[hoyasaxa]

Wife and I are thinking about a trip between Christmas and New Year's, with the hope of seeing the northern lights and doing some nature/landscape photography.

I expect we would fly into Oslo and see some of the tourist sights there, including the opera house, hopefully.

Beyond that, can anyone provide advice about locations, hotels, organized tours, specifically with regard to seeing the Northern Lights? We are thinking we may have to travel farther north than Oslo to get away from the light pollution, etc.

Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks guys

[bimmette]

I've been to Oslo. You don't need much time there so definitely add another destination or two. Sorry I can't remember where I stayed. All I recall is that it's extremely expensive and looks a little like Canada.

[UncleWede]

Late December??? Bring a jacket.

[Lups]

Man do not do it.

[Banana Hammock]

Looks like things are going well here.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by bimmette

I've been to Oslo. You don't need much time there so definitely add another destination or two. Sorry I can't remember where I stayed. All I recall is that it's extremely expensive and looks a little like Canada.

It does remind one of west Canada! It is beautiful, but I would tell any American to stay away given the extremely demanding driving conditions, the cost and the alphabet being very different also so reading street signs will be an extra fucker to deal with.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Late December??? Bring a jacket.

Or eight. Or I can just rent them my collection.

[hoyasaxa]

Originally Posted by duck fat

Looks like things are going well here.

Yeah, I feel like I'm missing something. :-(

The wife and I live in a desert where our one season is summer. Kind of wanted a "white Christmas," and the northern lights is a big bucket list item for us. Definitely open to alternative suggestions, but the [pictures of] natural beauty there really drew us in.

[bimmette]

Originally Posted by hoyasaxa

Yeah, I feel like I'm missing something. :-(

The wife and I live in a desert where our one season is summer. Kind of wanted a "white Christmas," and the northern lights is a big bucket list item for us. Definitely open to alternative suggestions, but the [pictures of] natural beauty there really drew us in.

I suggest British Columbia then. See Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Whistler. Scenery is just as beautiful and it'll be much cheaper and you won't freeze your ass off.

[jtodd_fl]

Go to Wales. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch is beautiful this time of year.

And the T-Shirt that says:

"I went to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch and all I got was this damn T-Shirt"

Is a real conversation starter. It is, however, only available in XXL.

[PINeely]

Originally Posted by jtodd_fl

Go to Wales. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch is beautiful this time of year.

And the T-Shirt that says:

"I went to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch and all I got was this damn T-Shirt"

Is a real conversation starter. It is, however, only available in XXL.

Lol, that reminds me of some of the town names in Iceland. My friend there got a real kick out of me trying to pronounce them.

Speaking of places that are way too fucking expensive...

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by jtodd_fl

Go to Wales. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch is beautiful this time of year.

And the T-Shirt that says:

"I went to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch and all I got was this damn T-Shirt"

Is a real conversation starter. It is, however, only available in XXL.

[atxgt3]

Originally Posted by Lups

It does remind one of west Canada! It is beautiful, but I would tell any American to stay away given the extremely demanding driving conditions, the cost and the alphabet being very different also so reading street signs will be an extra fucker to deal with.

Well I'm from Norway and I would never move back, but there's only three extra letters in the alphabet compared to English, and the driving conditions aren't demanding at all. Traffic moves so slowly that you'll have plenty of time to process street signs.

As for tourism I wish I could contribute. There's some really pretty nature there, but I was never much of a tourist in my own country. One thing I would definitely recommend though is staying far away from Oslo, or at least don't spend much time there. It's dirty and crowded and crime ridden. You'll see drug addicts on every street corner, and everything is covered in graffiti.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by atxgt3

Well I'm from Norway and I would never move back, but there's only three extra letters in the alphabet compared to English, and the driving conditions aren't demanding at all. Traffic moves so slowly that you'll have plenty of time to process street signs.

As for tourism I wish I could contribute. There's some really pretty nature there, but I was never much of a tourist in my own country. One thing I would definitely recommend though is staying far away from Oslo, or at least don't spend much time there. It's dirty and crowded and crime ridden. You'll see drug addicts on every street corner, and everything is covered in graffiti.

Hi!

I truly love norway, it is epically beautiful, and I am aware how badly I represented the writing too but you sir need to fuck off!!! Right now!

You make your country cool here? Good for the tourism! Great!!!

The next thing these idiots will do is go to Sweden and then after norway everything is practically free and the people are nice!!

I'm gonna come after you personally if your post makes anyone dig even deeper and they block my roads in Finland.

I've been to Norway multiple times and it is awesome in every way but please back me up on this and let's send all of these tourists to Canada!?


Nice to see a fellow member from Scandinavia here but your country has oil and everything else, please save the us from tourists
..

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by PINeely

Lol, that reminds me of some of the town names in Iceland. My friend there got a real kick out of me trying to pronounce them.

Speaking of places that are way too fucking expensive...

I didn't think Wales was terribly expensive, especially with the current exchange rate. Doubt there is a decent AB show there, though. Probably need to hit Scotland for that.

[atxgt3]

Originally Posted by Lups

Hi!

I truly love norway, it is epically beautiful, and I am aware how badly I represented the writing too but you sir need to fuck off!!! Right now!

You make your country cool here? Good for the tourism! Great!!!

The next thing these idiots will do is go to Sweden and then after norway everything is practically free and the people are nice!!

I'm gonna come after you personally if your post makes anyone dig even deeper and they block my roads in Finland.

I've been to Norway multiple times and it is awesome in every way but please back me up on this and let's send all of these tourists to Canada!?


Nice to see a fellow member from Scandinavia here but your country has oil and everything else, please save us from tourists
..

If you think Norway alone can handle the number of refugees from the US seeking political asylum after this election you need to think again. Finland has to help pick up the slack, so prepare yourself!

[sygazelle]

Do you have your plane ticket yet? If not, consider taking Icelandair. This airlines flights stop in Iceland going and coming. The airline lets you stay in Iceland up to 7 days (i think) without additional charge. We were just there 2 weeks ago on our way back from Paris. The Northern Lights are spectacular or so they tell me. It was overcast the one night we stayed over so we never saw it.

Iceland Air flies to Bergen, Norway. You could take the train from Bergen to Oslo. I recommend "Norway in a Nutshell". Google it. This way you see Bergen and Olso and the beautiful countryside in between. With Norway in a Nutshell, you take a train midway between Bergen and Oslo down to a Fjord, then take a boat ride on the fjord, and another small train back up to the main line. Breathtaking. We did it in September. I don't know about December. It may be too cold. Check it out.

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by jtodd_fl

Go to Wales. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch is beautiful this time of year.

And the T-Shirt that says:

"I went to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysili ogogogoch and all I got was this damn T-Shirt"

Is a real conversation starter. It is, however, only available in XXL.

3/10

[Lups]

Originally Posted by atxgt3

If you think Norway alone can handle the number of refugees from the US seeking political asylum after this election you need to think again. Finland has to help pick up the slack, so prepare yourself!

Oh now I get it!!!!!


You're trying to get them in the oil country first so they'll think petrol is cheap there and then you send them to us and they'll be happy for a week!!

Fucking Nato members, you're soooo clever by blocking the Russians with traffic.

[larryn]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I didn't think Wales was terribly expensive, especially with the current exchange rate. Doubt there is a decent AB show there, though. Probably need to hit Scotland for that.

Scotland! Now there's a one-stop-fits-all place for the OP. Edinburgh is one of my all-time favourite cities, historic, romantic, medieval and has wonderful holiday festivities, just drive north of there a few hours for Northern lights. Gorgeous countryside and quaint Inns.

Damn, now I wanna go.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by larryn

Scotland! Now there's a one-stop-fits-all place for the OP. Edinburgh is one of my all-time favourite cities, historic, romantic, medieval and has wonderful holiday festivities, just drive north of there a few hours for Northern lights. Gorgeous countryside and quaint Inns.

Damn, now I wanna go.

Lol, and I wanna go to Detroit again just to enjoy the pure love for vehicles again.

The world map would be very friendly if car lovers drew it for everyone.

Edinburg is a nice city. Anyone needing tips or weird car people to give them, I'm a good source for those.

[PINeely]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I didn't think Wales was terribly expensive, especially with the current exchange rate. Doubt there is a decent AB show there, though. Probably need to hit Scotland for that.

Nah Wales isn't bad but Iceland sure is. It's nearly impossible to eat for less than $40 USD a day. There is one liquor store in Reykjavik, it is state-owned, and a bottle of Stoli costs about $65 USD. And don't even think about trying to buy a vehicle there.