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Sweden

This is crazy you guys. Today I am on a plane headed for Sweden! Yes, Sweden! I never in a million years dreamed I would ever get to go here, but I am beyond thrilled and can’t wait to see what’s in store. I got the news just days after returning from Italy, and my jaw nearly dropped to the floor, but I was so excited I thought I would burst. Okay, so get this. Evidently there’s this program where  if you buy a Volvo through their Overseas Delivery Program, they will send you on a free trip to Sweden. Yeah. Really. They will provide you with two complimentary roundtrip tickets with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and one free hotel night in Gothenburg, Sweden, where the Volvo factory and museum is located. You can then pick up your new car from the Volvo factory and head out on a road trip through Sweden! When you’re done, they’ll ship your car back home to you for free. How awesome is that? And you can actually save up to 8% off the U.S. MSRP when purchasing a Volvo through this program.

Volvo, SAS, and the West Sweden Tourism Board invited me to come experience the program so I could tell you guys more about it when I get back. No, I don’t think I get to keep the Volvo, drats! :) Unfortunately Kevin had to work for this trip, but I am taking my dad along with me. He loves to drive, and I get my love of travel and adventure from him. Some of my favorite childhood memories are our summer road trips though the US. He loves planning road trips and I’m so excited to go on this adventure with him. I can’t wait to pick out our Volvo, and they’ve got so many fun things planned for us in Sweden — From a crab and mackerel safari in the tiny, tucked away fishing village of Fjällbacka, to shopping with our own personal fashion expert and stylist in Malmö, Sweden’s third largest city! We’ll be with the Volvo program through Wednesday of next week, but we’re staying in Europe through the weekend and spending a few days in Berlin. I am so excited. I’ve been wanting to go to Germany for awhile now. We both love WWII history.

Check out CarPlusVacation.com to learn more about the Volvo Overseas Delivery Program, and use their interactive trip planner to discover just how much fun and beauty West Sweden has to offer. You can pick out your car, choose your activities, and submit your itinerary to their Roadtrip of a Lifetime sweepstakes to be entered to win the roadtrip you just planned! How fun would that be?? :)

I’ve got a few posts scheduled for when I’ll be gone, but follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep in touch while I’m in Sweden. I’ll be sharing lots of photos! :) If you’re not on Instagram yet, go get on it! :) My username is kevinandamanda. I love sharing photos and keeping in touch on Instagram. Send me a message once you’re there so I can check out your photos too!! :)

Thanks so much for reading, guys. Ya’ll are the best. Talk soon!!

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46 Responses
  1. Patty

    I want to win soooo bad! For the fourth we BBQ’d with the neighbors and friends. Lots of swimming, eating and sunburns to go w/ it!

  2. Kristin @ The Chocolate Box

    Wow! That’s a really cool program. I hope you enjoyed your time here in Sweden! Can’t wait to hear what you thought of your trip :)

  3. alice

    My husband and I actually did the overseas delivery program last year. We picked up our volvo XC70 in Sweden and drove it to Norway and Germany. You’ll love the experience. I will warn you that Sweden has a pretty high tax rate. Which is why the car is cheaper. They pay less to ship it to the US when it’s your car vs. a car they are shipping to sale. And make sure you don’t go over the speed limit unless your on the Autobahn. :)

  4. Alison

    Amazing! Have a fabulous time with your dad! Too bad the timing didn’t work out for Kevin go as well. You’re becoming quite the jet-setter this summer!

    I know this is a sponsored post, but thought I would mention that BMW and Mercedes also offer a similar program to their Germany factories. I’ve heard if you plan to drive your new car into Spain however that there is an additional insurance package you need to purchase due to high theft of new vehicles in Spain.

  5. Pamela Tadlock

    I drive a volvo c70, we started our children on volvos 13 years ago. A 740, 850, 940, s40, c70 and now as adults they drive volvos, 2 xc90s and an s40. Volvo for life!

  6. Jane @ See Jane Learn

    Sounds fabulous! A friend of mine is doing the Volvo trip right now! I told her a trip to Sweden and a new car trumped my daughter’s graduation Open House so we would understand her “reason” for missing the party. Now I’ll hear fun details from both of you! Scandinavia is on my Bucket List since I’m part Norwegian. Have fun with your Dad!

  7. susan laney

    I love your kitchen curtains that are yellow and black flowers….would you mind sharing where you purchased them, please?

  8. Jane

    Have fun, Amanda! My sister bought her Volvo through this program. They stayed a couple extra nights and had a wonderful time. Can’t wait to hear about your trip!

  9. Maria aka Jakeline

    OMG! You’re gonna love it here! Welcome to Sweden! Gothenburg is usually a bit rainy (it has rained every single time I’ve been there), but I hope the weather will be nice when you come! I live outside of Stockholm myself. :) I hope you will enjoy your trip to our beautiful country! :) Fjällbacka is, from what I’ve seen very beautiful and archipelago is amazing!

    I’m sure you are going to have awesome time here!
    Välkomna hit! :) (Wecome!)
    / Maria

  10. Kathie

    how exciting! loved your posts from your trip to Italy, looking forward to seeing more of your news from Sweden! I love that your Dad is going along. Wishing you a safe and fun trip!

  11. Natalie B

    Oh my gosh!! I so want to do this now! Didn’t know it even existed!!!!!! if you have time, you should take a ferry over to Denmark and visit Nyhavn. My favorite spot in Denmark. :) there is fantastic shopping a couple of streets over. I can’t wait to hear all about your visit!!

  12. Ali @ Gimme Some Oven

    Oh my goodness — what a cool program! Hope you have a WONDERFUL time, and can’t wait to see the photos!! :)

  13. Karla

    Hey Amanda,

    This has always been my DREAM! Not only do you get to go back to Europe but you get to drive around in an awesome car….can’t wait to hear more about your adventures!

  14. Meghan

    Enjoy your trip! I hope you have a great time in Germany. I am stationed here with my air force husband for four years and we are loving it. Everything in Germany is beautiful!

  15. Jill

    How fun that you Are doing a story on the Volvo program. My husband and I bought a Volvo through the program two summers ago. It was great, everything went smoothly and we had so much fun. We spent over a week and covered lots of miles in the new Volvo. It’s a fantastic program and we’ll probably do it again. Have a great time.
    Jill Oberg

  16. Nicole | Baking it on My Own

    I am SO excited for you and this awesome opportunity of a lifetime! As a Volvo driver myself – I cannot say enough good things about the car and would highly recommend it to anyone!! Not only do they last forever, but the ride is comfortable and they are incredibly safe cars.

    Have oh so much fun and I can’t wait to hear how it’s going. You are going to have an absolute blast!

    Safe travels!!! :)

  17. Diane | An Extraordinary Day

    Goodness girl….this is so exciting!! As the daughter of a Swede…I’ll be sure to catch EVERY. SINGLE. POST!!!
    Getting a Volvo with Swedish delivery has been a dream of mine. Hope you end up coming home with one!

  18. Jessica

    As a girl who just lost her dad a couple of months ago.. you are so lucky to get to have this opportunity with him. I envy you. Have a fabulous time my friend!

  19. Susie

    I am having Scandinavian Envy right now! I alway thought I was half Norwegian, but last year found out my randy great-grandfather was from Sweden – plus we have a Swedish “daughter” from a foreign exchange program living there with my 1-year-old Swedish granddaughter. Have fun, when I need a new car, a Volvo will definitely be on the list. I didn’t know they still had this program. Enjoy and stay away from the lutefisk.

  20. Ellen ♥ Cardmonkey

    I swear, Amanda, one day I want to wake up and BE YOU! What an amazing life you lead!! First of all, I want to tell you that if Kevin is ever unavailable for any of your trips, and Dad just doesn’t want to go, please know that I am a GREAT traveling companion. I will eat all of your leftover cupcakes, hold your white reflector for the perfect photos, carry your bags and even sleep on the floor just to experience the fabulous trips you take. My oh my, now wouldn’t that make a wonderful bit of blog candy — “Win a Trip with Amanda!”

    There’s a bit of Sweden that is my very favorite spot in the whole wide world (and I have done some traveling in my wealthier past), and that’s the island of Visby in Sweden. If you can PLEASE go there. It’s known as the “City of Roses and Ruins”. At every corner, there is another Kodak Moment, with old blue bicycles ridden by women with flower-circled straw hats, the bike’s basket stuffed with that day’s flowers from the local market, for example. (A memory of a photo I took long, long ago.) I used to say that if I’m ever missing in the world, I could be found in Visby.

    I’d DEFINITELY take advantage of this special offer by Volvo if I was in the market to replace my 10-year old Volvo. But I’m not. Ol’ “Elsa” is low on mileage (56,000) and is so sturdily built that I expect (HOPE!) to keep her another 5-6 years, loving her. She’s my third Volvo — I’ve been picking Volvo’s ever since I was old enough that the men in my life (father and then husband) trusted me to pick out my own cars. “Inge”, a sedan, was traded up to “Sven”, a 4WD turbo wagon, during those family years … and once I was back to “just me”, I went back to a sedan, “Elsa”. Do tell Volvo that they should think about rewarding their lifelong Mama’s who wouldn’t think of anything BUT a Volvo. Honestly, I CRIED when I traded in Sven for Elsa — I thought the poor “Hassle Free” car salesman (Keystone Volvo, Doylestown PA) would die of embarrassment. Trading him in was like losing a best friend and I really gave it a second and third thought … so much so that the salesman came back and lowered the price on Elsa, afraid I was backing out. Some people scrap about their kids — me, it’s all about the Volvo, baby!!

    Fondly,
    Ellen ♥ CardMonkey

  21. Erin @ Texanerin Baking

    You’re just going to all my favorite places! I was an exchange student when I was 16 and 23 in Sweden. I love it! The people are great and so is the culture. If you think that they’re being cold, they’re not. They’re just shy. But they’re all pretty much fluent in English so that’s nice. The countryside isn’t as beautiful as your last trip in Tuscany, but it’s still pretty. You have to go to the archipelago area near Stockholm! And visit the small fishing villages. Cute cute cute.

    And Berlin? Hmm. I have some things to say about that but I’d better email you. :)

    Have an amazing trip! I hope you have fun in your Volvo.

  22. Claudia

    Aaaaah, very jealous – my new nephew (6 weeks old) is in Sweden, my sister-in-law married a Swede so we don’t meet the little darling until Christmas so I hope your trip is wonderful and please wave towards Stockholm for me :D

  23. Dora Panariti

    How amazing is that Amanda! :-)
    I’ve never been in Sweden and I’d love to! I’ve been a few times in Berlin and loved it. It’s “a German city away from Germany” like I use to say. For various reasons. Now, apart from the historic sightings, Berlin is one of Europe’s art and alternative capitals, with lots of great galleries and museums. I think you’ll have a great time there! :-)

    I’ll try to connect at Instagram, if I make it work on Android (yes, still cursing with I cheated on iphone with android….) :/

  24. Carina Johansson

    Hej!
    Welcome to Sweden! I’m looking forward to your posts from my corner of the world. I hope I will get plenty of tips for my spare time and vacation since I live not far from Göteborg (Gothenburg). Enjoy your stay.

    Carina

  25. Carrie Gilardi

    Hej! (Swedish for hello)

    I was very excited to see your blog post today because I am currently living in Sweden on a 6 month work assignment (from Pittsburgh, PA). I live in Uppsala, Sweden (4th largest city) which is about 30-40 min outside of Stockholm.

    Gothenburg is a lovely city so no doubt you will enjoy your time there.

    I look forward to hearing about your trip. I hope that you enjoy Sweden as much as I have! Sweden is a beautiful country!

    Ha det bra,
    Carrie

  26. Vintage Paper Designs

    I just love to start my day with Greek coffee and your blog.
    I mean, travel and cupcakes all the time, what can go wrong with the day starting like that?!
    Have fun!
    Nika

  27. libbywilko

    How Amazing Amanda ! Isn’t it wonderful what happens when you follow your passion. Have a great time, I’ll look forward to seeing all the beautiful photos you take of Sweden and Germany.

    Have Fun and stay safe.

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Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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