Added: 08/24/2005 |
Stockholm accommodation - hotels and apartments in the capital of SwedenWhether you are planning a short trip to another country or go there to stay for a long period of time, accommodation is the first problem you need to solve, and Stockholm accommodation is really a problem. If you generally prefer to rent a house or an apartment for the sake of comfort, freedom and lower price, you may be disappointed when trying to find a place to rent in the capital of Sweden.
In spite of the fact that Stockholm is a rather large and well developed city the situation with Stockholm accommodation leaves much to be desired. The main part of the city's population lives in rented apartments. Most of Stockholm accommodations are owned by joint-stock companies, and their activities are regulated by various state rules and laws so strictly that you get a feeling the premises are state property.
In Stockholm and generally in Sweden you can lease apartments directly from their owners (the "first hand contract"), the joint-stock companies, of sublease them from their private owners (the "second hand contract"). The former, leasing the apartment from direct owners, is virtually impossible. Popular and prestigious district of the city are out of question, and even finding a place somewhere in suburbs may take years. So unfortunately, this cheapest and the most convenient solution to the Stockholm accommodation problem is not very probable. Leasing apartments from private owners sounds more realistic though it is not easy. Ads are published in local newspapers, can be found on the sites of exchange bureaus and in "Gula Tidningen", the newspaper of free ads.
The situation with Stockholm hotels is different. There are over 200 hotels in the city, and you can stay in a large hotel of the international level or choose a smaller comfortable hotel that has 10 to 20 suites. There are many camping facilities, tourist centers and holiday hotels in Stockholm and suburbs that offer the perfect quality of service, and most of them located close to bus stops, railway and subway stations.
There are several prestigious hotels in Stockholm, and probably the most famous of them is Grand Hotel located in downtown Stockholm right across the Royal Palace, close to numerous shops, theatres and museums. Luxurious and elegant Grand Hotel, decorated in the Scandinavian style of the 20th century, is the most expensive hotel of Stockholm. All suites differ from each other in their decoration, and the hall is overlooking the harbor. Radisson SAS Royal Viking Hotel is located next to the railway station. The hotel has twelve banquet and conference halls, the winter garden in the attic, sauna, a swimming pool, and solaria. The restaurant of the hotel offers delicious dishes of Italian cuisine, and the only panoramic bar in Stockholm is located on the roof of the hotel. Sheraton Stockholm Hotel and Diplomat Hotel are especially popular among business people. Business meetings can be conducted in convenient lounges equipped with PCs and Internet.
If you have not made reservations in advance, you can do so upon your arrival in Stockholm either in the Tourist Bureau at the Central Railway Station or in the House of Sweden (the address is Hamngatan 27).
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