– We were actually supposed to see the Tower of London and the crown jewels, but we’d rather do that another time, says Ingvild Hunsrød. We meet her and her family at the world’s largest toy store, Hamleys in London. – NOK 1,500 to look at the crown jewels is a bit expensive, says Morten Dalåmo. Morten Dalåmo, Ingvild Hunsrød, Julie Dalåmo and Bendika Dalåmo at the world’s largest toy store, Hamleys in London. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / news – I have done housework and saved a lot to spend money here, says daughter Bendika Dalåmo (10) – Fortunately, there is also a lot you can do for free here, says Ingvild Hunsrød. Eventually, Julie (8) finds a teddy bear she wants. – I got NOK 500 from my grandmother and grandfather and 500 from my grandmother and grandfather. That’s NOK 1,000 in total. So I can afford the teddy bear, but it is very expensive, she says. Ingvild Hunsrød photographs Julie Dalåmo. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / news Weak krone Because Norwegians are getting more and more expensive on holidays abroad. One euro now costs around NOK 12. A pound over 14 and a dollar around 11 kroner. That’s why we’ve asked tourism experts Øystein Bache known from “Team Bachstad”, journalist Odd Roar Lange and travel blogger Renate Sandvik for saving tips. Use a credit card – Where possible. And pay in local currency. Because then it is your bank that calculates the rate, and it is almost always better than the local rate, which the store you shop in operates with, says Øystein Bache. – But pay this back straight away to avoid being in debt after the holiday, says Renate Sandvik Ask the card terminal if you want to pay in local or Norwegian currency, you must always choose the local currency, she says. Odd Roar Lange underlines the same thing – Always. Don’t be tempted to take the Norwegian one, it’s always much more expensive, he says. Consider travel insurance If you book your trip with a credit card and pay with the same card while you travel, you often get travel insurance with the purchase, says Renate Sandvik. – Pay this back at once to avoid being in debt after the holiday, she says. Also remember to check the conditions for how you must use the card for the insurance to apply. – A good travel insurance is a much better investment than much else, says Øystein Bache. Withdraw cash from a bank If you have to withdraw money, it’s a good idea to go to a completely normal bank. – Preferably where you can go into the bank and withdraw money. It is both the cheapest and safest, says Odd Roar Lange. Avoid withdrawing cash at airports, he advises. – Airports are the most expensive place you withdraw money. This applies both in Norway and where you land, says Lange. Different ATMs operate in many places with different fees. Travel blogger Renate Sandvik on the beach in Bolga. Photo: private / Picasa One of the locals Lange advises people to avoid the typical tourist traps when eating out. That means beach bars, beach restaurants and tourist streets. – The local ones are often only 200 meters away. Then you get both beer, wine and good food at half the price compared to the tourist area, he says. Learn the thirteenth time Travel expert and journalist Odd Roar Lange advises people going on holiday to euro countries to learn the thirteenth time. – Although it is approximately NOK 12 for one euro, there is an additional exchange fee. So then it will actually be NOK 13, he says. Tourism expert Odd Roar Lange. Photo: Privat Check with your travel companion before you buy anything Øystein Bache recommends checking with your travel companion before purchasing new gadgets and clothing. – There is much that is… “Greece is fine”. In other words, things you really don’t need when you get home, he says. Always check your account Follow the online bank during your holiday to see what you have used. – Then you avoid getting a shock when you get home, says Lange. Øystein Bache bought a cheap beach tent which he impregnated and slept in when he and Rune Gokstad drove the length of Japan in a camper van. Photo: news Buy cheaper gadgets If you are going to buy something you need, for example a tent because your travel partner snores, Bache advises people to go for cheaper brands. – I usually throw away or give away such things before I travel back to Norway, because I don’t have room for them at home. This tip applies especially if you want to save money on luggage, emphasizes Bache. Lange, on the other hand, encourages people to bring bath toys, mattresses and the like from Norway. – And take them home again, so you can use them several times. Haggle on hotels If you have only bought plane tickets before you travel, you can save a little on haggling on hotel rooms, says Lange. – Especially at the end of the day, in the afternoon, it is possible to haggle. It is better for the hotel to sell the room at a lower price than not to get any money at all, says Lange. But it is a bit risky in Europe in August, because it is the main holiday for most Europeans. – Then you have to go a little outside the holiday towns. With small children, I would perhaps be a bit careful with this, he says. “All inclusive” can be a good solution, he believes. – Even if it is a bit reviled, but then you have good control over the economy, says Lange. If you have booked a hotel room that you can cancel, it is certainly possible to search around for more affordable alternatives before you leave, says Sandvik. But now there is usually high demand and thus high prices in general, but it doesn’t hurt to apply, she believes. – If you’re lucky, you can take advantage of other people’s cancellations, says Sandvik. Check the flight price before you book a hotel. Sandvik says her best tip is to choose a destination outside the usual. – If you travel to less visited places, where they don’t use euros, pounds or dollars, you can get a lot back for it, she says. Since the Yen is also weak, Japan is also cheaper now. But check the airfare before you go. It is usually much cheaper to fly to the “South”, even if the Yen is weak. – Traveling to Japan is also such a long way that you should also stay there for a while, so that it works out financially, says Bache. Sleep in a tent – or in a “love hotel” There are many cheaper alternatives to hotels. – Instead of living in an expensive hotel and eating out every day, you can rent a flat with a kitchen, so that you have the opportunity to cook your own food, says Sandvik. Or you can do as “Team Bachstad”. – You can buy a beach tent, which you can impregnate so that it tolerates water. It works great. I have tried that, says Bache. Hostels are also an option. If you are considering a hostel or a tent, but think you may need a place for romantic privacy during your holiday, Japan and many other countries have short-term hotels, so-called “love hotels”. These are primarily an offer for people who need a private place to have sex, so not family friendly. Watch the episode where Øystein takes over the hotel booking and “Team Bachstad” end up at the “love hotel”. Bache accidentally managed to book himself and Rune Gokstad into such hotels on several occasions when they traveled in Japan. According to Bache, they work perfectly well for adults with or without an escort, and can be more affordable than normal hotels for whole nights, at least in Japan. – Because hotel accommodation in Japan is not necessarily so reasonable. These are almost Norwegian prices. But “love hotels” were cheaper. And there you also get a memory for life, says Bache. He himself is holidaying at the cabin this summer. – I get to satisfy my wanderlust at work, he says. Renate Sandvik is also on a cabin tour when news makes contact. She prefers to travel in spring or autumn. – I save a lot of money on that, and also avoid both heat waves and congestion. It’s almost a shame to go away in the summer, when Norway is at its best, she says. Published 28/07/2024, at 16.52
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Saving tips for your holiday abroad with a weak Norwegian krone against the euro, dollar and pound – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
