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START ON NORWAY'S
"EAST COAST"
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Begin your adventure at royal OSLO,
Norways vibrant,
modern capital at the head of the Oslo Fjord. Discover
the royal palace, Oslos
great harbor with its Viking Ship,
Kon Tiki, and Maritime museums, and the remarkable
sculpture of Vigeland’s Park.
HOME AT
FIRST's friendly
Oslo hotel is located away from the
bustle of downtown,
within walking distance of the Palace and a 10-minute
trolley ride
from most popular attractions.
From Oslo head west using one of two optional
routes:
OPTION A
VIA THE
SOGN FJORD:
(This optionthough
best by caris possible by train, with limited flexibility.)
Northwest from Oslo to the
Hardangervidda. |
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Drive northwest a half-day to Northern Europes largest
mountain plateau. Stay in HOME AT
FIRST's
small,
rural hotel on the eastern edge of the Hardangervidda National Park. (Dinner is
included daily
at this remote hotel.) This high, rugged wilderness laced with waterfalls
and wild rivers is home to
moose as well as Scandinavias largest wild reindeer
population.
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Adventure Activities
You can arrange for the following extra-cost
guided activities at this location:
RIVER RAFTING! White water rafting on a wild,
cold, high river.
WILDERNESS HIKING! Choose from several hikes in
the beautiful high country.
MOOSE SAFARI! Spot moose in the wild at night. |
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Northwest to the Sogn Fjord.
From the
Hardangervidda drive (2-3 hours) across a dramatic,
high landscape and descend the steep
walls of the Aurland
Valley to the spectacular, interior reaches of the Sognefjord
at
Flåm.
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Two Short Tours
Park at Flåm, transportation center on the
edge of
the fjord. Buy tickets for:
FJORD CRUISE. A 2-hour fjord cruise among the
cliff-faced
mountains
NARROW GAUGE MOUNTAIN RAILWAY. Ride (2 hours)
from sea level to snow country and back. |

ALL ABOARD AT FLÅM! |
OR choose
OPTION B
VIA THE
HARDANGER FJORD:
(This option is possible by
car only.)
West from Oslo to the Hardanger Fjord.
Drive west a full day from Oslo on
a dramatic fjord and mountain route along the southern and
western edges of the
Hardangervidda National Park to the Hardanger Fjord. Along the way, learn
about the Heroes
of Telemark and Norwegian resistance during World War II, and visit the National
Park
visitors center. Stay at least one night at
HOME AT FIRST's
small, traditional fjord-side hotel on
the Hardanger. Explore this
scenic region of fjords, mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers. See Norway's
greatest
waterfall, and visit a superb museum of folk culture.
FINALLY, YOU REACH NORWAY'S WEST
COAST
West from the Fjords to BERGEN.
From either the Sogn or the Hardanger, the direct drive time to
Bergen (2-3
hours) but you may want to stop several times, if only to admire the remarkable fjord
and mountain scenery. Once in Bergen
famed second city of 7 fjords and 7
mountains you will
stay at
HOME
AT FIRST's small hotel in
the old harbor district, within walking distance of most
attractions, including the lively
Bryggen, a United Nations listed World Heritage Site.
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Explore the
Fjords from Bergen.
From Bergen, numerous optional side trips to
the dramatic
Hardanger and Sogn fjords may be arranged, including the famous "Norway in a
Nutshell"
rail + boat + bus excursion.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN NORWAY?
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A Hearty Norwegian Breakfast Daily!
Starts every day right.
You receive the Oslo City Pass
good for public
transportation and entrance fees to many attractions.
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You receive
HOME AT FIRST's "Activities Guides" full of
information and suggestions for each location
along the route.
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Transportation—the "Best of Norway" itinerary offers several
options:
Car rental, OR
Rail tickets for OsloBergen (with Option A
travel only).
Flights: Full package includes transatlantic flights from Newark/New
York to Oslo and from Bergen to
Edinburgh. (Flights from other
origination airports available for
additional airfare.)
Minimum length:
7 nights of HOME AT FIRST quality lodgings in ideal locations.
Stay as little as one night at any location.
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Extra nights in Norway may be pre-arranged as part of your itinerary for a
per-diem charge (see price
chart below).
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN NORWAY?
Optional Extra Cost Activities: But, rafting, guided walks, moose
safari, fjord cruises, and Flåm train
may be pre-arranged.
Airport Transfers in Oslo and/or Bergen (not needed
by those turning in rental cars at the airport).
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In a Home At First apartment in the royal city of EDINBURGH
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Fly from Bergen to
Edinburgh Airport.
Take
the airport bus or drive your rental car from Bergen
to
Bergen Airport. Turn in your car rental (if applicable). Check
in for your flight for Edinburgh. Arrive in
Edinburgh that
afternoon.
It's under 1 hour
from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh
city!
At Edinburgh
Airport, if you are picking up a rental car, you
have a 30-minute journey to
your central Edinburgh
apartment. If you are using public transport during your
week in Edinburgh, take Edinburgh Shuttle van or a taxi
from the airport to your central Edinburgh apartment
(journey time 30-45min.).
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Edinburgh
Castle from New Town, where Home At First has apartments. |
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Your own Edinburgh apartment for a week! Once you check in to your
Edinburgh apartment you are
ready to begin your
Scotland adventure. In your center city neighborhood, there are restaurants,
shops, pubs,
and supermarkets. Attractions like
Edinburgh Castle are
nearby—some walkable, some
a short ride by city bus.
City buses take you everywhere in
Edinburgh! With a 7-Day
Lothian Ridacard bus pass you can hop
on and off Edinburgh's
public buses and go as you please
without always having to pay a fare.
Want a day out of
Edinburgh? Convenient rail service connects to
dozens of fascinating destinations
out of town! Using the
speedy, reliable trains of Scotland's rail network, you can take
day trips to
towns and cities throughout much of
Scotland and be back in Edinburgh for
supper.
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After a week, fly
home from Edinburgh. Return
your rental car to Edinburgh Airport, OR take the
Edinburgh Shuttle van from your apartment to the airport. Because
Scotland is almost two hours closer
to home
than Norway is, your westward journey
to North America seems less fatiguing.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN
EDINBURGH?
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An Apartment in Central Edinburgh. One-
and two-bedroom apartments available.
Car Rental for 1-week. Pick-up & return at
Edinburgh Airport.
OR, if you choose to travel by public transportation, you receive a Scottish
rail pass valid for rail
journeys from Edinburgh to many other popular Scotland
destinations.
You receive HOME AT FIRST's "Scotland
Activities Guide"
full of information and suggestions for
what to see and do in
Edinburgh and for day-trips
throughout Scotland.
Flights: Full package includes transatlantic flight
home to
Newark from Edinburgh.
(Flights to other
destination
airports are
available for additional airfare.)
Minimum length: 7 nights at
HOME AT FIRST's
Edinburgh Apartments.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN
EDINBURGH?
Airport Transfers to/from
Edinburgh Airports.
The
7-Day Lothian Ridacard bus pass for city bus transport in
Edinburgh—available for purchase only at
Lothian Bus Travelshops in Edinburgh.
No meals are included in Edinburgh.
But using your fully-equipped
apartment kitchen means you can save money! |
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In
a Home At First Cottage in SCOTLAND'S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
Fly from Bergen to
Edinburgh Airport.
Take
the airport bus or drive your rental car from Bergen
to
Bergen Airport. Turn in your car rental (if applicable). Check in
for your flight for Edinburgh. Arrive in
Edinburgh that afternoon.
It's 1-2 hours
from Edinburgh Airport to the
Central Highlands.
At Edinburgh
Airport, you pick up a rental car and begin the
60-120-minute journey to
your Central Scotland cottage or
apartment.
Stop for Orientation as you enter the Central Highlands.
At this
session hosted by
HOME AT FIRST
Staff, you receive lots of
information that will be invaluable on-site in Scotland.
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Living
room at Rob Roy Cottage,
Callander, Central Scotland. |
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Your own cottage or apartment for a week! Once you check in to your
Central Highlands lodging, you
are ready to begin your
Scotland adventure. In your local town or village there are restaurants,
shops, pubs,
and supermarkets. Touring attractions like
Stirling Castle is quick and easy, but so are
delightful activities: walking, cycling, cruises, golf, fishing,
and visiting whisky (Scotch) distilleries.
Explore much of Scotland from the Central Highlands.
No other location permits such a wide range of
possible day trips throughout Scotland. Both the east and west
coasts of Scotland are within day trip
reach, as are the Lowlands, some of the Inner Hebrides Islands, and
three great cities: Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and Inverness. Return to your
cozy cottage each evening knowing that no where is the
scenery better or the welcome friendlier than at home in Central
Scotland.
Organized Activities: Join
HOME AT FIRST's
Central Scotland Staff on a guided trip early in your stay
to help you get started and become comfortable with the geography,
driving, and cultural differences
you encounter in Scotland. Later in the
week, come to dinner hosted by
HOME AT FIRST's
staff in a
very Scottish local restaurant. Bring your questions, and bring
your appetite: dinner's on us!
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After a week, fly
home from Edinburgh. Return
your rental car to Edinburgh Airport and check in for
your flight home to North America. Because
Scotland is almost two hours closer
to home
than Norway
is, your westward journey
to North America seems less fatiguing.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN
CENTRAL SCOTLAND?
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An Apartment or Cottage in Central
Scotland. One-
and two-bedroom apartments available.
Your
choice of several locations: in bustling towns, in rural villages,
and in beautiful remote settings.
Car Rental for 1-week. Pick-up & return at
Edinburgh Airport. (Sorry—public transportation doesn't
work well enough to be a good option for touring away from Scotland's
population centers.)
HOME AT FIRST ON-SITE STAFF SERVICES: Orientation upon arrival in
Central Scotland, guided trip
to a special destination early in your stay, and a hosted
dinner party later in your stay.
You receive HOME AT FIRST's "Scotland
Activities Guide"
full of information and suggestions for
what to see and do in
Edinburgh and for day-trips
throughout Scotland.
Flights: Full package includes transatlantic flight
home to
Newark from Edinburgh.
(Flights to other
destination
airports are
available for additional airfare.)
Minimum length: 7 nights at
HOME AT FIRST's
Scotland Central Highlands lodgings.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN
CENTRAL SCOTLAND?
Only one meal is included in
Central Scotland: our special hosted dinner party.
But using your fully-equipped
kitchen means you can save money! |
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PRICES PER PERSON |
WINTER |
SPRING/FALL |
SUMMER |
FULL
PACKAGE |
$2988
PER PERSON |
$3530
PER PERSON |
$3949
PER PERSON |
ADDITIONAL
ITINERARY DAYS
IN NORWAY |
$180
PER PERSON/DAY |
$216
PER PERSON/DAY |
$240
PER PERSON/DAY |
Prices based on two
person sharing.
Inquire for Family/child & ground-only rates. |
— Prices Include —
Round-Trip Flights from Newark or New York to Oslo
PLUS 7 Nights "Best of Norway" Package with Breakfast daily
and Ground Transportation (Car/Rail or Combo)
PLUS Flight from Bergen to Edinburgh
PLUS 7 Nights Lodging at an apartment in central Edinburgh
OR 7 Nights Lodging at a cottage or apartment in the Central Highlands.
PLUS 7-Days Car Rental (Pick-up and Drop-off at Edinburgh Airport)
OR (for Edinburgh guests only) a
4-day
Scottish Freedom Rail Pass
PLUS Home At First's "Activity Guides" for Norway & Scotland
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SEASONS: |
— WINTER —
DEC 25 2009 to
MAR 25 2010 |
— SPRING/FALL
—
DEC 12-24 2009
MAR 26–MAY 13 2010
AUG 31–OCT 25 2010 |
— SUMMER —
MAY 14 to
AUG 30 2010 |
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