Scandinavia may not be very far away for you but it’s a pretty different area of the world compared to Western Europe. While you might be excited to explore Sweden and its neighbours, you’re going to need to prepare for all sorts of different things before you leave on your trip.
Pick the Right Airline
Even short flights to Norway and other countries in Scandinavia can be expensive. You need to be able to find the best flights available for the lowest costs. Before you pick a date to travel, you should consider looking at flights beforehand. This will allow you to plan your trip around low-traffic flying days. For instance, you might notice that flying to Sweden is more costly on Sundays than it is on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
There are several different flights to choose from. Some people prefer to use the same airline for their departing and arriving flights while other people don’t mind switching airlines. BMI flights from Sweden are usually affordable and you can find good deals if you start looking for flights well ahead of time.
So, what should you look for in a quality airline, even though your flight may not last very long? Well, baggage should be easy to deal with. If you need to pay a fortune just to check your luggage, you might feel ripped off. Some airlines even offer free baggage checks up to a certain weight so be sure to do plenty of research when it comes to picking the airline.
Finally, make sure you book a departing flight and a returning flight and be sure to get to the airport early to make it through security on time. Some airports have heavy security and lots of foot traffic while other airports are pretty easy to get through.
What to Pack
Scandinavian countries are beautiful but they can get cold. If you’re planning on traveling to Sweden or Norway during the winter, you should be prepared to pack heavy jackets, plenty of layers, and anything that can keep your head warm. Since you might not be used to the cold, you should be sure to bundle up and stay as warm as possible. Most indoor establishments will have heat but you are going to be traveling between buildings so you’ll need outdoor clothing.
While a lot of Scandinavians speak English, not all of them do. It’s a good idea to practice a few phrases in Swedish to make sure that you can communicate on a basic level. If you need to find out where the water closet is, for instance, you can ask people in their language and they can point you in the right direction.
Bring money, but don’t bring too much cash. While there are plenty of safe areas in every Scandinavian country, there are still some areas where crime is rampant. Simply be careful and smart and you won’t run into any troubled people. In the event that something does get stolen from you, you should report your loss to the authorities as soon as possible.