Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2230
Sweden Finland what money? been & Pics to prove
Hi,
we are looking at a short break 4 day hol, dog sledging & northern lights trip
it is right on the border of Sweden and Finland, walk over a river bridge to swap country
The hotel is in Sweden and a "card" only payment
The question is
is it worth taking any Krona for Sweden or Euro for Finland or just pay everything on Card (local currency)
the details suggest everyone takes Card for even small purchases
as a few of you have Road Tripped up that way how do you pay for stuff
Last edited by riverblanche on 4th Mar 2020 1:04 pm. Edited 1 time in total
29th Jan 2020 9:20 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Was in Sweden last week with work, all card, cash was a rarity - I only saw one cash payment when I was there.
This was in Stockholm though, may be different in the sticks.Now Golf GTI PP, 7 speed DSG.
Ex D3 and D4
29th Jan 2020 9:34 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6772
In .fi I would be really surprised if someone didn’t accept a card. At a store, mini market or kiosk, I mean. All normal cards should be ok - Visa, MC, Amex.
In .se it should be similar. In an emergency you should be able to use the debit/credit card at an ATM to get currency.
Any hotel should certainly accept cards.
29th Jan 2020 9:37 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2230
Thanks for that
have got a good Card to use so will go with that and take a few Euros as a back up as have them anyway
Not going to get any Krona for Sweden then
Only going to allow swmbo a Coffee or Hot chocolate, No G&T's for her on this trip
Member Since: 06 Mar 2013
Location: Independent Republic of Kentishshire.
Posts: 4197
Sweden was excruciatingly expensive...so be prepared....
29th Jan 2020 10:12 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6772
If you’re going to be in Haparanda/Tornio - as it’s the only place I’m aware of that fits the given description - a lot of places on both sides of the border will accept both currencies.
So you might want to get rid of those euros in Sweden. No idea about the exchange rate, probably awful in the stores.
29th Jan 2020 10:13 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
riverblanche wrote:
Thanks for that
have got a good Card to use so will go with that and take a few Euros as a back up as have them anyway
Not going to get any Krona for Sweden then
Only going to allow swmbo a Coffee or Hot chocolate, No G&T's for her on this trip
Are you driving out there or flying?DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
29th Jan 2020 10:17 pm
darrind
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2908
Worth checking out foreign currency payment cards to make sure you get a decent exchange rate - can be a shock how much extra you pay with a regular card.Must stop buying shiny toys....
29th Jan 2020 10:20 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73134
Card, either Halifax Clarity or Starling. I don’t bother getting any SEK notes, and only have EURs as had them from travelling up. Everything I’ve had to pay for could be done on plastic, even 50p transactions for a couple of bread rolls.
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2230
Thanks all
we are flying from local airport (Doncaster) its a packaged holiday, full board in the hotel so no ££££ evening meals to buy and trips included, dog sledge, snowmobile, Reindeer trek and forest walk (walk )
I only mentioned to a friend that I wanted to see the Northern lights at some stage,
she is a travel agent and the next day this offer popped up, that good she is going as well
But I was not sure about any odds and ends spending, if we walk over to Finland 8) or into town for a coffee.
We have a Nationwide card with no transaction charge so that should work well
going to Karesuando in the Kiruna municipality
Just got to keep fingers crossed for the Aurora Borealis now.
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2908
Fingers crossed for a good lightshow - Ive always been a day late or its been overcast!
Stunning night sky in the wilds of Finland though no light pollution and can be crystal clear if you drop lucky the lights can be amazingMust stop buying shiny toys....
30th Jan 2020 2:11 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2230
we're back Aurora every night
Hi,
after a busy few days we are back and Happy to say an Aurora was visable every night, you still had to be lucky to go out at the right time though
If I get the pics in the right order aurora Thursday night, snowmobiles and aurora Friday night, dog sledding and aurora Saturday night (the brightest 1 that we missed )
Things did not look good regarding cash or card as the first place we went in on Friday lunch time was Karesuando's tourist information cafe and it said "Cash Only" bit of a bargain with 2x hot chocolate and a cake for 3 euros so we were fine, after that it was Card every time for everything
Want to fly from Doncaster again it was so easy, hotel clean and warm with decent food (full board) town looked great, couple of reindeer tied up in one garden, like you do, walking and snowmobiling on the frozen river cool, Dog sledding great but needed to be about 4 times longer on the sled and they had 126 dogs in their kennel we have only got 1
driving a Reindeer sled Sunday morning and having a takeaway at home by Sunday evening 8)
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2908
Nice!
Out of interest where did you fly into from Donny? I didnt realise there were any useful flights from there - it always seems to be tourist package holidays only from there when I look!
Cheers
Darrin
Must stop buying shiny toys....
4th Mar 2020 1:38 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
That looks like a great trip Ian. DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
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