Svalbard - Any tips?

[AWG]

As above, looking to head there for 4 days next year as part of a Norway tour.

Any tips on time of year/where to stay/things to see?

We are interested in the hiking and boat trips.

Any information of your past experiences would be great!

Andy

[LimaDelta]

Yes - don't go ashore in shorts and flip flops for a bet. And don't confuse the strawberry jam they put on the tables for tomato sauce. It doesn't go well with chips.


Also watch out for bears.

[M888SXY]

Don't go in the winter. Apart from the cold it will be dark all the time!

[otolith]

LimaDelta said:

Also watch out for bears.

And cliff ghasts

[AWG]

Some amazing advice there, where did you stay?!!

[LimaDelta]

Me? Just Ny Alesund as I was passing. As you do when your 79deg N. Nice place. Don't remember there being a huge choice of accommodation though.

[Amateurish]

Dont forget your gun

[sneijder]

There's an abandoned Russian town not far away that you can take a 'day' trip to IIRC.

Focus on layers, not one thick warm layer.

Have a go at cross country skiing if you get the chance, it's as easy as walking.

[AWG]

sneijder said:

There's an abandoned Russian town not far away that you can take a 'day' trip to IIRC.

Focus on layers, not one thick warm layer.

Have a go at cross country skiing if you get the chance, it's as easy as walking.

Looks reasonably priced! Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Don't tell the Norwegians it's not Norway and they are just administrating it for the UN. My kids have duel nationality British Norwegian and if there is one thing tat p**s off Norwegians its being told the aforementioned.

[sneijder]

Berw said:

Don't tell the Norwegians it's not Norway and they are just administrating it for the UN. My kids have duel nationality British Norwegian and if there is one thing tat p**s off Norwegians its being told the aforementioned.

Were they born Norwegian ? I'm wondering if it's worth having my daughter British too, is there any advantage ?

[RobM77]

Look out for the Northen Lights; Svalbard is pretty much bang on the latitude with the highest chance of seeing them.

[Amateurish]

Berw said:

Don't tell the Norwegians it's not Norway and they are just administrating it for the UN. My kids have duel nationality British Norwegian and if there is one thing tat p**s off Norwegians its being told the aforementioned.

That's not right:

CIA Factbook: "Country name: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen)

Dependency status:
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway"

[AWG]

From what I read there are a lot of Russians residing there?

[anonymous-user]

Snider, yes my kids were born in Norway, and have duel nationality, easy to get just register at btit embassy, the Norwegians don't like it but can not stop it, they tend not to call duel nationals for national service, nothing official but I've never known them to do it,

Ok I was wrong no one ever checked before when I said it was only administered but why can't they kick the Russians out? Because they have tried enough times.

[sneijder]

Hmm, the National service thing might swing it....I had a meeting with the Embassy once and it came up in conversation, they were offering to do it .. Must be on commission

[anonymous-user]

Pm me if you think I can help, my kids were born there, lived in UK a while, then educated in Norway, and got all the advantages of no unit fees, grants etc, but still have British passports.