Caravan Stockholm 2019 has now ended and we can focus on Monday's travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. Today we can tell you about test families being sought for a castle hotel, about a new flight route to Kosovo and about the winners of the Grand Travel Award. Tomorrow we will continue reporting on the motorhomes at Caravan Stockholm.
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Caravan Stockholm 2019 has ended
Caravan Stockholm 2019 closed its doors yesterday afternoon, after four intense days. We have not yet seen any figures on the number of visitors, but it was definitely the most crowded on Saturday. We have so far been able to report on the cute little Westfalia Kepler Sixty and if camping accessories and destinations. In the coming week we will continue to report on more interesting motorhomes at the fair.
New design at Birka Cruises
Birka Cruises has inaugurated a new experience deck, focusing on Swedish design, shopping, luxury coffee and "a touch of folkhems decadence". A total of SEK 21 million has been invested in the lobby lounge, café, bar, shop and nightclub. The shops have been decorated in brass and walnut and are filled with a mix of trendy brands. Birka cruises every day of the week from Stockholm, and in the summer there are long cruises to destinations around the Baltic Sea.
100 test families sought for castle hotel
LEGOLAND Denmark is now looking for 100 families to test this year's big news, LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. The new hotel is built like a real castle out of giant Lego bricks. The 142-room castle is home to tough princesses, brave knights and magical wizards. Ahead of the opening on 29 March, LEGOLAND is looking for 100 families to test the hotel properly, before it opens to the public. Test families are sought for weeks 13-25 and you apply by 17 March.
New flight route to Kosovo
The airline Norwegian is opening a direct route between Stockholm Arlanda and Pristina in Kosovo, which will be operated once a week during the summer months, starting on 2 April. "We are seeing increased demand for routes to Eastern Europe, both from the business community and as a holiday destination, and not least from Swedes with origins in Kosovo who want to visit family and friends in the region," says Elizabeth Axtelius, Aviation Marketing Director at Swedavia.
The winners of the Grand Travel Award 2019 have been announced.
The Grand Travel Award was held on Thursday 14 February, Valentine's Day. The Grand Travel Award is the travel industry's big prize, with the winners chosen by both a jury and ratings from travel agency employees. We were at the Grand Travel Award 2018but this year we are content to announce the winners:
- Best charter organiser: Ving
- To and from Arlanda/Stockholm: Arlanda Express
- Best specialist tour operator: Jambo Tour
- Best domestic transport: SAS
- Best airlines in Europe: SAS
- Best intercontinental airlines: Qatar Airways
- Best hotel chain in Sweden: Nordic Choice Hotels
- Best hotel chain globally: Radisson Blu
- Best individual hotel: Clarion Post
- Best shipping company: Birka Cruises
- Best cruise line internationally: Royal Caribbean
- Best car hire companies: hertz
- Sustainability award of the year: Good
Best campsite for families with children to be selected
The website Barnsemester.se is now announcing the winners of the "Stora barnsemesterpriset 2019". There are several different categories, including "best campsite for families with children". A total of 15 campsites have been nominated, based on visitors' ratings and comments as well as test families' assessments. Now it's time for the final, and you can vote for your favourite until 11 March.
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the New 5-star campsite and Mediterranean island with record bookings
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Ninni H says:
Wow, what a lot of exciting and wonderful news. Yes, too bad you don't have small children anymore and can apply as a test family, but now someone else can do it and rejoice and see the happy, expectant eyes of their children. ?
Both the husband and I worked and then the dog got sick now during the caravan fair so there was no trip. Would have been fun to come and say hello to you otherwise. But hey, have a good time.
18 February 2019 - 7:45
Helena says:
Oh too bad we could not meet during the Caravan Fair, but it will be at another time !!!! And agree, would have liked to try lego castles but have no children as an alibi 😉
18 February 2019 - 20:37
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
Good tips, have submitted an application to become a test family now. 🙂 Have not even been to Legoland in Denmark, only to Legoland in California.
18 February 2019 - 17:08
Helena says:
But what fun! Hope you get away! 🙂
18 February 2019 - 20:37
BP says:
Too bad you are too old and do not have small children, because otherwise I would have been slightly keen to test the castle hotel. What a building!
Ving has been "number 1" for decades. Glad that the company remains as number one. Birka Cruises invests heavily, competition from Viking Line and Silja makes its. Good with more players on the Baltic Sea, because as you have reported, Viking Line has also had new ideas. Competition is good in other words.
18 February 2019 - 19:09
Helena says:
I agree, it's a pity that you don't have children as an alibi so you could test Lego castles 🙂 And no, it can't be easy to compete with the giants on the Baltic Sea!
18 February 2019 - 20:39