Why:
1) Outgoing
My flight leaves early enough on a Monday, that I need to be at aiport before 5am.
I live on an island, outside Bergen. The only way to get off said island is either boat, helicopter, or via a car/bus over the one bridge, through the one tunnel connection to the mainland. Currently, they are working on the tunnels around here, including ours. The bridge then is being closed nights from 10pm til nearly 6am. Occasionally, the bridge will be open for crossing, but only a few minutes every hour.
As it is also Sunday, with a very limited bus schedule, taking the bus which was my first option, is impossible. As is a taxi, as the cost of paying for it to sit there twice in both directions from the city and back, is prohibitive.
The last only option seemed to be get a hotel in Bergen for the night, and a taxi to airport from there in the morning. SOOO expensive! Not to mention stressful and difficult hassle to get a taxi that early in the morning, check out that early in the morning when often places have limited check out hours, etc. Was not liking this option at all either!
2) Ditto the way back, as I will be arriving near midnight, after bridge is closed. I thought I´d again have to get a hotel in Bergen for a few hours. Such hassle that late, as per previous mention.
* Edit:
Then, after my posting a hastily written rant on a tree, a loverly TTer suggested I plan to sleep in the airport.
I had done that before in NYC´s airports but only because I was already stranded in the airport from having flown halfway across the states, flights were cancelled, all hotels and where to stay were all booked solid, and I had no option. It was very comfortable stay, they provided really nice meals, etc. But I thought the only time one could do this, as it is usually I thought very frowned upon and discouraged, was with stranded passengers already at the airport.
Apparently not. ADD TTER LINK
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THANK YOU SO MUCH for pointing out I could use the airport!!!!
Whew! Saved me so much money, hassle stress...and am kinda looking forward to it, after having realized what a calmer, easier option it is!
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Plans are now:
Outgoing from Bergen to Florence
T is picking me up around 5pm when they get back from kids birthday party; giving me time to pack which I´ve still not done. They´ll see me off Sunday night to the airport, and I´ll spend the night.
Return from Florence to Bergen, getting in near midnight
I´ll just sleep in the airport, get breakfast and coffee in the airport, then get an airport bus back to sentrum, and a city bus from there back to the island. Bus stop is near, so a short walk home from where the bus drops me.
