Alex did a fantastic job helping us plan a short trip to Norway. We had always had it on our list to see the fjord's and possibly Northern Lights in Norway, but the timing never seemed right. This year we decided to do a week in Iceland and thought a trip to Norway would fit right in with our travel plans!
We were so lucky to be connected with Alex! After discussing some places we'd like to go in Norway (Bergen, fjords, Northern lights), Alex suggested we do the Norway in a Nutshell day trip from Bergen, followed up by a 3 day stay in the Lofoten Islands and a final night in Tromso, where we might be lucky to see the Northern lights (we didn't).
The KimKim team arranged all our hotels and transportation to/from the airport to our hotel, rental car in the Lofoten Islands, as well as the Norway in a Nutshell transportation, and internal flights in Norway from Bergen to Svolvaer and on to Tromso!
The hotels were close to the sites in Bergen and Tromso, and in Svolvaer, the Anker Brygge, was right in the center of town on a small island. The rooms were a good size and very comfortable, with Anker Brygge being traditional Norwegian fisherman’s cottages with a small kitchen and dining area, living room and separate bedrooms and free on-site parking! The restaurant Kjøkkenet, which is located on the island and associated with Anker Brygge, served delicious dinners (we ate there all 3 nights!!)
Breakfast was provided at each hotel, and was a nice variety of breads, pastry, sliced meats, cheeses and fruit!
Since Alex had spent time in Norway and specifically Lofoten Islands, he suggested areas to stop and explore, as well as provided some beautiful photos he had taken on his most recent trip!
All-in-all, we had a great time in Norway, and we couldn't express our thanks to Alex and the KimKim team any deeper for arranging this for us!
Hotel Reviews
Quality Hotel Grand Tromso
Tromsø
The location of this hotel was great - close to shopping on the walking street and the harbor for our dinner cruise.
The downside was people outside on the street partying late into the night (we were on the 8th floor and it was still loud!).
We had to catch an early flight, so we didn't have any breakfast at this hotel.
Authenticity & Character
It was a business type hotel, which was fine as we were only there one night.
Location
Close to shopping on the walking street and the harbor for our dinner cruise, as well as restaurants.
Staff
We didn't have much interaction with the staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was clean and comfortable, though the street noise, even on higher floors, was annoying.
It was so cool to stay in a traditional Norwegian fisherman’s cottage! Having space to spread out and a separate bedroom were very much appreciated!
Authenticity & Character
Staying in this hotel was so far removed from your "normal" hotel. Individual apartments with separate bedroom, living room and kitchen was perfect for this location! The fact that these used to be traditional Norwegian fisherman’s cottages, made it feel even more special as you could experience a small part of a past culture.
Location
Location was in the middle of Svolvær on an island accessible by a one lane bridge. Parking was provided and was free!!
Staff
The office staff were helpful in answering our many questions about the area, and firing up the sauna for us!
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms were clean and in general, the bed and sitting area was pretty good, though the mattress could have been a bit firmer. One complaint I had was the window coverings were not light blocking, so the room never got very dark. Sleep mask to the rescue...
The Scandic Torget hotel is located in the center of Bergen on the harbor and within walking distance of the funnicular and train station.
The room was comfortable and clean. Breakfast was good, with a variety of pastries, breads, sliced meat and cheese, as well as fresh fruit.
Authenticity & Character
The hotel seemed to be a couple of buildings cobbled together. There were doors on each end of the elevator, which took you to different parts of the floor you were staying on. It was not a business hotel, which in itself, made it nicer to stay at!
Location
It was within walking distance of the funnicular and train station, as well as many restaurants.
Staff
We really didn't have much interaction with the staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed was comfortable and the room was clean.
Activity Reviews
Northern Lights Dinner Cruise
Tromsø
This was an ok tour. Unfortunately we had two large parties that took up most of the boat and they were loud!! The staff were great though, and put us in a more private spot by a window towards the back of the boat so we had some buffer from the noise. The food was decent.
Self-Guided Svolvær Exploration
Norway
Svolvaer is a small town so it didn't take us long to explore the shops. The locals are friendly and it's a convenient place to stay. We found the food to be delicious.
Self-Guided Bergen Exploration
Bergen
Once we got to our hotel, we grabbed an Uber to go see the Bergen Stave church, about 30 minutes from our hotel. The driver ended up staying at the site parking area while we toured the church and then dropped us off at the funicular. We rode that to the top of the hill and had dinner at the Fløirestauranten restaurant, located a short distance from the funicular stop. What a view of the city and surrounding countryside!
Trollfjord Sea Eagle Safari by RIB
Norway
This was such a fun high speed boat adventure! xxlofoten was the tour operator for this trip. We found them very professional and fun! They have you wear jump suits and goggles to protect you from the water, in case you fall in, and from the cold wind as the boat is going quite fast.
The scenery in the Trollfjord is beautiful and you're able to go quite a distance up the fjord. We saw many Sea Eagles - a beautiful sight to behold!!
Quality of Experience
Our boat guide was very knowledgeable and knew just where to stop so we could experience the Sea Eagles and take photos.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Even though our guide had probably been doing this trip many times, he was as excited to see the Sea Eagles and landscape as we were!
Transport
We had never been on a A RIB, or rigid inflatable boat before, so this was a new, but fun, experience!
There wasn't much to say as our drive picked us at at 5:00 a.m. to get us to the airport for a 7:30 am flight.
Driving the Lofoten Islands: Nature Stops Along the Way
Norway
Loved the Lofoten Islands!! Having your own car is a must. We drove to the end of the Island to Å and then back tracked to Reine, where we had a delicious lunch at Bringen Kaffebar. Along the way we stopped at the Lofotr Viking Museum, which was very informative!
The scenery is outstanding and changes around each curve of the road. There are many small beaches you can stop at as well as several scenic sites.
Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip
Bergen
The train ride was very scenic, although the weather was rainy. If possible, I think one thing to improve this day would have been to be on a smaller boat, which I realize might not be something you can control. There were a lot of people on the boat and seating was unavailable by the windows.
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