going back to Norway!

Eagles Bend overlooking Geirangerfjord (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

To say I enjoyed my first trip to Norway in May, 2010 would be an understatement. Norway is quite simply the most beautiful place I've ever been with New Zealand being a close second. The photograph above has been my favorite take-away from Norway. Our group was driving along the Geirangerfjord, and our driver/guide/leader Christine pulled off at a vista point overlooking Eagles Bend. That's where I captured this shot.

An opportunity for a return trip came up a bit more than a week ago, so I jumped at the chance. An entirely different itinerary, we start in Oslo, take the train up to Lillehammer, journey through the Gudbrandsdals Valley and visit the mountain village of Los, drive the mountain road to Loen, take the cable car to the top of the mountain (over 3000 feet elevation), and finish our trip in Bergen.

To make this work, I had to find reasonable air, and the Mileage Award gods were somehow on my side. I scored a one-way Saver Award fare going to Oslo on SAS business class (70,000 United miles). As hard as it is to actually spend airline miles, to get a sleeper seat for my exact date in October was a sign from heaven. (It appears I got the last saver award seat available). The reviews for SAS business class are quite positive, and I reserved an even numbered window seat (6A) which offers more privacy than the odd numbered seats.

There were no award flights for my return flight, but I've been curious about Norwegian Airlines. A low-priced international airline with a lot of flights from my hometown airport (Oakland, CA), they offer a very reasonably priced Premium Class. I'm going to try Norwegian Airlines Premium Class for my return from Bergen, connecting at London Gatwick, and flying nonstop to Oakland. Though it's not a lie-flat sleeper seat, it's a daytime flight. The seat looks to be spacious and comfortable with a lot of recline, significantly more spacious than domestic first class. Be watching for my review of Norwegian Premium Class after my return, mid-October.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.