OSD delivery on JULY 4? Sweden itinerary advice?

[AnnieE]

WE leave Seattle July 1, pickup S60 7/4, drop 7/17,fly home 7/18.

Momscar and other Swedespeeders have already helped us with planning our trip. Thanks! I have heard from other Seattle area buyers as well. This is a great website!

Volvo booked 3 xtra nights at Gothenborg SAS Radisson for us. Now we are booking Vaxjo, Kalmar/Oland, Stockholm,Uppsala,Lake Siljen,Karlstad, and Lysekil(west coast).

I see Metier will take delivery on July 4 as well. Anyone else planning on JULY 4 for pickup?

Also, any suggestions you might have for this Sweden itinerary are appreciated.

We like scenery, outdoors, gardens, hikes, museums, history so we're going at a more leisurely pace. Kalmar-Stockholm (about 340-km) will be longest driving day. I've been to Scandinavia but by train some time ago. The car travel affords a lot more options and it's hard to narrow down the choices.

AnnieE

[gascos80]

I am picking up S80 on June 30th. Then - Stockholm - Helsinki - Savonlinna - Tallinn - Stockholm - Karlstad - Oslo - Brigsdal - Balestrand - Flam -Bergen - Flam - Oslo - Gothenburg - Rome - Copenhagen - LA.
3-1/2 weeks.

[mcohvolvo]

I will be leaving Sweden on July 18 also. I will be picking up my C30 (1st Volvo) on July 10, arriving in Gothenburg on July 9, and then driving around Sweden through July 18 when I return to Cleveland OH. Will be spending a couple days in the Kingdom of Glass region, my wife is really into art glass and is a collector. After that it is on to Stockholm for 3 days. Then back to Gothenburg, with an overnight stop at the Sodertuna Castle. Return flight is through Copenhagen.

[flybynight]

Summers in Sweden are best spent along the coast. Since Goteborg is right there, I'd explore that area. Stockholm will be nice as well.
I'd also recommend the relatively short drive down to Copenhagen.

[metier]

We arrive the morning of the 3rd, for car pickup on the 4th. At first we were planning on driving alot, but have since changed our minds. We plan on driving to stockholm for a few days, then drive to oslo and drop the car off in Drammen, Norway. Then take the train to bergan were we will fly back from.

Pat

[T5_awd]

When (/if) you drive fron Gothenburg to Copenhagen. Take a few hours and stop in Halmstad. Very nice town, 701 years old!

Tylösand in Halmstad

Also, the best Golf course in Sweden! Halmstad Golfklubb (Solheim Cup 2007 was played here)

[universityvolvoOSD]

VERY nice pics O Is the sun still shining there? Take that "red rocket"out for a drive with the top down!...stay in touch!

[Munin]

One of Sweden's best kept tourist secrets is "kulturarvskortet" (literally, "the cultural heritage card"), which gives you rebates (usually 50% off) to a huge number of castles, historical sites, museums, and the like. It only costs SEK 120, so you quickly recoup the savings. It's valid for a year (but it's probably not transferable). It can be bought in The Sweden House in Stockholm and at 80 tourist information bureaus across the country.

The only problem is I can't find any information about this card in English. The main web page is http://www.svensktkulturarv.com/ and a map that helps you find the eligible sites is available at http://www.svensktkulturarv.com/?id=1806.

JK

[BillFerg]

Quote, originally posted by metier »

Then take the train to bergan were we will fly back from. Pat

The train ride from Oslo to Bergen has some spectacular views! Of course we went in March and saw all the snow in the mountains.

How much time will you be spending in Bergen? We enjoyed our time in the city, and then rented a car for 2 days to drive to see several fjords.

If you have the time to get to the fjords, you will be in awe of the views. Bring extra memory for your camera!

The Tourist Info office in Bergen mapped out some day trips for us that got us out and back for dinner each day.

[metier]

BillFerg we hope to have 2 days in Bergen and the fjords are high on the list to see.

Pat

ps thanks for the heads up on the day trips from the tourist office

[CDigg]

If you don't already have it, we found that the Rick Steves Scandinavia book is a great resource. It has Vaxjo, Kalmar/Oland, Stockholm and Uppsala in it.

We used it for Stockholm only and thought the information justified the purchase price.

[gascos80]

Quote, originally posted by CDigg »

If you don't already have it, we found that the Rick Steves Scandinavia book is a great resource. It has Vaxjo, Kalmar/Oland, Stockholm and Uppsala in it. We used it for Stockholm only and thought the information justified the purchase price.

Rick Steves is a great man and a great promoter of European travel for Americans. I met him in person a few times.

However!!! You might want to grow off Steves because of his greatness, when you start seeing the results of his work, while you travel. His motto is "See Europe through the back door, beat the crowd". But he is so good, that he creates a crowd at the back door.

Just one example. My family is in Brussels, and the quote from Rick's book - "Eat mussels in Brussels" is fresh in our memory. So, we are on one of the center streets, looking for a restaurant that he has recommended. It is too early for dinner, and a street is just turning into one giant restaurant. Tables are brought to the side walk, the samples are just start to appear. People, who've been in Brussels will, most likely visualize this picture.

Suddenly, in a middle of that set-up commotion, we see one restaurant, where all tables are taken and there is a waiting line - guess what - it was THAT recommended one...

Nothing, absolutely nothing, but the color of tablecloth, differentiate it from all other establishments on the same street block...

So, we thought for a while, and...

No, we did not go across the street, we have joint the waiting line...

I felt ashamed, but my more Americanized daughters felt at the right place...

So, today, I build my own database, and try to see Europe through the crack in the wall... But I do buy or check from library each new book by Rick Steves...It helps me to stay away from his crowd, and I do take his "negative" advices and never go and see places that he explicitly advise not to...

[AnnieE]

Hello n64jok,

Thanks for this info about ---"One of Sweden's best kept tourist secrets is "kulturarvskortet" (literally, "the cultural heritage card"), which gives you rebates (usually 50% off) to a huge number of castles, historical sites, museums, and the like. It only costs SEK 120"

I sent an email to that website and requested the info be sent to me in English. I'll post here if I get a reply

Or we'll stop by the Goteborg tourist board and buy when we are there.

[AnnieE]

Hello CDigg,

Yes, I bought Rick Steve's book...and Fodors, Frommer, and Insight!~ We love to plan a trip and Rick's book always adds good insight. Also scanned other travel guides at the Alderwood and Northgate Barnes and Noble.

My traveling companion for this trip has the books now since she is reserving the accommodations. I used Excel to map out the itinerary and so she is filling in the blanks for hotels/b&b. We are both having a great time researching Sweden history, sightseeing, etc.

This is VERY unpleasant weather today in Seattle area today so a good day to go to Sweden via books!