NEED BTO BE ADVENTUREOUS

SO MANY SIGHT TO SEE ,BUT MOSTLY DONE ON YOUR OWN.

Lived up to my expectations

The basic trip, without any of the optional tours, worked well for me. The included tours (especially the one in Oslo) were excellent and I enjoyed having the unscheduled time to visit places that were of special interest to me. In Copenhagen I took a canal cruise and visited the National Gallery. In Oslo I spent an entire afternoon in the amazing Munch Museum, half a day at Millesgarden in Stockholm (the city’s equivalent of Giverny outside Paris), and an afternoon at the Atheneum in Helsinki. These I reached by public transportation. (The concierges at the hotels were very helpful). In all the cities I enjoyed sightseeing on foot, stopping for coffee and cake, and watching people. For that reason, I believe I did not find the trip as tiring as some did. I would have taken the optional tour to the world famous Louisiana Museum of Modern Art outside Copenhagen but didn’t as the tour included so much time at Kronborg (“Hamlet’s Castle”) that there was little left for the museum. The hotel accommodations were good and close to public transportation. The overnight ferry trips from Copenhagen to Oslo and from Stockholm to Helsinki were relaxing and pleasant. Both had outstanding dinner and breakfast buffets. The cruise through the Stockholm Archipelago in the late afternoon was lovely. The basic tour is an excellent value for the money and I would recommend it as such.

Good tour, great tour director

Great tour, interesting places. Tour director was very helpful and knowledgeable. Estonia was a good side trip and well worth the money.

Scandinavia capitals to the Fjords

Great view on the Fjords, loved the train to the top of the mtg & to see all the snow. Sightseeing on our own was benefitial as found restaurants, churches and unique gift shops. Beds all comfortable but surprised of the layout of the twin beds, but no problem there.

A wonderful Look at Scandinavia

The trip was an wonderful way to get to know 5 countries I had only known though my reading. Each country was so different in language, geography, people and currency. Copenhagen was a great city to start in---the bus service is good, the people friendly and all sorts of places to visit. I loved the visit to the fjords---those waterfalls! Stockholm is also a great city to get around in. We managed to visit the National Art Museum and see a beautiful show of Russian paintings that had never been out of Russia before. Took the bus to get there without a problem. In Helsinki I just had time to take the day trip to Estonia, which was definitely worth it. Cobblestones as big as footballs on hilly streets, beautiful churches, colorful homes, wonderful little eating places and a very good tour guide were all a part of a memorable day. Now my definition of Scandinavia is so much larger.

Scandinavia: Capitals to the Fjords

I loved the Scandinavian countries--beautiful scenery and ease of getting about in the cities and dealing with people who spoke English. We couldn't help but notice the fitness factor among the Scandinavian people--everyone biking, running, skateboarding, etc., as individuals and as families (not many fat people among them). The hotels we stayed in were great, location-wise and facility-wise. We especially enjoyed the trip to Laerdal, even though it requiired long bus trips. The slower pace of the town gave it a more peaceful atmosphere and the scenery around it (and to and from it) was wonderful. The only downside to the trip was the long layovers between the already long flights home--we were exhausted for days after our return. We had had very little "down time" on the trip, often returning to the hotel from a full day's activities with no time to relax before dinner.

Exceeded Expectations

We were so lucky in the weather--60s and 70s for most of the trip. I don't know why I put off a trip to Scandinavia for so long, the fjords were beautiful and the cities were full of interesting Viking history. A lot of moving around in a short period, and the day trip to Estonia was too early and too long for what there was to do there, but I wouldn't have missed it. Our tour director, Frank Sahl, was wonderful!

Fun on the Fjords

This is an highly active beautiful trip of the Scandinavian Capitals. With various side trips, it is a trip well worth taking.

Scandinavian and St. Petersburg review.

The tour director Frank Stahl was fantastic and made the tour just wonderful. See my comments on the written evaluation. The bus ride to St. Petersburg from Helsinki was just terrible, way too long, and the miserable Russian bus drivers would not let anyone use the toilet in the bus. We are thrifty, but even my wife and I, would have paid more for a flight to St. Petersburg from Helsinki.

Great sites and execution; needs a few tweeks

All of the sites visited were excellent. The execution of transport between sites and to/from excursions was excellent, with the only exception being that a number of the bus rides (particularly the shorter rides) were stuff with no ventilation. You just can't have 44 people in a vehicle without some introduction of fresh air. There should be a standard established and communicated to all subcontracted bus lines! Only other complaint is that the Go Ahead sponsored meals (when not full spread buffets) are now always the poorest meals on the trip; --even when considering places that I just walk into off the street with no prior recommendation. Need to upgrade the included hotel meals.