Welcome to Sweden, now where will we stay?
- Carrie Thomson
- Dec 19, 2017
- 4 min read
Every year on our birthdays, my husband and I take a trip. We typically chose somewhere warm, since we have winter birthdays, but this year was a special trip that led us to colder climates.
My husband's great grandfather immigrated from Sweden to America at the very young age of 22. He left the family homestead by boat from Gotland, Sweden and travelled to Ellis Island, where his new life began. My husband has always enjoyed telling the story of his ancestors and has long wanted to see where it all began. His family's farm remained in the family for almost 450 years!
It was my great pleasure to surprise him with a trip to meet distant relatives and to learn more about his roots. We flew into Stockholm, Sweden the day after Thanksgiving and felt immediately at home. We stayed at the Haymarket by Scandic. It is a bustling and lively hotel with constant activity and an overall feeling of good cheer and happiness. Just steps from the front door of the hotel is a public market that is set up and torn down every morning and every night. We couldn't help but feel at home in this location. And speaking of location, one of the most important parts of planning a trip is researching your lodging location. While finding a comfortable hotel is important, for us, finding a conveniently located hotel is even more important. There are many different ways to research a hotel location, but following are a few of the ways that have been successful for me.
Like most tips, this one begins with website research. One of the most helpful sites for research is www.tripadvisor.com. I always use this site to find the top 10 things to do in the area, and then find a hotel that is easily accessible to these activities. Plotting points on a map is very useful as well. Www.yelp.com is also useful. You can use it to go to a town and find an area with a lot of poplular restaurants, or bars, or museums, or anything else you are interested in. You can then find lodging conveniently located to these places. A lot of times, we don't rent a car, and we rely on things being in a central location, so that we can walk or take public transportation to wherever we want to go.
These sites are helpful for finding where you should stay, but also, don't be afraid to look into different options for what you stay in. While hotels are the traditional choice, today there are many alternatives as well. We often use sites like www.airbnb.com or www.vrbo.com, to find locals who are renting apartments out. This is an excellent option when you have a larger group, because everyone has their own room, and there is a kitchen and the option of more than one bathroom. They often have laundry options as well. We always chose this option when travelling with the kids. It also helps us save money on dining out for every meal. Who wouldn't want to feel like a local in a far away land?
Another option that is not as typical are hostels. While this option is not for everyone, hostels are not always what you picture. There is more out there than just the local YMCA when it comes to hostels. While a hostel is typically more popular with younger people traveling on a budget, there are different options when staying in hostels. While there are options for having your own room, sometimes there are shared rooms. It is very common for hostels to have shared public areas, including kitchens and bathrooms. Below is a picture of a hostel located in Stockholm, Sweden that is far from what one would typically picture a hostel to be like. This is an actual remodeled sailing ship that was converted to a hostel in 2008. STF Youth Hostel af Chapman & Skeppsholmen is located in Stockholm's city centre on the island Skeppsholmen. Af Chapman is one of the most famous landmarks in the city, the fully rigged ship overlooks the Gamla Stan (the Old Town) and the Royal Palace. There are many different and fun options out there, you just have to look!
Overall, where you stay is just as important as where you travel to. It is, after all, your home away from home, and you want to make your trip as successful as possible. The number one rule for planning the trip of a lifetime is research! Thankfully there are so many wonderful options out there to get you the information you need!
Planning where to stay in a new place is just as important as choosing a great flight. Maybe even more so. Don't forget to do your homework when determining where to stay. The following websites are great ones for helping you get the job done!
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