Every year, many choose to make the trip to Lofoten. But this summer there is something new. Tourists and locals have the opportunity to save a lot of money by choosing the right ferry. For one of the ferry connections that go to Lofoten is free. What goes from Skutvik to Svolvær. – I am surprised that it was free, considering everything else we have found out that you have to pay for in Norway. Will Thame and Charlie Gentz are on their first holiday in Norway. They are from Colorado in the United States. Basically, they were going to take a plane. But it was canceled. Thus, they had to rent a car in Oslo. For the north they were going. Then it was good news that the ferry they chose is free. – It is relatively expensive. Just eating food. I’ve never paid to go to the bathroom before, Gentz laughs. Benjamin and Kine Larsen have waited a long time for Skutvik to secure a place on the ferry to Lofoten. Photo: Ingrid Gulbrandsen Årdal / news Conscious choice While some were surprised, others made a conscious choice. – That is why we have stood here for many hours and waited. Together with her mother and son, Kine Larsen sits in the car, almost at the very front of the queue. – It can quickly become very expensive to travel back and forth. Expensive ferry trip If you choose the “wrong” ferry to Lofoten, it can be a very expensive ferry trip. Bodø – Moskenes costs 754 kroner one way for a normal car. A motorhome or a car with a caravan must leave quickly with between 1623 kroner and 2809 kroner, all depending on length. The ferry between Svolvær and Skutvik is now free. On the stretch in question, an ordinary car saves around NOK 400. A motorhome or a car with a caravan saves around 1600 kroner. On 1 July, ferry routes in Norway with less than 100,000 passengers a year became free to travel with. There are 61 ferry connections. The price tag for the state? 89 million kroner. These ferry connections have become free Nordland Digermulen – Finnvik Stokkvågen – Træna Mosjøen – Hundåla Igerøy – Tjøtta Nordnesøy – Kilboghamn Sund – Horsdal – Sørarnøy Ørnes – Vassdalsvik – Meløysund – Bolga – Støtt Svolvær – Skrova – Skutvik Nesna – Slnagenene Stneskvene Jektvik – Kilboghamn Tjøtta – Forvik Horn – Igerøy Vestland Hisarøy – Mjånes Barmen – Barmsund Ortnevik – Måren – Nordeide Klokkarvik – Lerøy – Bjelkarøy – Hjellestad Daløy – Haldorsneset Fjelberg – Sydnes – Utbjoa Kinsarvik – Utne Fedjeal – Masje Rund – Sævrøy Krakhella Husavik – Sandvikvåg Troms og Finnmark Mikkelsby – Kongshus Øksfjord – Bergsfjord – Sør – Tverrfjord Øksfjord – Tverrfjord Mikkelvik- Bromnes Strømsnes – Kjerringholmen Rotsund- Havnnes- Uløybukt Nyvoll – Eidsnes (Korsfjord) Bellvik- Vengsøy Bothamn- Hasvik- Hasvik- Lauksundskaret Hansnes- Karlsøy- Vannøy Hansnes- Reinøy Møre og Romsdal Molde – Sekken Festøya – Hundeidvika Småge – Orta – Finnøya – Sandøya – Ona Arasvika – Hennset Sæbø – Leknes – Skår – Trandal – Standal Trøndelag Dypfest-Tarva Storfosna-Leksa-Værnes Sula – Mausund – Dyrøy Garten-Storfosna Skei – Gutvik Rogaland Hauges Stavanger – Lysebotn Innlandet Agder Source: Regjeringen.no. PS: The list may be incomplete Many hours in line – It has been a matter of the heart for me to get a free ferry to the small coastal communities, said Minister of Finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp) to news when the free ferry was introduced. Everyone news has spoken to in the ferry queue at Skutvik is very pleased that they do not have to pay. – It basically means that we get the opportunity to travel more often, says Larsen. But she is aware that it is not just positive with free ferry. – We also notice that there are many foreign tourists who take advantage of the opportunity. Maybe they should have done it in such a way that the permanent residents could have had the opportunity to book a place first, so you don’t have to sit in line for many hours. If not they have to do all the other ferries for free. For there is no doubt that many hours in line take on. – I who have time off can do it. But not everyone has the opportunity to do so, she says. Too early to do anything – We have been prepared for the fact that there may be challenges this summer. But it has also been a problem in the past that there has been a lot of waiting time on the ferries where there are a lot of tourists. This is what Jakob Bjelland (Sp), State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, says. He is aware that they must evaluate the scheme. – We do not have an overview of how much extra problem the free ferry leads to. When we get data on it, we must see what measures we can implement. But I’ve talked to people in line, but people will not return to pay for the ferries again. The fact that there are some challenges with a new measure is expected. But the overall picture is that it is very positive. Can make a stop But there is another option if you want to take a free ferry to Lofoten. For the islands Værøy and Røst are also part of Lofoten. Here you can take a free ferry from Bodø. And if you drive ashore on one of the islands here, to turn around and board the ferry again, you can get to Moskenes for free.
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Saves a lot of money on a free ferry to Svolvær – news Nordland
