Packing for the cold: Travelling to Finland

Now we have made sure to pack for the cold - early in the morning today we fly to a wintry Helsinki. It's time for The Nordic Bloggers Experience - a whole week in Finland with a pre-tour to the Turku archipelago, a travel blogger conference and Northern Europe's largest travel fair. We have a lot of exciting (and interesting!) things to look forward to... and we've done our best to pack right!

Packing for the cold (fimbul winter)

Packing has certainly not been easy! We have been warned of 25 degrees below zero and there may be a lot of outdoor activities during the first days in Turku. The organisers have written long blog posts describing how to dress for the cold (maybe mostly for the Chinese and Spanish bloggers?) and pointing out the importance of warm clothes.

It has been suggested that layer upon layer, warm socks and non-water-based sunscreenbecause otherwise the creams will "freeze on the face". In the Facebook group, nervous Spanish bloggers have described their hardships and worries as they have tried unsuccessfully to find suitable creams...

We live in Sweden, so maybe we shouldn't get too excited, but we've still bought new warm winter shoes and packed coveralls and our warmest hats and vanguard. For the ice swimming (!), the organisers have suggested that you should bring with you flip-flops "because it is easier to walk to the wake then". I threw away my worn-out flip-flops after the trip around Europe and haven't bought any new ones, because I cover my ears and pretend I can't hear when it comes to the ice wake ...

Preparing for the blog business

After the pre-tour in Turku, we will head back to Helsinki, where there will be a hectic programme. We have booked a lot of seminars with titles like "Blogging as a business", "Principles of effective collaborations", "SEO to grow traffic" and "Combine video to your blog". And then there are over 1000 exhibitors from various travel companies and destinations. We'll report as best we can - let us know if there's anything in particular you're interested in hearing about!

In addition to all this, we have booked a lot of "speed dating" sessions with travel companies from Iceland, Poland, Slovenia and South America to discuss possible collaborations. We don't know how it will go, but it will be interesting! We've packed our bags full of business cards and information leaflets about the FREEDOMtravel blog ...

Packa för kylan: tjocka tröjor, täckbyxor och infobroschyrer om bloggen FREEDOMtravel — Packing for the cold: thick sweaters, coveralls and FREEDOMtravel blog leaflets

Tips for Finland

Looking for travel tips for Finland? Read our guide with tips on things to do in what to see and do in Helsinki as well as our guide on things to things to see and do in Turku. Below you will find even more tips for Finland.

17 January 2016 7:37 am

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Helena

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Deciree says:

But it will probably be interesting for you 🙂 However, I do not understand how you can swim in an ice bath...;-) With us it is currently exactly -17 degrees. But when it blows...it can feel like over -30. So take a jacket with a hood..so you can close your face if you are going to be outside. Have fun:)

17 January 2016 - 8:41

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admin says:

Deciree, jackets with hoods are packed! 🙂 Ice vacations are not the least bit appealing....

17 January 2016 - 9:42

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Emelie says:

Ice vacations can be a great experience if you have a hot sauna to escape to! 😉 Up here with us it has become a little warmer now, only -10 today. Hope it will be a rewarding conference!

17 January 2016 - 10:17

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admin says:

Emelie, I don't even like saunas, haha... But the conference will be exciting! 🙂

17 January 2016 - 10:20

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ActiveDays-Camilla says:

Exciting! Have a nice trip! And ice baths can certainly be "nice"... When you come up again... 😉 My Anton got the chance to dip himself through school last winter... Refreshing... 🙂 🙂

17 January 2016 - 10:21

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admin says:

Active days-Camilla, honestly, I doubt I'll go swimming. Why do something that is unpleasant? I don't really get the point... Brave of Anton!

17 January 2016 - 10:37

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Åsa says:

Good luck to you! It should be very interesting! But you have to swim in the icebox! I definitely want to see a picture of you or Peter swimming in the icebox! (And you have to wear flip-flops or floppy slippers to walk in the snow!)

17 January 2016 - 11:03

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Ama de casa says:

Sounds very exciting! But of course you have to try the ice bath, you coward!!!! 😀

17 January 2016 - 11:08

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Ditte says:

Wishing you a rewarding, fun and interesting trip. And swimming in an ice bath is no problem. I know....Think it's something to do a few times in life. A "trip" in itself. And if you haven't done it, it's time. It's not a swim, after all ...
Flip-flops are nice, but otherwise you can run anyway. You move quickly.

17 January 2016 - 11:42

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Mr Lars Permelin says:

Wow, that sounds exciting, good luck!

17 January 2016 - 11:52

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Katarina Wohlfart says:

Have a great trip! 🙂 Looking forward to following you.

17 January 2016 - 12:10

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Mr Steve says:

Ice swimming. Yes, perhaps as a preparation for life saving. But otherwise it seems rather pointless and not very enjoyable.
I hope you have a rewarding week with many new contacts and future opportunities.

17 January 2016 - 11:40

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Rantamor on the retina says:

It's good to be prepared for the winter if it's going to be -25,
and you'd be wise to cover your ears when it comes to iceberg bathing.
In Finland, they are quite crazy about ice bathing, no matter how cold it is,
and then into the sauna.
Madness, I say.
I hope you have a nice week and that you make many new contacts and that there will be many new journeys to follow.

Tjingelingen from Rantamor and greet the Moomins in Turku !!!

17 January 2016 - 12:51

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Inga M says:

Hope you have a nice trip. When I read about it, I get the feeling that your blogging is starting to approach a professional level, meaning that you can bring in a lot of income from it if you put in the effort. Because of course it's not something that comes by itself, you have to make an effort. Sounds like sensible packing. The problem when it gets a bit more -20 degrees as we have had now, it is to protect the face. The rest of the body can be wrapped but the face is tricky. The frost wants to bite your nose and cheeks. Do you have any tricks?

17 January 2016 - 13:25

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admin says:

Åsa, if you don't have fliflops, you don't have to...? 😉

Ama de casa, I'm still waiting for your Christmas bath... 😉.

Steve, agree with you, the only sensible reason I can see!

Ditte, you are tough! I've forced myself to do so many things in my life because of peer pressure that I've hated and then regretted, like saunas and carousels for example... so I don't know....

Lars Permelin, thank you! 🙂

Katarina, we promise to report! 🙂

Rantamor, haha, yes it sounds like madness always! So far, I am not the least bit keen on the ice bath... And of course we will say hello! 😉

Inga M, yes it is a completely correct analysis that the blog is becoming more serious and that we can start to get some (not so big) income. No, we have no super trick for the cold. So far (Helsingors) it's not too cold, we'll see what happens ...

17 January 2016 - 13:45

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Snows says:

What an exciting week ahead, but it's important to dress warmly 😀.

17 January 2016 - 13:47

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Untangling says:

Exciting, have a lot of fun 🙂

17 January 2016 - 14:09

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Ruth in Virginia says:

Should be very interesting. What could be the reason for a January cold meeting?
What lovely footwear you have acquired! Had similar during the winter in Alaska but not as nice as your white ones. 🙂

One time in the icebox was enough for me. We were a group of girls, who used to take the train to
Kolmården on winter Sundays and go skiing. We got to use the Tjalve Club's cabin by the beautiful Svängbågen water. The guys had hacked a wake. We were a couple of girls,
like the train leap after the sauna. I thought I'd die! I can guarantee you,
that it is not pleasant at all.

17 January 2016 - 14:10

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admin says:

Znogge, the warm clothes are packed! 🙂

Ontripdk, thank you! We are reporting! 🙂

Ruth in Virginia, just as I suspected, not nice at all! 😉 And glad you like my new winter shoes! 🙂

Ulla & Torgny, Peter's jacket is in any case packed. Maybe there will be some festivities in the evenings 🙂 .

BP, haha, well I'm afraid there's no wifi in the sky... maybe we should stay away from the ice cream parlour 😉 .

17 January 2016 - 14:39

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Ulla & Torgny says:

What experiences you will have, so exciting. Will be fun to read about later. Helena, you have not forgotten your little black........ and Peter's so nice jacket. They may come in handy on such a trip......Have fun!

Today in Portugal we have about 15 degrees.........

17 January 2016 - 14:19

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Role o Carina says:

Enjoy yourselves in the ice-cold Suomi country!
Here we make a fire in the stove and cosy up 🙂 .
But we look in on your Blog of course ðŸ™'

Take care and enjoy......

17 January 2016 - 15:20

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BP says:

Wishing you a fantastic week in Finland, but without ice swimming, as I want to continue to read Freedomtravel. Blogging from the sky is not possible, as there is certainly no wifi;-)

17 January 2016 - 14:20

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Frankie & Co says:

Good trip?

We have probably touched -20C in the morning - on our feet we have the outstanding P Orginal since we southerners got inside snowmobile winter tips from married northern relatives a few years ago ?

17 January 2016 - 15:31

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admin says:

Rolle o Carina, it sounds like you are having a great time! We have also had a great time in Finland so far, we will report as soon as we get the opportunity!

Frankie & Co, so far it's not too cold in Finland so you're probably colder! 😉

17 January 2016 - 16:54

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Lennart says:

Enjoy your stay!

Dress well!

17 January 2016 - 17:42

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Matts Torebring says:

Exciting! What a lot you have time for. Jokkmokk market had -42 degrees in 2014. If you think about it, -25 will feel like springtime winds. Have a great time

17 January 2016 - 18:24

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Jeanette says:

sv. Thank you 🙂

Yes, now I look forward to pictures from the ice bath! Picture proof of everyone who dared to jump in 🙂

17 January 2016 - 21:08

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nils-åke hansson says:

It will be interesting to join the blog. BUT flip-flops have never been my friends. Of course you should swim in the ice wake What a nice picture it will be on the blog,
Have fun

17 January 2016 - 21:15

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admin says:

Lennart, we have been very well dressed today 🙂 .

Matts Torebring, wow, minus 42!!! It is actually warmer in Finland than we thought it would be, but white and beautiful!

Jeanette, I understand that you do 😉 But there is some risk that we won't end up in those pictures... 😉.

Nils-Åke, it would surely be a nice picture... but it looks like you'll have to make do with other nice pictures 😉.

17 January 2016 - 23:18

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Marie says:

It sounds like a very exciting programme! I hope you come home with even more contacts and tools to help you in the blogging industry!

18 January 2016 - 4:05

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admin says:

Marie, we hope and believe that we will get lots of inspiration! We promise to report as best we can 🙂 .

18 January 2016 - 7:15

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Helena says:

I think you should definitely go swimming! At least once you can say you've done it. I was as hesitant as you before the last NBE, but during our sauna evening in Helsinki, I ended up taking three dips. It was just as hard before each dip and just as nice to get up! I never thought I'd say it, but it's very refreshing 🙂.

18 January 2016 - 11:04

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admin says:

Helena, I'm sure it was refreshing 😉 Brave of you! No, we did not feel like it and I have too many times done things that I do not want for the sake of peer pressure (sauna, carousels, etc.) which I have then regretted, so no, I still chose to skip 😉.

18 January 2016 - 12:16

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Maria says:

I'm Finnish and I'd like to be paid pretty well to go swimming in the winter... 😉 But sun cream in January...???? I can understand if you go on a ski trip in the mountains or something, but in Turku and Helsinki...??? The thought would never ever occur to me 😛

Otherwise, too bad you missed that whole thing, sounds really fun and interesting!

18 January 2016 - 18:44

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admin says:

Maria, I would probably want to be paid too, haha 🙂 By the way, the participants have been divided into different destinations. We went to Turku, but some others went north, so the sun creams might have something to do with that... 😉.

18 January 2016 - 21:06

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admin says:

Stina, glad you like my winter boots! 🙂 We have so far had a super nice time in Finland, I can imagine that you have nice memories from here!

19 January 2016 - 23:08

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Stina says:

Hello Hello suomi. Hyvää päiivä (my bad Finnish ;-))

My mother and father are from Finland, Lahti to be precise, and I have spent many summers there. Despite this, I do not speak any Finnish, but I understand a lot.

Have to say I love the white winter boots, wonderfully delicious and totally in my taste.

Enjoy your stay in Moominland.
Greetings Little My 🙂

19 January 2016 - 22:09

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Packing for the cold: Travelling to Finland

Packing for the cold (fimbul winter)

Preparing for the blog business

Tips for Finland

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37 Comments

Deciree says:

admin says:

Emelie says:

admin says:

ActiveDays-Camilla says:

admin says:

Åsa says:

Ama de casa says:

Ditte says:

Mr Lars Permelin says:

Katarina Wohlfart says:

Mr Steve says:

Rantamor on the retina says:

Inga M says:

admin says:

Snows says:

Untangling says:

Ruth in Virginia says:

admin says:

Ulla & Torgny says:

Role o Carina says:

BP says:

Frankie & Co says:

admin says:

Lennart says:

Matts Torebring says:

Jeanette says:

nils-åke hansson says:

admin says:

Marie says:

admin says:

Helena says:

admin says:

Maria says:

admin says:

admin says:

Stina says:

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