CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR... THE ICE BEARS SHALL WAIT.....

NO SVALBARD FOR NOW... But the dream of the great northern adventure lives on and there is hope...

Below is my correspondence with the SVALBARD TOURISM DEPARTMENT earlier this week...

Everything you need to know can be found below...

So who's up for SVALBARD?

Hello Leover

The easiest way to get to Svalbard is by plane. Most of the year, there are daily flights from Oslo Gardermoen directly to Longyearbyen or through Tromsø by ‘SAS Norway’ and Norwegian. For prices and booking, please see their websites http://www.sas.no/ or http://www.norwegian.no/.

There are three different guesthouses in Longyearbyen. See the following list for accommodation:

GUESTHOUSES

Gjestehuset 102 http://www.wildlife.no/

Phone +47 79 02 57 16 / E-mail 102@wildlife.no

Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg http://www.polarriggen.com/

Phone +47 79 02 37 02 / E-mail post@polarriggen.com

Spitsbergen Guesthouse (mars – september) http://www.spitsbergentravel.no/

Phone +47 79 02 63 00 / E-mail spitsbergen.guesthouse@spitsbergentravel.no

HOTELS

Basecamp Spitsbergen http://www.basecampexplorer.com/

Phone +47 79 02 46 00 / E-mail bookingsvalbard@basecampexplorer.com

Spitsbergen Hotel http://www.spitsbergentravel.no/

Phone +47 79 02 62 00 / E-mail spitsbergen.hotel@spitsbergentravel.no

Radisson SAS Polar Hotel http://www.spitsbergentravel.no/

Phone +47 79 02 34 50 / E-mail sales.longyearbyen@radissonsas.com

APPARTMENTS

Svalbard Snøscooterutleie http://www.scooterutleie.svalbard.no/

Phone +47 79 02 46 60 / E-mail post@scooterutleie.net

Poli Arctici – phone 79 02 17 05 / stefano@poliarctici.com / http://www.poliarctici.com/

HUT

Arctic Adventures http://www.arctic-adventures.no/

Phone +47 79 02 16 24 / E-mail info@arctic-adventures.no

CAMPING

Longyearbyen Camping (June – September) http://www.longyearbyen-camping.com/

Phone +47 79 02 10 68 / E-mail mail@longyearbyen-camping.com

You do not need a weapon in the settlements. For all guided hikes, boattrips and other organized activites you don`t need any weapon. Weapon is only required if you plan to go on any hikes by yourself. Due to the polar bear danger it is not recommended to go outside the settlements without weapon and knowledge of how to use it. To rent a rifle, most of the letters will ask for weapon license.

In Longyearbyen you can rent a rifle through:

Arctica: Tel. 79 02 25 40 Fax 79 02 37 40

Ing. G. Paulsen: Tel. 79 02 32 00 Fax 79 02 18 10

Svalbard Arctic Sport: Tel. 79 02 32 90 Fax 79 02 32 95

Svalbard Reiser: Tel. 79 02 56 50 Fax 79 02 56 51

Svalbard Snøscooterutleie: Tel. 79 02 16 66 Fax 79 02 17 71

Flare guns can be rented through:

Ing. G. Paulsen: Tel. 79 02 32 00 Fax 79 02 18 10

Svalbard Snøscooterutleie: Tel. 79 02 16 66 Fax 79 02 17 71

Welcome to Svalbard!

Regards,

Pernille

Svalbard Tourism

_________________________________

Svalbard Reiseliv AS * Svalbard Tourism

Postboks 323

N-9171 Longyearbyen

Tlf +47 79 02 55 50

Faks +47 79 02 55 51

E-post: info@svalbard.net

Internett: www.svalbard.net

Dagsturaktiviteter kan bestillles på www.svalbard.net

Daytrips are bookable on www.svalbard.net

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Leover Polestico [mailto:info@svalbard.net]
Sendt: 7. juli 2008 16:56
Til: info@svalbard.net
Emne: Contact form from web site

Name: Leover Polestico

contactemail: polestico_leover@hotmail.com

Message: hello,

Please help us, we have read so much about your beautiful place in the world and would dearly love to visit. We are from Australia and have managed to make it all the way here to Copenhagen and now would love to spend 10 days in Svalbard.

I have some questions I would like some help with, if you dont mind.

How can we get to Svalbard from Oslo? Also what would be the cheapest way to get to Svalbard?

WHat kind of accomodation is available, are there hostels?

Will I have to hire a gun at the airport?

Your help would be greatly appreaciated.

Cheers mate

Leover Polestico