Guest Author - Julie Fredrick
In a matter of days, I will be on a flight headed to Norway. I actually chose Norway as a result of my research for an article here at BellaOnline. The Norway websites (Fjordnorway.com and Visitnorway.com ) wowed me with stunning scenery of turquoise blue fjords surrounded by craggy cliffs and majestic mountains. As a physically active traveler, I was impressed with the opportunities Norway offers; kayaking, glacier walks, white water rafting and hiking galore. Perfect! Add to that the fact that getting around is easy; the country’s bus, train, air and ferry systems can get you anywhere your heart desires.
Knowing back in the spring that Norway was my destination, I scoured my favorite discounted airlines websites; Kayak.com, Sidestep.com, Cheapoair.com and TripAdvisor.com. I placed my departure point and Norway on their watch lists, and within about a month, I was alerted of an excellent fare, so I grabbed it! Now the fun part, deciding on my itinerary and booking rooms. ( I prefer to know where I’ll be staying beforehand, as history has shown me that just showing up, especially in rural areas where accommodations are limited, is risky business.)
Following college, I was a travel agent. After that job, I went to work for an adventure travel company and was a trip consultant/tour escort. Fun job, I got to travel all over Latin America. After learning how to put trips together, and realizing that I, personally, prefer independent travel, I began orchestrating my own trips, much more to my liking.
It was only after booking my airfare that I discovered that Norway is the most expensive country in the world. Hmmmm…I thought Japan had that title in the bag. Yes, even staying in a youth hostel can set you back a what I normally pay for a full-service hotel. So, after comparing many suggested itineraries on travel-oriented websites such as Virtualtourist, Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree, I combined all the elements that I thought would suit me best. The forums on all of those sites are excellent places to gather information and ask questions. Fellow travelers are typically willing and eager to help.
Even though I was trying to book reservations 3 months in advance, nearly all of the hostels were full, so I will be staying in some camping cabins; small, simple inns; a big hotel on the water that I scored a deal on through booking.com, and in the far north, above the Arctic Circle on the Lofoten Islands, I am booked into a fishermen’s cabin for 3 days.
My dilemma has been how to pack for this trip, since the weather will be questionable, at best. My main objective in packing is that I can carry-on all of my baggage. I have dealt with lost luggage before, and we won’t be in any one place long enough to hassle with that. I also do not want to pay for the checked baggage fees.
So, how does one pack for a 2-week trip abroad where some bulky clothes and hiking boots are a necessity? Check back next week, because I am going to share my “packing-diva’s do’s and don’ts” for overhead-compartment mastery!
