Experience Oslo & the Western Fjords - 10 days

Norway | Jul 21 - Jul 29, 2019

Although the trip was enjoyable overall -- and Ingrid was fabulous -- there are several areas in which improvements could be made. First, I would provide more detailed traveler information. Such as for arrival at Oslo airport, include instructions for how to pay for and get on the Airport express train. Detailed instructions are important for first-time visitors. Then, upon arrival at the Central Train Station in Oslo, include instructions such as "look for exit marked "[fill in name of street]" and then look for the green hotel with Egon restaurant at street level. That would have made it easier for us to locate the hotel. And for arrival in Bergen, include instructions such as "do not take the pedestrian street to get to your hotel because of the cobblestones; instead, take the following walking route (and fill in the details with street names, directions, etc.)." In terms of guides, Stig (in Oslo) was good but not great. He was just not personable enough, and he did not seem to be enjoying showing off his city. On the other hand, Ingrid's walking tour of Bergen was the highlight of our trip. She was animated and her enthusiasm was palpable. She was, in short, fabulous. And Ingrid was very, very helpful in arranging for room changes in our hotels in both Oslo and Bergen. I know the hot weather was not anyone's fault, but when I expressed concern months ago about whether there was air conditioning in the hotels that were booked for us in Oslo and Bergen, you should have given us hotel options (such as the Opus hotel right next door in Bergen) that did have air conditioning. The lack of air conditioning in all of our Norway hotels detracted significantly from our enjoyment of the trip.