Northern Europe: Route through Lapland, North Cape and Lofoten Islands, tailor-made by car

Important remarks

- Driving in Finland: 1. It is compulsory to drive vehicles with headlights on at all times, even on the brightest summer's day. 2. Road speed ​​limits. 2. 1 Residential areas up to 30 km/h. 2. 2 Urban areas up to 50 km/h. 2. 3 Single carriageways up to 80 km/h. 2. 4 Dual carriageways (highways) and motorways up to 120 km/h. 2. 5 In winter, the general speed limit is reduced to 80 km/h. 3. In the winter months, winter tyres with or without spikes, chains or similar should be used. 4. A red warning triangle and a reflective yellow vest must always be carried in the car in the event of breakdown or accident. 5. Alcohol consumption. The legal limit is 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. There are severe penalties for drivers that exceed the allowed limit. 6. There are few toll booths in Finland, almost all are automatic. All drivers, regardless of nationality, have to pay at Finnish toll booths. 7. After filling up with fuel, Finns move their cars to the side before going into the petrol station to pay.

- Triple rooms in Europe are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.

- Driving in Norway: 1.Cars drive on the right-hand side and trams must be overtaken on the right. 2.Motorists must use low-beam headlights both day and night. 3.The allowed blood alcohol level is the strictest in Europe - just 0.2 mg/ml. Fines are very high and must be paid on the spot. 4.The speed limits are as follows: in built-up areas 50 km/h; on country roads 80 km/h; and on motorways 110 km/h. 5.Petrol stations are normally open from 6.00 am to 7.00 pm. 6.Parking is not allowed on main streets. This is why there are many municipal parking areas. Parking zones have different colours. You can park for one hour in yellow zones; two hours in grey zones; and three hours in brown zones. 7.Norway has a people-oriented road culture, where pedestrians and cyclists have priority.Pedestrians expect you to slow down or stop when they're crossing the road and cyclists don't always follow traffic rules. Please keep the most unprotected travellers in mind when driving on Norwegian roads. 8.Roads are mostly toll roads. You can pay for tolls either manually or with the AutoPASS, whereby automatic payment is taken once you've registered your car and your credit card on the website https://www.autopass.no/en/visitors-payment. We strongly recommend the AutoPASS. A fixed amount is withheld that will be discounted as you go through a toll and press the AutoPASS button (any surplus will be returned to you eighty-five days later). You can activate it up to three days after having passed through your first toll booth. If you opt for manual payment, you can pay for the tolls you've already passed through at petrol stations. You'll know at which petrol stations you can pay when you see a sign that says 'Kr-service' (usually Esso petrol stations).

- Driving in Sweden: 1. It is mandatory for vehicles to drive with headlights on at all times, even on the brightest day of summer. 2. Speed limits on the road. 2.1 Residential areas up to 30 km / h. 2.2 Urban centers up to 50 km / h. 2.3 Roads up to 70 km / h. 2.4 Dual carriageway (highways) and motorways up to 110 km / h. 3. Winter tyres with or without spikes, chains or similar must be used between 1 December and 1 April. 4. You have to carry in the car a red warning triangle and a reflective yellow vest to use in case of breakdown or accident. For emergency repairs you must call the Assistancekåren service. The toll-free number in Sweden is +46 20 912 912. 5. Alcohol consumption. The legal limit is 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. There are severe penalties for drivers that exceed the allowed limit. 6. There are few tolls in Sweden, almost all are automatic. All drivers, regardless of nationality, have to pay at the Swedish tolls.

- The proposed excursions and tours for each day are purely suggestions, as you can tailor the trip to suit your times, tastes and needs.

- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.

- Hotels usually have cots available. Otherwise, babies will have to share a bed with an adult.

- To pick up your rental car, you'll need a credit (not debit) card in the name of the person who made the booking, who must also be the named driver of the vehicle.

- We recommend you purchase the necessary ferry tickets in advance while purchasing your self-drive tour, since ferry tickets are not included in the trip and, depending on the time of year, your vehicle and your ship or ferry preferences, the dates and duration of your ferry trip will vary. It is essential that you consult schedules and rates on the shipping companies' websites before selecting the start date of your trip, in order to be able to plan your trip more accurately. Check the website of the company Bjørklid Ferjerederi for the routes Olderdalen-Lyngseidet and Svensby-Breivikeidet (http://www.bjorklid.no); and the website of the company Torghattennord for the route Gryllefjord-Andenes (http://www.torghattennord.no). The latter only operates in summer, between the end of May and the end of August.

- Customs and regulations. In Norway, there are customs road controls on the borders with Finland and Sweden. Customs services in Norway operate from 7.00 am to 8.00 pm. There is a green zone, where only goods free from tariffs, taxes and/or specific permits are allowed, and a red zone, for items which are subject to tariffs. You are permitted to enter Norway with a limited amount of alcohol and tobacco, small quantities of medicines for personal use, meat products, cheese and food products (up to 10 kg), with an overall maximum value of 6,000 Kroner. You can also enter with Norwegian (and/or foreign) currency with a maximum value of 25,000 Kroner.

- You must give notice that you are going to cross the border while collecting the vehicle. Authorisation may be required to drive through certain countries or areas/states (as is the case in the US and Canada). Depending on the conditions set out in the rental contract and the company hired, you might be charged a surcharge payable at the destination office.