Travel writer Aruna Rathod discovers a unique hotel concept that offers the finest stays in the Swedish cities of Linköping and Stockholm.
All the warmth and comfort of a home, and all the luxury and convenience of a hotel – the Sky Hotel Apartments offer the best of both worlds for a perfect stay, whether it is for one night or for a month and more.
Sky Hotel Apartments was founded in Linköping in 2009, on the 19th floor of tallest residential building called Tornet – thus inspiring the name Sky. Today the Sky Group has two sparkling properties – one in the quaint city of Linköping and the other in capital Stockholm, with a third one ready to be unveiled in Linköping’s city centre this September.
Each of the Sky properties are extremely easy to access by local transport, located in vibrant neighbourhoods that give a beautiful feel of the Swedish urbanscape.
Swedish style
With a stylish Swedish decor, each hotel room stands out with its minimal design, bright colours and loads of comfort thrown in. The 24-hour reception is a great help, while the in-house restaurants offer great meals and drinks in superb settings.
My room was a pleasant surprise; the corridor to the room was super wide with numbers in big bold typeface placed against a bright coloured background making it easy to navigate my way to the room. The first thing that struck me was the wall-to-wall windows bringing in plenty of sunlight.
White walls, bright orange upholstery on a sofa, a round dining table and a well-equipped tiny kitchenette. A big bathroom in white and grey, with a shower cubicle, a large mirror and a wide wash basin lent an element of spaciousness. What more could one ask for!! I looked forward to my two-night Stockholm stay in luxury.
After taking in the main sights in the old town, I returned to the hotel and decided to have a look at the Bistro. When in Sweden, guests must try the local dish of Swedish meatballs and I did. It came in a square white plate, looking absolutely appetising.
This traditional dish is served with sauce and mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam and pickled gherkins alongwith bread and butter. A bonus is that residents of the hotel get a 10 percent discount. Satiated, I decided to call it a night.
Next morning’s breakfast was a delight too. With plenty of cold cuts, cereals, fruits, juices and a variety of breads it was enough to energise me to start my day.
Stockholm calling
Stockholm consists of 14 islands connected by bridges and waterways. The Swedes are extremely proud of Lake Malaren with its clean, crystal-clear waters. The birthplace of IKEA, design is in the DNA of every Swedish home and hotel. Sweden is all about high-end fashion stores, stunning 18th century buildings, opulent restaurants, pretty cafes and a harbour packed with luxury boats and the bustle of beautiful people.
The large blue building in the city centre is Stockholm’s Concert Hall. It’s a special building with a a grand facade of 10 Corinthian columns and sculpture called the Orpheus Fountain in front of it, created by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles. The Nobel Prize Award ceremony has been held here since 1901.
The square in front of the hall is called the Hotorget – a cobble-stoned market place that sells colourful flowers and fruits. Flanked by lion sculptures in granite, Drottninggatan is the longest shopping street in Sweden. High-end stores, small stores, cafes, pubs and eateries – expect plenty of action on this street.
Hop-on-Hop-off
Watching Stockholm from the sea is charming. A good place to start the boat tour is the Gamla Stan old town, where you can explore this island on foot for a bit before you get on the boat. Charming stores, tiny outlets with handmade artefacts in wood, glass, metal. Runes Stone – the gift shop with handmade local creations and Tyger & Ting store, with its beautiful custom-made pieces are the outlets to watch out for.
The boat also goes to the Royal Palace, Nybroplan, the Vasa Museum, Skeppsholmen, Grona Lund Tivoli and Fotografiska, before returning to Gamla Stan. The hop-on-hop-off bus has a fairly long route stretching over two hours from The Royal Opera, which is the first stop, and covers more or less the same points as the boat does, it has some interesting stops thrown in like the Ice Bar, Skansen and City Hall, that deserve a quick stop.
Address: Lindhagensgatan 90, 112 18, Stockholm
Phone: +46 8 518 000 00
Website: skyhotelapartments.se
