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Original poster

Norway experts?

15 replies

aweebitlost · 09/01/2022 15:46

Hoping to ski in Norway for the first time this year (fingers crossed, restrictions allowing etc) and I would love some personal recommendations.

Our criteria are:

  • Decent beginners’ area for DS3
  • Fun tree runs/easy off piste for other DC
  • If possible (this is where I’m struggling a bit) some hard off piste for DH
  • Drivable from Oslo/Bergen/Stavanger

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
BeanMachine · 10/01/2022 13:10

I can recommend Trysil which fits all your criteria (if snow is good, but I guess that applies to pretty much anywhere!).

We went two years in a row when my DC were younger - DS was 3 the first time we went.

We had great ski-in/out facilities, perfect English spoken everywhere and everyone we came across was brilliant with the kids for lessons/kids club etc.

The first year we went, snow levels were good and there was pretty good off piste/black run availability (my DH is also v keen on this) and we got a lot of varied skiing in. 2nd time was not so good to be honest, but that was a case of just not enough snow, which can happen anywhere. Didn't spoil the holiday though.

We went Feb half term both times and it was busy, but nothing like the Alps/France can get at that time. Easy transfer from Oslo (and v short flight for us, coming from Scotland).

I'd definitely recommend with young children. Hope you get to go. We have our hopes set on Italy later this winter...

poshme · 10/01/2022 14:38

We also loved trysil.

Food and drink very expensive but lovely quiet slopes.

Original poster
aweebitlost · 10/01/2022 17:16

Thank you so much! That sounds ideal. Quiet is exactly what I’m after at the moment and it sounds like it should tick everyone else’s boxes too snow permitting.

Also coming from Scotland Smile I hope you get your Italy trip too BeanMachine.

OP posts:
BeanMachine · 12/01/2022 11:02

Agree with poshme on the expensive food and drink. We were advised to buy alcohol at the (huge!) duty free in Oslo airport before going through passport control, partly because you can only buy (stronger - over 5% or so, I think) alcohol in special shops and there wasn't one near where we were staying. Bars and restaurants were upwards of £10 for an alcoholic drink, which soon adds up even if it's just 1 per adult per day!

NobbyButtons · 20/01/2022 09:17

I've been to both Trysil and Hemsedal. Trysil is bigger - although you could still ski round the whole resort in 2-3 hours - and nearer to Oslo. Hemsedal is a bit prettier but smaller. We went in February half-term and it wasn't as quiet as I expected, with some relatively long queues for the lifts. However, the slopes themselves were relatively quiet and it was definitely less busy than the Alps. For young children I think Norway is good as everything is on a smaller scale. We also did husky-sledding which was brilliant fun.

Theonlyoneiknow · 02/03/2022 00:07

Hi, just jumping on as considering Norway for skiing this Easter and also Scotland based. I might be missing a trick flight wise, can I ask who you flew to Oslo with? They all seem to come up £££ think I missed the cheap wideroe ones! Thanks

Janet900 · 15/03/2022 18:57

Flights prices were ok when we booked for Easter hols. It was the transfers which were super pricey!!! We went with a package holiday in the end

LongTermLurker · 27/12/2023 12:36

@NobbyButtons we're planning our holiday to trysil just now, and I'm wondering which husky sledding option you went for?

rookiemere · 02/01/2024 11:12

@BeanMachine or indeed anyone else with experience- where did you stay at Trysil please?
It looks imminently doable for a long weekend, but the Radisson Blu - which the bus stops at - is booked up most weekends, so are there any other hotels within walking or taxi distance of bus station please?

BeanMachine · 02/01/2024 11:34

We stayed at the Radisson Blu both times we went, so afraid I'm no use for alternatives. Hope someone else has some ideas.

Original poster
aweebitlost · 04/01/2024 20:00

Hello, on the back of this thread we went to Trysil and had a brilliant time. There are lots of apartments within walking distance of the Radisson Blu, I think the easiest way to look would be on the ski star website. Make sure you are looking at places on the turistsenter side of the mountain. Good luck! We loved it.

OP posts:
rookiemere · 04/01/2024 21:09

aweebitlost · 04/01/2024 20:00

Hello, on the back of this thread we went to Trysil and had a brilliant time. There are lots of apartments within walking distance of the Radisson Blu, I think the easiest way to look would be on the ski star website. Make sure you are looking at places on the turistsenter side of the mountain. Good luck! We loved it.

Thank you Smile

UnleashTheBaby · 05/01/2024 13:34

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn for privacy concerns

Original poster
aweebitlost · 05/01/2024 21:12

@UnleashTheBaby Sure go ahead!

OP posts:
IndecisionsIndecisions · 05/02/2024 13:31

We loved Trysil - stayed in the Radisson Blu, which was fun for kids who had never stayed in a hotel before, always self catering. Friends stayed up the mountain closer to the slopes (you have to get a bus from the hotel) and on balance I think we would have preferred that, but the Radisson was fun as a one off. It is COLD. Something to think about with the real tinies I think. Our balaclavas all iced up every day and that is at Easter! That is where staying in the hotel and having a pool comes into its own if the smaller ones get too cold and want to come home mid afternoon. But loved the heated mountain huts where you could have your lunchtime picnic (or even cook!). There isn't much sitting around in deckchairs soaking up the sun - or there wasn't when we went in late March. We also loved the hutte where you could go for waffles and hot chocolate mid morning or afternoon, it was like skiing through Narnia to a little clearing. One of the lifts, a t bar, was pretty scary with a five year old, as if you fall off it the only way down is a black run if I remember correctly - it was quite painful having the t in the back of your knees while trying to hold a toddler upright with their skis waving all over the place! Snow was amazing, some of the best I have ever skied on. Husband needed more runs, but the rest of us (intermediate) were fine. There are some slightly nerve wracking icy narrow passages through trees, but also lots of lovely open pistes at the top. Most of the instructors were Swedish and absolutely brilliant with kids, so much nicer than most of the French or Swiss instructors (trying not to generalise) but make sure you have a group with other English speaking kids.
The booze is expensive, so we took out a wine bag on the advice of our friends who were self catering ... and then never used it. It isn't the Folie Douce type holiday and it was easy to justify buying one beer at the bar and then perhaps a glass of wine with hotel supper, but we didn't drink nearly as much as we usually do, which was surprisingly doable! Just a different sort of ski holiday...
Overall it was a great holiday - we haven't repeated it, but I wouldn't rule it out, especially for late season snow.

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