It was Monday and time for travel news again. This week we can tell you about National Geographic's new list of the world's 25 best travel destinations - where the Stockholm archipelago has been given an honourable place!
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New motorhome registrations continue to rise
Interest in new motorhomes continues to be high and new registration figures for motorhomes continue to rise in October. This is reported by the National Association of the Caravan and Motorhome Industry (HRF). The new registration figures for caravans show a slight increase compared to the same month a year ago. Positive signals about the economy and expected interest rate cuts have had an impact on the willingness to invest, although many customers are still waiting.
- Motorhome registrations October 2024: 241 motor caravans (compared with 183 in the same period last year).
- Caravan registrations October 2024: 148 caravans (compared with 141 in the same period last year).
Milestones in the construction of Stena Line's NewMax vessels
Stena Line has reached two more milestones in the construction of the new NewMax vessels - the launch of Stena Futura and keel laying of the second vessel, which will be named Stena Connecta. Once operational, Stena Connecta and Stena Futura will increase freight capacity by 40 per cent on the Belfast-Heysham route, in response to increased demand from customers travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The two hybrid vessels play a key role in Stena Line's journey towards sustainable fuel as they will both be able to run on methanol fuel.
Finnish innovation turns Viking Line coffee grounds into soil
Almost all waste from Viking Line's vessels is transported ashore for recycling, reuse or composting. Since spring 2024, the shipping company has been collecting coffee grounds from the five Finnish-flagged vessels together with the Finnish company VG EcoFuel. The coffee grounds are used as raw material in Berner Oy's Green Care Kahvimulta product line. Frying fat from the restaurants is also collected and used to produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which is a biological substitute for diesel.
Soon time for the old-fashioned Christmas market in Säter
The old-fashioned Christmas market in Säter, one of Sweden's most authentic Christmas markets, once again welcomes visitors from near and far. On 1 December, from 14:00 to 18:00 in the centre of Säter - the wooden town. Last year it was the first time with exhibitors also on Salutorget, and this continues this year. New for this year is, among other things, that the students of the School of Culture will appear here and there. "We look forward to adding to the Christmas atmosphere with music and performances in the spirit of the season," says Anette Kotilainen, Head of Culture.
Trend report - how we will travel in 2025
Global travel platform Omio has recently launched its first annual NowNext '24 report, which maps out the biggest trends in travel for 2025, based on survey research and data from Omio's travel platform. Here are the hottest trends according to the report:
- Metropolitan pulse in focus: Swedes flock to big cities for food, music and sport.
- Solo travel trendy among men: As many as 45 % of Swedish men plan to travel solo in 2025, compared to 35 % of women.
- Lost in Translation: Language barriers and complicated transport systems are perceived as the biggest stressors.
- The heat of summer over the calm of the off-season: A full 82 % of Swedish travellers plan to travel in summer 2025.
- The AI revolution in travel planning: More and more Swedish travellers are relying on AI and social media for inspiration and planning.
- Sustainable travel remains a priority: Travellers plan to avoid big chains and support local businesses instead.
World's 25 best travel destinations 2025 - Stockholm archipelago on the list
National Geographic has named the world's 25 best travel destinations for 2025, and the Stockholm archipelago is on the list. The reason given is that you can follow the new hiking trail "Stockholm Archipelago Trail", which is a 270 kilometre long trail that passes 21 different islands. Here are all the destinations, with excerpts from the justifications:
North America
- Ocala National Forest, Florida - one of Florida's last wild places
- Los Angeles, California - modern art
- Haida Gwaii, British Columbia - Haida traditions
- Boise, Idaho - celebration of Basque culture
South and Central America
- Antigua, Guatemala - hike to the top of Volcán de Fuego
- Guadalajara, Mexico - mariachi music
- Cerrado, Brazil - bird watching and wolf spotting
- Barbados - new project on the history of slavery
Europe
- Cenobitic Monasteries, Italy - accommodation with spiritual tranquillity
- Greenland - New airport makes the spectacular island more accessible
- Brasov, Romania - Transilvanica Trail hiking trail
- Stockholm archipelago, Sweden - Island hike along new hiking trail
- Cork, Ireland - urban and port development
- Outer Hebrides, Scotland - ancient archipelago, as seen in TV series
Africa
- Senegal - a culinary journey
- KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa - new safari destination
- Tunisia - archaeological monuments from Roman times
Asia
- Bangkok, Thailand - Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple restored
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia - diving in the underwater world
- Kanazawa, Japan - classic Japan, without the crowds
- Eastern & Oriental Express, Malaysia - luxury train back in service
- Suru Valley, India - the world's next big climbing destination
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - great new museums
Oceania
- Northland, New Zealand - unique wildlife with fish and birds
- Murray River, Australia - through the heart of Australia
The pump - unique super swing coming to Grönan in 2025
A new attraction is coming to Gröna Lund in 2025. When this super swing opens in April 2025, it will be the second attraction of its kind in the world and the first in Northern Europe. Its unique design with oscillating and pumping movements creates a ride that offers weightlessness, falling and speed, which will give you a real thrill. The design and architecture is inspired by the history of Gröna Lund, specifically a building that housed a variety show in the park in the 1930s.
Reflection of the week
It's great that the Stockholm archipelago is on National Geographic's new list of the world's best travel destinations! As for the other destinations on the list, there are many we haven't visited, but a list like this can always serve as some inspiration. Do you have experience with any of the destinations on the list?
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Hot autumn destinations, digital detox and Baltic Sea cruises
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Mobile living, bridge traffic trends and winter swimming
Interest in motorhome, new cruise and underwater hotel
New world heritage site - and this is where Swedes are flying this winter
Romantic holidays and popular destinations in Spain
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Anna Nilsson Spets says:
Interesting with the top 25 destinations, Senegal as a culinary journey, hmmm, noooo, was anything but a great one, but maybe I missed something?
Raja ampat appeals, the other targets less so, but I'm picky
04 November 2024 - 6:05
Helena says:
Interesting to read your reflection, not least about Senegal. I have no idea of course, as I have not been there. This is how they write:
Senegal's West African cuisine is a tantalizing blend of Wolof and French influences. Must-try meals include ceebu jën, the national dish of fish, rice, and vegetables, and soupe kanja, a Senegalese gumbo. Take a cooking class or street food tour in Dakar with Relish Africa and be ready to share-many dishes are eaten communally in the spirit of teranga, the nation's culture of hospitality.
Romania appeals to me, and Greenland. I don't really know how they choose, but it feels like they (at least in some cases) highlight destinations that have recently developed something new.
04 November 2024 - 6:32
Yossu says:
I visited Abu Dhabi several years ago, and went to the Louvre museum, which was fairly new at the time. But I'm sure many more new museums worth seeing have been built since then.
Glad that Romania is on the list. Although I preferred the rural areas when I visited Romania, cosy cities always attract. And Brasov became even more interesting in my eyes with the hiking trail.
04 November 2024 - 8:48