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Solo Sweden: Lessons learned

First I'd like to say this was the most amazing trip I have ever taken. So much that happened was serendipitous.

Here are some lessons learned from this trip.
-Pack light, of course, but check your luggage. Don't be one of those people who can't let go of their possessions. If there is someone else who can handle your luggage, let them. It is freedom. Just keep your meds, documents, and electrical requirements with you in transit…that's really all you need to continue on.
-Doorstops: I've brought a little doorstop wedge with me when alone or traveling with my daughter when she was young. I have never found a door with which they worked. Chucking it, finally.
-Taxis are your friends. Use them. If you use more than two public transport vehicles in one day, or have one long flight, end with a taxi. Relax.
-Phone: I was waffling with this even 4 days into my vacation. I finally bought one on a rainy day, and if I hadn't all the people I met who made the vacation super special, would not have been able to follow up with me.
-Chip and Signature card. In Sweden, at least, is to die for. It was wonderful! I had to force myself to use up what little cash I'd brought with me. I never went to an ATM. The chip and signature card worked everywhere: ticket kiosks, trains, taxis, stores, restaurants, etc. I did not have one problem using it. I had one slow moment, but then the shop manager came along, and pushed a button. He said the only reason one would have a problem with a chip and signature card is if the retailer didn't know how to use their machine. Usually, you don't need to over-ride it, but if they have a lousy machine, they must push a button to get the signature receipt. The vendors prefer using the chip cards vs cash.
-Bring paper backup: I had a brief crash of my device, but I had no worries due to my paper backup. (And there was an Apple store a couple of blocks away who fixed the issue.)
-Chuck the overnight flights…if you live on the east coast. I'm reverting to my day flight on BA, Boston to London, will sleep at an Heathrow airport hotel, and then will fly to my destination the next morning. I hate overnight flights. I like my sleep. As I am retired, I can do this because time is not an issue.
-People will go out of their way to be friendly if you let them.
-Who said Sweden was expensive? I thought prices were extremely reasonable.
So that's it, really. Hey da!

Posted by
4137 posts

Your post left me with a big smile , too bad more travelers don't get it !

Posted by
985 posts

Great advice! It sounds like you had a fabulous trip!

Posted by
13800 posts

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! Did you get to the place you wanted to go that was going to be difficult to get to?

Posted by
14481 posts

I had no problems with the chip and signature credit card in Paris and Germany. Once the card was inserted into the machine in Paris, I said to the hostess (if it should appear slow to her): ça va marcher. No problems.

Posted by
3200 posts

@Pam, Yes, I did. I hired a cab. She, the driver, turned the meter off when we got to the area. We walked together through the arboretum to where the sawmill was, checked out the old village, and on the way back she stopped at a 12th church she thought I'd want to see as my relatives would have gone there. She translated all the Swedish information and kept saying "I wish I had studied". She had as good a time as I did. It was like traveling with a friend, except for mileage, LOL. I did give her a tip which would cover the extensive down time on the cab she ended up having. Her office kept calling, I think in an effort to give her an out if she wanted one, which she didn't. At the end, she got out of the cab and gave me a big hug, so I think she did have as good a time as I did!

In the end it ended up that I had strangers voluntarily spend hours and hours with me giving me information and showing me around (with no taxi cost). I not only located my ancestors' hamlets, farms, and homes, but I went into three of them. I ate reindeer, and mushrooms picked from the forest in an old Swedish farmhouse overlooking meadows of wild flowers and a lake still as glass.

I don't think the serendipity would have occurred had I not gone solo.