How Spontaneous Are You?By Madelyn Miller
THREE OF MY FAVORITE DESTINATIONS HAVE JUST GONE ON SALE. About Malaysia Airlines More About SwedenIn Sweden, the seasons are a contrast. Light summer nights when the sun barely dips below the horizon alternates with short, snowy winter days. Stockholm is one third water, one third green belt and one third city.
GREAT GUIDEBOOK Stockholm BEST MAP A map really matters in Stockholm. The best one is free, a 12 page section of STOCKHOLM SHOPPING GUIDE. I got mine free at Victory Hotel in Old Town, but search one out. Madelyn's Favorites In StockholmRestaurants Gondolen (the Gondola) Restaurant Leijontornet Grinda Wardshus Yasuragi’s Teppan Yaki Restaurant Hasseludden Konferense & Yasuragi BEST DEAL ON A MEAL Hisar Fastfood There are lots of interesting ethnic choices in this food market. I saw a crowd around a Turkish sandwich shop and decided to follow the natives. For less than four dollars 25kr. I had a vegetarian pita filled with a stuffed grape leaf, fried eggplant and more vegetables all covered with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and smothered with garlic sauce, red pepper sauce and eggplant sauce. Yum. And then I found out this bargain price included water or apple juice. COOLEST PLACE TO EAT Upplev Icehotel Sommar BEST INTERNET CAFÉ Café Old Town Spegeln About 40 K an hour. But you will not be able to resist the delicious pastries and coffee. You will easily spend that much on snacks while you are there. I found myself thinking about my email everytime I walked the café and got a whiff of the delicious baked goods BEST PLACE FOR HOMESICK AMERICANS Grays American Foodstore in Gamla Stan has all the most-missed snacks including Oreo cookies and Snapple Iced Tea. They also sell all-American breakfast cereals. MADELYN'S FAVORITE HOTELS Victory Hotel
MOST UNUSUAL PLACE TO STAY You can stay in the former prison of Longholmen. You can also buy appropriate nightwear here—modern reproductions of the old prisoner’s shirts. GET AWAY FOR A DAY Grinda, an archipalgo island, is only an hour away. Yasuragi, a center for tranquility, beauty and harmony is a place where guests can wind down, clear their thoguhts and regain energy to tackle stresses and pressures of everyday life. BEST CAMERA SHOP Kameradoktorn at David Bagares Gata 3. I hope you do not need this information. Unfortunately, I did. BEST PLACE TO CHANGE MONEY Forex is everywhere, but eXchange gives you better rates and charges no commission no matter how small an amount you exchange BEST DEAL IN TOWN The Stockholm Card which costs 260 kr (about $36) and allows you access to 70 museums and public transportation for 24 hours. The card can be purchased online at www.stockholmtown.com/stockholmcard HOW TO GET A TAX REFUND If you spend over 250 kr in one store, ask for the Global Tax refund form. They will seal and stamp your purchase which you must then show at a cash refund point when you leave the country. You will save up to 18% TRANSPORTATION Bus, underground and local trains Taxi Air The express train, Arlanda Express departs every 15 mnutes and takes 20 minutes to get into town. Airport buses depart every 5-15 minutes and take 35 minutes to get into the center. Train For more information Stockholm Visitors Board MORE ABOUT TAIWANCURRENCY The Republic of China’s unit of Currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). The current exchange rate is US to NT$33, and it slightly fluctuates from time to time. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at most of the banks and hotels. Major credit cards are accepted and Travelers Checks may be cashed at some tourist oriented businesses and by room guests at most international hotels ELECTRICITY Electric current is 110 volts, 60 cycles AC. Drinking water served at hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled. WEATHER The climate is sub-tropical with an average annual temperature of 22C (72F) in the North and 24C (75F) in the South. Summer lasts from May to October and is usually hot and humid with average daytime highs from 27C to 35C (81F to 95F) Winter lasts from November to February and is short and mild with average lows from 12C to 16C (54F to 61F) Snow falls only on higher mountains. CLOTHING Sweaters and light jackets or coats are advisable from December through March and light clothing in April though November. TIPPING A 10% service charge and 5% value added tax (VAT) are automatically added to room rates and meals. Tip your guide or driver $2.00 to $4.00 a day. BE PREPARED It helps to have a guidebook like Lonely Planet with a simple dictionary. Many people in Taipei speak English, but outside the center of cities you may have trouble being understood. Sometimes it helps if you write out a question, rather than saying it, as Taiwan people are more used to reading English than speaking it. Outside of major cities and luxury hotels, you may need to provide your own toilet paper. Carry packages of Kleenex with you. You may also want to use the Kleenex for napkins if you sample street or market food. Drinking water served at hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled. As a precaution, water should not be drunk directly from the tap. Lock your hotel room door. Most hotel doors do not lock automatically. Also check the windows. Sometimes they are left open for guests. I learned that one night when I nearly froze to death in the mountains despite covering myself with two quilts and sleeping in my clothes. When I heard loud voices early the next morning, I realized the window had been open. GREAT GUIDES I believe a good guide makes all the difference on a trip. And I had a great one on my recent trip thought Taiwan. Ask for Yichi at Golden Foundation Tours. Golden Foundation Tours Corp. HELPFUL WEBSITES www.taiwan.net.tw TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTER Hotline 886-2-2717-3737 from 8am to 7pm WHERE TO STAY IN TAIPEI Grand Formosa Regent Taipei Crowne Plaza Rebar Taipei MORE ABOUT MALAYSIAGreat Guidebook Insight Guide To Malaysia Malaysian Airlines is well recognized for its superlative service, cuisine and hospitality. (1-800-552-9264) www.malaysiaairlines.com.my/ Where To Stay: HOMESTAY contact Basir B. Wagiman Tourism Malaysia: http://tourism.gov.my |
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Fly Roundtrip to Malaysia for $600; Taipei or Stockholm just $400
Stockholm has got history—but also the latest in fashion and IT. The trendy Stockholmers are often used as a test market by international companies, as they are quick to pick up on the latest trends. This is the most obvious on the island of Sodermalm, a hotbed of fashion, young culture and entertainment.
Sheraton Stockholm Hotel &Tower