Tricia Cantlon

My sincere apologies for the delay in responding to your invitation to review our KimKim-organized trip to Norway of June 24-July 7. The truth is that there is little I can add to the glowing and comprehensive account Robin submitted. The experience made me regret that – and wonder why – I had delayed so long in visiting Norway, having always wanted to.

The country was even more beautiful than I had anticipated (I was particularly struck by the abundance of flowers, both wild and cultivated, everywhere we visited), but more striking still was the unfailing friendliness, warmth, efficiency and readiness to be of help of everyone with whom we came into contact, from hotel staffs to guides to taxi and transfer service drivers, all of whom were knowledgeable, personable, flexible and utterly dependable. (In my case they courteously fielded requests for assistance that I’m sure a less technologically-challenged guest would not have troubled them with – I came away with a deeper appreciation for the achievements of Scandinavian bathroom-fixture and lighting design, and renewed chagrin at my dim-wittedness in mastering its use!)

I would find it difficult to single out any particular guides for praise, but was most grateful for the unflagging energy and enthusiasm of Ole in showing us the highlights of Hamar and Lillehammer (from the glorious sunlit morning exploring the Domkirkeodden to displaying the view from the apartment he has had purchased atop the “world’s tallest wooden building” Mjøstårnet – where he also showed us a video introducing us to the Norwegian comedy team Ylvis – to plying us with delectable jordbær and cream), as well as for Randi’s astuteness, aplomb and adaptability during our damp but delightful short stay in Ålesund. She is certainly someone I would keep on your short list of guides for anyone visiting that area.

In brief, it was hard to return home (and would have been hard even had “home” not been as unsettled a place as many of us now find it). I can only hope I will be granted enough years to make another trip over, in which I can see some of the things we had insufficient time to get to in the two weeks we were there – e.g., to see more of the three great open-air museums (the Norsk Folkemuseum, Maihaugen, and Sunnmøre) we were introduced to, and to visit the sites associated with great Norwegians that we noted in passing but couldn’t include in our schedule, such as the homes of Ibsen, Kirsten Flagstad, Sigrid Undset, Grieg and Ole Bull, among others.

You and your colleagues surely merit the highest praise (and quite possibly canonization) for your patience and professionalism in putting together a travel plan that met such a complex set of requests, and for dealing so promptly and capably with such small emergencies as arose while we were there. I would be only too happy to recommend your services to anyone I knew who might be hoping to visit Norway.

With many thanks and sincere best wishes,

Jennifer Boger

Tricia created an exceptional trip for us that we enjoyed immensely. It was a remarkable trip for the following reasons:

1). We saw a variety of the ways in which contemporary Norwegian society functions - from the sunbathers (a lot of them!) and commuters on the Aker Brygge to the shoppers in central Oslo to the residents of Hamar, Lillehammer, Bergen and Alesund as they went about their daily lives. This immersion into Norwegian life helped us go beyond stereotypes and experience a social climate quite different from what we have in the States, (especially right now).

2). We had numerous opportunities to learn about Norwegian history. The outdoor museums - from the Norse Folk Museum in Oslo to the Maihaugen in Lillehammer and the Sunnmore in Alesund - were all very impressive and well done.

3). Our guides were fantastic! Stig, Ole, John and Randi - each one very enjoyable and knowledgeable. They added so much to our experience of place.

4). We had surprises at each location. The ethereal singing of the guide in the Domkirkeodden in Hamar might have been the most magical moment in the trip for me. We also enjoyed Ole taking us to the wooden hotel, the “Norwegian Stonehenge”, and the ski jump from the Olympics. Randi’s walk about Alesund, pointing out the Art Nouveau buildings was very informative. After seeing the Schotstuene (Hanseatic League building) and the Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen, John walked us to the University where we saw the beautiful botanical gardens and the Maritime Museum. Our trip to the Fram and KonTiki Museums and to the Norse Folkermuseum with Stig far surpassed our expectations.

5). The seamless transition from place to place with taxis arriving/waiting as necessary made us feel well cared for. It was also instructive to travel by both train and bus - another aspect of the immersion experience. We very much also enjoyed our night onboard the Havila Capella from Bergen to Alesund. It’s too bad the weather was rainy because I can only imagine how fantastic the view would have been under other conditions.

Food wise:
- The Venti Venti in Oslo was a lot of fun and we enjoyed the great people watching.
- The breakfast buffets at all of the hotels were excellent except at the Raddison Blu Airport Hotel where it was terrible.
- Eating at the Bro in Alesund was another fun experience. We had gone to the Fishery Museum earlier that day so I tried the dried cod dish because I thought the pairing (of the historical information and cuisine) would be interesting. The dessert - 3 kinds of ice cream - was among the best food we had on the entire trip.

So - in summary - we went from south (85’ heat) to north (55’); from urban to small city to rural; from plane to bus, train, taxi and ship - with 4 wonderfully informed and friendly guides enjoying lovely breakfast buffets that lasted us through the day and seeing many interesting sights. I can’t imagine a better time then than!

Tricia was crucial to the success of our trip in Norway. She was always available to tweak things to make them perfect, was a dream to work with and her suggestions for what to do on our own were perfect!

My friend and I had the greatest trip to Norway! Tricia, our local specialist, really worked with us to understand our travel style and put together an itinerary that fit in everything we wanted to do.

We covered an incredible amount of ground in the Western Fjords and got to do some really cool things. My personal highlights were our food tour of Oslo with Stig and our visit to the Mollfarm in Geiranger. That was truly special. Those experiences gave me the opportunity to learn so much more than I could have in a museum. And, of course, the fjords were absolutely stunning.

All in all, I have never stressed out about a trip less. That in and of itself was a gift, but Tricia did such a great job putting together our itinerary. My friend and I said several times, "I think she's magic."

Thank you for a great trip. Now to come back in winter to see the Northern Lights...

We had a wonderful trip to Norway. Local specialist Tricia was instumental in helping us decide what to do, where to travel within the country, etc.-based on our interests and goals. Additionally, she and others at KimKim were very responsive in real time to any questions that arose, or if we needed to make a change to plans on a given day, etc...Overall, the trip was truly flawless and I would recommend KimKim without reservation based on our Norway experience.
Margaret Ferrell

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Helpful staff; delicious breakfast; beautiful dining room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Friendly place- clean. Pub and Bistro on site which is great, as the town is very small. Front desk staff helpful as well.

Henningsvær Rorbuer

Henningsvær

Incredible location on the harbor, with two bedrooms, and a great western view from the dock our cabin was on to watch the sun set (almost set!) Nice breakfast and clean rooms. Kitchen was a bit spare, but functional.

Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel

Fjærland

Fantastic chef and beautiful location!!!! Beatiful deck on the fjord, great sitting room with window onto fjord...my favorite hotel of the trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cheerful, helpful, and funny!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Wonderful location, dining room was incredible with frescoes adorning the walls...great breakfast buffet

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Perfect!

Activity Review

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

It was a perfect tour with only our group of 4. John was a great guide- knew the city perfectlt, having grown up there and been a guide for many years. We walked almost 5 miles (which was great) and really enjoyed the morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Norway was spectacular. Tricia and the KimKim team were great from start to finish, especially during the time we were actually in country. They kept us apprised of trains not running and all the quirkiness that happens in Norway during Easter Week! Our time in the Lyngen Alps specifically at Lyngen North (in our glass igloo) was a highlight along with our Dog sledding experience at Riverland Husky and seeing the northern lights while there. The entire country is beautiful and the people too. We will be back!