The internet has become the go-to for information when planning a trip!
Having lived and worked in Norway for over 20 years has given me unique insight into Norwegians and their traits. They are many things but above all else, they are narcissistic, greedy and cheap; these traits are ever apparent in all they do. The field of tourism is no exception and of course, this includes information services as well.
If you are looking for credible information for a pending visit to Norway, here are some thoughts?
Let’s start with Norway’s main tourist information websites – Visit Norway sites visitnorway.com is Norway’s main tourist information site, yet it does not represent or list all tourism companies in Norway. It only lists companies who pay an expensive destination membership fee and/or those who pay for outrageously expensive adds. Any company can pay a destination membership fee, there are no quality, certification, operational standards, nor reliability or track record requirements to be a member, only money! What do you get for your membership fee: an imprecise listing on poor quality websites and an incorrect mention in an illegible local guide pamphlet.
Let’s get local – tourist offices, well they are partially government-funded which means they always need money; they are staffed with non-qualified personal where nepotism plays a huge role. All companies what some exposure through the local tourist office must pay an unreasonably high membership fee. So, if you only want the local bus or ferry schedule they are ok, however, if you want more insightful information go elsewhere. Why, because they are so hungry for money that they will only give you information on paying members or they will try to pressure you to buy products in which they receive financial percentages from member companies. Therefore, don’t blindly trust Norway’s official information channels, also, don’t use them as your only source, as several of Norway’s best tour companies, hotels, and restaurants have grown tired of paying exorbitant rates and are therefore not listed on visit Norway sites!
Online Searches – when doing an online search be careful and don’t just click on company adds, as Norwegians have found that for a relativity cheap price they can pay of an add which lists them first on a search page and in this way fool people into going to their website and potentially buying without checking for better options. We have rescued many frustrated customers from this mistake and then provided them with the trip they had thought they were purchasing.
Web platforms – in Norway it is very important to book directly with an operator, as Norway is a very small country with a limited number of tourists, so companies that sell their trips through other platforms really can’t sell their own products. Norway, one of the world’s most expensive countries to operate in; any booking fees paid out will directly affect the bottom line which in turn potentially affects the quality of its products. Take for example the English web platform, muchbetteradventures.com good luck with the companies they use as subcontractors.
Therefore, it is our policy that you can only book your Kayak More Tomorrow adventure throughout own website.
Our best advice is to do a very thorough search and double-check all information carefully.
