Finland - anyone from there/been there?

[maranellouk]

Got to go this week. Unless I am mistaken they speak Flemish. I speak a few languages but unfortunately Flemish isn't one of them. Will this hinder my progress in getting around?

Also, who is the best airline to fly there with?

Ta

MARA

[MrsRotty]

Think you's a bit confuddled - it's Finnish in Finlnd, Flemish in Belgium(?)

[darrent]

Been a few times - not sure about the Flemish - everyone I met spoke Finish and very good English.

Try www.finnair.com

[maranellouk]

mistaken indeed then

[Einion Yrth]

Mostly Finnish, but there is a significant minority of native Swedish speakers. Doubt you'll have much trouble though, nobody but the Finns speaks Finnish, so I suspect that English speakers will be fairly widespread.

[MrsRotty]

MrRotty has been to Finland on business a few times - he says if you speak Finnish, Swedish or Russian you should be okay. He assumed that English would be quite widely spoken, but it wasn't as widespread as expected.

Ali

[alexkp]

I have been a couple of times. Lovely people. Almost all speak excellent English.

Visit the Rock Church in Helsinki and The Monument to Sybalius.

[jonna]

No Flemish here I'm afraid, it's Finnish People do speak English here don't worry. Russian you can forget am afraid.

Airlane?? Go check the prizes from www.ebookers.com. Surely you will find something. Anything else you want to know?

+27 c here at the moment!!!!!

>> Edited by jonna on Monday 13th June 15:08

[apache]

I know Salo, Turku, Padesjoki and Helsinki which is great for a night out. The rest of the country seems to consist of loads of lakes held together by trees, thousands and thousands of em. When and where are ya going?

[vixpy1]

apache said:

I know Salo, Turku, Padesjoki and Helsinki which is great for a night out.

Ah, one world champions and three that never made it.

[M@H]

I've been to Helsinki for a few days on business.. Perfect english spoken, albeit with an odd sense of sadness in the tone.

Cheers,
Matt

[maranellouk]

jonna said:

No Flemish here I'm afraid, it's Finnish People do speak English here don't worry. Russian you can forget am afraid. Airlane?? Go check the prizes from www.ebookers.com. Surely you will find something. Anything else you want to know? +27 c here at the moment!!!!! >> Edited by jonna on Monday 13th June 15:08

Thanks for the info. Temp sounds wonderful.

Er, let's see. Any info on Lappeenranta? I have to spend 2 days there.

[apache]

I always flew Finnair which was nice, they have cameras mounted on the nose and underneath of the aircraft which let you watch take off and landing

[Fatboy]

Why not try a holiday in Finland this year?

See the wonderful telephone system and the majestic moose...

[dern]

Some years ago I presented a training course at Nokia for a week and stayed in Helsinki and had no problems just speaking English.

Mark

[jonna]

Lappeenranta is lovely little city nearby water, I'm quite sure you like it...here is a link for you where you can check things out.

www.lappeenranta.fi/matkailu/eng/index.html

[jonna]

apache said:

I always flew Finnair which was nice, they have cameras mounted on the nose and underneath of the aircraft which let you watch take off and landing

Yeah that's true, Airbus has it. Fun to watch the take off and landing.

[maranellouk]

Thanks again for the info and link.

And people ask why we come to PH. Only here can you get your PH car fix and get information on absolutely everything.

[off_again]

Hey, I am in Finland this week - was here last week too. Flying back to the UK on sat....

Where do I start? English is extensively spoken by Finns so no real need to learn the language. Almost everywhere takes credit cards, but if you need cash then look for an "Otto" which is an ATM which can do the normal Maestro stuff. Just like everywhere else, info in English too...

Mobiles, strangely, are used extensively. You can get an excellent signal almost everywhere (you would be suprised as to how good the coverage is!) and EVERYONE has one. Finns are also quite conservative in nature, its not that they arent interested or not friendly. Its just that its the culture.....

Beer is expensive though consistent quality. Government runs the alcohol import service and shops, but it has an excellent selection and a pretty good price (we could learn a lot from this - especially places like flippin' Threshers!).

Its very nearly official summer here and its quie warm. Not hot, but since it stays light until about 11:00PM it can get quite humid and at the moment it is about 18 degrees. Mornings are great and crisp, but watch out if you are out on the beer - the normal ques for easing up at night-fall arent there and you can find that you are still drinking well into the next day! Done this too many times. Oh, and it never really gets dark at the moment too - so if you need it to be dark then get some night google stuff.....

Helsinki is very nice and typical of any Euro city. Lots to do and see and plenty of history. Good food and entertainment but some, just like everywhere else, trade on image rather than quality and are overpriced. If you can, ask a local on where to go. Things can be quite costly here, but in general its not daylight robbery....

I flew out with BA and its really quite cost effective. One-way for £89 before taxes! Did it online and then used BA Holidays to book the hotel - which I got cheaper than the deal that the company I work for managed! I am in an SAS Radisson hotel (4 star) for less than £70 a night.... including breakfast... not bad eh?

Anyway, anything else you need to know?

[Zod]

Fatboy said:

Why not try a holiday in Finland this year? See the wonderful telephone system and the majestic moose...

Poor Finland: sadly neglected
And often ignored,
A poor second to Belgium,
When going abroad.