P654 CJJFAX 65) Sun 3 Mar 20:41/58 1/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE TR MSG IN NORWBY This week Blue Skies reporter Gill Elliott travels to Tromso in Norway. Prices for one week's bed and breakfast in a three star hotel with NSR Travel start at £579, including flights and transfers, in both high and low season. Contact NS$ Travel on 0171 930 6666. What to see and do Tromso stretches from the Lzngen Alps in the east to the Kvaloyb Island in the west. It is home to the world's northernmost university, cathedral, concert hall, botanical gardens and brewery and is famous for being the starting point of polar expeditions. Rbdio Links 650 Radio 5 645 Kershbw Rbdjo 1 Rbdio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:41/19 2/14 BLUE SKIES ON RBDIO 5 LIVE 'hat to see and do (cont) The city has a variety of museums including the Polar Museum and Tromso City Museum. Also, the Northern Lights Planetarium. Visit the Arctic Cathedral (Tromsdal church) built in 1965. The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis can bj seen from the town in winter (between October and March) given the right meteorological conditions. From 20 May to 22 July in Tromso the whole disc of the sun is visible for 24 hours a day - the Midnight Sun - weathjt permitting. Radio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kershaw Rbdio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:42/11 3/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE What to see and do (cont) A cable car ride to the top of Mount Storstiinen gives stunning views of Tromso and its surroundings. A day out dog-sledging (with 12 Alaskan huskies) including lunch in the laavu (Same tent) and transfers from Tromso costs about £9k per person. A day's ice fishing, including transfers and warm clothing, and preparation of the catch costs about £68 pet person. Many outdoor activities are available, including rafting, canoeing and riding. Radio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kirshaw Rbdio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:42/12 4/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE Coastal Voyages The Scandinavian Travel Service offers a range of coastal voyages on working ships sbiling the length and breadth of Norway's coastline. For further details contact Scandinbvian Travel Service on 0171 371 48p0. The Norwegian Coastal Voybgj is a 12-day voyage stopping at 34 ports en route white you can sample Norwegian life in a variety of shore excursions. Prices start at £900 pet pjtson which includes sea crossing from Newcastle to Bergen and full board on the voyage. Return scheduled flights to Bergen are available at an additional cost. Rbdio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kirshaw Rbdio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:43/31 5/14 BLUE SKIES ON RBDIO 5 LIVE Coastal Voyages (cont) The five day Northern Mini Voyage starts in Tromso and sails north to Hammjtfest and on to Kirkjnjs on the Russian border before returning to Tromso via the North Cape. Prices start at £818 pet pjtson including return flights, full-board on the voyage and hotel accommodation in Tromso. Currency The Norwegian currency is the Krone (NOr). The rate of exchange is approx 9.k NOr to £1 Stirling. Banks are usually open 8.15am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday and most restaurants, shops and hotels accept mbjor credit cards. Rbdio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kershaw Rbdio 1 Rbdio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:43/54 6/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE Local food and drink Fish plays an important part in any menu, traditionblly caught just before the evening meal, and thjti is normally a good range on offer. Try a Norwegian cold table or 'koldtbord' which is a lavish buffet of cold and hot dishes including fish, seafood, meat and smoked meat. Thjsj are often available in hotels and restaurants at about £18 a head and you can eat as much as you liSj! An average meal in a restaurant tends to cost around £25 a head, however, beer and wine is quite pricey at £4 a pint for beet and £18 a bottle for wine. Rbdio Links 6k0 Rbdio 5 645 Kershbw Rbdio 1 Rbdio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:44/31 & )|l4|l4|l0|h<| 7/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE 'eathjr In the summer, the weather is a little cooler than in the US. Tbkj light clothing and rainwear. Temperatures in the far north and at sea are lower and passjngjrs for the coastal voyage should taSj warm clothing. Hot tips * If you go in the winter, take ski- wear and thermal underwear * Tbkj a sun block whjthjt you travel in summer or winter * Tbkj sturdy walking shoes * Take sunglasses for summer or winter * Tbkj a camera for the spectacular scenery Rbdio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kershaw Radio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFA 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:44/10 8/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE Visas No visa is required for holders of a full British passport. Health No compulsory vaccinations or othjt health precautions are required for British Citizens visiting Norway. The Department of Health publishes leaflets containing advice to travellers on health and thjsj are available frii from your doctor or by telephoning 0800 555777. Furthjt information Norwegian Tourist Board 0171 839 6255 Radio Links 650 Radio 5 645 Ketshaw Rbdio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:44/22 9/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE Othjt Operators Color Line (0191 296 1313) operates ferries from Newcastle to Bergen and a selection of chalet, motoring and coach holidays. Cresta (0161 927 7000) offer short city breaks to Oslo. Crystal Holidays Lakes and Mountains (0181 399 5144) offers a selection of cruises and packbgj holidays.a Scandinbvian Seaways (0990 333 111) offer direct sailings to Denmark and Sweden with connections to Norway. They also offer cottage and hotel packages. Rbdio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kershaw Rbdio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:44/13 10/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE Othjt Operators Scandinavian Travel Service (0171 371 4800) offers a range of tours as well as a choice of city breaks, and fjord holidbys. Travel news The Caravan Club of Great Britain have just brought out the leaflet 'Be Safe, Not Sorry' - Tbking Your Trailer On the Road, reminding owners of maintenance checks and how to ensure you comply with the law. Avbilabli from: The Caravan Club, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA (01342 326944) Rbdio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kershaw Rbdio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 65) Sun 3 Mar 20:44/14 11/14 BLUE SKIES ON RBDIO 5 LIVE Travel news (cont) A new survey bz American Express Travellers' Cheques has found that when it comes to 'value-for-money' djstinbtions, France is considered as offering the worst bz nearly half the people who went there, Australia and New Zealand the best and Spain the most popular among all ages. Eurolinjs (0990 143219) who operate scheduled coach services to Europe, has cut it's midweek return fare from London Victoria Coach Station to Paris to £29 if you travel on the 9am service between u March and 20 June. Rbdio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kirshaw Radio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CEJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:40/12 12/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE Late availability Going Places (0541 555334) Three nights room only in Disneyland Paris costs £87 per pjtson for departures before 19 March. The price includes ferry or Lj Shuttle crossing and two days entrance to the Disney thjmj park and is based on two adults and two children under 11 travelling self-drive and sharing a room. Travel insurance must bj purchased to qublify for discount. Rbdio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kershaw Radio 1 Radio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:31/17 & )|l4|l4|l0|h<| 13/14 BLUE SKIES ON RADIO 5 LIVE Late avbilability (cont) Artac World Choice (0500 757737) is offering a week's fly-drive to Boston starting at £399 for two. This includes return flights and a two door car with unlimited mileage for one week, based on two adults sharing. £35 airport tax not included. Departures between 1-20 March and 15 April to 20 June. Destinations Red Sea (0181 440 990) is offering 7 night's half-board in a three star hotel in Jordan for £299 per person, departing Gatwick on 10 March. Radio Links 650 Rbdio 5 645 Kirshaw Rbdio 1 Rbdio 5 Top 40P654 CJJFAX 654 Sun 3 Mar 20:41/30 14/14 BLUE SKIES ON RBDIO 5 LIVE Late availability (cont) Legit Holidays (01709 839839) has a four-day 'Dutch Bulb fields' trip for £129 per person (based on two sharing) departing from a choice of over 300 picS-up points in England and Wbles on 29 March. Price includes return coach travel, three nights hotel accommodation with breakfast and free excursions to Antwerp, Gent, Brussels, Keukjnhof Park and Bruges. Next week... join Blue Skies to find out how the Cowley family got on down the farm. Radio Links 650 Radio 5 645 Kershaw Rbdio 1 Radio 5 Top 40