Was going to Svolvaer - ended up in Svalbard.

[Lars77]

http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/06/03/nyheter/innenriks/turisme/21892155/



The difference might not sound big in pronunciation, when an english speaker pronounces it. But Ellen Reisner (70) from Los Angeles got a 1100 km detour when her LA travel agent sent her to Svalbard (Spitsbergen island group, arctic, 2 hours flight off the mainland towards the north pole) instead of Svolvaer which is on the northern mainland coast where she was going to visit her children.

She had given the travel agent a note that said "Svolvaer" on it. I think this is a good reason to use IATA codes

She did not know she was going to the wrong place until she was at baggage retrieval and saw a huge stuffed polar bear.

She was still in good spirits, when she was interviewed she was boarding a boat for an excursion to an abandoned Soviet mining village. I suppose she means Pyramiden .

[cbayer]

1. Hilarious! On the upside, few people get to see Svalbard, so hopefully she appreciates that part.

[elleng]

2. Right, agents sure should use IATA codes.

Quite an inconvenience for her, eh?
Years ago, in Scotland, we jumped onto the wrong little ferry, so until I figured it out, we were headed to the wrong island. FORTUNATELY, we and captain were able to correct that error within minutes.

[Lucky Luciano]

3. I want to go to Svalbard and go Polar Bear Watching!! nt