The Norwegian holiday is popular, and as many as two out of three Norwegians are planning a holiday in their country this year.
And this is not without reason: abroad is no longer so good, the dollar is at 11 crowns, and the euro is just under 12 crowns.
But is home really the best?
Booked for an expensive vacation? A clear message to those who regret it
4 out of 10 change their vacation plans
– It would be absolutely full in Norway, says Andreas Handland, Communications Director at If Forsikring.
He believes that the Norwegian tourism industry will have a good summer, with so many tourists from abroad and a record number of Norwegians staying in their home country.
– We’ve had questions from customers asking if we cover cancellation costs for holidays in Norway, because going on holiday is expensive, says Handeland.
Holiday Favorite: Lofoten is a popular destination for tourists, both from home and abroad. Photo: Yngve Sem Pedersen/TV 2
NHO reported that 65 percent of Norwegians who take holidays plan to spend their days off within the country’s borders, according to NHO Reiseliv figures from the end of May.
If Forsikring states that as many as 4 out of 10 Norwegians change their holiday plans because finances are not enough. This applies to both abroad and domestic.
Lofoten: After soaring prices over the past year, the perfect holiday in Lofoten could take a huge toll on most Norwegians’ finances. Photo: Yngve Sem Pedersen/TV 2
– You may have booked a flight to Northern Norway, but you haven’t paid for the tiller yet, and then you see that the tiller is much more expensive than last year, and it hurts your wallet more than you had considered.
Inquiries were received throughout the spring
– Do you notice that this summer is economically challenging for Norwegians?
-Sure, we’ve had inquiries from customers asking if travel insurance covers cancellation costs throughout the spring.
Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn’t cover the fact that private finances have taken a hit, says Handland.
– And everyone really understands that, but there are many who call and ask, he continues.
Surprising message: So the weak krone is good
Age separates those who have to change their plans. Seniors mostly stick to the vacation they have planned, while juniors don’t have as strong a portfolio as If Forsikring.
The director of communications knew first-hand that the krone exchange rate places restrictions on holiday plans.
– We planned two weeks in Spain, but only had to pay NOK 40,000-50,000 in plane tickets for the family, so we dropped that, says Handland.
This is the price that can be here
– There’s price growth here at home, too, says Derya Ensendorssson, consumer economist at Nordea.
– It is the tourists who come to Norway who get it cheaper, for us it is very expensive.
Tip: Derya Incendursun says there are many tricks to make an expensive Norwegian vacation even cheaper. Photo: Alexander Miklepost/TV2
Despite scary reports of trips to the South that can ruin you, the consumer economist thinks it might be cheaper to take a vacation abroad.
Is it cheaper to go out to eat in Oslo, or is it cheaper to dine in Gran Canaria?
– Although the krone is weak against the euro, and there is a growth in prices all over the world, it is not unreasonable that dinner is cheaper here at home, she said.
For example, if you and a good friend spend five days in Lofoten, thousands fly by quickly.
Four round-trip tickets from Oslo to Harstad cost just under NOK 10,000. At an average price of NOK 2,000 per night for a room in Lofoten, it would be just NOK 20,000 for travel and accommodation for two.
For a family with three children, a visit, for example, to an amusement park, can cost a T-shirt.
Norwegians are going here for the holidays this year
Dyreparken in Kristiansand, Kongeparken in Ålgård and Hunderfossen adventure park each cost between 2,000 and 3,000 per family per day. Other costs such as food, drinks, etc. are added.
Incendursun confirms that this applies if you have to pay for travel, accommodation and activities in Norway. It is safer to stay at home if the goal is to save money.
A trick that can reduce running expenses when on holiday in Norway is to use alternative modes of transportation.
The consumer economist highlights websites that give you the opportunity to return a rental car as an example. With a little careful preparation, you can drive free from east to west and north to south.
– Then I suddenly got free transport, Incendursun says.
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