Research

I have been doing some research. A lot of what I have looking up depends upon what type of trip we want. Whether we simply want to go to Hammerfest or take trains/buses/planes along the coast and see Norway (may take 2-3 days each way). Here is one email I got from a travel bureau:
Hello!

There are two departures every day exept Saturdays from Oslo to Bodø. You always have to change trains in Trondheim.
1. From Oslo: 14:50 arriving Trondheim 21:25 or from Oslo 16:07 arriving Trondheim 22:50
From Trondheim: 23:35 arriving Bodø 09:10 the next day (Fauske 08:25)
2: From Oslo: 23:05 ariving Trondheim 07:00 the next day
From Trondheim: 07:40 arriving Bodø 17:25 (Fauske 16:35)
If you are going by bus further north, the bus leaves from Fauske to Tromsø at 09:30 every morning arriving Tromsø at 19:45. Saturdays the bus arrives Tromsø at 18:35.
For further information about how to get further north, please visit one of the following websites:

http://www.ruteopplysningen.no/
http://www.hurtigruten.us/

Here you will find schedules for buses and the Hurtigruten (ship).

I wish you a pleasant stay in Norway.

Med vennlig hilsen

SOLFRID FJELLSTAD
NSB
Teamleder, Kundesenter Lillehammer
solfridf@nsb.no

nsb.no


These departures are for trains. My best calculations put the trains (for the cheapest seats) at about $64 rt for each leg. I don't know how much the bus from Fauske to Tromso costs but it is said to be one of the most scenic drives in Norway. When in Tromso it may be beneficial to fly to Hammerfest. It is a 40 min flight but a 8-9 hour drive. Looking as far in advance as possible, buying the flight directly from the airline depending on the times costs about $90 rt at the low end.

The flights from EWR to Hammerfest were multi-stop (around 24 total hours) and about $900. The flights to Oslo were $500 at the low end. Taking local transportation shouldn't cost us $400. It may be awesome to save some money and take 2-3 days to Hammerfest, see the views along the way, spend a few days in Hammerfest, and then take a 2-3 days back to Oslo.

Also hotels in Hammerfest seem to be about $133/night at the low-end for a double (I don't know what foreign policy is on stuffing people into rooms). The hotels I saw all had bars/restaurants right in them.

Well that's about it for now.

Jason