Monday, March 5, 2012

Some leisure travel maybe Germany, Denmark, the Baltics

If you want some information on travel in Copenhagen, Denmark and Berlin, Germany follow my other blog. I have some useful info and if you'd like some more in depth suggestions and advice you can always email me.

I also have a lot of good information if you're interested in visiting Lithuania so please read this and let em know if you want anything else.

Traveling the EU and abroad!

So you've probably already heard of the famous airline Ryanair.
If not, then time to become its best friend. This is by far the cheapest airline with the most flights around Europe, but it's a gamble and there are also some minor inconveniences with this budget airline.
You are only allowed one bag--here's Ryanair policy

"strictly one item of cabin baggage per passenger (excluding infants) weighing up to 10kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm is permitted. (handbag, briefcase, laptop, shop purchases, camera etc.) must be carried in your 1 permitted piece of cabin baggage.
Extra/oversized cabin baggage will be refused at the boarding gate, or where available, placed in the hold of the aircraft for a fee of £60/€60. If you are unsure, check at the Bag Drop desk before going through security."

So make sure you are not carrying too much wait and either way you should be making short trips and trust me, packing really light makes life so much simpler.

The best Airport to fly from within Sweden in reference to Jönköping is Gothenburg City Airport (GSE). The one in Stockholm is much farther away and will cost you a lot in transportation.

The best way to get to the airport GSE is to take Swebus.se to the Nils Ericson Terminalen in Gothenburg (this and the GOT Gothenburg Ladvetter Airport are the only stops in Gothenburg). from there you will need to take a 30 min bus to the GSE Airport through flygbussarna.se

I would try and book as many trips as possible as early as possible to the best of your ability knowing your schedule, but don't neglect school all too much.

Other cheap airlines within EU are:
Wizzair.com (probably the next best)
airberlin.com
easyjet.com
norwegian.com

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Working out in Sweden

I was hoping much like at my University of Central Florida, to have free access to a decent gym. NOPE!

Here, if you want to continue going to the gym you'll have to pay for a gym membership.

I recommend for you to go to Friskis & Svettis. This is where most students go to and is one of the most economical.

I don't remember the exact prices, but one month costs you around $50 (if you pay one month individually), but the first time you pay you'll pay an initiation member fee of around $10. If you are planning on really going to the gym frequently, it might be in your interest to just pay a 6 month membership from the beginning and it will be cheaper than paying each month individually.
Also, I would try right away to ask around the other international students to see if someone who is going back home is selling their membership or maybe even giving it away.
Facebook is a great tool for this, so join the Jonkoping International Association group right away.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

A taste of Sweden...grocery shopping, restaurants, shoppingg

I've been in Sweden for 2 months now and have only eaten out maybe two times. I like to keep a tight budget and especially in Sweden it is easy to rack up the $ out of your accounts and I'd rather save money for traveling so I don't have too many recommendations on restaurants.

PLACES TO EAT:
There is a great fast food joint on a main street "Klostergatan" called Evergreen (this is the name of the place) and it can be found on the corner next to the church Sofiakyrkan which is also a bus stop for lines 1 and 3 (red and green respectively).
Other fancier more expensive restaurants are mainly located in the city center (pretty small). Everything is pretty much in one place and if you go to Juneporten (the main bus stop), the movie theater, bus transport office, restaurants, and System Bolaget (the only liquour store) can all be found here.

GROCERY SHOPPING:
Here is a list of all the super markets there are in Jönköping-
--Nietto
--Ica (there is also one Maxi Ica which is the biggest in the town)
--Willy:s
-- and Hemköp

The cheapest one usually is going to be Willy:s
I would recommend doing most of you shopping here, and especially if you'll live in Råslatt it'll be most convenient since you'll have one right near by. However, I have found some cheaper items at the ICA Maxi, but in general Willy:s will have the most competitive prices and it's still good quality produce.

HOW TO GROCERY SHOP
Shopping for food can be pretty self explanatory since most things you can make out what they are by how they look like, but here are a few things I needed help on:

Is this ham or turkey?
I didn't find out which one was which until a month after. Kalkon is turkey and Skinka is ham.

Laundry Detergent?
Most people buy here powdered detergent, which for us in the US, is new and strange.
I would recommend to get started get a box of Tvättmedel Color (can be used for both colors an whites) and also buy some Sköljmedel which is like a softener.

Other than that I think you should be well off with no problems.

Here is also map that might help in locating some things to get you acquainted just at the beginning