We just got back from Norway and thought I would share our thoughts on places we stayed, places we ate and things we did. Prices are all in US dollars.
Hotels:
Oslo--Thon Hotel Astoria. We stayed here our first night and then our last two nights. Location is great, the rooms we had were small but we knew that. No noise, even considering the hotel was under construction. We paid $351 for the last two nights total, and then $173 for our first night at the start go the trip. Breakfast was included both times, and it was quite extensive. Booked directly with Thon.
Stavanger--Booked Home Again Apartments Kirkegata through booking.com and paid $679 for three nights. Host was great with communication. Location was great, apartment was exactly as described and it had a washer/dryer which was a bonus.
Bergen--Thon Bristol Hotel for two nights, booked directly with Thon. Cost was $451 for the two nights, plus two lunches to go. Location was ideal and there was a great coffee shop directly across the street. Breakfast was the same as the Thon Hotel Astoria.
We used Porter Service to have our carryon bags transferred from Bergen to Oslo the day we did Norway in a Nutshell so that we did not have to deal with our bags. The cost was $70 for two bags. We had to have the bags at the front desk by 6:30am and we filled out the luggage tag information and laminated those at home before we left. Our bags were at the next hotel before we arrived.
Restaurants:
Oslo--Fiskereit Youngstorget was recommended by the hotel and we had one dinner and one lunch there. We had the fish soup both times as it was so good! Two soups and two cocktails was $81. This was the best fish soup of the trip.
Stavanger--Fisketorget was recommended by a local and we had one dinner and one lunch there. Dinner was fish soups again, with cocktails and a shared dessert. Cost was $110. This was a very close second for the fish soup. Our lunch there was two catch of the days, plus two glasses of wine, and the cost was $94.
Stavanger--SOL. This was a 6 course tasting menu. My daughter enjoyed it much more than I did. The food was fine, but I felt the service was lacking and it just left me feeling "meh". Cost was $194 for our meals and a total of 3 glasses of wine.
Stavanger--Flor & Fjære. This was an excursion to a nearby island for a garden tour (so good!!!), a three course dinner, and then free roaming of the gardens. This was such a highlights! The cost was $357 for two people, and drinks were extra. The menu was set. They did bring a charcuterie plate first, then fish soup (our least favorite of the fish soups on this trip), halibut and vegetables, and dessert was rhubarb pie with ice cream and raspberry sorbet. Service was excellent and the Jungle House where the restaurant was just beautiful. Their website does not do it justice at all.
Stavanger--Fjord Events Forr a rib safari ride in Lysefjord. $266 for the two of us. This was a lot of fun! They provide the warm suits and life vests as well as goggles for when it rains. Going that fast in the rain means it feels like ice pellets to the face, so the goggles were much appreciated.
Stavanger--We booked a kayak trip through Fjord Tours, who contract out to Nordic Paddling. We spent 3 hours on the water actively kayaking in Lyseford. We were picked up at the tourist information center in Stavanger and then driven to the paddling company. We suited up and walked down to the water to the kayaks and were off on our adventure. We lucked out with the weather! Highly recommend!!! $224 for the two of us.