Travel: Stockholm
27 Jul 10
Where to visit, where to stay
Stockholm
TO VISIT...
Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival 17-19/24-26 September
This celebration of the grain nectar in all of its forms is held over two weekends. Taking place at the Factory Nacka Strand, this is one of Europe’s biggest exhibitions of beer and whisky. More than that, it also features cider and calvados – bringing the total varieties to more than 1,400. It’s pitched at both novices and connoisseurs, with seminars, tastings and the chance to pick the brains of experts behind the various counters. Also, a live band will provide the soundtrack to the occasion and awards in different categories will separate the good from the knee-trembling excellent.
TO STAY...
Hotel J
There is something reassuringly confident about a hotel that strips its name to just a bare letter. The hotel J is certainly forward about asserting its ambitions – to bring the “US sailing paradise of Newport to Stockholm”. The influence is American boathouses, so expect lots of wood and views of boats moving back and forth from the islands in Stockholm’s archipelago. The hotel, boasting 45 rooms, is in Nacka Strand, convenient for the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival, as well as shops, restaurants and a marina. Rooms start from about SEK 1,390. For more details, visit www.hotelj.com
High praise for Air NZ
AIRLINE REVIEWS>
Consumer Advice body Which? has branded Air New Zealand the “Best Airline” in its 2010 awards.
In the most recent Which? member airline survey, the airline received a maximum five-star rating for the quality of its online check-in, seat allocation, boarding arrangements, cleanliness, inflight entertainment and cabin staff.
It also reached a value-for-money rating of 89 per cent – compared with the industry average of 66 per cent – and 98 per cent of passengers said they would recommend the airline to a friend. Also shortlisted were Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
IN BRIEF>
• Travelodge has opened its 400th hotel, just a few minutes’ walk from Waterloo Station in London. The £21.1mi conversion of a former bank has 279 rooms and will trial a free cycle service where customers can hire a Go Cycle electric bike.
• British Airways has launched PrivateConnect with private jet firm CitationAir. The programme will provide access to Citation aircraft on a pay-per-hour rate, with no contract or long-term commitment. The service is open to British Airways Executive Club members, passengers who have flown the airline in the previous 12 months, and organisations that hold a corporate account with the airline. Visit www.citationair.com for more details.
• Crathes Castle near Banchory has launched new meeting facilities with a lecture room for up to 60 delegates and a boardroom for up to 16. Day Delegate rates start from £35 per person, including parking, wi-fi and home cooking.
• Dublin’s new convention centre is set to open on 7 September with the capacity for 8,000 delegates. Visit www.theccd.ie for more information.
Coming soon in 3D – your holiday pics!
SONY CYBER-SHOT WX5>
First it was breaching the megapixel milestones, then it was HD video, and now we have a compact camera that captures images in 3D format.
The Sony WX5, due to launch in September, can take the information from up to 100 images to automatically create a stereoscopic pair of frames. The only catch is, you’ll need a 3D TV to view them.
The camera also offers “Sweep Multi Angle” – a high-speed burst of 15 frames, creates a 3D-style image of your subject that can be viewed from different angles on the screen as you tilt the device.
You can also get shots usually achieved with an SLR, such as a sharp subject with an unfocused background. As well as shooting well in low light, the camera can also take HD video and the old-fashioned 2D pics with a 12.2 megapixel sensor.
Your rights made clear
TRAVELLER INFORMATION>
The European Commission has launched a website that spells out what you are entitled to when travel plans go pear-shaped. The site is split by air, rail, other modes of transport and luggage.
It is part of the Commission’s Your Passenger Rights At Hand campaign which will display posters reminding people of their rights in airports and train stations.
Massive investment for Gatwick
AIRPORT UPGRADE>
Gatwick’s £1 bn investment in its facilities over the next two years has begun to bear fruit.
The investment is expected to reach every part of the airport, including the South Terminal departure lounge, entrance forecourts, immigration hall, baggage systems and the North Terminal Interchange.
In July, the airport launched a new inter-terminal shuttle and a multi-million pound extension to the North Terminal is also planned.
The launch of the programme comes the week after the Government announced it is establishing the South-East Airports Taskforce, which will seek to improve the passenger experience at the UK’s three busiest airports.
Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, said: “We welcome the introduction of the South-East Airports Taskforce and look forward to working with the new Government, airlines and industry partners to deliver a great experience for Gatwick passengers, now and in the future.
“The quality of service we provide to passengers and airlines is central to our future growth and development strategy,” added Stewart.