Frustrations
Norway | Sep 29 - Oct 4, 2019

Susan
Susan S.
Dorchester, MA | Reviewed on Oct 08, 2019

Ingrid was our guide for our visit to Oslo and Bergen . Luckily my cousin and I travelled together for the most part , or we would have been quite lost .

Initially I arrived earlier than she , and somehow got to the bus for the hotel for the night , the Gardemon Airport Hotel , which was suggested by our Svalbard leader . The hotel was very nice , the food fabulous , and a wonderful walk nearby .

We next flew to Tromso and Longyearbyen for our artic adventure , which was unbelievably wonderful , except I did not see the whales that others were able to see .

We returned to Oslo and both of us were a bit nervous about the location of the hotel which in reality , could not have been easier - The Thon Opera , at Ingrid's suggestion . The restaurant was not great - expensive then closed for repairs .

Then we went to Myrdal to get the Flam train . It turned out to be easier than expected , and the ferry to Balestrand was lovely . It was nice to have the tickets paid for in advance . The hotel in Balestrand was GREAT - thank you Ingrid - then another ferry to Bergen . In the rain . I wish I had known to expect so much rain . . .

Bergen started off negatively . In the rain . Ingrid had sent maps , but they were useless . First of all , they faded in the rain , and secondly , without directions or street names . It took almost 2 hours to find the hotel , which was not great . Dark and unattractive , dining area right at the front door . We were surprised to find that a ' superior room ' was reserved for us , but it had only one bed ! We had to down grade to a room with twin beds , no view . Also dark . The hotel was not a great choice , the staff less than cordial . We would have been better off some place like the Hotel Bergen near the old wharf . We had a GREAT meal at Lyskevet ?? The inadequate directions and maps were the most frustrating part of our visit .

We returned to Oslo Thon for the night , and a dinner at a restaurant that was not great - a new one , started with an A - Atla ???

So we survived but had many frustrations .

Local specialist: Ingrid Thornes
Ingrid
Ingrid Thornes
Local specialist in Norway | Replied on Nov 07, 2019

Hi Susan,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write a review here as well. I appreciate your time and efforts on this and it certainly helps for us to improve in the future. We have actually started working on better maps where you are able to zoome in after you gave us feedback a while back. Thank you!
I am glad you liked Balestrand, the train journey and fjordcruise and I am sorry the weather in Bergen was bad and that you did no enjoy the hotels in Oslo. I will make a note of that again.

Thank you again for taking the time and I wish you all the best!
Ingrid