Favourite countries for camping, best food & most googled beaches

The Midsummer holidays are over and it's Monday again, which of course means travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. This week, it's all about camping countries, food countries and popular beaches, among other things. Stay tuned!

Unusual number of people booking last-minute holidays this summer

At the moment, there are an unusually high number of last-minute bookings compared to a normal summer. At the travel company TUI, almost half of all trips booked right now are trips with departure in the near future. The change in weather in recent weeks from high summer heat to cooler temperatures has led to a rush for last-minute travel at TUI. Turkey is one of the destinations with the strongest recent booking trends.

Swedes' favourite countries for camping

Swedes' first choice for camping in Europe is a neighbouring country, according to a Kantar Sifo survey commissioned by motorhome and caravan retailer Forsbergs Fritidscenter. A full 26 per cent said Norway was their first choice, with Italy in second place at 17 per cent. Most popular camping countries in Europe:

1. Norway
2. Italy
3. Austria
4. Denmark
5. France
6. Switzerland
7. Croatia
8. Spain
9. Germany
10. Ireland

Best food country to visit - according to Swedish travellers

Mediterranean food is what Swedes want to enjoy when we are on holiday, and most of all Italian food, according to Tickets Sifo survey. Number two on the list of favourite food countries is Greece, closely followed by France and Spain. City dwellers prefer French and Italian food to a greater extent than in the rest of Sweden (51 and 20 per cent respectively).

Sweden's most Googled swimming spots

Growth agency Maia Marketing has investigated what search interest looked like on Google in July 2023 for Sweden's bathing sites. The fact that bathing sites are sought after does not necessarily mean that they are popular. Search volumes can also be influenced by events reported by the media, for example. But with this analysis, we can get an insight into which bathing sites are likely to be popular this year too.

1. Böda Sand, Öland
2. Pite havsbad, Norrbotten
3. Tylösand, Halland
4. Knäcksbäckshusen (closed in 2024), Skåne
5. Byske havsbad, Västerbotten
6. Ljugarn, Gotland
7. Skrea beach, Halland
8. Tofta beach, Gotland
9. Årsta havsbad, Stockholm
10. Löderup beach bath, Skåne

Plitvice Lakes - one of Europe's most beautiful national parks

Croatia is famous for its outstanding natural beauty and crystal-clear sea. The country protects its natural treasures by eight national parks and eleven nature parks. One of these, Plitvice Lakes, has recently been recognised as one of Europe's most beautiful national parks by EuropeanBestDestinations.com. The Plitvice Lakes, the oldest and largest national park in Croatia, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The national park consists of a system of 16 turquoise lakes connected by impressive waterfalls.

European Championship or Olympic Games? Where Swedes are travelling

2024 is a big year for sport: the European Football Championship in Germany is already in full swing and the Summer Games in France are around the corner. During the respective event days, Swedish searches for Germany have increased by 19 per cent compared to the same period last year, while searches for France have increased by 10 per cent compared to the previous year. This according to figures from Hotels.com.

The five most sought-after German host cities for the European Football Championship:

1. Berlin
2. Munich
3. Frankfurt
4. Cologne
5. Hamburg

The five most sought-after French host cities for the Summer Games:

1. Paris
2. Lyon
3. Marseille
4. Lille
5. Bordeaux

New scenic caravan park in Uddevalla

A new caravan park has now opened at Bodele in Uddevalla. There are 19 pitches with sea views in scenic surroundings. Bodele bathing area, Strandpromenaden and the historic seaside resort of Gustafsberg are just next door. At the caravan park there is electricity on all 19 motorhome pitches. There is also a service building, drinking water, latrine emptying and rubbish collection. Grey water drainage is not yet open, but will be up and running soon. To book a pitch, scan a QR code and go to the website Real motorway service areas - Uddevalla.

New sightseeing tour to Ulriksdal Palace with Strömma's first electric boat

Strömma Turism & Sjöfart is launching this summer a unique sightseeing tour to Ulriksdal Castle i Solna with its new electric boat, E/S Prins Daniel. The tour includes a guided walk through the castle park and a visit to the Orangery Museum. The new tour will run on four Saturdays this summer, starting on 6 July. The boat will depart from Strömkajen at 10:00 and return at 15:30, with 2.5 hours at Ulriksdal Palace.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the More pitches, style tips and sand sculptures