Sunday, December 14, 2008

I Only Have a Week! Short, but Sweet Travel Treats

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!


The Nordic Company knows that sometimes life gets so busy that it’s hard to grab even a week away from home, but that’s no reason to give up hope. Not only are we incredibly skilled at designing short, but sweet custom itineraries to suit your dreams – we also offer plenty of great, group tours that give you the best without piling on the “I’ve been gone way too long” stress.

Our Fjords of Norway tour offers 7 nights and 9 days of spectacular scenery throughout Norway. You will experience the three major fjords, Hardanger, Geiranger, and Sogne, and six spectacular cities, Oslo, Ulvik, Bergen, Flam, Balestrand, and Geiranger. Don’t worry about trying to navigate with a rental car, we’ll save you the hassle with a comfortable bus through the countryside and end every evening with historic, quintessentially Norwegian hotels. Our Fjords and Glaciers tour is another 7 night, 9 day extravaganza with the addition of Loen and the majestic Briksdal Glacier.

Of course, Norway isn't all of Scandinavia, and that's why we have reasonable tours for every country. Check out our
Glaciers, Geysirs and Waterfalls in Iceland, Russia’s Past and Present, and Finland’s Savor the Culture. Even more of our wonderful time-savvy tours are listed on our website. If you see something you like, or even if you don’t, call us. If your itinerary doesn’t yet exist, the Nordic Company prides itself on pulling out all the stops to make it a reality. That’s what friends are for.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

2009 Travel Developments

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!

To prepare you for the upcoming travel season, The Nordic Company is here to update you a few new developments in the world of travel that could potentially affect your trip. It is never too soon to start planning and it is good idea now more than ever to get your paperwork done well in advance.

By June 1st, the U.S. government will put into effect the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The WHTI requires that all U.S. citizens entering the country at sea or land ports must have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-complaint document. This is a significant change from previously, when a government issued photo ID and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, was acceptable in lieu of a passport at many border crossings. Not only is it imperative that you have your passport – if you do not own one, it is important to apply for a passport well in advance of your scheduled travel dates. There is usually a backlog of passport processing as the travel season approaches. Applications made in December, January and February usually get processed within two weeks, but applications submitted any time after that may take much longer. It is best to get your passport in advance, even before you have the details of your trip settled.

Another new development in the world of travel is that European airlines are now required to quote the total price for European tickets instead of itemizing the surcharges and adding them onto the base ticket price. Americans airlines may also be following suit shortly. Although the Nordic Company is more than happy to handle your airfare for you with our excellent contract rates, if you decide to book your airfare independently, it should now be much easier and more transparent for you to know exactly what you are purchasing with your airline ticket.

Lastly, due to the often unpredictable nature of the airline industry, a passenger bill of rights may be in the works. The State of New York enacted a New State Passenger Bill of Rights last year. The law was struck down by a federal appeals court this spring, but it may become law in 2009. The provisions include fresh air, waste removal, adequate food and water for passengers on flights delayed by more than three hours. The Nordic Company has built a strong relationship with United Airlines domestically and with Scandinavian Airlines and Icelandair abroad. These regulations would be a welcome addition to the already top-quality service that these airlines have graciously provided our clients for many years.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Finland - Where Santa Claus Lives

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!


Along with the holiday season comes the incessant queries of children eager to know just exactly where Santa comes from. With the help of the Nordic Company, you don’t have to just tell them – you can show them. Take your child on an unforgettable journey to the northern city of Rovaniemi, Finland to the magical Santa Claus Village. Just within the Arctic Circle that crosses through Northern Finland, Santa Claus Village is everything you imagined as a child and more. You can wander the toy shop, peek into Santa’s office, and even pet his reindeer at the nearby reindeer park.

Santa Claus village is only 8 kilometers from the Rovaniemi airport and makes a spectacular finish to your Finnish holiday. Christmas in Scandinavia is rich with traditional foods, decorative displays, and vivacious holiday cheer. Spend a few days in charming Helsinki, check out the coastal cities of Turku and Porvoo by train, and then make your way up to the snow-glittered, enchanting Lapland of the north. The Nordic Company is waiting for your call – because we know Santa Claus is waiting for your visit.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey - A New Take on a Classic Getaway

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!

We have worked hard to put together an impressive collection of tours for the upcoming 2009 season, but we have also kept on a few of our old favorites, with some new and exciting twists. Our Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey is a timeless tour that has been with us from the beginning and this year, it is only bigger and better.
Scandinavian culture is so rich and intertwined throughout northern Europe that it often makes more sense to grab a little of each of the great cities so that you can have a taste of what each country has to offer, instead of only traveling to one or two. This is the type of journey that our Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey can offer you. With fourteen nights accommodations, you get the best of the best. Starting out in Copenhagen, you will stroll the city and enjoy a festive dinner on the spectacular grounds of Tivoli. After another day, an overnight ferry will take you into the enchanting Oslo by way of the fjords.

From Oslo, you will venture into the breathtaking Norwegian countryside, ensuring that you get the best panoramic views of its stunning mountains and serene fjords. Your time in the countryside will act as a refreshing balance to the time that you spend in the cities. After an in-depth look at Oslo, you make your way to Stockholm for a few glittering days, and onto Helsinki by boat.

By the time you are finished with your Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey, you will have experienced all of Scandinavia in a very intimate and friendly way. Our clients return to this tour year after year by way of referral. They enjoy the length, breadth, and depth of the tour, often expressing that our guides simply know when to stop and know when to keep going and always know how to make them laugh. The 2009 season can only promise more of the same wonders from this classic tour, with even greater service. We have been around long enough to know what works and what doesn’t and where the best memories are made. The Nordic Company can’t wait to bring you along!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Scandinavia - The Perfect Time to Plan

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!


As the holiday season approaches, we at the Nordic Company like to impress upon our clients that there is no better time to start planning that memorable family vacation. By November, our dazzling 2009 brochure is off the press and ready to deliver to your door. We’ve just spent the last few months organizing new tours and revamping old ones, so we are practically bubbling over with eagerness to share with you this year’s latest knowledge and greatest tips. Furthermore, the generally gradual start to the travel season enables us to put a lot of care into your itineraries.

The holiday season enables you to get together with your family and discuss trip ideas in detail. Many of our clients come to us after Thanksgiving and having spoken with their family, they present us with a list of their travel ideas. The Nordic Company takes these ideas and turns them into a beautifully crafted, exceptionally memorable travel itinerary that will suit the whole family. Next time the family gathers, whether it be Christmas, Hannukah, or New Year’s, they can discuss the itinerary proposal, make amendments, and come back to us with a fine-tuned trip. Once all are in agreement, the Nordic Company will make the necessary adjustments and present the final product.

The best aspect of planning in the winter time is that you beat the springtime rush and you give yourself something to look forward to, just as the New Year begins. In the next few blogs, I’ll talk about some of the phenomenal tours we have for 2009 and some of the more unique independent itineraries that we have designed this past year. With a country as beautiful and rich as Scandinavia – there is bound to be something to catch your fancy.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Scandinavia - An Economy Apart

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!

Given all of the news about the economy these days, we thought it might be useful to give you a window into the basics of Scandinavian economy. All the countries of northern Europe – namely Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland – typically enjoy free health care and education in addition to a high standard of living. Living in a socialist democracy allows them these benefits, but at the cost of a heavy income tax on Scandinavian paychecks. Income tax can range anywhere from 40 – 60 percent.


Business is also strong in Scandinavia. Low corporate taxes and minimal violence make Scandinavia a popular place to relocate and invest in. Job creation is based on a system called “flexicurity” which includes ample unemployment benefits, but also insists that workers take government sponsored training for new available jobs.


Although the sustainability of a socialist welfare state is contested by some economists, over time, the Scandinavian countries have done well to support themselves. Even in the current economic decline, Scandinavian countries remain strong and relatively rich due to their valuable natural resources and of course, their spectacular tourism industry.


Come enjoy the beauty of Scandinavia, still as timeless and pristine as ever, with a Nordic Company holiday today. It’s never too early to start planning your much-needed summer getaway or putting together a travel package sure to delight your grandparents – like a pilgrimage to their homeland. The Nordic Company is well-versed in special spots of Scandinavia and we are ready and waiting to share our knowledge with you!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Do Scandinavians Celebrate Halloween?

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!


You would think in a land characterized by Norse mythology and tales of goblins and trolls that a holiday like Halloween would be easily embraced, but it is only recently that Scandinavians have warmed to the idea. Halloween has arrived primarily in a commercialized sense, providing an opportunity to host elaborate parties and attract curious consumers - and even the major sightseeing attractions have commandeered many of its festive qualities.

The best place to celebrate Halloween in Scandinavia? Tivoli Park in Copenhagen also known as Europe's oldest amusement park. Imagine a magical night time land lit up with glittering lights and whimsical characters - then add an incredibly eerie, ghoulish twist. On your stroll through Tivoli, you will be met with leering scarecrows, grinning pumpkins, and dancing skeletons - oh my! Like their festive Christmas twist, Tivoli goes above and beyond to make your holiday memorable and unique.