Norway: a budget holiday destination?

Mrs_Wossinge

Mr Wossinge and I will shortly be embarking on a budget holiday in Norway - youth-hostelling and travelling by advance purchase train tickets (cheaper than ScanRail passes in our case).

Many people flinch when we say we're going to Norway because they perceive it as expensive, which of course it can be without a bit of planning. We've made our own sheet sleeping bags to avoid hiring them, and have got great prices on the flights. Naturally we'll be getting Oslo and Bergen passes to benefit from inclusive travel and entrance fees, and self-catering as much as possible.

But is there more money-saving to be had? Local things that you only find out when you're there, or top tips for blagging discounts?

Does anyone have Norwegian money-saving advice to share? I'd love to hear other people's handy hints!

richardw

There was a good bit in the https://www.guardian.co.uk/travel a few Saturdays ago, perhaps available on line.

Voyager2002

Mrs_Wossinge wrote: »

Does anyone have Norwegian money-saving advice to share? I'd love to hear other people's handy hints!

Give up drink until you get home again! Beware of the situation some friends were in: they went out in a group for a restaurant meal, and other members of the group decided to order wine. No-one bothered to check the cost, and it was unbelievably expensive!

Mrs_Wossinge

Thankfully Mr Wossinge doesn't drink at all, and I rarely drink except when mystery shopping, so we're OK on that front.

lfc4eva

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Give up drink until you get home again! Beware of the situation some friends were in: they went out in a group for a restaurant meal, and other members of the group decided to order wine. No-one bothered to check the cost, and it was unbelievably expensive!

Yep, i agree with the drink, i went about 4 years ago and for 2 bottles of bud ice it was the equivalent of £10.:eek:

If you have a student card, you can use it over there as they accept them for reductions, i saved a fortune in coach fares using it. We camped taking our own tent, so saved money that way.

hth

skintlass

I seem to remember coffee was free in petrol stations and you can also get fresh baked bread from them (although thats not free) about the only other thing I remember that is moneysaving from living there for 6 months is that if you buy 10 peppes pizzas you get one free (yes I did end up buying a lot of pizza when I was there).

Mrs_Wossinge

Does the free coffee only apply if you're buying petrol? We're travelling by train...

skintlass

Possibly but I think it'd be hard to get to a petrol station without a car anyhow as I seem to remember they were on the main roads. Have a great trip anyhow. Norway is a beautiful country.

blackeberg

It was £10 for two beers when I first backpacked in Norway 14 years ago so at least it's not gone up :beer:

On the assumption that they do things in a similar way to here in Stockholm then I'd suggest looking out for lunchtime meal deals. These normally include a salad, a main course, soft drink and coffee. It's a while since I was in Bergen but I lived in pizza and Chinese restaurants. A lot of places in Scandinavia let you top up tea and coffee so make the most of it.

Enjoy the fjords.

Hagar_uk

Mrs_Wossinge wrote: »

Mr Wossinge and I will shortly be embarking on a budget holiday in Norway - youth-hostelling and travelling by advance purchase train tickets (cheaper than ScanRail passes in our case).

Many people flinch when we say we're going to Norway because they perceive it as expensive, which of course it can be without a bit of planning. We've made our own sheet sleeping bags to avoid hiring them, and have got great prices on the flights. Naturally we'll be getting Oslo and Bergen passes to benefit from inclusive travel and entrance fees, and self-catering as much as possible.

But is there more money-saving to be had? Local things that you only find out when you're there, or top tips for blagging discounts?

Does anyone have Norwegian money-saving advice to share? I'd love to hear other people's handy hints!

Biggest tip I would recomend on saving money is become tea total, and even then bring your own tea!

Self catering is good idea, something I have often done with relatives over there during summer, is head down to the sea, get some driftwood start a fire, cooks some hotdogs or whatever over the fire and enjoy, food tastes better outdoors. Also if you like prawns, you can often buy them straight off the boat

siocledpoeth

take a fishing rod - relaxing pass time and free food. we did it while we were there.