Travel Hints & Tips by Brekke Tours

Airline Tickets

Carefully inspect your tickets when you receive them. These documents may be subject to considerable penalties for changes and/or cancellation. Remember, a valid passport is required for foreign travel. Please check your passport for dates & validity.

Keep the PASSENGER RECEIPT portion of your ticket until you are certain you have received proper credit for your frequent flyer miles. If you receive credit for only a portion of your trip, contact your frequent flyer program and give them the number found at the bottom of the ticket. Please note you may need to talk to a representative instead of using the phone prompts.

Safeguard your Travel Documents: Take at least two copies of all important documents and travel aids, including your passport, tickets, traveler’s checks, birth certificate and credit cards. Keep one with you and store the other in a safe place.

Airline Seating

A seating request can be made on your behalf. Please note, however, that seating on the aircraft is SOLELY under the control of the airline carrier and therefore cannot be guaranteed.

Climate

The climate in Scandinavia is very similar to that in the northeastern United States, though rarely as hot in the summer or as cold in the winter. Thanks to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, Scandinavia has relatively mild winters. The four seasons are quite distinct in various regions, so pack and dress accordingly. Average day-time temperatures in Fahrenheit:

Month	Oslo	Copenhagen	Stockholm	Helsinki	Reykjavik
APR	41	43	51	50	43
MAY	54	53	58	57	48
JUN	60	59	63	62	52
JUL	64	62	52	50	45
AUG	61	62	52	50	45
SEP	53	56	43	41	40
OCT	44	49	35	32	35

Please visit www.weatherbase.com for further details.

Clothing

Medium-weight clothes are recommended as a base. A rain-coat with removable lining is a good choice for summer visitors. A coat is necessary in fall, winter, and spring. Casual clothes are appropriate for sightseeing and touring, as well as dining in the hotels. Scandinavians dining at the hotel, however, may choose more formal attire, i.e. top coat for men and pants suit/dress for women. We highly recommend comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing along cobblestoned streets and touring, especially in the mountains of Norway.

Clothing Size and Conversion Chart

Women’s Suits and Dresses

American	8	10	12	14	16	18
European	38	40	42	44	46	48

Men's Shirts

American	14	14-1/2	15	15-1/2	16	16-1/2	17
European	36	37	38	39	41	42	43

Credit Cards

Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) are honored in Scandinavia at most hotels, stores, banks, and restaurants - depending on card type. Please note that most credit card companies now charge a foreign transaction fee for purchases made abroad. Credit cards are not as widely accepted for ship and rail travel.

Currency Exchange

Although cash and traveler’s checks may be exchanged at most hotels and possibly larger department stores, the best rate of exchange is obtained at a bank or post office. Banks are open Monday-Friday, and may close as early as 3-4 p.m., depending on location. Banks at airports, rail and ship terminals often have longer hours, particularly at peak travel times. The banks at the airports are located in the baggage claim area in Copenhagen and Stockholm, and in the arrival hall (after Customs) in Oslo. Although cash transactions may generally have lower fees, the exchange rate for cash is generally lower than for traveler’s checks. Fees may vary depending upon the bank, with some banks charging a fee per traveler’s check rather than a flat fee for the service. There are more than 800 ATM’s in Norway. However, be aware that ATM’s in Europe only accept 4-digit numerical PINs. Generally ATM cash conversion rates are better than conversion rates assessed by credit card companies. For specific locations of ATM machines, please visit:

www.mastercard.com (Cirrus ATM network)
www.visa.com (Plus ATM network)

It is recommended to notify your bank that you may use your debit and/or credit card in a foreign country while on vacation.

Duty Free Allowance to Scandinavia

U.S. and Canadian citizens are permitted to bring into Norway, Sweden, and Finland 1 liter of alcohol content not exceeding 22% proof, and 2 liters of beer, as well as 400 cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco goods. In Denmark and Iceland it is allowed to import 1 liter of liquor, 2 liters of wine and 200 cigarettes. For further information, check regulations for duty free allowances with the airport or the Scandinavian Tourist Board at (212) 885-9700 info@goscandinavia.com. As customs regulations are subject to change without notice, it is recommended that you reconfirm these amounts prior to your departure.

Electric Current

The electric current in Scandinavia is 220 volt AC in 50-60 cycles. Prongs on the wall outlets differ from those in the US and Canada. Thus to operate small travel appliances, such as irons, hair dryers or electric shavers, current converters and adapters are required. Most hardware stores and some discount stores and camera stores carry these products. Larger hotels in major cities might also have them available for guests.

Exchange Rates

The monetary unit in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland is one krone (equals 100 ore). In Finland, it is one euro (equals 100 euro cents). The currencies of the five countries are not interchangeable. It is not necessary to purchase foreign currency in the US as you can generally obtain good rates of exchange at banks located in the arrival airport. Exchange rates as of December 2006 are:

Norway 1 USD = NOK 5.41
Denmark 1 USD = DKK 5.18
Sweden 1 USD = SEK 6.40
Finland 1 USD = EUR 0.70
Iceland 1 USD = ISK 61.0

Exchange rates fluctuate. For exact rates, consult your local bank, the business section of your local paper or online at www.oanda.com.

Film

Take plenty of film with you and make sure your batteries are fresh and your camera is working well. Film and camera repairs are expensive in Europe. Due to security equipment utilized at US airports, pack your film in your carry-on.

Flight Check-In

Due to increased security measures at all airports, passengers must check in at least two hours prior to departure for international flights. Generally, your bags will be checked all the way through to your destination. Please verify upon check-in.

Food & Meal Service/Request

Scandinavia offers the traveler a rich variety of world-famous foods for almost every taste and budget, from local specialties in cozy restaurants or country inns to French cuisine in elegant hotels or sophisticated restaurants of international standard. The average costs of Scandinavian meals (without wine or liquor) are as follows: lunch from $10 and up, dinner from $20 (cafeteria) and up. Most Scandinavian hotels include breakfast in the accommodation price. On your international flight you will be served a hot dinner and a light snack prior to arrival overseas. Special meal requests will be submitted to the airline as per your instructions. Escorted tour participants, please reconfirm any special diet requests with your tour director who will try to assist. Additional costs are at the expense of the tour participant.

Frequent Flyer Programs

To ensure mileage credit, present your frequent flyer card upon check-in. Be sure to save your passenger receipt until after you are certain you have been credited all mileage. For questions or further information, please contact the airline directly or visit their website:

Gifts

Gifts for your family and friends in Scandinavia are not expected, but always appreciated, especially if they are extending their hospitality to you in some manner. Ideas for gifts include:

·American flag or wind sock
·Books, calendars, or other items unique to your city/state
·State cap/t-shirt/sweatshirts from where you live
·Liquor/liqueurs
·College or professional team sport clothing/caps
·Native American or country western themed items
·For children: Disney clothing, candy, puzzles, football or cartoon/pop characters

Hotel Rooms

Rooms in Scandinavian hotels may have twin beds, a double bed or day beds. Although triple rooms may be requested, please be advised that conditions may be crowded, as Scandinavian hotel rooms tend to be smaller than American standards. Please be advised that hotel rooms are normally not available until after 2:00 p.m. An additional hotel night may be purchased should you wish to secure immediate occupancy upon your arrival. Please also be advised that not all hotels in Scandinavia are air-conditioned.

Insurance

Everyone is encouraged to protect his or her investment with travel insurance. Generally pre-existing conditions can be covered if premium payment is made within 15 days of your initial deposit. Brekke Tours is not responsible for loss, damage or theft of personal belongings, or for personal injury, accident or illness. Brekke Tours offers travel insurance from TravelSafe, but you are not restricted to this insurance provider. For further information or to request a TravelSafe brochure, visit our website at www.brekketours.com. For specific insurance questions, please contact the insurance company directly.

Language

Most Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, Finns and Icelanders have working knowledge of English. Scandinavians are noted for being multilingual, with English being only one of several “second” languages spoken freely throughout the regions. American newspapers and magazines are available in major cities and American or British programs are frequently featured on television.

Luggage

Size and weight limitations for carry-on and checked baggage on international and inter-European flights vary from airline to airline and are subject to change, so please check with your airline before departure. Current restrictions for most international flights are two checked pieces and one carry-on per person, in addition to a purse or briefcase. The overall dimension and weight of each checked piece may not exceed 62 inches (l+w+h) and 50 pounds, while the overall dimension and weight of the carry-on may not exceed 45 inches and 13 pounds. Current restrictions for most inter-European flights are one checked piece and one carry-on per person. Brekke Tours is not responsible for additional fees imposed by air carriers regarding baggage. No responsibility is accepted for loss of or damage to baggage or any of the traveler’s belongings. Baggage insurance is strongly recommended. For questions or further information, please contact the airlines directly or visit their website.



Escorted Tour Participants: On the land portion, due to limited motor coach capacity, we allow only 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on per person. Luggage handling at hotels for 1 suitcase is provided. Airport porterage is not included as security regulations within most airports require that travelers handle and be responsible for their own luggage.

Metric System

Scandinavia uses the metric system of measures:

When you know	Multiply With	To Find
Centimeters (cm)	0.39	Inches (in)
Meters (m)	3.28	Feet (ft))
Kilometers (km)	0.62	Miles (mi)
Grams (g)	0.035	Ounces (oz)
Kilograms (kg)	2.2	Pounds (lb)
Liters (l)	0.264	Gallons (gal)

Miscellaneous Items

You may want to add the following items to your travel checklist:

• tissues
• converter/adapter
• calculator
• sunblock/glasses
• sewing kit
• body lotion
• band-aids
• shampoo/conditioner
• washcloth (not usually provided at hotels)
• plastic baggies (freezer size) for wet items
• medications (i.e. motion sickness, aspirin, cold medicine)

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights ("Aurora Borealis") stem from when large numbers of electrons stream in towards the Earth along its magnetic field and collide with air particles. The air then lights up rather like what happens in a fluorescent light tube. The resulting colors of the Northern Lights reflect gases we find up there. The charged particles originate from the sun, and the weather conditions on the sun decide whether or not we will see the aurora.

The aurora can be viewed best during early evening and at night when it's not overcast. In Norway, the best time of year is September until the middle of April. Tourists' favorite viewing locations are the coasts of the Norwegian counties of Tromsø and Finnmark (the North Cape (Nordkapp). The Northern Lights can be viewed from other locations as well, but northern Norway and Iceland are famous for prime viewing opportunities.

Passports and Visas

It is the responsibility of each passenger to obtain proper travel documents, such as passport and visa. Each passenger must be in possession of a passport with a validity of at least six (6) months beyond the conclusion of their trip. A visa is not required for Scandinavia or Western Europe for stays of less than 3 months. A visa is required for passengers traveling to Russia. When obtaining a passport call ahead to your local courthouse or post office to complete instructions and necessary documents. For further information visit the following websites: www.travel.state.gov or www.usps.com/passport

Tax Free Shopping

As a tourist, you are entitled to a refund of the major part of the Value Added Tax (VAT). This tax is always included in the purchase price and varies from about 11% - 18%. When you make your purchase in a store that displays the “Tax Free for Tourists” symbol, you should receive a VAT receipt that is exchanged for cash when you depart Scandinavia. There is a minimum requirement per purchase. Please check with the stores in each country about their minimum amount. The Customs office must stamp the VAT receipt and the refund will be paid in the transit hall at any of the airports (after going through passport and security control). Since you may have to show your purchased merchandise to the customs office at the airport to get your VAT receipts stamped, we suggest you either pack your purchase(s) in your carry-on luggage or visit the customs office prior to checking your luggage, so you can pack your purchase(s) in your checked luggage after receiving the stamped receipts. For more information contact by email: shopping@online.no or visit their website: www.globalrefund.no

Telephones

To place calls to the US, dial 00-1, the area code and the number. For international collect calls, dial 115. Rates are higher calling from hotel phones where a long distance service charge is added. Credit cards may be used, however, fees may also be associated with the use of a credit card. Public phones accept credit cards, coins (local currency only) and a phone card (“Telekort”), perhaps the least expensive option. Phone cards are available for purchase in various denominations from any Narvesen newsstand.

Tipping, Service Charges and Taxes

Tipping is not as widespread a custom in the Scandinavian countries as in the U.S. and Canada. A service charge is automatically included in most Scandinavian hotel bills. At restaurants a service charge is included in the bill, but a small gratuity is expected for evening meals (7-10%). Taxi drivers are not tipped in Iceland or Finland. In Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, drivers should be given a few extra kroner, i.e., even out the total kroner amount of the taxi fare.

Escorted Tour Participants: Gratuities to the tour director, guide and driver are left to the discretion of the tour members and are therefore not included in the tour cost. If you have been satisfied with their services, we suggest the following amounts as appropriate: Local city guides: $1 per tour; Bus driver: $2-3 per day; Tour director: $3-5 per day.

Transfers From/To Airport

Airport buses with frequent departures run from the airport to city center and vice versa in each of the Scandinavian capitals. The prices are approx. $10-25 for Oslo/Gardermoen, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Reykjavik. Train service at a cost of approx. $10-30 is also available in Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. A taxi is approx. $85-150 from Oslo/Gardermoen, $25-30 in Copenhagen, $60-65 in Stockholm, $35- 40 in Helsinki, and $80-95 in Reykjavik.

Escorted Tour Participants: Airport arrival/departure transfer in Scandinavia is ONLY included for passengers arriving/departing on designated flights of Brekke’s escorted tours. Passengers on other flights or dates are required to provide their own transportation to the tour hotel at their own expense.