.

Also - Finnish music, both rock and dance, is AMAZING, whereas Swedish music kinda sucks (no offence).

Beer in Norway is far more expensive than in Finland.

Not sure about other pricing.

Great comments!
I'm headed from Rochester, NY > Boston > Iceland for a few days > then to Helsinki for a few days, with either a ferry to Tallinn or Stockholm for the day > then back home.

Looking forward to the trip and was looking to get a good point on prices. Thanks for the comments above.

I can confirm that Finland sure is more expensive than Sweden at the moment, mainly because of the currency differences, Norway and Denmark topping the price ranking. Also good to notice that Finland is the only Nordic country using Euro.

Planning a short visit to Stockholm in September to meet long lost relatives but will have some time to explore independently. What are main attractions in Stockholm for someone who has never visited before? What clothes should we pack? I gather it could be cool and/or rainy.