Planning my first trip to Scandinavia in the next few months. I've read through a lot of the older threads but wanted to check if the info is still current.

My main questions:
- Best area to stay for easy access to the scene?
- Realistic daily budget?
- Any areas to avoid?
- How welcoming are the locals to foreign visitors?

I'm coming from Canada and have experience in Southeast Asia but this would be my first time in Scandinavia.

Thanks for any help!