Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

282  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS
WHERE TO STAY

Sweden has a wide variety of hotels and options, often advertised with a RUM (room)
guesthouses to suit all tastes and budgets – sign by the roadside. In the mountains, ski
from small family-run establishments to resorts offer both hotels and small huts to
historic manor houses and large luxury rent. Cottages are also plentiful elsewhere
hotels. In addition, there are hundreds of in Sweden, sometimes on or near camp sites.
youth hostels that offer great value, and Pages 284–9 have details of places to stay
impressive levels of comfort and cleanliness. throughout the country, covering everything
There are also several bed-and-breakfast from cosy B&Bs to designer hotels.

booking service. Sites such as a number of large hotels at the
Booking.com, Hotels.com and higher end of the price range in
Visit Sweden list a variety of several Swedish cities, and Best
options, and provide an online Western has over 60 properties
booking service. Most travel web- across the country. Scandic
sites offer deals when you book Hotels is the leading chain in
your hotel and flight together. the Nordic region, with more
than 80 hotels across Sweden.
Hotel Chains
Prices and Payment
International and Nordic hotel
chains are well represented Prices in the hotel listings
across Sweden. Some chains that follow are for a standard
are renovating older hotels, double room, including service
Outdoor sitting area at the pleasant Hotell keeping the classic features and VAT. However, most hotels
St Clemes, Gotland (see p286) while modernizing the facilities. offer discounted rooms at
The Swedish chain Elite weekends and in low season.
Hotels has centrally located For cheaper hotels this means
Choosing a Hotel
hotels in cities and towns across a price reduction of 100–300 Kr
Staying in well-appointed hotels the country, often in classic per night, for medium-priced
in prime locations can be costly, buildings, and often with an hotels around 500 Kr and for
but there are also plenty of attached English-style pub. top hotels up to 1,000 Kr.
budget options to choose from. Meanwhile, Nordic chain Most hotels accept credit
Among the cheaper alternatives First Hotels has more than cards, and many prefer it to
are youth hostels, or vandrarhem, 60 different properties around cash. Larger hotels will change
most of which are of a high the country. Historic Hotels foreign currency, though the
standard. Another good option of Sweden has 10 charming easiest and cheapest way of
is a self-catering cottage, ideal properties, including castles and changing money is using a
for families that want to stay manor houses, while Nordic bureau de change (see p322).
outside busy tourist areas. Choice Hotels has a presence
Several small, design-conscious all across Sweden, with hotels Youth Hostels
hotels have begun catering to in many northern towns and
tourists in cities like Stockholm cities as well. Radisson Blu has There are hundreds of youth
and Gothenburg. Larger hotels hostels in Sweden; most
cater mainly to business are affiliated to the Svenska
travellers. Although often busy Turistföreningen (STF),
during the week, they usually although there are an increasing
offer discounted weekend rates. number of independently run
It is advisable to book a room hostels. The flagship property
well in advance, particularly in is the af Chapman in Stockholm
cities during the week. Hotels (see p83) – floating proof that
in Stockholm tend to be busy a youth hostel can be just as
in summer and when events spectacular as a top-class
or trade fairs are on. To find out hostel. Sveriges Vandrarhem i
when the busiest times are likely Förening (SVIF) has around 180
to be, check Visit Stockholm’s youth hostels throughout the
events calendar online. country. Both STF and SVIF are
It is very easy to make hotel members of the International
reser vations online. If you are Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF).
looking for a room in Stockholm, The spectacular ICEBAR at ICEHOTEL in It is possible to book online on
Visit Stockholm offers a good Jukkasjärvi (see p289) both the STF and SVIF websites.

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