Once we got off the plane in Longyearbyen we gathered our luggage from the single baggage claim, and followed the crowd outside where two large buses were waiting. We figured we were supposed to follow everyone else onto a bus of our choosing, even though we weren't exactly sure where either of them was going to end up. We quickly learned that anytime a flight arrives at the small airport, buses meet the passengers to take them into town, stopping at every hotel in town, along with a few stops for locals. The simple process almost seemed too good to be true, but my weary traveling mind appreciated the ease.
Our stop was the very last. Our Hostel was located at the very far end of town near the glacier where we were told there were plant fossils. After dropping our bags off and in desperate need of a proper meal we immediately searched out food. Thankfully, the hotel right across the road had a restaurant. The Coal Miners Cabin, appropriately named, had housed miners during the 1950s coal boom. They had a simple menu of burgers and different potato side dishes. We happily munched our burgers by candlelight in our socks (we quickly learned that it was customary to remove shoes when entering buildings in Longyearbyen) and watched Olympic handball while trying to figure out the rules of the unfamiliar sport.
By the time we finished our meal and returned to our room it was nearly 11pm. We were delighted and in awe that it was still incredibly light outside. This was my fist time experiencing the midnight sun. The combination of jet lag, light coming through the windows, a very loud Finnish man, and the excitement of arriving in the Longyearbyen made for a poor nights sleep. But Haley and I awoke the next morning excited to embark on our ship, finally unpack our things, and see Svalbard!
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner