Nya direktflyg, loppissemester och så många bilar i vinter

We are currently in lovely Croatia, but that doesn't stop us from publishing short travel news on Mondays as usual. Here we present the last FREEDOMtravel News of the year. Stay tuned!

Table of contents

So many people are travelling by car this winter

In Goodyear's new survey, 1,000 Swedes were asked about their winter car journeys. The results show that 50% planned to take the car for Christmas and 30% plan to go on a car holiday at some point this winter. Driving holidays are chosen because they are an enjoyable form of travel, they can get to places that are otherwise difficult to reach and they can experience spontaneous events along the way. Goodyear's tips on what to pack:

Warm clothing and reflective vests
Ice scraper and washer fluid
Karta

New direct route from Gothenburg to New York

For the first time, it will be possible to fly non-stop between western Sweden and the USA this spring. SAS is expanding at Göteborg Landvetter Airport and strengthening access to North America with a popular route to New York. The route will operate three departures per week, starting in April 2023, with a new Airbus 321 Long Range aircraft.

New direct international routes from Luleå

16 December saw the launch of a new direct international route from the European Union. Luleå. France's largest tour operator Quartier Libre and the airline Transavia France offer direct flights between Luleå and Paris for 14 weeks during the winter season. The route is a combination of charter for incoming tourists and regular traffic for inbound and outbound travellers. On 25 December it was time for another premiere, when Eurowings started flying directly between Luleå and Düsseldorf.

More organic and local food crafts at Arlanda airport

In early summer 2023, the first part of "Marknadsplatsen" will open at Arlanda Terminal 5, with several new restaurants. RC Café & Pâtisserie has been present at Arlanda since 2013. In 2023/2024, RC will open five new units, four of which will be located at Marknadsplatsen. The new units at Marknadsplatsen include Nordic Lounge with the best of Nordic cuisine, Glacier & Café with homemade organic ice cream, Coffee & Pastry (French pastry shop) and Café & Brasserie with breakfast.

Timeless theme at Norrviken Gardens 2023

Norrviken Gardens in Skåne opens for the season on 6 April 2023 and invites you to this year's theme: Timeless - a playful flirtation with contrasts and colours. With creators such as Anna Starrén, Hanna Wendelbo, Eva Canebro and Norrviken's own gardeners and florists, the 2023 theme will be realised with equal parts timeless and classic as well as creative and playful, writes Norrviken Gardens in a press release.

Are flea market holidays the new hot thing?

Second hand is trendier than ever, according to a press release from Hotels.com. The hotel site says it has seen an increase in demand for destinations with vibrant flea markets. Searches for cities with good second-hand shopping have increased by between 30 and 70 per cent. Here are five popular cities for flea markets, with suggestions for hotels:

Amsterdam (Conscious Hotel Westerpark) - for the eco-tourist
Milan (Hotel Milano Scala) - for conscious fashionistas
Paris (Eden Lodge Paris) - for antique enthusiasts
Berlin (The Circus Hotel) - for bargain hunters
Vienna (Hotel Gilbert) - to discover hidden gems

Reflection of the week

Well, we've never really thought about going on a flea market holiday. But the cities sound interesting! Several of them are on our list, and we hope to visit Vienna and Berlin, among others. Maybe the trip next year?

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Most Christmassy travel list, biggest ship and sleepiest hotel