Travel and Transportation
We suggest that you plan to arrive in Bergen on Sunday 1 July and to depart either late afternoon or early evening on Friday 6 July or on the morning of Saturday 7 Juy.
Entry to Norway
Norway is not a member of the EU, but is part of the Schengen agreement. Thus, nationals from countries within the Schengen area do not have to show their passport when entering Norway. However it is recommended that you bring your passport (www.visitnorway.com). Some nationalities will require a visa. Information about which nationalities need a visa, and where and how to apply (including forms) can be found at http://www.norway.info/. Participants who need a visa are strongly recommended to make their application in their home countries at least 2 months before the intended date of travel.
For those of you who have not visited Norway: the price of alcohol and tobacco products in Norway is amongst the highest in the world, particularly at hotels. Therefore, you might consider bringing whatever you think that you will use with you. You can purchase alcohol and tobacco products tax free at the duty free shops when you enter Norway - they are BEFORE the baggage claim area. The tax free allowance is as follows:
- One litre of an alcoholic beverage containing more than 22% and up to 60% alcohol by volume and one and a half litres containing more than 2.5% up to 22% alcohol by volume, or three litres of beverages containing more than 2.5% and up to 22% alcohol by volume
- Two litres of beer containing more than 2.5% alcohol by volume, or other beverage containing more than 2.5% and up to 4.7% alcohol by volume. This means, for example, that you can import five litres of beer if you do not have other alcoholic beverages with you
- 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco products, and
- 200 sheets of cigarette papers
Getting to Bergen's Flesland International Airport
The airport code is BGO and it is served by a number of airlines, the major ones being SAS, Norwegian and KLM. A complete list of the airlines that fly into Bergen can be found HERE.
For those of you travelling from cities that are not hubs for a major airline, you may find lower prices by buying two separate tickets. Note, however, that this is risky since if you miss a connection you will not be compensated by the airline whose flight you miss. For example, you can fly in to a major European hub city (e.g. Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt) and then book a low cost flight from there to Bergen. The most economical airline flying in to Bergen is Norwegian. Be aware that Norwegian is not covered by most of the online flight aggregatation services such as Expedia.
July is the peak tourist season in Bergen. Therefore, you are advised to book your travel early if you want to get a reasonable airfare.
Transportation from Bergen’s Flesland Airport to Solstrand Fjord Hotel
See HERE for a general description about how to get to the hotel.
We have arranged for a minibus taxi (it will be from “Os Buss”) in connection with peak incoming flight times on Sunday 1 July. This service will be available at 10:30 / 12:30 / 14:30 / 16:30 / 18:30 / 20:30 / 23:30 at a cost of 200- NKr per passenger (you must pay the driver). When you exit the airport (facing outwards) the bus will waiting along the left side of the roadway that runs in front of the entrances to the arrival-departure hall. Tell the taxi that you want to go to the Solstrand Hotel in Os. The trip takes about 30 minutes. If your flights do not connect with these times you will have to take a taxi. There are usually a large number of taxis waiting for passengers directly in front of the airport exit. A single passenger taxi from the airport to the hotel should cost 500-600- NKr.
Transport from the hotel to the airport: We will arrange for a minibus taxi to transport delegates from the hotel to the airport on the afternoon-evening of Friday 6 July and on the morning of Saturday 7 July. You will be asked to sign up for this service at the registration desk.
****To convert Norwegian Crowns (NOK) to your own currency, click HERE.****
Transportation from Solstrand Fjord Hotel to Downtown Bergen
If you or those accompanying you wish to get to downtown Bergen, the hotel concierge will be able assist you. |
