Planning Your Trip to Norway - Norway - page 51

BOOKING A HOTEL The Nor-
wegian Tourist Board does not provide
a hotel booking service. Your local
travel agency will be able to do this for
you, or ask one of the tour operators.
Alternatively, you can book accommo-
dations directly by post, fax, or tele-
phone. Practically everyone in
Norway speaks English, so you will
rarely encounter any difficulty com-
municating. If you're traveling in the
high season (mid-June to mid-Aug),
it's advisable to book in advance.
Information offices in Norway often
have a reservation service. You can also
make bookings at the website www.
visitnorway.com.
HOTEL PASSES In Norway you
will find several passes, discount
schemes, and check systems in opera-
tion that are valid at hotels and offer
reduced prices. For further informa-
tion, contact your local travel agency
or the following addresses:
Best Western euro Guestcheque,
Best Western Hotels Norway ( & 800/
780-7234 in the U.S. and Canada;
www.bestwestern.no); Norway Fjord
Pass, Fjord Tours Strømgt 4, Bergen,
NO-5015 Bergen ( & 55-55-76-60;
fax [phone]; www.fjordpass.no);
Scan + Hotel Pass, Norlandia Hotel-
lene, P.O. Box 6615, St. Olavs plass,
NO-0129 Oslo ( & 22-98-97-00;
www.norlandia.no); Scandic Club
Card, Scandic Booking Services
( & 23-15-50-50; www.scandic-hotels.
no); Rica Hotellferie Pass, Rica
Hotels, Slependv. 108, NO-1375
Billingstad ( & 66-85-45-00; www.
rica.no); or Nordic Hotel Pass,
Choice Hotels ASA, P.O. Box 2454
Solli, NO-0201 Oslo ( &

or woodland, or by a freshwater lake.
Some lie in what are known as chalet
colonies; others are set on remote and
lofty peaks. At night, by paraffin lamp-
light or the glow of a log fire, you can
enjoy aquavit or an early supper, as
many Norwegians do. Some cabins are
fully equipped with hot and cold run-
ning water, showers, and electricity;
others are more primitive, evoking pio-
neer living. Naturally, the price of the
rental varies according to the ameni-
ties, as well as the size (some come with
as many as three bedrooms, most with
tiered bunks). The price range is
2,620NOK to 10,000NOK ($374-
$1,429) weekly, the latter price for
completely modern structures. There
are chalets in most parts of the coun-
try—in the mountains, near lakes,
along the coast, and in the fjord coun-
try. For a catalog with prices, locations,
and other data, write to Novasol, Post-
boks 309, Sentrum, N-0103 Oslo
( & 81-54-42-70; www.novasol.com).
FISHERMEN'S CABINS In the
Lofoten islands in northern Norway,
you can rent a traditional former fish-
erman's cabin, called a rorbu. The fish-
ermen used to come to Lofoten from
other parts of the coast for the winter
cod-fishing season from January to
April, and would make these cabins
their temporary homes for the dura-
tion. Most have been modernized, and
a number of them have their own
shower and toilet. Nowadays you also
find newly built fishermen's cabins
too. Although most rorbuer are in the
Lofoten islands, you can rent these
cabins all along the coast of Norway
from north to south. The cabins are by
the seashore and therefore boast excel-
lent fishing. Prices range from
117NOK to 257NOK ($17-$36) per
night. Local regional tourist boards
will supply you with further informa-
tion, or you can call the Lofoten Ror-
buferie resort ( & 76-07-84-44; www.
lofoten-rorbuferie.no).

22-33-42-

00; www.choice.no).
CHALET HOLIDAYS Norway
offers one of the least expensive vaca-
tion bargains in all of Europe. Ideal for
outdoors-loving families or groups,
log-cabin chalets are available through-
out the country, on the side of a moun-
tain or by the sea, in a protected valley