Stay tuned for the trip to Norway and how I saw the Northern Lights! Photo by: Evan Berman

December is a wonderful time of year. With Christmas approaching, people are generally in a festive mood. The weather is not that cold yet. And just think of all the food, drink, and parties that abound! I took a quick trip to Norway and loved every minute of it.

This is the introduction to the trip, stay posted for reports of each city, flight, and hotel. As with all Trip Introductions, I will include Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How Sections.

This introduction is the beginning of the Nordic Expedition. For more information on this trip, follow these links:

Intro (This Article)

Flight: Delta Comfort+, CHS-JFK

JFK Lounges

Flight: Norse Airways Economy, JFK-OSL

Flight: Norwegian Economy, OSL-BGO

The Magic of Bergen, Norway

Christmas Markets

Hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, Bergen, Norway

Flight: SAS Economy, BGO-SVG

Flight: SAS Economy, SVG-OSL

2 Days in Oslo, Norway

Oslo Restaurants

Hotel: Comfort Karl Johan, Oslo, Norway

Flight: SAS Economy, OSL-TOS

Terrific Tromsø, Norway

A Whale of a Meal, Tromsø, Norway Restaurants

Seeing the Northern Lights

Hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora, Tromsø, Norway

Hotel: Clarion Collection Hotel With, Tromsø, Norway

Flight: SAS Economy, TOS-OSL

Flight: Norse Atlantic Airways Economy: OSL-JFK

December in New York

Lounges at LGA

Flight: Delta Economy, LGA-CHS

Conclusion

Who:

I went on this trip by myself. As I’ve said before, I enjoy travelling alone.

What:

Norse Airways has incredibly cheap flights from New York to Europe, with nonstops to Europe normally pricing under $400 each way. I found an even better deal than usual and hopped on it. I’ve alway wanted to see the Northern Lights, so I knew that December in Norway would offer a great opportunity to do so.

My goal for this trip was clear: terrific food, see the Northern Lights, and discover the beauty of a Nordic country around Christmas. As you’ll see, I managed to achieve all 3! While points and miles did not play a major role in this trip, cheap deals did and I look forward to sharing my tips on how to save with you!

When:

The trip was a quick 5-day adventure with lots of varied experiences. I flew out of Charleston on Thursday, December 1st and returned home on Wednesday, December 7th.

Where:

The final itinerary was as follows: CHS-JFK-OSL-BGO-SVG-OSL-TOS-OSL-JFK, LGA-CHS. That is,

1. Charleston, SC to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Delta Comfort+
2. New York-JFK to Oslo, Norway’s Gardermoen Airport (OSL) in Norse Airways Economy
3. Oslo to Bergen, Norway’s Bergen Flesland Airport (BGO) in Norwegian Economy
4. Bergen to Stavanger Airport (SVG) to Oslo in SAS Economy
5. Oslo to Tromsø Airport (TOS) in SAS Economy
6. Tromsø to Oslo in SAS Economy
7. Oslo to New York-JFK in Norse Economy
8. New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Charleston

Here is a map of that itinerary, courtesy of Great Circle Mapper:

Why:

As I mentioned, the timing worked well and I found an incredible deal to visit Norway. I saw a chance to see the Northern Lights and explore the beauty of Norway for cheap and I took it!

How:

The city-specific articles will provide exact pricing, but here’s what I spent:

Flights:

I only purchased flights using cash, so no points were used.

• $654.63

Hotels:

• $401.12 to purchase 44,200 Choice Privileges Points

For those keeping track at home, that’s $1,055.75 to fly from Charleston to Norway (including all around the country) and home as well as all hotel stay.

The final totals for all expenses, broken out by category and location will be found in the Conclusion article.

Highlights Include:

• Seeing the Northern Lights
• Tasting the Delicious Norwegian cuisine
• Visiting several Christmas markets
• Staying in luxury hotels, courtesy of the Choice points sweet spots in the Nordic countries
• Exploring the beautiful city of Bergen– truly a must-visit!

I planned this trip only a month and a half before leaving and managed to find a great deal. You can as well, with the tips from this website. Stay tuned for more! As always, reach out with any questions and keep Maxing Out Memories!

Evan