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Accommodation
Choosing a Hotel
Swedish hotels are of a uniformly high standard, and can be expensive. However, hotel rates do come down on weekdays in high summer when the expense-account business travellers are on holiday. Big international hotel chains have made little impact. Accommodation is dominated by Scandinavian chains such as Scandic or Sweden Hotels. Away from the big cities, there are plenty of privately owned hotels with the individuality lacking in chains. Visit www.hotelsinsweden.net for details on hotels in most towns and cities.
You can book accommodation in Stockholm online through the tourist information office website www.visitstockholm.com.
Discounts
All the hotel groups run discount schemes during summer. Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö also offer special discount packages at weekends year-round and daily in summer. These often include free public transport and free admission to visitor attractions.
Bed and Breakfasts
The bed and breakfast system is becoming more popular. Look for the Rum sign (it means “room” and does not include breakfast). Ask at local tourist offices if any rum accommodation is available. Prices are very reasonable. There are also many working farms across Sweden offering self-catering and B&B accommodation (www.bopalantgard.org).
Youth Hostels
Sweden has 400 inexpensive youth hostels (vandrarhem), from mansion houses and castles to renovated ships like the 100-year-old af Chapman in Stockholm harbour, and modern purpose-built hostels. These are mainly in southern and central Sweden. There are also plenty of youth hostels in the Stockholm archipelago. Most have two- and four-bed rooms or family rooms. Hostels have self-catering facilities, but meals or snacks are provided in some. There is often use of a washing machine. Most hostels will charge extra for bed linen, so bring your own sheets and towels. Always book ahead in the summer. For details contact Svenska Turistföreningen (STF), tel: 08 463 21 00, www.stfturist.se.
Camping
There are more than 1,000 campsites in Sweden, many in pretty locations and generally of a high standard. Most open from early June to the end of August. You can also rent camping chalets and cottages, cabins and mountain huts, caravans and motor homes. Popular Camping Card Scandinavia has been replaced by Camping Key Europe, which enables a fast check-in at the affiliated campsites, entitles holders to discounts and includes an insurance. For details visit www.campingkey.com. Another useful site is www.camping.se.
Activities
Outdoor Sports
Sweden is a health-conscious nation, offering copious sports facilities nationwide. Visitors who wish to centre their holiday around sport can order the brochures Outdoor Activities, Summer Activities and Winter Activities from VisitSweden (www.visitsweden.com).
Cycling
There are some pleasant bike trails in Sweden, and bikes are available to rent around the country. Gotland is a cyclists’ favourite, as is the scenic towpath alongside the Göta Kanal. For more information contact:
Svenska Cykelförbundet
Idrottens Hus, Fiskartorpsvägen 15A, 114 73 Stockholm
Tel: 08 699 60 00
www.scf.se
Fishing
You can fish in the sea with rod and line free of charge around the Swedish coastline. Fishing is also free from the shores of the five largest lakes: Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren, Hjälmaren and Storsjön; elsewhere a permit is required, available from local tourist information offices. For special conditions regarding permitted equipment, close seasons, minimum size and catch limits, check...
