The Nordic countries on a budget: readers choose their favourite trips

Scandinavia, Finland and Iceland are stunningly beautiful but can be notoriously hard on the wallet – our readers know how to get the most out of a trip to Europe’s far north

Children generally go back to school at the beginning of August in Scandinavia. This means there are some great self-catering bargains to be found before the autumn term starts in UK schools. We’ve had some great family holidays, particularly at self-catering lakeside resorts in Finland and Sweden, where the holiday units are of a really high standard, having been built to cater for winter. Attractions and theme parks are still open but quiet, and most of the summer midges are gone. Weather is still pretty good and it stays light until gone 9pm. Our kids loved it!
Paul Grayston