Stockholm September 1997.

This trip was a Familiarisation trip with Finnair (hosted by David Redshaw). There were about 10 of us from different travel companies. We flew to Stockholm direct from Manchester in Business class. To be honest, the seats are pretty much the same and business class cabin is only separated by a curtain. We did receive a dinner and free drinks on board.





On arrival at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, we transferred to the First Hotel Reisen in the city Centre. First Hotels are one of the main Hotel Chains in Scandinavia. The Hotel Reisen is a 5* Hotel near to the Royal Palace and is very central. The rooms are very nice and the hotel has a Wellness Spa as well as Conference and Banqueting facilities. We met in the bar for drinks after checking in....
We had a tour of the Hotel the next day and got to see all the facilities and their best rooms.

We only had a couple of days, so went on a sightseeing trip. Stockholm is built on 14 Islands. There are lots of museums to visit including the Viking Vasa Museum. We also saw the Royal Palace and the City Hall where the Nobel Peace Prize Banquet is held every year. The shops are really nice, but beware Sweden is very expensive, they use the SEK Swedish Krone.

Even though it is expensive, it is a beautiful place to visit with lots of nice bars and restaurants and plenty to see and do. We had lunch at the Scandic Sergel Plaza in Stockholm's Old Town.

The Sergel Plaza is also a really nice Hotel and has a Spa and Fitness Gym and is in a very good Location. Scandic Hotels are another leading chain in Scandinavia.

After lunch and our visit to the Vasa Viking Museum we made our way to the Silija Line Terminal for our Ferry to Helsinki. Silija Line is the main company that sails between Scandinavia and the Baltic Regions. We all had our own private cabins which were en suite and quite big. After dumping our bags, we met at the Star Dust bar for drinks before dinner. The bar was really nice, I am just glad we did not have to pay for the drinks!!!!!!!!

The dinner was a buffet style and they had loads of different dishes and choice. There is entertainment and cabaret on board and a disco after. The boat was really busy with people who told us they commute between Helsinki and Stockholm. They must be mad!!!, I could not do that every week!!!!!! (Although it is like a floating Hotel.) Everybody had sore head the next morning as the disco went on till about 3am and the drinks kept flowing!!!!!!!

Breakfast was about 0800 the next morning on the boat and we all felt very rough!!!!!

We had to disembark by 0930 but we just wanted to sleep!!!!
We transferred by coach to our city Tour of Helsinki. Helsinki is a nice city, again expensive but there are lots to see and do. There is Senate Square, Korkeasaari Zoo, National Museum of Finland among others. There is also the Linnanmaki Amusement Park for the kids and adults if you like.!!!!! The weather when we were there was dark and wet which was a complete contrast from Stockholm which was really sunny and warm. We probably did not appreciate the tour as much as we should have as everybody was really hung over!!!!! In Helsinki they use the Euro.

After the City Tour we were taken to the Strand Intercontinental in Helsinki for lunch (Now the Hilton Helsinki Strand). The hotel is a Luxury Hotel close to the shops and has a rooftop Swedish Sauna which we all decided to try. The hotel also has a gym, pool and very nice restaurant. The food is nice in Sweden and Helsinki, but if like me you do not like rare steak then do not order it. Well don't means cooked on the outside and rare inside, the Scandinavians do not appear to to 'Well done' on any food.

After our very nice lunch, we made out way back to Helsinki Airport for the evening flight back to Manchester. The trip was great and I would definitely like to go back to Stockholm to explore on my own. Ryanair now fly to Nykoping which is a cheaper alternative to flying to Stockholm Arlanda. Nykoping is approx 55 miles from Stockholm. There are lots of hotels to suit all budgets in Stockholm and Helsinki.