Scandinavia

Guidebook corrections:

Please note: The following corrections were submitted by readers and have not yet been confirmed by Rick. Check updates from Rick for the latest.

I reserved room in Lillehammer at Gjestehuset Ersgaard over the internet for some friends and when they arrived the place was closed up and no one would answer the door. A nice Lillehammer resident at a nearby market found them a place to stay and told them it had closed this summer.

JoAnn Eaton in Northfield, MN USA 09/13/2008

On Page 453 in R.S. 11th edition (2008), Tihase B & B is NOT a "bachelor pad." He and his sweetie have a baby and a toddler. I was disappointed, and was looking forward to a quiet bachelor's home, but at least they are a nice family. Their free washing machine got black grease stains on my clothes. Ivo charges ($25 USD)= 230 Kr, NOT 100 Kr to drive us for 10 minutes to the ferry dock. We wasted 3.5 hours on the city buses when we first arrived, trying to find their home, because your bus #17 is incorrect. Please call them and find out which buses go to the nearby large shopping center, the easiest way to find them. I love your guidebooks, and this was my 7th time to travel to Europe. We took 2 night trains. One from Stockholm to Oslo, and then later, one from Oslo to Bergen. We are in our mid-50's, and in spite of our age, my hubby and I slept so much better in a quiet, pleasant, FREE normal seat in 2nd class with our train pass, than the night we spent the extra money for a 2-bed compartment with a private bathroom, even in the busy month of mid-July, 2008. Please encourage budget travelers to Save their money!

Jan Manselle in Portland, OR USA 09/12/2008

1) In Roskilde - the book says look for Tourist signs when you get off the train. Well no where are there any signs - even on the map of the town right outside the station. 2) In Frogner park in Oslo - the guide mentions at one point where you can look and see the green copper house of Vigeland. Except you can't - the trees are too tall. Rick obviously hasn't looked there in a while.

Eriol in Houston, TX USA 09/08/2008

Oslo Pass - 30 % discount for cruise ship passengers. senior discount over 67

CG in Laval, Qc Canada 08/24/2008

Copenhagen, Denmark: A suggestion about the 2 different companies offering canal tours. Yes, one is much cheaper. But the lines are much longer for the cheaper cruise and they don't seem to have as many boats! One reason to pay the higher price: to save time and not have to stand in the hot sun for hours waiting! (I was there in summer high tourist season.)

Diana Brooking in Kenmore, WA USA 08/14/2008

Copenhagen, Denmark: The Movia public transit office on the Radhusplats is closed on Saturdays and Sundays (not open every day as in guidebook). However, if you go to the bus shelters nearby, they have very detailed bus maps under glass that can you help you figure out for yourself which buses you need to take, if you are in Copenhagen only for the weekend like I was!

Diana Brooking in Kenmore, WA USA 08/14/2008

Firstly we must say that the RS books make travel SO easy. While we expect changes in opening times and entrance fees, the following errors (in some cases, not errors, but we've included additional information that might be helpful) were the only ones that impacted our travels. Aero, Denmark - night watchman gives tours Tues - Saturday only. Legoland, Denmark -- buy tickets online to skip the lengthy queue. Halsskov Bridge, Denmark - free exhibition center(RS book p. 130)-- has been closed for 10 years so don't waste time hunting for it. Copenhagen, Denmark -- very efficient metro goes directly to the airport. - The rooms (3 rooms sharing 1 bathroom) in the Holger + Puk De la Cour flat are fine, but it is a smoking home. This should be made clear to anyone booking a stay there.

Jane and Gerry Grunau in Abbotsford,, BC Canada 07/29/2008

Scandinavia 2007 states that the Louisiana Museum in Humlebaek, Denmark opens at 10 am. It opens at 11 am. Ferry from Svendborg to Aero runs also on Sundays and holidays; this is not clear in the book.

Connie Chaplin in Seattle, Wa USA 07/24/2008

Page 409: The times printed for the Temppeliaukio Church ("Church of the Rock") are their winter hours. They are open until 7pm on week days during the summer.

Also, the map around the Sweater Wall in Tallinn, Estonia isn't quite accurate. I don't think there was a street between the fortress wall and the book store.

Heather Kandoll in Vancouver, WA USA 07/11/2008

Please update the directions on how to get from the Odense-Svendborg train to the ferry onward to Aero. The directions are not clear.

You may want to warn travelers that there isn't much open on Sunday in Aeroskobing, including supermarkets.

M. Nelson in Chicago, IL USA 06/29/2008

Add the website to the listing for Flåm Camping & Vandrarheim (in the Norway in a Nutshell section on Flam). Currently, you only have an email address listed. When I wrote to them they replied with this website: www.flaam-camping.no

victoria in philadelphia, pa USA 06/24/2008

the guidebook mentions to call NSB to make reservations. it's not clear that this only refers to pass holders. people who want to book individual tickets with nsb automatically get seat assignements.

the english NSB site is good and useful and if you know exactly what trains you want, you can save quite a bit of money over the Nutshell package by buying MINPRIS tickets for those trains.

If you need to call NSB, you point out how hard it is to get through. But if you call the general switchboard +47 23 15 00 00 from the US, they'll put you through to reservations right away.

Eli M in Detroit , MI USA 06/22/2008

On 5/28/08 we were in Stockholm - 2 of the restaurants listed in Rick's Scandinavia book (2008, page 360) were NOT open for lunch : Glenfiddich Warehouse & Restaurant, and Kryp In Restaurant. Also, on page 74 the Amber Box in Rosenborg Castle that is said to be in the dining room has been moved to the basement with the royal jewels.

Nancy Vice in Atlanta, Ga USA 06/09/2008

Flying into Stockholm

Jim Asprinio in San Francisco, CA USA 05/11/2008

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are happy to send you updated information concerning the Stockholm Card 2008 and the Stockholm Tourist Centre. Please note that the Tourist Office at the Central Station, Hotellcentralen, is closed permanently. To serve customers all around Stockholm, we introduce the Stockholm Panel, a virtual Tourist Information Centre that you can find all over the city.

Stockholm Tourist Centre Visit the Stockholm Tourist Centre for inspiration, tourist information, tickets to events and sightseeing, the Stockholm Card, maps and books, suggestions for excursions, and hotel and youth hostel reservations. Welcome!

Stockholm Tourist Centre The Sweden House, Hamngatan 27, Entrance: Kungsträdgården E-mail: info@svb.stockholm.se Tel: +46 8 508 28 508 Fax: +46 8 508 28 509 Open: Monday – Friday 9–19, Saturday 10–17, Sunday 10–16 Closed: 1.1, 24–25.12

The Stockholm Card The Stockholm Card is ideal if you want to experience Stockholm in a simple and convenient way and get the most out of your visit to the city. It is great value for money, and it also gives you incredible freedom to decide how you want to spend your time here. The Card includes free admission to the city’s sights, free public transport, boat trips and special offers. All in the same card! So if you want to visit most and the best of what Stockholm has to offer, buy a Stockholm Card.

Buy the Stockholm Card on the Internet: www.stockholmtown.com/stockholmskortet

The Stockholm Card is also for sale in the Stockholm Tourist Centre in Sweden House (Sverigehuset) next to Kungsträdgården. Visit www.stockholmtown.com/stockholmskortet for a list of all points of sale.

www.stockholmtown.com

---

If you have any question, please contact Ann-Charlotte Jönsson, Press coordinator at Stockholm Visitors Board.

Phone number: +46 8 508 285 07 E-mail: ann-charlotte.jonsson@svb.stockholm.se

Joakim Henningsson in Stockholm, Sweden 12/05/2007

The location of the less expensive Netto canal cruises (described in page 55 of Scandinavia 2007) in Copenhagen’s Nyhavn canal is indicated correctly in the maps on pages 58 and 90 and NOT correctly in the map on page 52 and in the front color map of Copenhagen. At Nyhavn, the less expensive cruise and the more expensive cruise are located quite close together, maybe only 1/2 block between them. The map on page 52 and the front color Copenhagen map should be corrected.

vkw in Ann Arbor, MI USA 09/06/2007

In Scandinavia 2007, page 142, the starting point for the self-guided tour on Tram#12 is incorrect. The closest Tram #12 comes to the train station is on Storgata, near the Oslo Cathedral. In other words, point 14 on the map on page 144 is wrong, and should be moved to the north side of Storgatan near point 4, the Oslo Cathedral. The tram eventually loops back full circle to the same stop on the south side of Storgata. This mistake in the guidebook cost us about half an hour of confusion.

vkw in Ann Arbor, MI USA 09/06/2007

1.) Oslo Natural History Museum now charges 60 adult / 30 child. 2.) Need some sort of link for the Nutshell bus to Voss and then train to Bergen. On a Saturday the train is less frequent and the bus does not seem to meet the ferry times well. We came from Balestrand at 11:50 on the ferry then waited >1hr for the next bus at Gudvangen. We only were able to catch our train connection in Voss because it was late by 20min. Otherwise we'd have been stuck in Voss for the night.

Mike McDonnell in Wroughton, UK 09/02/2007

Many of the charges need to be updated, e.g., the Viking Museum in Oslo and the city ferry ride in Oslo. I cannot list them all here, but for purchasing the 2007 Scandinavia guidebook, the rates were for the most part behind what we were charged in Bergen, Oslo and Stockholm. Also, senior rates are often not in effect during August.

Elaine in Livingston, MT USA 08/28/2007

New SAS number in Scandinavia: 05 400

Rhoda Barber in Ellesnburg, WA USA 08/27/2007

We spent four nights in Balestrand at the Hostel "Kringsjå". This place is great and has converted fully to a hostel (the guidebook doesn't make this clear, they used to combine a hotel and a hostel). Great deal, great breakfast, great facility. We had a family room - 4 bunks with private bathroom and a balcony view of the fjord. Really superb. I think it deserves a much higher "ranking" than your guidebook gives it.

Also, regarding the trip on the Oslo T-bane out to Frognerseteren and the ski jump, we tried to ride there from Stortinget on our last night of the trip and waited 45 minutes before giving up on catching a "1" train out there. Turns out that you have to take a train out to Majorstuen (any train), then switch to a 1 out to the end of the line. Even the locals in the station were perplexed by this.

Bob DenOuden in Eugene, OR USA 08/03/2007

More of a clarification than a correction: the Klipperkort cards (for train & bus travel) in Copenhagen can be shared, which is a big plus for group travel.

John in Towson, MD USA 06/12/2007

The map of Bergen, Norway, shows "Old Town" in the wrong location. From this wrong location, it looks to be walkable from the harbor, but it's not. You definitely need a bus or taxi and it's in a different direction from the map location.

Lindsay Mandeville in Atlanta, GA USA 06/11/2007

I had a brief glance in the 2000 edition of the Scandinavian guide and I must admit it's embarrassing to include Estonia and Finland in it since it's definatly NOT a part of Scandinavia. Finland could possibly pass as Scandinavian but Estonia is by all definition a Baltic state. The Scandinavian region consists of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. I consider this a rather serious error and lack of professionalism.

[Editor's Note: We include Finland and Estonia in our Scandinavia guidebook as many Americans like to include visits there while they are in Sweden. And the cover is too small to title the book "Scandinavia, with Potential Side Trips to a Nordic State and a Baltic State." ]

John in Norrkoping , Sweden 06/04/2007

In Stockholm, only a few city museums are free. The information center has an updated list of the museums and their fees and the price for the Stockholm Card has increased in price. The tower in the City Hall in Stockholm is no longer open to tourists for safety reasons.

sandy winters in willis, te USA 06/03/2007

You say on page 95 (Copenhagen) that you can ride the S-tog if you're going for a cruise to stop at Nordhavn station. Exit the station and cross under the tracks toward the water. Follow the "til Marnokai signs". Before you see the sign, you must take 3 flight of stairs cross the highway and down for another 3 flights of stairs. Don't do this if you have a lot of luggage. Take the bus or a taxi.

Jude1349 in deptford, NJ USA 05/30/2007

The cover seems to me to carry a picture from Helsinki, not Copenhagen... Otherwise an excellent book and companion on a Scandinavian trip!

[Editor's Note: Look down one line on the very last page to find the credits for the cover photos: Helsinki harbor and an aerial view of Bergen.]

Ann-Louise Blixt in Helsingborg, Sweden 05/17/2007

On the Aero Island ferry, foreign credit cards are not accepted; only Danish cash.

bettey akermann in silex, mn USA 05/11/2007

Oslo National Art musuem has moved its paintings and the map of rooms with noted paintings is no longer valid

richard welsh in westfield ctr, oh USA 04/17/2007

The Skanplus Hotel Pass, mentioned in the 2007 Scandinavia guidebook, has unfortunately been discontinued effective January 2007. See www.skanplus.com.

vkw in Ann Arbor, MI USA 03/18/2007

ON page 178 of the 2007 SCandinavia book, you mention that the City Hotel will "give a 10% discount with this book during 2007". We tried to make reservation via their website and they are not aware of the practice. Maybe this phrase should be removed from the book or the discount is only valid if presented in person. I can provide the email correspondeance if helpful. Also their rate for june bouble with bath is 790Kr (above the 750 Kr in the book).

Dan in Wheeler, TX USA 03/18/2007

Copenhagen: We were told by staff when we entered the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek art gallery that it is no longer free on Wednesdays. We arrived at 3:35, 25 minutes before they closed at 4 pm (in February) and they let us in free, for 25 minutes and suggested we go straight to the oldest relics in the museum.

Jan Wishau in Columbia, MO USA 02/24/2007

I work for the Stockholm Tourist Bureau. Here is the current information about the Stockholm Card.

The Stockholm Card includes all this: • Free admission to 75 museums and attractions • Free travel on underground, bus, commuter train and tram • Free sightseeing by boat on selected “Royal Canal” and “Historical canal” tours. • Bonus offers on boat trip to Drottningholm, Stockholm Panorama and Open Top tours. • Guidebook with city maps and information in several languages.

PRICE ADULT 2007: 24 hours SEK 290 ($42), 48 hours SEK 420 ($60), 72 hours SEK 540 ($77) PRICES CHILD 2007: 7–17: 24 hours SEK 120 ($17), 48 hours SEK 160 ($23), 72 hours SEK 190 ($27)

Child cards may be purchased together with adult cards. Max. 2 child cards per adult card. The card will not be valid until it is stamped with the time and date the first time you use it.

Buy the Stockholm Card on the Internet: www.stockholmtown.com/stockholmcard

The Stockholm Card can be purchased at the Stockholm Tourist Centre in Sverigehuset at Kungsträdgården, at Hotellcentralen in the Central Station, at tourist bureaus all over the county, at hotels, campsites, hostels and at the SL Centers.

Stockholm’s Tourist Offices Stockholm Tourist Centre Sverigehuset, Hamngatan 27, Entré Kungsträdgården E-mail: info@svb.stockholm.se Phone: +46 8 508 28 508 Fax: +46 8 508 28 509 www.stockholmtown.com

Hotellcentralen Centralstationen, Vasagatan E-mail: info@svb.stockholm.se Phone: +46 8 508 28 508 Fax: +46 8 791 86 66 www.stockholmtown.com/hotels

Ann-Charlotte Jönsson in Stockholm, Sweden 02/12/2007

Oslo, Restaurante Brasserie 45 is NOT open on Sundays as indicated in the guide book. Otherwise, it was good. Restaurante Angelos, just around the corner from Brasserie 45, was open on Sunday but was very mediocre and expensive for what it is.

Stu Kinzler in Stamford, CT USA 01/14/2007

Hans Christian Andersen's house is number 67 not 20.

To our surprise Tivoli Gardens is open on the weekends in Oct. for fright nights. The Gardens contain thousands of pumpkins, ghosts and goblins.

[Editor's Note: Hans Christian Andersen lived at both #67 and #20 in Nyhavn at different times of his life. He also lived at #18. We'll try to clarify this in our next edition.]

Mike Worosz in Griffith , IN USA 11/14/2006

Just a suggestion about the Flam Ferry schedule...We had planned to catch the 9 a.m. ferry from Aurland on 2 October. Unfortunately, once in Flam we learned that 1 October was the last day for two ferries a day...only the 3 p.m. would be running now that the summer season was over. We also quickly learned that the bus to Aurland was also on a far less frequent schedule. Although your guidebook did a good job of noting shortened hours, etc. for the sights in Scandinavia, there was no such mention re: the changes that might occur in the Norway in a Nutshell tour. We thought you might add such a caution in your next issue.

Marion Dunham in Whitefield, NH USA 10/26/2006

Rick, We rushed over to your Oslo cafeteria, hungry for supper only to find that the Kaffistova was closed for renovation (first week Sep 2006). But luck was with us and we ate a lovely supper outdoors at Tullin Restaurant, next to SAS Scandinavia.

B & V Broering in Austin, TX USA 10/01/2006

Rick, please, please list public toilets in Old Town Stockholm. We scouted it out on our initial arrival one late afternoon (it wasn't crowded) and four store owners in a row treated us like we had a disease, wouldn't let us use their facilities, couldn't or wouldn't give us directions to a public restroom, though they told us to go to one, and couldn't give us directions to the McDonalds that they told us to go to. They said it wasn't their responsibility to educate us.

We had three younger children. Somehow I persevered and kept asking. One store owner said go 200 meters one way. We did and asked a policeman, he said go 200 meters the way we came from. One shopowner finally took mercy on us and when she saw we also let the two grandparents with us go, she bawled me out big time. After I had spent 45 minutes of trying to find a place and getting panicky, I lost it and tearily told her how much I hated Stockholm. She remained very cold and unsympathetic.

We finally found a few public restrooms after more walking. By the palace there is a stand-alone restroom for 5 kr and in the Armory they have free facilities. We never did see the McDonalds restroom. This whole experience left us not liking Stockholm very much. We kept flipping through your book but there was nothing on restrooms.

Sue in Oak Park, Il USA 09/29/2006

p. 248 - Sweden House TI moved fr. basement of Hamngatan 27 last yr, just around corner, across from NK store but I don't have new street address, nor does the website I checked.

Sally Davenport in Bellingham, WA USA 09/15/2006

The Vindeballe Kro was out of business when we were there. I would recommend checking with your B&B host or TI before doing a bike trip expecting to eat on the route as we found another Kro closed too and had to ask until we found what he described as the only place until you get back to Aerøskøbing.

Jaunita Eichman in Wirtz, VA USA 08/26/2006

On p. 130, you say, "Norwegians feel there is no better place than home and have voted Norway the most livable country in the world (UN Human Development Index 2002)." The Human Development Index has nothing to do with voting. It is based on assessments by the UN Development Program on measures of health, education, and income. As you say, Norway was tops in 2002; moreover, it is always near the top. You may not consider this a correction, but Helsinki claims to have been founded in 1550 and celebrated its 450th birthday in 2000.

Kenneth Thomas in O'Fallon, MO USA 08/21/2006

The National Museum in Copenhagen (Statens Museum for Kunst) is being renovated. However, the Ny Carlsburg Glyptotek is open again.

Holly in Belmont, MA USA 08/09/2006

Nordisk museum and Palace Armory are free now in Stockholm. All day public transit pass in Helsinki is more expensive.

Jenna Stone in New York, NY USA 08/01/2006

The Munch Museum had an English tour (about 45 mins. and free with admission) in the afternoon that made the visit worthwhile. You can walk through the Fram. This was not clear to me from the "then explore the boat" listed in the book. The Thon "Opera" is to the left of the train tracks when you leave the train and was much nicer, for not much more money, than the Thon "Terminus" listed in the book and also easier to find and to catch your train. Flam has a beach I do not remember being mentioned in the book.

James in Commerce, ga USA 07/13/2006

There is no longer a 10:15 Balestrand to Bergen jet boat scheduled.

Michael Feinberg in Silver Spring, MD USA 07/07/2006

Must add how to get to Gotenburg,Frederkishaven ferry. Stena line. Cab is 100kr. The #90 bus goes right by the terminal for a third the price.

Jenna Stone in New York, NY USA 07/03/2006

yes, our phone no. should read in future 23 26 11 38 not 62 52 24 25 thank you julie hansen Graasten Farm østermarksvej 20' ÆRøskøbing.

julie hansen in Ærøskøbing-Isle of Ærø, Denmark 06/30/2006

It would be nice to kn ow how long the city walking tours should take. We are on a cruise so this is very important

Brian Edgar in Brigden, on Canada 06/28/2006

When traveling to Ærø, take the train to Nyborg station. Get off the train at Nyborg and get on the bus to the Ærø ferry, which drops you off right outside the ferry. It's a time waster going all the way to Odense and the journey is much easier on the bus; it only takes 35 min and is a pleasant ride through the countryside.

Also, the Vindeballe Kro on Ærø is closed and up for sale.

julie hansen in Ærøskøbing-Isle of Ærø, USA 06/20/2006

Regarding booking boat trips from Stockholm to Helsinki specifically, on Silja. Its website, www.silja.com lists agents in different countries. In the United States we can call toll free, 800-533-3755 Ext 114 and make reservations over the phone. Or on the internet, reservations@seaeurope.com. From both your book & Lonely Planet I was led to believe I had to call Stockholm. SeaEurope Holidays has been the Silja agent for 3 years, per Josie, booking agent.

Joseph Smith in Langhorne, PA USA 06/05/2006

In the section on tipping, you state that tips are always included in Denmark and it is unnecessary to add any gratuity. We noticed that there was no reference to gratuity in the Jensens' Bofhus so we aked about tipping and were told that tips were not included. Tips are shared with the entire staff. I have no reason to doubt this. The tipping section also states that tips are included in Norway but it is customary to add a small addition. We inquired in several places in Bergen and Oslo and indeed this was the case, but at the Amerika Linjen Steakhouse in Oslo right near the train station, we were told that tips were not included and again we have no reason to doubt this. I would hate to see hard working waiters and waitresses get stiffed because the customer was of the mistaken belief that tips are included. Perhaps the best approach is to ask unless the bill specifically states that the gratuity is inlcuded.

Steve Shaiken in San Francisco, C USA 05/21/2006

yes, please add that small private bed and breakfasts in denmark dont take visa or any other bank cards as payment - neither can they use the cards number for a deposit owing to the banking system

j.fins in pitsburgh, USA 05/11/2006

Re page 251 of Scandinavia 2006: As of 5/1/06 the zone system for Stockholm buses and subway has been eliminated. Single ride tickets cost 20 kr. Prepaid packets of 10 tickets can be purchased for 180 kr at SL Centers, Pressbyrån and SevenEleven. Fares are half price for those under 20 and seniors 65 and older. Fares are listed at www.sl.se in English with much more explanation in Swedish.

The 24 hr Stockholm card (page 249) is now 270 kr for adults and 120 kr for children. The 48 hr card is 420 kr for adults and 160 kr for children.

Gary Westerlund in Kent, WA USA 05/06/2006

You note that there is no overnight train from Oslo to Copenhagen. Actually, there is (run by Sweedens SJ national railroad) and they offer the full range of accommodation. Very nice...leaves 2133 from Oslo and arrives in Copenhagen at 0730. Thanks

Craig Merrill in Pismo Beach, CA USA 04/18/2006

Please add our new website to the book: www.delacour-bed-and-breakfast.dk. Hope to see you in Copenhagen this year!

Puk and Holger de la Cour in Copenhagen, Denmark 04/17/2006

Gitte Kongstad, in Copenhagen, has raised her prices per night. She let us pay the stated price in Rick's guidebook 2005 but we were there in October and she stated she had increased the price.

Sandra Larsen in Eugene, Or USA 01/04/2006