Scandinavia Guidebook
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Would it be possible on ALL of the books to include time it took to view attractions? Museums, Churches and things. it doesnt have to be an exact time, but an approximation. For me it allows me to better plan my time. IE do i need a day or days to see the things i plan.
Ray in Portland, Or USA 03/16/2013
Hello, The Rick Steves Scandinavia book I bought from Amazon was defective. Random pages came from one of your travel books on Poland. Amazon allows for a refund only. I have applied for that refund and will return this book to them. Is there any way for me to get this book in a non-defective form? Thanks, Bill
Bill in Knoxville, TN USA 02/11/2013
Thon Hotel Stefan in Oslo was very noisy on Friday and Saturday night. Request a room off the street. There is a very loud disco across from this property that makes it impossible to sleep even with earplugs! Noise went on till early morning making us zombies on the Nutshell round trip.
Tad Santino in Olympia, WA USA 08/19/2012
I have a wonderful picture of my daughter reading the Stockholm tour book while on the boat out to Sandham-going POSH! I would love to share.
Nina Hakanson in St. Paul, MN USA 07/28/2012
Perhaps give more details on how to best reach areas like this.
pam in Hawthorn Woods, il USA 07/20/2012
Drop Oslo City Box Hotel from your recommendations or make it a choice of last resort
Molly Henderson in Seattle, WA USA 07/19/2012
More restaurant suggestions in Sodermalm, Stockholm.
Frances West in Toronto, ON Canada 07/17/2012
include Iceland! great hotel Icelandair Marina Best fish and chips Icelander fish and chips Best Dinner ever--Fish Market Great bus transportation everywhere we planned our own tour and hired a guide and her van--worked out great we were all surprised at how much we like Iceland and most plan to return!
Sandy Bell in Sky Valley, Ca USA 07/08/2012
You've got some info for people on cruises, which is fantastic. A bit more would be helpful - like what to do when the ship stops in Nynasham an hour south of Stockholm. Lots of people on the HAL cruise were carrying Rick's guide.
Judy in Scottsdale, AZ USA 06/30/2012
On our way home from Europe, we stayed in Iceland for three days. It was a real welcome change of pace from the castles and palaces we visited in Europe. We enjoyed those things very much, but the spectacular scenery in Iceland and the opportunity to see geysers, waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and glaciers was incredible. We had exceptional weather, too, which added to our enjoyment of being there, but we found the people we met to be very friendly and eager to make visitors feel welcome. No doubt that has something to do with the recession they are just recovering from but tourism is a large part of their economy - even more so now. It would agree with the reader who wrote that Rick should make a video about Iceland. I know that my wife and I will be returning for another visit because there is so much to see on this amazing island.
Gary Hoffman in Baldwin, WI USA 06/09/2012
Beef up coverage of Naantali, which merits only a brief paragraph but is, in my opinion, worth a full day or even an overnight stay. It's a lovely place, two hours by train from Helsinki to Turku, then a 30 minute bus ride, so not very easy to get to, but it's easier to get to than going from Copenhagen to Aero, and there's more to see and do there.
Also, I strongly disagree with the judgements on Borgholm Slott and Solliden Gardens. Solliden is a lovely garden, but there are many similar places all over the USA, and there's no reason for an American traveler to spend valuable vacation time and money in Europe visiting this place. Borgholm Slott, on the other hand, is a fascinating place to explore, where there is much to learn about history. It was absolutely worth the cost of admission and the time spent.
Lane Galloway in Seattle, WA USA 06/08/2012
We are travelling to Denmark and Sweden this June. We have the Dalarna region around Falun on our itinerary and were very dismayed to find that no mention was made of this area, the most "traditional" region of Sweden. Falun includes a World Heritage Site (the copper mines) and nearby is Sunborn, the home of Carl Larsson, probably the most famous Swedish artist. Disappointing! We hope you recify this omission in the next edition.
Also, Vadstena, near Lake Vattern isn't in the guide. This medieval town is the home of St. Birgitta, patron saint of Sweden.
ML in Iowa City, IA USA 05/07/2012
Put more emphasis on the high cost of everything in Norway. We went to research our Norwegian ancestry and mission accomplished. We will never go back because we felt we were being gouged on prices for everything. Sad but true. You can't emphasize the high costs in Norway enough in your guidebook. I don't recommend travel in Norway until prices are adjusted.
Norman Lee in Afton, MH USA 04/18/2012
I've read your explanation of why you don't have an Iceland guidebook, but I think that Iceland would make a fantastic subject for one of your TV shows. It's a unique country with a lot to offer, especially for those who like outdoor activities and nature, and the collapse of its economy has made it more affordable for outsiders than before.
Karen in Minneapolis, MN USA 11/04/2011
We took a Tallink ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn in late September 2011. Contrary to what the Scandinavia 12th edition says in the Estonia section page 515, public transportation was a snap. There is a bus (unfortunately I don't remember the number) that goes from outside the main Helsinki train station (west side) directly to the ferry building, and the reverse on the way back. The nice lady at the Helsinki Expert desk at the Helsinki TI gave us the information. This made our choice of that ferry an easier one to make since getting to the ferry was not inconvenient at all and those leaving from the harbor area were either questionable at that time of year or slower. The bus ran every 15 - 20 minutes.
Shirley Fleig in San Diego, CA USA 10/31/2011
Update every two years rather than three.
Sam Pelligra, MD in Greensboro, NC USA 09/19/2011
The section for Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen needs updating. The guards told us that they tell many people the book is out of date and items mentioned by Steve have been relocated for several years.
Keith Wood in Lawrence, KS USA 09/16/2011
For Bergen, include ideas for what to do when all sites close at 2, 3, 4, or 5 pm... with hours to kill before dark, and no place to go but restaurants! If you have a"greedy little" Bergen card for two days, it is almost impossible to get your money's worth if you can only get to one or two museums in a day. We walked the neighborhoods, but this is daunting when it's cold and wet.
We went prepared with plastic utensils and napkins for picnicking , but found it mostly inappropriate for us. If you have a bare-bones accommodation, there is no way to store a large piece of cheese (almost the only way it is sold) or other perishable foods. We did buy a loaf of bread and a small packet of sliced Havarti (hard to find) when we moved to an apartment for our last three nights in Bergen, but otherwise we hardly ate at all. (We saw a couple at the City Box hotel in Bergen who had bread, sausage, cheese, and tea for breakfast... with additional butter, jam, sugar, cream, etc. To buy all of that at a grocery- and then have no place to store the perishables - would have been false economy. Suggestions would be helpful.
Roberta in McBride, WA USA 09/12/2011
In the Hardanger area, we stayed at & highly recommend www.hardanger-gjestegard.no. It is located right on the fjord near Alsaker (between Utne & Jondal). You would need a car to get there on narrow roads but our apt was beautifully decorated, nice kitchen facilities. The owners were super nice, they have a large apple orchard and rent apartments, have small fishing boats for rent and you can sit right out on the fjord. So beautiful & peaceful. I would recommend this lodging be added to your RS Norway guide.
Nelda Eitreim in Garretson, SD USA 08/22/2011
It would be helpful to integrate the color versions of the maps in the Kindle edition of the book with each major city/country, rather than have them bunched up at the front.
Steve Macfarlane in Carmichael, CA USA 08/07/2011
Update more frequently.
Irena in Cleveland, USA 07/29/2011
Include Visby, Sweden. Include other Baltic capitals & St Petersburg.
Beth in Northridge, CA USA 07/12/2011
I'll provide complete feedback when we finish our trip in late July (still have Norway to get to). So far, recommendations for sights, restaurants, and lodging have been on target.
Steve Macfarlane in Carmichael, CA USA 07/11/2011
Include something more about Malmo in the book than just how easy it is to visit from Copenhagen - this is a charming city, and such a welcome break from Copenhagen, the most overrated of the Scandinavian capitals. If I went back, I would consider basing out of Malmo, or at least not staying in a hotel in central Copenhagen which is currently torn up (side walks, plazas, etc) for the expansion of the subway system, among other things, I suppose. At most one needs one day to see what Copenhagen has to offer - the best of Denmark is outside of Copenhagen, and the nicest town in the region is Malmo.
John Russell in Charlottesville, VA USA 07/01/2011
Add an additional page or two on Hurtigruten cruise; and perhaps include key stops, e.g., Alesund, Trondheim, Tromso and Kirkenes.
richard kruse in la jolla, ca USA 06/16/2011
add more restaurant advice make the Stockholm card more apparent - - if you are here touring it is WORTH it highlight how easy it is to get around and the public transportation highlight how everything is pretty much walkable
Lynn Porterfield in Ridgewood, NJ USA 04/11/2011
Include the Swedish city of Visby on the island of Gotland. I cannot figure out why it is not in the guidebook!
Beth in Los Angeles, CA USA 04/06/2011
I'm not sure why Iceland---a Scandinavian country---isn't covered, but Estonia---which is not---is. Perhaps a "Rick Steves Baltics" is in order?
Kevin in McIntyre, MD USA 03/17/2011