Planning a 2 week trip to oslo, copenhagen, stockholm, and helsinki in september.After reading two travel books scandanavia doesnt sound so good (cold, expensive, and boring). If youve traveled there would you recommend it? or where else would you recommend a 2 week trip in europe. I like to meet people, relax, and basically party it up for two weeks. got any suggestions. have passport and $, will go anywhere.THANKS

[This message has been edited by joe derosa (edited 02-13-2000).]

[This message has been edited by joe derosa (edited 02-13-2000).]

See my comments in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000893.html for things to see and do in Stockholm and Helsinki. September is a beatuiful month in the Nordic areas, full of colour.

But from reading your request I'd suggest that somewhere in Spain could be more for you. But not the costal tourist traps. Barcelona is a great place and so is Madrid. The Spanish have a passion for fun that's unstoppable. Both cities are places for real party animals and you'd have to be one of the best party goers in the world to keep up with the locals. And when you do wind down for a while, both cities offer wonderful cultural attractions too.

My tip: Spain and in particular Barcelona

How is your Spanish?


[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 02-13-2000).]

Have you ever been in Turkey? If not, come to Turkey!

You can also combine Greece and Turkey. We have everything what you wanna do here: " I like to meet people, relax, and basically party it up for two weeks."

And September is the best time. Not too hot, not very crowded. Come to Istanbul for sightseeing and partying and spend some time in Bodrum for sea and more partying.

TK (Turkish Airlines) is flying direct to IST from JFK, ORD and MIA. And DL is flying direct from JFK to IST with additional seasonal flights from ATL in summer time.

[This message has been edited by aysegul (edited 02-13-2000).]

I second the Turkey recommendation. See my June 1999 trip report:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/000126.html

Scandinavia's beautiful, but if you like to party visit the Greek islands, especially Ios and Serifos. It's hot there in summer, but that's when the party crowd comes in. May and September are very pleasant and uncrowded. If you go, don't miss Santorini (Thera). I've not been to Turkey, but going this summer. So far, I've found hotel prices to be extremely reasonable.

Hey, they party hard in Scandinavia! Especially in the summertime when the sun stays out til about 11pm. You will not regret a visit to Oslo and Stockholm in the summer. Unless you have something against 6' tall blondes.

Stimpy is right, but the trip is for September. By then the summer party months of July and August are over (at least the evening parts).

Do Scandinavia!!!! Sample all the different vodkas! Enjoy the late night sun! Take a train north of the Arctic circle (not much to see but tundra, but then you can say you have done it)! See the fjords! Marvel at the wonderment of Scandanavian genetics! Copenhagen is a FANTASTIC city...don't forget the Carlsberg Brewery tour (with apologies to Rudi!)! Those travel books you are reading are clearly tripe.

Carlsberg no apologies necessary kokonutz - I am even godfather of a Carlsberg directors boy (Stig Christensen) - and did include a Copenhague stopover in my nov-99-(PIP)-rtw to visit them.

Note: there is no Tuborg brewery anymore in Danemark (Tuborg being brewed by Carlsberg now since early 1999, owned by Carlsberg for about 20 years by now). And the majority of Carlsberg shares belong to the Carlsberg foundation, the dividends go to the (research works) of the Copenhague University.

I see that Joe has done just one posting, so I hope he returns and reads all the advice.

I live in Scandinavia and want to promote it of course!

But I felt that Joe might be after something else. I'd hate for someone to come to Stockholm looking for the party capitol of Europe in September. It's a wonderful place to visit and if you visit several Nordic countries you'll have a great time.

But if you really just want to be a party animal and if that's the most important criterion, then head for parts of Europe that are more south.

All of Europe has its charms.


[This message has been edited by Austman (edited 02-14-2000).]

Rudi, does this mean I am allowed to drink Elephant in your presence !?!?!?!

(I forgot to mention the Becks I raised to you in Tampa...)

yes - please keep in mind (I am sure you do ...), Elephant has 60% more alcohol than Carlsberg Lager ... (but that meets probably just your expectations ...?)

One thing you should keep in mind though; The dollar has rarely been as strong at anytime as it is now compared to the different Scandinavian currencies, som now may be the time!
Being from Oslo I do second the fact that we do know how to party and some of the hotels might even still be offering Summer Deals in the earliest part of September. The temperature situation, though, might be dodgy.
If you really want hot weather I second austman's suggestion of BCN. To me: The motst complete partycity ever if you know where to go or rather not to go. Lots of sights, actually friendly people ++. Fantastic cooking and probably the best value for money anywhere in the "civilized" world(?).
I'm going back in March and twice in November and my first shot at a trip report may be from the one in March.

I'm an american living in Scandinavia and if I didn't like it, I wouldn't be living here! I highly recommend visiting Sweden and Norway (and Denmark too). Scandinavians are very friendly and the cities are CLEAN and SAFE. I've been living here 3 years + now and enjoy it very much. I spent my first year here in Stockholm and I must say it is my favorite city in all of Europe.

I'll third the recommendation for Turkey. I spent 3 weeks there, and I can't wait to go back. Everything from the sights to the history was absolutely wonderful. And the people were better still.

People like the bunch of shop owners who literally lifted a small car out of the way so I could pass, the soldiers who were delighted that we would agree to have our photo taken with them, the elderly ("eighty eighty" years old) local gentleman who gave us a personal tour around Nevishir and then lunch (he liked Canadians,) the shop owner that chided my girlfriend for offering to pay too much, then making her do it again after giving a her a lesson in bartering, and the city hall official who walked us to our hotel when we got lost.

Perhaps the best was the manager of the car rental counter in the airport where we returned the car. The guy cleaning the car kept radioing to the manager about the dent I put in the passenger's door. The manager just kept telling him "It's dirt." No, it's a dent. "NO, it's dirt." No sir, it is a dent. "IT DIRT!!!" All the while telling me "not to worry."

The history is amazing, the scenery intense and intensely varied, the food was great, and the shopping was an experience. Of all the places I've been and want to go back to, this is the one that I most desire.

[This message has been edited by KenHamer (edited 02-15-2000).]