NORWAY - Scandinavia - page 448

Oslo Sweater Shop has good prices for sweaters (Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat
10:00-15:00, closed Sun, in Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel at Tullinsgate
5, tel. [phone]). For flags (a long, skinny vimple dresses up a boat or
cabin wonderfully), pop into Oslo Flaggfabrikk (Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00, Sat
10:00-15:00, closed Sun, near City Hall at Hieronymus Heyerdahlsgate 1, tel.
22 40 50 60).
Vinmonopolet stores are the only place where you can buy wine and spir-
its in Norway. The most convenient location is at the central train station
(Mon-Thu 10:00-18:00, Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat 9:00-15:00, closed Sun). The
bottles used to be kept behind the counter, but now you can actually touch the
merchandise. Locals say it went from being a “jewelry store” to a “grocery
store.”
Sleeping in Oslo
In Oslo, the season and type of hotel dictate the best deals. The basic formula:
In midsummer and on weekends, discounted business-class hotels offer the
best value; otherwise, consider a cheap hotel or a hostel.
Like those in its sister Scandinavian capitals, Oslo's hotels are mostly de-
signed for business travelers; they're expensive during the tourists' off-season
(autumn through spring), full in May and June for conventions, and wide open
otherwise. From July through mid-August—and weekends (Fri-Sat but not
Sun) year-round—fancy business-class hotels deeply discount their rooms. At
half-price (about 1,000 kr for a double), you get a huge breakfast and a lot of
extra comfort for little more than the cost of a cheap hotel or hostel.
During business days (Sun-Thu) outside of summer, business hotels hold
out for their inflated “rack rates,” and budget travelers opt for Oslo's dumpy-
for-Scandinavia (but still nice by European standards) cheapie options:
doubles for about 800 kr in central “cheap” hotels, or 800 kr in private homes
on the outskirts of the city. For a meet-the-Norwegians experience—but not
convenience—go for a private home. For convenience and modern comfort, I
like the Thon Budget Hotels.
If you arrive without a reservation, the TI can try to sort through all of the
confusing hotel specials and get you the best deal going on fancy hotel rooms