Located on the northern side of Europe, Scandinavia is among the regions blessed with natural scenic beauty. It comprises Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The breathtaking encounter you will get when you are planning a trip to Scandinavia is incomparable.
Some of the top things you can enjoy are hiking on the Norwegian fjord to cruising in Stockholm’s archipelago. Not to forget about the northern lights visible in winter and the midnight sun in summer. The Scandinavian cities are all full of great architectural works. An example is the round tower in Copenhagen. They also have big museums preserving their history and culture.
However, with all that natural scenery, visiting Scandinavia requires great planning. If you have an unplanned visit to Scandinavia, you are likely to miss a lot. You can decide to do the planning on your own. Another option is getting a professional planner on your behalf. All in all, both ways can lead to a successful trip to Scandinavia.
Planning a Scandinavian Trip Own your own Versus doing it Through Hired Trained Personnel
Getting your trip planned by another person can be time-saving. Various tour guides have specialized in different types of trips. Therefore, choosing one will depend on the type of trip you want to have. Whether you want a personalized or group trip, getting a planner won’t be a big deal. Some specialize in fixed high-end trips while others will give you room to negotiate the prices.
On the other hand, planning your own trip makes you fully in charge of it. There are various online articles that will give you the right information you might need. Flexibility is another advantage of researching your Scandinavian destination on your own. You can change your plans any time you want in case of an emergency. It also saves money since trained trip planners don’t do it for free.
Comparison between Group and Personal Trips in Scandinavia
Travel companies and tour operators mostly organize group tours. The operators plan group tours so well that it doesn’t have to take all your time. Therefore, if you want to travel, you can join small tour groups of 12 or larger groups of up to 50 people. To enjoy a group trip to the brim, it’s better to arrange a 10-to-14-day tour to Scandinavia.
However, if group trips don’t excite you, having a personal trip to Scandinavia can be fulfilling. The flexibility that comes with exploring Scandinavia on your own makes it more enjoyable. Instead of pre-booking a whole 10- or 14-day trip, you can book short-term local tours and enjoy the rest of the time doing your own thing.
In addition, planning your personal daily itinerary gives your interests priority. Changing plans is easier when you take a private tour of Scandinavia. You can also breach your trip any time you feel you can’t proceed.
Scandinavian Tour Budget
When planning a trip to Scandinavia it is important to create a tour budget. Taking a vacation and falling short of finances can be so absurd. It becomes even so annoying when you are in a new country. Thus, you must be sure your bank account can accommodate your full trip to avoid unnecessary pressure. While creating your travel budget you also don’t have to be mean about it, since it happens once in a lifetime. Have some extra money.
When making your tour budget there are things you must consider. These may include accommodation, both international and local transport services, city passes, local tours, and daily meals among others. All in all, you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy your trip. Most tour operators offer affordable tour packages to accommodate everyone.
How to get to Scandinavia
Getting to Scandinavia will always depend on the location you want to visit from. If you live too far, perhaps from a different continent or just within Europe, then you must take a flight to Scandinavia.
There are many airlines enrooting to major cities like Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo, among others. Some of these airlines include; Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Airlines, United Airlines, etc. Your location as I said earlier will always determine which airline you will use to get to Scandinavia.
Apart from flights, there are other means you can use to get to Scandinavia. Most of the Scandinavian countries consist of archipelagos, making ferry services a common means of transport.
Furthermore, you can cruise to most islands with a boat. In addition, trains are also a convenient mode to travel to Scandinavia and between its countries. You will only need a special ticket (pass) if you are a non-European resident. With that, you can enjoy numerous express train rides and see the beauty of Scandinavia.
The Perfect Time to Visit Scandinavia
When planning a trip to Scandinavia you need to research and know which time is ideal for you. According to history, most people visit Scandinavia during summer. It’s the only time when the tourist attraction points and everything related to it is actively open.
Moreover, Scandinavia is normally crowded during summer since no one would want to miss having a glimpse of the midnight sun. The long days and short nights give you enough time to explore a lot of things in one day.
Unless you fancy chilly weather and sports related to winter, you can visit Scandinavia between late November and early march. During this time, almost everything is inactive due to the extreme cold and shorter days. Resulting in very minimal time for enjoyment. However, it doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it completely. There are a lot of natural attractions related to winters such as the Northern lights and the festive atmosphere related to Christmas.
