To-Do — tap each one to check it off
Your progress saves automatically on this device. Order matters: the cabin and birth certificates are the time-sensitive ones.
Now · this week
Book the ÆRA Glass Cabin — Feb 23–25 (last 2 nights)
Non-refundable, limited units. Book direct = free winter rental car + breakfast. Confirm those dates are open.
Find / order both birth certificates (certified, raised seal)
The long pole for passports. If either is missing, order a replacement today.
Book passport acceptance appointments (both of you)
USPS post office, library, or town clerk. This is the real bottleneck.
Get passport photos (both) + fill out Form DS-11 online
2×2 photos at CVS/Walgreens. Print DS-11 but DON'T sign it — you sign at the appointment.
Set Google Flights price alerts
BOS→TOS, plus BOS→CPH and BOS→OSL, for Feb 18–25, 2027.
Soon
Buy travel insurance (comprehensive + medical evacuation)
~$300–500 for two. If you want "Cancel For Any Reason," it must be bought within ~2–3 weeks of the cabin deposit.
Sept – Nov 2026
Book flights BOS → Tromsø (via Copenhagen or Helsinki)
Aim $800–1,100/pp. Target a 1.5–3h layover; pay for a checked bag each.
Book Radisson Blu — 5 nights, Feb 18–23 (one booking)
Request the 1 queen bed (not the twin). Add the breakfast rate.
Late 2026
Check if ETIAS is required for Feb 2027
New EU travel authorization. Quick online form if needed (~€7).
Dec 2026 – Jan 2027
Book 2 aurora chase tours (spaced 2 nights apart)
Use a platform with 24h free cancellation — so you can bail on #2 if #1 is a home run.
Book the Fjord & Sommarøy scenic tour
The big sightseeing day — mountains, fjords, Arctic beaches, lunch.
Book the guided snowshoe hike
Half-day, easy, no skill needed.
Optional extras — husky cuddle visit, XC ski try, Sámi reindeer camp
Add any that appeal. The husky visit (cuddle dogs, no sledding) is the easy yes.
Closer to the trip
Sort gear — base layers, warm mittens, hand & foot warmers
Tours provide the thermal suit + boots, so don't buy a parka. Bring warmers from the US.
Get an eSIM, EU plug adapter & a phone tripod
eSIM ~$15/phone. Tripod = the #1 upgrade for aurora photos.
The Plan — day by day
Unhurried on purpose — two full open days just to enjoy the city, plus restful cabin days.
Thu
Feb 18
Land in Tromsø midday, check into the Radisson, settle in.
🌙 Easy night — recover from the travel day
Fri
Feb 19
OpenJust enjoy the city — harbor, cafés, Arctic Cathedral. Gondola at sunset if you feel like it.
🌌 Flexible / rest
Sat
Feb 20
TourFjord & Sommarøy scenic day — the big "see cool stuff" day out.
🌌 Aurora chase #1
Sun
Feb 21
OpenJust enjoy the city — sleep in, long brunch, wander. Optional husky cuddle visit.
🌌 Flexible / DIY aurora
Mon
Feb 22
HikeSnowshoe hike in the morning, afternoon free. Grab cabin groceries.
🌌 Aurora chase #2
Tue
Feb 23
🎉 Tim's 50thTaxi out to the ÆRA Glass Cabin (~30 min).
🌌 Aurora from bed, through the glass roof
Wed
Feb 24
Glass cabin — fully unstructured. Soak it in.
🌌 Cabin aurora night #2 — the finale
Thu
Feb 25
Cabin breakfast, taxi to the airport (~35 min), fly home. ✈️
Budget — ballpark
All-in estimate for two, including pre-trip costs.
| Flights (2 round-trip) | $1,600–2,200 |
| Glass cabin (2 nights) | $1,920 |
| Radisson Blu (5 nights) | $1,975–2,135 |
| Aurora chases (×2) | $560–760 |
| Day activities (fjord, snowshoe, gondola, husky) | $900–1,100 |
| Optional extras | $0–520 |
| Food & drink (7 days) | $600–1,000 |
| Local transport | $200–350 |
| Passports, insurance, eSIM, gear | $710–1,200 |
| All-in total | ~$8,450–11,200 |
Good to know
- ~90%+ odds of seeing the northern lights over the week — we chase clear skies and have the cabin nights as backup.
- Weather: ~8–9 hours of daylight, avg 23–28°F. Tours give us thermal suits + boots.
- Food: no seafood needed — reindeer, beef, pizza, Thai, burgers, and easy hotel breakfasts. Watch for hidden fish (anything "fiske-").
- Money: Norway is basically cashless — cards & Apple Pay everywhere, no cash required.
- The cabin has a glass roof to watch the aurora from bed — Tim's birthday and the grand finale.