Norway Winter Travel - Tromsø and Lofoten Islands Travel

Preliminary preparation: At the end of October, I made a sudden decision to travel to Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands in Norway. As it was the peak travel season, the preliminary preparations took two weeks, including visa application, itinerary planning, booking accommodation, air tickets and sightseeing programs. Considering the safety risks of icy roads and blizzards in winter, we finally decided to join a tour group to visit the Lofoten Islands instead of driving ourselves. The visa was processed in Mexico and the entire process took 15 days. Thrilling voyage: Depart from Mexico, transfer to Madrid to Tromsø. Iberia Airlines encountered a severe snowstorm when arriving in Tromsø and was forced to make an emergency landing at Bodø Airport after several failed landing attempts. Most passengers chose to return to Madrid as they were unable to retrieve their luggage in time, but we decided to stick to our original plan and book a Scandinavian Airlines flight the next day at our own expense. Although we were worried about the strong winds in Bodø that night, fortunately the weather in Tromsø improved the next day and we completed the trip smoothly. First experience in Tromsø: After arriving in Tromsø in the afternoon, I first reported the luggage delay at the service desk. When I first arrived in Norway, I encountered the problem of restaurant reservations - during the peak season, popular restaurants were already fully booked, so I could only eat at convenience stores. In terms of payment, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted locally, and cash is used less frequently. It is worth mentioning that there is actually a tipping culture in the local area, and tipping can get a better service experience. Transportation and accommodation: For transportation within the city, you can choose the Taxifix app or the convenient public transportation system (check through the Svipper app). A one-way taxi fare is about 200 Norwegian kroner (about 100 RMB). We chose the Moxy Hotel for accommodation. Although the environment was good, it was a little far from the city center. It is recommended to choose a hotel in the city center because most tourist attractions are concentrated in the city center. Team Experience: We joined a 5-day local small group tour (8 people) starting from Tromsø to visit the Lofoten Islands. Although the group experience is mediocre, it is a relatively safe and reliable option for first-time visitors. Travel experience: Norway’s natural scenery is stunning, and although there were some twists and turns in the journey, the unique charm and magnificent scenery of this northern land made it all worth it. This place has both amazing natural wonders and the unique loneliness of Northern Europe. It is definitely a destination worth visiting once in a lifetime. Key recommendations: - Winter trips are recommended to be planned at least two months in advance - Restaurants and accommodation must be booked in advance - Bring international credit cards and prepare a proper amount of cash - Pay attention to weather factors and make plans for flight delays - Have basic English communication skills - Remember to give appropriate tips