Europe

Insurance

 

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling and, if appropriate, that this includes cover for winter sports.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see Travel Insurance.

 

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Money

 

Norway is very expensive - bring or have electronic access to plenty of money, especially if you intend to eat and drink in restaurants and bars. Bank opening hours are more restrictive than in the UK - especially in summer, though cashpoints are widely available. Most Norwegian cashpoints accept Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus cards issued by British banks. You should be aware that credit cards are generally not as well accepted as a means of payment in Norwegian supermarkets and petrol stations as they are in the UK - but this situation is improving all the time. You can send money electronically to Norway via Forex, which has five offices in Oslo.  Details of its opening hours and addresses can be found here.  Money can also be sent visa Western Union, which has offices in Oslo and Bergen.  

 

Visiting in Summer

 

If you intend to visit forest, lake and mountainous regions you should bring plenty of insect repellent as mosquitoes and midges can be a problem.  Fire bans (ie no campfires) are strictly enforced in many areas during the summer months.  If you plan to go off the beaten track or out to sea, you should seek local advice about weather conditions and have suitable specialist equipment.  Because of Norway’s northerly latitude the weather can change rapidly, producing Arctic conditions even in summer on exposed mountain tops. 

 

Visiting in Winter

 

The winter is long (it can last well into April) and temperatures can drop to minus 25 degrees C and below.  There is also wind chill factor to take into account, particularly in unsheltered areas (i.e. mountain ranges).  Weather conditions can deteriorate quickly.

 

You should bring warm clothes and practical footwear to cope with icy roads and pavements.  Special clamp-on grips (brodder) to give extra security in icy conditions can be bought locally.  If you are taking part in skiing, hiking or other off road activities correct equipment should be used.  Advice on equipment and weather conditions can be found at local information centres, which in smaller areas tend to be connected with rental shops where you can hire skiing equipment.  Alternatively, hotels or accommodation providers will also be able to advise on local weather conditions and equipment for specific activities.