Norway's Fjords

Scandinavia or the northern part of Europe is very scenic but is not very touristy as it is known more for its technology and business prowess. Very few desis would venture out to this beautiful region out of sheer ignorance. Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland - the four most coldest countries. We shall focus on Norway in this piece which is perhaps next to only Switzerland in its beauty.

If you are a budget traveller then you might be caught off guard with the prices in Norway and entire Scandinavia for that matter. Oslo is one of the most expensive cities of the world. Even by European standards, Norway is quite steep. Therefore, i would suggest that you get down to business straight away and set out to visit the Fjords, a landform which is peculiar to Norway. This country is more known for its "midnight sun" by desis but its  main attraction is fjords.

You can choose to have any of the tailor-made packages offered by Fjord Tours, which are essentially a combination of train, bus and cruise tours bundled into one. Depending on the time you want to spend you can choose one-day, three-day or week long tours. Bergen railway line is the most scenic one in the entire Scandinavia. One would be completely spell-bound by its beauty and the 8 hour train ride from Oslo to Bergen can turn out to be the best one ever. Brief stop-overs at Myrdal, Flam, Voss are worth every second.

Norway is a very sparsely populated country and has a very high quality of life which is true for entire Scandinavia. Oslo is also well-known for its pubs. Stockholm in Sweden is also a very popular destination with its old buildings and monuments.

Shopping in Europe

Something on every woman's mind while travelling is "retail therapy". Picking up souvenirs and local specialities is not uncommon. However, if you are on a budget you need to be very judicious about how you prioritize shopping.

There is no doubt that Europe is home to some exquisite designs in women's wear. If you simply want to check out the malls then cheapest brands like H&M are your best bet. However, if  you wish to go for branded and premium designer stuff then you may better watch your wallet.

On the street-side shops you will get lot of souvenirs and "I love" t-shirts which are mostly "Made in Bangladesh". Milan can be heaven for those having taste for good designs but you should have weight in your pocket as well. However, if you go for some unbranded stuff in some of the local shops in Italy you may land up with some good bargain. One such place is in the northern part of the Rome just outside the Vatican City. There are some shops on the approach road to Vatican City which carry some beautiful designs in coats, dresses, etc and that too for as low as 30 euros. Even Prague can be good place to pick up some stuff from the street-side artists.

Thumb rule: Haggle hard wherever  you go!!