Monday, July 28, 2008

Danish Dessert - A Familiar and Traditional Treat

We have a new Blog about Scandinavia and our insider's view with our custom travel and tours. Please continue to follow our blog posting on our new blog Insider's Scandinavia - Great Places to Go and Things to do!

Weinerbrød or Viennese bread are its proper names, but we best know Denmark’s after-dinner delectable or early morning treat simply as a “Danish” or the Danish pastry. No explanation needed here as this delicacy is so good to eat that it was instantly exported overseas. Now we are able to enjoy its buttery goodness and its fruit or frosting filling right from our own homes.

However, just because you’ve had a Danish pastry here, doesn’t mean you can pass one up when you’re in the mother land. After a day of visiting Tivoli, Rosenborg Castle, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek and more, be sure to sneak into a coffee shop and indulge in the best Danish you’ve ever had – and I’m not talking about the blonde in the window seat!



We invite you to learn more about Denmark Travel as well as Scandinvian travel by visiting our pages dedicated to Iceland tours and Iceland travel; Norway tours, Norway travel and a Norwegian coastal voyage (also known as Hurtigruten); St. Petersburg travel, Finland travel and Sweden travel.

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Monday, July 21, 2008

Norwegian Dessert - Cloudberries, the Norske Secret Ingredient

We have a new Blog about Scandinavia and our insider's view with our custom travel and tours. Please continue to follow our blog posting on our new blog Insider's Scandinavia - Great Places to Go and Things to do!




Scandinavia is best-known for its captivating scenery, yet its delicious cuisine should not be overlooked. Since we’re all about what’s for dessert, these next few entries will introduce you to the best of the traditional dessert delicacies made famous by northern Europe.

To start us off, Norway takes the cake, once again, with its mouth-watering cloudberries and whipped cream delight. Just the name “cloudberries” makes you wonder what it would be like to taste the sky – and we can assure you – it is oh-so vivid and sweet.

Norway is home to all kinds of berries – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc. – and they all deliver a deep flavor beyond comparison. That’s because fruit and berries mature more slowly in the cold climate of Norway’s mountains. This process creates fewer berries, but a more intense, invigorating taste. The wild-growing cloudberry has long been a Norwegian delicacy that you will find served with whipped or plain cream on most special occasions. After you experience the Akerhus Fortress and Resistance Museum or make your way out to Bgydøy, seek out a restaurant such as the famous Frognersetern and ask them to serve you up some Norwegian cloudberry dessert. You won’t be disappointed!

You can find a recipe for a Norwegian Cloudberry Dessert at the following link: http://www.recipezaar.com/171025

We invite you to learn more at our pages dedicated to Finland travel; Iceland tours and Iceland travel; Norway tours, Norway travel and a Norwegian coastal voyage; St. Petersburg travel and Sweden travel.


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Monday, July 14, 2008

Scandinavia - What to Know Before You Go II

We have a new Blog about Scandinavia and our insider's view with our custom travel and tours. Please continue to follow our blog posting on our new blog Insider's Scandinavia - Great Places to Go and Things to do!

Although vacations are meant to be a refreshing hiatus from our hectic jobs and fast-paced life, we have to be careful not to check out too soon. There is a lot of preparation that goes into making your trip comfortable and care-free. Continuing with last week’s topic, here are a few more suggestions to ensure all the pieces fall into place.

· Apply for any necessary visas well in advance. At this time, Scandinavia and the Baltics do not require visas for U.S. citizens looking to travel. However, Russia does require a visa and it is important to apply early. We will supply you with the appropriate documentation for this process. We do not process applications directly, but we recommend you to reputable organizations that offer this service. Additionally, we have a person on staff that is able to answer your questions when filling out your visa forms.

· Notify your credit card company when and where you will be traveling abroad. A lot of credit cards have security precautions in place to freeze accounts when a card is being used frequently in a suspicious location. It is always wise to contact your credit card company in advance and let them know of your travels for this reason. It is also advisable to keep copies of your credit card numbers on you in case you happen to lose your card.

· We recommend pulling out foreign currency when you reach the airport or using the ATM. Unless you have an attractive credit card rates or a really friendly bank, the best exchange rate you are going to get is from the airport or using the ATM. It often varies on what credit card company you have or what bank you use, so it is useful to do some research before you travel. Also, if you know the dollar is dropping, it may be better to make your exchange in advance.

· Always double check your flight time 24 hours prior to departure. The times we list on your flight itinerary are last updated when we sent out your documents two weeks prior to departure. Flight times may change in the interim so it is always best to log onto the SAS or Icelandair website and double check your flights.

· When traveling by air, especially transatlantic, we highly recommend giving yourself ample amount of time at the airport. Arriving at least three hours ahead of your departure is a good start. Be patient at the airport and understand that the airlines are under a lot of stress. If something does change with your flight, the best course of action is to go to the nearest airport counter for your carrier and they will be able to assist you.

We invite you to learn more at our pages dedicated to Finland travel; Iceland tours and Iceland travel; Norway tours, Norway travel and a Norwegian coastal voyage; St. Petersburg travel and Sweden travel.

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Monday, July 7, 2008

Scandinavia - What to Know Before You Go - Part I

We have a new Blog about Scandinavia and our insider's view with our custom travel and tours. Please continue to follow our blog posting on our new blog Insider's Scandinavia - Great Places to Go and Things to do!

With the travel season well underway, we are sending off clients every day. When they initially make their booking, we include a booklet of travel tips to help our clients prepare for their trip, but we have also found that it is nice to throw in a few friendly reminders as their departure date approaches. The following is a list of some important suggestions for traveling abroad.

  • Prior to departure, make copies of your passport, itinerary, and hotel list to leave with a family member or friend. Keep a copy of your passport with you as well. If you lose your passport while abroad, it is very difficult to obtain a new one unless you have the proper documentation.
  • Pack lightly. Especially with airlines now imposing luggage fees, it is important that you pack conservatively. Scandinavian Airlines has a 44 lbs. maximum weight requirement, much less than the U.S. standard. Additionally, when you travel independently, you may have to transfer your luggage from express boats, rail stations, airports, etc. and the lighter your luggage is, the less work for you. Don’t forget to leave space for souvenirs!
  • Pack in layers. The climate in Scandinavia varies by location, especially in places with drastic landscapes such as in Norway and Iceland. You might be spending one day in the mountains and the next day in the valley or along the breezy southern coast. Some days could be sunny and others could be windy with a chill. Because of this, we always advise our clients to bring layers in order to accommodate the changing weather.
  • Please do look over your documents at least two weeks before you are leaving. Although we take great pains to ensure every aspect of your trip is planned to perfection, we admit to being human, and that we have made mistakes. They are always minor and when caught in advance, easy to amend. Furthermore, we want to ensure that you understand all of your documents and are comfortable with your final itinerary. Travel is an ambitious endeavor, but we want you to know that you are in good hands. We love questions, from the seemingly silly to the somewhat complex. Each time a question is asked, it is an opportunity for us to fine-tune our expertise and presentation.
  • Make all special requests in advance. As standard procedure, we book all of our clients in non-smoking rooms unless requested otherwise. Additionally, we tend to book upgraded rooms instead of standard. This is because room size in Scandinavia is significantly smaller than what we are used to in the U.S. If you have any dietary needs, room requirements, or health concerns, please let us know ahead of time so that we can accommodate you at the time of booking hotels.

We invite you to learn more at our pages dedicated to Finland travel; Iceland tours and Iceland travel; Norway tours, Norway travel and a Norwegian coastal voyage; St. Petersburg travel and Sweden travel.

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