Whoo-hoo! Yes, the girl is taking a real holiday -- not just a day and a night, or two days and one night like Edinburgh. NO! A real honest-to-goodness holiday of like 7 days! Almost 8!
Wanna know where I'm going? Huh? Huh?
'k, I'll tell ya
It was a choice between 1, Ireland; 2, Spain; 3, Sweden. (Well, you don't want to know what number 4 was, which was an adventure consisting of Eurostar to Paris, day in Paris, overnight train to Madrid, day in Madrid, train to south Spain and ferry to Morocco!). Spain was winning, but then we got an influx of guests from Sweden. They're very convincing, those Swedes!
So Sweden won. Now, I don't fly 'cause I'm all for doing my part to combat global warming (and every person out there who knows me and knows I'm chicken of flying, better just hush!), especially on those short hops around here, so I did some research (thank you Seat 61, I just love that site) and came up with a cool damn plan.
Quick overnight ferry (because I love ships and water and think it's the best way there is to travel) from here to Esbjerg, Denmark. Then, high-speed train (well, to me it's high-speed since it'll only take 4.5 hours and that's how long it takes to get from here to Edinburgh, and trains are my second favorite mode of travel) across the width of Denmark -- how cool is that?! And all in less than 24 hours.
The train goes under water and over long bridges over the sea! Wheeee! Then it's just a short, fast hop over to Malmo, Sweden from Copenhagen.
I thought about spending the entire five (I think it's five) days in Malmo, or three in the city and two elsewhere, taking a train a short way away somewhere (to a town I can't remember the name of that they suggested, on the east coast of Sweden). Oh wait! Or maybe a fast ferry to Finland! (Can you tell how excited I am? I don't know what to do with myself for all this holiday time!) Then we got a couple people from Denmark, actually Copenhagen, here and they can be quite convincing as well.
Hmmm. So I'm kind of going back-and-forth between two days in Copenhagen, two in Malmo (which is just right over the water, like 20 minutes away) and one elsewhere.
Or all in Sweden.
There's a slight method to my madness. This little wanderer is getting itchy feet already, and is ready for a new country, so I'll be checking things out where I go.
And before anyone says "oh my gosh it'll be so COLD there", I survived nearly 10 Chicago winters, so I think I can survive Sweden in late October, early November
Anyone been to Malmo?? Any ideas since it's my very first time to these two countries?
My brother lived in Copenhagen and he loved it. What a great treat to be able to spend some time there. I really love the idea of the ferry and the trains!
How about posting something in the Rest of Europe forum so you get more people checking things out? Not everyone comes out to play down here in the Gold forum. You might get some good feedback from those in the know up above.
Maria, I just got back from my Baltic/Russia cruise. I stayed 3 nights in Copenhagen and really enjoyed it. It is very expensive, though. Stockholm was also a favourite place on this trip. Loved the Old Town in both places.
Hey MariaV. I hope you have recovered from your immigration problems with Australia. If you ever visit Melbourne let me know and I will make up a bed in the back shed. I have heard that it is not difficult to get into Antartica or Western Mongolia - plenty of room but the accommodation is a bit ordinary.
I hope you have a great trip, I worked for some time in France but never got to Sweden. The problem with the world is there are too many places to go.
There is a lot of promotion going on here for river cruises of about 2 - 3 weeks travel between Amsterdam and Bucharest. Do you know anything about them or know anybody who can cut through the advertising and really report what they are like. A good answer might get an extra doona in the shed.
Posts: 354 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 16 January 2007
Mälmo is a nice city, and of course its proximity to Copenhagen makes your travel easier. I would maybe do four nights in Copenhagen and three in Mälmo, but it is personal choice. Culture, gastronomy, and atmosphere are all more developed in COpenhagen than Mälmo which is basically a port city. Some things you can think about doing --- taking the train up the coast to Göteborg (Gothenburg)Here is the Swedish train website.
One thing to remember. It will be dark from around 4 in the afternoon till past 9 in the morning. And the weather can be horrific. So prepare well for those ferry trips. Good warm clothes and waterproof coats and shoes.
I assume you will take the tunnel/bridge from Copenhagen to Mälmo. In order to take the ferry, you would need to cross at Helsingborg/Helsingor, which is about 45 minutes north of Copenhagen/Mälmo.
Don't take this as "I don't think you should go to Sweden in November". But you really need to be prepared. It is for the strong of spirit.
It might be another not so green idea to rent a car in Mälmo for a day or two. You could drive the coast through Haganas, Torekov, Bastad, and visit ceramic makers and Orefors glass outlets along the way. That part of the Skanar coast is beautiful and if you are lucky enough to have a couple of pretty days, it would be worth your time. Kristianstad, accross on the east coast, is also a worthwhile day trip.
In Copenhagen, of course there is Nyhavn, the canal lined with restaurants, and a great shopping district.
The highlight of a short break we had in Copenhagen was a daytrip to Malmo. We travelled by train over the Oresund Bridge. I really enjoyed the experience of travelling by train over the sea to a different country. We probably experienced Malmo at it's best as it was mid August. Beautiful, compact city with good restaurants (surprising not too expensive - but didn't purchase alcohol!!) Lovely well groomed parks to stroll through. Bear in mind that neither country uses Euro. We had to change some Danish Krone for Swedish Krona for our day in Malmo.
Monty, why do you think I need this holiday?! And I haven't given up. Oh, no. It's still high on my list, and something I still want. Hey, is your shed hidden enough that I could scuttle in and hide from those mean ol' visa people??
As for the river cruises, I haven't done one yet. However, it was on my list while thinking about this holiday. True, it will always look better in the brochures, but it really did look quite fun! And you are SO right about there being just too many places to go to and discover!
Diana, thanks for the info. But that's far more time than I have! I'll have four, perhaps five, days to play with. For me, part of the fun is getting there, and though some may think it's a time waster to do the ferry and train, when I could be there in a couple hours by plane, I'm really looking forward to being lulled to sleep by gentle rocking of the ship. Coupled with that, seeing the Danish countryside.
Anyway, that's why I thought two in Copenhagen, two in Malmo, and then one maybe on the east coast. I'd have to look on my notes to find out what city/town the people told me to go to for the night.
Having lived in Chicago many years, I'm not afraid of that Swedish weather! When you've had to hunker down and wade through feet and feet of snow, fighting against that icy, freezing, hard wind...
As for the Copenhagen/Malmo crossing, I'll just stay on the train (from Esbjerg). I may be wrong, but perhaps it's like the one in Messina, and I can get out of the train and go up top. Well, if the train goes on a ferry, that is, and it isn't an underwater thing. Which, in and of itself, is a pretty neat thing! (Do I get thrilled by the littlest things or what?)
Wait, didn't Sinead say it goes on the bridge over the water? Oh how fun!!
I've got my hotel list down to a manageable few. I'm thinking the Scandic Hotels, as they look nice and are in both cities, and both manageably affordable. One of our guests (the convincing one!), who's from just outside of Malmo and worked in a hotel here in London for many years, recommended it, "as a fellow hotel worker". For me, that's a good rec! And in their email they said I can ask for a travel industry discount -- pretty cool Judging from price differences, I'm still deciding which two days where.
So, there we have it. Now I just have to see if I can't bring the overnight ferry price down a little. I can't seem to get the lowest fare showing, for both inbound and out. I'm getting one low and one high. Oi.
I know there's so much to see in Copenhagen and also in Malmo! I'll have to just play it by ear and wander all over
Yes, the train goes over the bridge into Mälmo. It is a beautiful bridge, monstrous really. Crossing it the first time was a thrill for me. On this particular crossing, there are no trains which go on ferries, as it is in Puttgarten/Rudby for example.
You are limited in time, therefore staying on the west coast might make the most of what time you do have. Your Swedish contacts can give you an idea about what to do, I am sure.
Well, they're not really my "contacts", as they basically just convinced me to go visit the city, and I don't feel right in sending an email asking them for a bunch of information.
So that's why I thought I'd post the question to everyone here, for some suggestions as it's all brand new to me I'm appreciating all the input from everyone so far, thank you!
Maria, here are some websites for locations from Mälmo up the western coast to Bastad, and also a general Skane information website. There might be some material in here that would be interesting for you.
I tried to add the Trelleborg and Kristianstad sites, but both were only in Swedish, unfortunately.
One of the things about Skane is that it is FULL of artists and artisans. Glass blowers, ceramic artists, really GREAT stuff. Even the smaller towns normally have loads of galleries.
You could (hypothetically ) take the train to Almhült and see the first IKEA store which ever existed. But the stuff there is the same as everywhere else. As a former IKEA employee who had to make the pilrimage to the company's birthplace (hence my close personal attachment with Sweden) I feel compelled to say that .I still have friends in Sweden and spent many a midsommar there.
All night last night I spent doing the hotel search thing. Seems Copenhagen hotels are much more expensive than Malmo, so I think I may end up with the entire time in Malmo, but with a day in Copenhagen in front and one in back.
Also last night and during breakfast this morning I was given a lot of Danish language lessons (I think I was, unfortunately, giving other guests a show -- but I gave them something to laugh AT.)! Tough language!
But, in doing a lot of talking with the Danish family, they even agreed that staying in Malmo but doing a front and back day trip to Copenhagen is not a bad idea.
Thanks for the sites -- I'll look at them tonight.
Um, is this written in stone now and booked? I love Sweden, but even the Swedes I know want to get out of there when it is dark and endlessly cold in the winter.
I know you do not mind cold weather, but Sweden is soooo much nicer in the summer and Spain is so wonderfully warm, cheap and uncrowded now. You could get some fantastic bargains now there and I can't help but think that every day in sun and Moorish delights seems like a better location for a bigger difference from your London scene.
If this is your first honest-to-goodness holiday, I would really reconsider this and do your first visit to Sweden when it is at its best.
Southern Spain is at its best now and would be a breath of fresh air compared to London at this moment. I am afraid you may not feel like you have had a holiday if you go to Sweden....and will pay a high price to boot.
If your heart is set on Sweden now or it is already planned, never mind...but I could not help but mention the obvious. There is a reason that so many Swedes get depressed in the long dark winters. If you must go in winter, better to go at Christmas in my opinion.
I could not agree more, WT. The darkness is very tough to take. And yes, I also agree, Advent would be preferable to November. The unrelenting darkness (which reverses itself into unrelenting sunlight in June) makes travel to Skandanavia in late fall a real challenge, and for alot of people, a drink fest (regardless how expensive the alcohol is...)
On the other hand, Maria, it is for such a short time, if you can ignore the fact that the days are only a few hours long, you can at least get a feel for it. With luck it won't rain and you can get a little tiny glimpse of how beautiful it would be in the spring and summer. I am of the opinion that there is nothing more beautiful than Sweden at midsommar.
Maria, I can't help with Scandinavian advice as I have never been there but on your point about finding fares, I sometimes find with boat, train and plane journeys that it can be better to buy two quite separate tickets to get the best price.
Sometimes if you log in as if you are in the other country (and paying in Euros) to do the return journey as a single 'outbound' it can be a whole lot cheaper, even accounting for the fact that you are paying with a card that is sterling based and are suffering an exchange.
It is the way some companies structure their fares and they cash in on more people wanting to go one way rather than another, if you know what I mean. This may be the case with the journeys you are looking at.
Have a great holiday, whatever you decide!
PS.Whoops! Did not realise the significance of the last two posts and see that Scandinavia is not a runner now. However, my comment on ticket buying still applies.
Felicity, I've been considering that for the London-Paris leg of my trip. I'm trying to find a way around £110 for the Eurostar Of course, there are ways around it, by either flying OR by taking a train, then ferry, then train, which is cheaper and only adds about 3 hours on to the trip OR by taking the coach which takes 8 hours but is dirt damn cheap.
Topic Closed
Yes, the girl is taking a real holiday -- not just a day and a night, or two days and one night like Edinburgh. NO! A real honest-to-goodness holiday of like 7 days! Almost 8! 
I'm appreciating all the input from everyone so far, thank you! 
OR by taking a train, then ferry, then train, which is cheaper and only adds about 3 hours on to the trip OR by taking the coach which takes 8 hours but is dirt damn cheap.
