Design weekend in London

Staying at the Sanctum Soho Hotel is a perfect if you are in London for a design weekend. http://www.sanctumsoho.com/ The location is great close to the restaurants and shopping on Regent Street and Soho.
The hotel was awarded the London Lifestyle Award in 2010. And it is easy to understand, when you see the fab interior which is crowned by a cool bar on the roof with a pool.
And their moijitos are great.

We spent one morning in the National Gallery museum. It is really nice to see the original beautiful paintings of Monet, Rembrand, Rubens and Van Gogh. A the view from the museum is lovely. Bring your camera!
A nice place to shop is the National Gallery Shop. Visit it in the museum on 30 Orange Street.

The Lumas photo gallery and shop exhibit stunning photos. I went there to get some nice inspiration before I took off for some shopping at Regent Street. http://www.lumas.com/

We had a lovely lunch a the exclusive Japanese resturant Matsuri on 15 Bury Street. The fire ball dessert is something special. http://www.matsuri-restaurant.com/

I just love shopping a Selfridges on 400, Oxford Street. Here you find design hand bags, watches, clothes and so much more. The shop Liberty is another favorite. It is located on Regent Street and houses loads of beautiful designer clothes, note books, hand bags, scarfs and so much more.

A romantic dinner at Angleas resturant with great food and drinks is a nice way to end the day. Or pop in to the Dehesa Charcturerie and Tapas Bar is also a nice place for some drinks and food. It is close to the hotel at 25 Ganton Street. http://www.dehesa.co.uk/

Prague in 24 hours

Do you only have one day to spend in Prague? Don´t worry. This is your guide to an amazing 24 hours in romantic Prague. Enjoy!

08.00 Breakfast at the Four Seasons Prague

09.00 Take a slow walk over the 15th century Charles bridge with its 30 Baroque statues. Bring your camera. The view is so beautiful and romantic.

10.00 Enjoy the atmosphere in the beautiful old town of Prague. The power tower, the astronomical clock and the old town square is defintely worth a visit. And there is lots of nice shops around here.

12.00 Lunch-time... Have something light to eat at the Mandarin Oriental, wow, this hotel has a fantastic view & food!

13.30 Visit the magnificient Prague castle, which is supposed to be the largest ancient castle in the world. Here you also find some original manuscripts of Mozart is on dispaly.

15.00 Visit the Museum of communism and learn about a part of the country´s history.

16.00 Shopping time! Go to the Wenceslas Square for some serious shopping. If you prefer luxury labels such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and Hermes go to the Parizska street. Don´t miss to buy the Czech glass and art glass, it is famous and when you see it you will understand why.

19.00 Beer tasting? Go into the nearest pub and try the local beers. Czech republic is famous for its beers.
FS Prague recommended me the breweries: Kolkovna, Bredovsky Dvur, Olympia, Celnice, U Fleku, Pivovarsky dum, but I haven´t had the time to try them all... yet.

20.00 Enjoy an Italian/Mediterranean dinner at the Allegro, only Michelin-starred restaurant in Czech Republic.

Do you have any suggestions on more fab things to add to the schedule? Please leave a comment here.

Top lux hotels in Prague

• The Prague Mandarin Oriental is built on the site of a former 14th century monastery. The hotel has a fantastic location and a fab view of the city.
• Kempinski Hybernska Hotel is a luxury hotel which is built in a very impressive building, a baroque Palace „U Věžníků“.
• Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa is a lux hotel in another magnificent Baroque landmark, "Dům u Ježíška" dating from the 16th century.
• The Hotel Savoy is a charming and modern 5 star boutique hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Prague.
• Four Seasons Prague . Lux at it best!

Top restaurants in Prague
A friend of mine who visits Prague a lot also recommended me these nice restaurants: A really very good restaurant is Kampala Park, another good restaurant is in the Rocco Forte hotel and finally Cihelna a slightly more informal but good food restaurant.


PS. 24 hours in Prague is not so much. There are 12 UNESCO sites in Czech Republic, be aware that you will want to go back as soon as you left.

PS2. In winter time. Do not miss the cosy Christmas Market.

Paris in 24 hours

Only one day in Paris? Don´t get stressed. This is your guide to a fab 24 hours in Paris. Enjoy!

08.00 Breakfast at Coco Chanel´s favorite hotel, the Ritz Paris hotel. Coco lived here for many years and it is one if the most luxurious hotels in Paris.

09.00 Walk on the famous street Champs-Élysées, see the beautiful monument the Arc de Triomphe and take some pictures. It stands on the Place Charles de Gaulle and is the second largest triumphal arch in the world.

10.00 When in Paris, it is a must to see the MonaLisa painting at the Louvre museum.

11.30 Time for some shopping. An hour of intensive shopping at the Lafayette department store.

13.00 Rest your shoes (and wallet) and have a relaxed lunch in the lovely green garden of lux restaurant Laurent

15.00 Take a taxi to Montmarte, and ask the taxi driver to pass the Eifel tower on the way...
Visit Montmarte, this is a lovely part of Paris, which is an old art district.
Buy some art in the street and enjoy the atmosphere. Many famous painters worked here, such as Dalí, Monet, Picasso and van Gogh. You should also visit the beautiful church Basilica of the Sacré Cœur. It is definitely worth the walk up the hill.

17.00 Enough of exercise. Time for a class of wine tasting at the wine museum, Musee du vin.
The Wine Museum is housed in what used to be crude limestone quarries that were mined between the 13th and the 18th centuries to provide the dressed stoneused to build Paris.

19.30 A late dinner & cruise on the Seine River. You can book it through a tour operator.

23.00 Fab drinks and music at the Budda Bar. The bar looks out over the dining area where a gigantic Buddha sits on its throne. Don´t forget to buy the Buddha Bar cd before you leave so you can bring the feeling to your home.

Do you have any suggestions on more fab things to add to the schedule? Please leave a comment here.

Gastronomic Gothenburg

I have been in Gothenburg this weekend. What a lovely weekend! I am not there so often, should actually go there more often. Cause it is such a nice city.
As you maybe know, Gothenburg is Sweden´s second largest city. It is situated on the west coast by the sea with lovely sea view, restaurants, shops, theatre, opera & museums.

The top 10 things to do in Gothenburg is:

1. Linnea Art Restaurant. Book a table in the bistro and enjoy great food surrounded by lovely art glass. You can order the art glass from the waiter.

2. Boutique Tinna. Classic Svenskt Tenn interior decorations and art. They also have nice necklaces, earrings and watches. I bought a fab lilac watch here, which I adore! It is on Kungsgatan 56, close to NK shopping mall.

3. The restaurant Familjen (the Family). Great food at low prices. A great but not usual combination. It seems to be very crowded every night so y0u need to book a table in advance.

4. Go on a trip in the wheel. Go on a 360 degree trip in the sightseeing wheel and enjoy the view of Gothenburg from 60 m.

5. Wow what a place! Stay at the hotel Avalon. Swim in the pool on the roof and look down on the street, 50 meters down, through the glass floor in the pool. Scary or lovely? It is up to you... We had a nice lunch in the restaurant, the food and service were good.

6. Saluhallen. A fab food hall where you can stroll around and see all diferent food on sale.

7. Liseberg, the fun fair. Go there for a ride in the summer if you have kids or go there in the winter for their lovely and huge christmas market. They have performances with good artists on the stage in the summer and there is also a theatre.

8. Fiskekrogen. (the fish restaurant). This is the famous fish restaurant with top chefs and fresh fish and shell fish. A fish-lovers dream.

9. An evening at the opera is nice for those who loves music. The opera house plays both musicals and operas. Quite unusual.

10. Take a boat trip in the archipelago. Go to Brännö island and stay a night to get the feeling of the life in the archipelago. It is so beautiful and peaceful for your mind to see the sun set or sun down over the sea.

Relax in Riga

I visited Riga, the capital of Latvia, for a weekend in the summer.
It is a historial city with a lot of beautiful buildings and the largest city of the Baltic states.

Some call Riga the world capital of Art Nouveau and its historical city center is a UNESCO world heritage site.


Top ten things to do in Riga

1. Take a walk in the old town and admire the beautiful buildings.Take a picture of the Maingaivju (Blackheads) house and the house of Three Brothers, some medieval residential houses. Pass by Smilšu Street 2 and see the goddess figure. It is considered to be the most
   beautiful Art Nouveau sculpture of a woman in Riga.
2. Buy amber and traditional russian wooden dolls on the market in the old town
3. Visit the Latvian Museum Occupations and get some insight to the history
4. Visit the Riga Cathedral
5. Take a walk around the Riga Castle built in 1497 and check out the home of the President.
6. Have pancakes / crépes in the old town
7. Get a fab view of Riga from the tower in the St. Peters church or from the TV-tower.
8. See the Victory monument (a Soviet monument)
9. If you like Wagner visit the Wagner Concert Hall where he used to have concerts when he lived in Riga.
10. Visit the central market, a large food market to see the local food

If you are in to shopping, visit Stockmann, a department store in central Riga
And if you like opera, there is an opera house - The Latvia National Opera- with great prices and operas.
If you are a spa-lover take go to one of the Spas in Riga, maybe the ESPA Spa. Or take the short trip to Jurmala. A spa retreat by the sea. The hotel Jurmala spa looks nice.

Where to stay?

• Clarion Collection Hotel Valdemars
• Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel Riga
• Reval Hotel Ridzene
• Grand Palace Hotel
• De Rome Hotel

Where to eat?

• Fine dining at the Vincents
• Medieval dinner at Rozengrāls
• Finest meat at the Restaurant C.U.T.
• Fine dining at the Grand Palace Hotel restaurant

Colourful Cape Town

I went to Cape Town in South Africa for a weekend. My conclusion is that you can see a lot in Cape Town over a weekend. But it will be a busy weekend. Cape Town is such a beautiful place with a lot to see and do.

Extraordinary and unexpected view
I had a really nice breakfast at the SAS Radisson in the Waterfront. Suddenly the waiter came by and said - Look at the waves and pointed at the sea.

I looked and nodded. The view of the sea is nice. But then I thought, why are so many people gathering by the window with their cameras?

Then I realized, I heard wrong, he didnt say waves, he said whales... so I grabbed my camera and joined the crowd to get some pictures of the awesome view... whales in the sea, just outside the hotel.

1. Visit the Cape of good hope. It is totally stunning to see the two seas meet, and definitely worth the trip. It is about an hour from Cape Town. Take a picture of yourself in front of the famous sign. It is said that it is the most southern-western part you can visit of Africa.Bring your camera but watch out for the baboons on the way there. Their favourite hobby is to steel food from tourists...

2. I just loved to watch the pretty penguins on the beach. They are so sweet. Go to Simonstown to see the penguins on the way back from the Cape of Good hope. 

3. Back in Cape Town go for some wine tastings in the wine yards. Spier is very close to Cape Town and offers a range of wines.
   You can rent a car or take a tourist trip with a tourist company to the wine district. Short overview on: http://www.wineanorak.com/saregions.htm
   My favourite is Franschhoek. There are so many super nice hotels and restaurants here!!
   Vrede en Lust, Graham Beck, La Motte and Rupert & Rothschild, do I need to say more? Last time we visited Theleme wine yard. Lovely wine and after that we had a luxury lunch at the Delaire Graff Estate. Their suite hotel is gorgoeous with private pools.
4. Take a boat trip to Robben Island for a tour where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner and get to know more about the South African history. Robben Island was originally part of the mainland, the peak of an ancient mountain. Today it is an island and a World Heritage Site and museum
5. You should also take a tour to the township to get some more knowledge of the life that too many South Africans live today. Townships were created as living areas for non-whites under the old political system of Apartheid. But you cannot go there on your own. Book a guided tour through your hotel. And do not go there during nighttime.
6. If you need extra exercise take a hike up the Table Moutain and enjoy the fab view over Cape Town and the ocean. You can also go by the cableway. http://tablemountain.net/
   The trip with the cableway takes about five-minutes, but if you take a hike the 3 km could take between 1-3 hours.
7. The Aquarium could be nice for kids on a rainy day. http://www.aquarium.co.za/
8. If you need some light exercise go for shopping in the Waterfront area.
   The large shopping area by the sea is called Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and it is situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain.
   
   Where to shop...Some of my fav shops are:
   Cape Unions Mart Travel and Safari - Outdoor clothing for you safari trip
   CNA - papers and stuff
   Crabtree & Evelyn - cosmetic
   Edgars - clothes
   Exclusive books
   Woolworths, Truworths, Nine Weest - clothes and bags
   Out of Africa - fab souvenirs
   
   Where to eat
9. Breakfast is nice at Mugg and Bean
   Lunch at Ocean Basket, I just love their fresh fish or at Steers or Wang Thai.
   Have a nice dinner at Cape Town Fish Market and Sushi Bar. The large selection of sushi is going around in the restaurant on a conveyer belt or you can have some fab fresh fish for your main meal. The best place for grill and wine is the Belthazar. Amazing food! They also have the biggest wine bar in the world according to themselves. But save the dessert and go to the Haagen-Dazs for an icecream, yummy...
   
   Where to stay
10. Stay in with a great view of the sea in luxury at the Table bay hotel. Or in the cheaper but not cheap SAS Waterfront Cape Town. Or even cheaper at the Commodore hotel. The exclusive Delair Graff Estate is also an amazing for a night on the wine yard estate.

Best of Bratislava

Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic. It is a small and beautiful town by the Danube river.

Top 10 things to do in Bratislava
1. Stroll through the old town with its small shops, cosy resturants and cafes. Check out the art that local artists exhibit by the St. Michael's Gate.



2. Take a walk to the Bratislava Castle. Don´t miss the small souvenir shop with nice memories from the Slovak Republic.

3. Visit the St Martins cathedral where the Hungarian Emperors were crowned .

4. If you like opera or if you want to find out if you like opera, go for an opera evening in the old and historical opera house. Check out the not to modern furniture in the bar...

5. Take are tour at the National Gallery.

6. There is a lovely Christmas marketl in the Old Town during December. Buy cheap handmade sweet Christmas angels for all your friends. But it is freezing cold, so bring warm clothes.

7. Walk by the Danube river or take a cruise by boat on the Danube river to Vienna.
There are slow cruises or high speed ferry that takes about 1,5 hours to Vienna, the capital of Austria. From Vienna you can continue to Budapest, the capital of Hungary.

8. Take photos of the statues. There are a few statues in Bratislava old town that are quite unexpeced and unusal.

9. Enjoy the atmosphere and have a coffee and cake at the Kaffe Mayer. This café reminds me of the old coffee houses in Vienna.

10. If you are hungry and not afraid of heights go UFO. There is a restaurant with a fabulous view. It is called UFO and is located in the sky...on an observation deck on top of the Novy Most Bridge.

Where to stay
I have stayed at the Radisson SAS Carlton several times. A very fine hotel with a marvellous exterior, in the middle of the city centre. At one time I noticed that there were so many extremely tall men in the elevator and they spoke Swedish. When I reached the reception area I saw the sign: Conference room: Swedish hockey team
Oupps.
It was the Swedish National Hockey team....

Shopping centre
If you would like some serious shopping, go to the Avion shopping centre.

Where to eat?

• We had an excellent dinner at the Cuban restaurang Malecon. It is located by the Danube river. Try their great strawberry moijitos.
• Another evening we enjoyed mediterranean food at the fab Kogo restaurant.
• Or try the slovak food in Slovenska restauracia
• More restaurants on (but I havent tried all) http://www.bratislavaguide.info/bratislava-dining.html

Zambia - A Memory For Life

One of the best moments in my life was when I went on a weekend trip to Zambia. The aim of the trip was to visit the beautiful waterfalls Victoria Falls. Its local name is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means the Smoke that Thunders.

The Victoria Falls is claimed to be the largest waterfalls in the world. It is located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We stayed at the exclusive Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel in Zambia. Just staying at the luxury hotel was an amazing exeprience.
The hotel is located in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Wildlife Park on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, with a view of the Victoria Falls.

We had so many extraordinary experiences during the trip.

The animals...
A monkey stole my a sandwhich from my sons hand when we had lunch at the hotel. And there was a lot of zebras strolling around the hotel area.
There was a big sign in the hotel room: If a baboon enter the room, leave the room and call the reception.

We had a sun downer (drink) by the Zambezi river at the hotels sun deck in the sun down when I suddenly say something moving under the water.
But it was not a submarine. It was an elephant family walking under the water in the sun down. They walked under water with their trunks in the air like their were snorkeling. Totally amazing!

Zim
We also took a long hike to Zimbabwe and visited a street market in Zimbabwe. I bought some lovely wood pieces and wished I could have done more to help the people there. A couple of guys offered me a bungy jump from the bridge between Zim and Zambia but I didn´t dare to try.

The falls
and least but not last.
The amazing Victoria Falls. To see it, to hear it, to feel it.
I can´t really explain how amazing it was. You really have to go there to experience it yourself. Just check out this film to get an idea about how it is.

It was one of the best weekend trips I ever did. A true memory for life.

PS: Bring your golf clubs if you like golf. The Gary Player designed golf course Elephant Hill is around the corner from the falls.

Vivid Vienna

- The capital of cafés

Vienna is one of my favorite European capitals. I have been to Vienna about 30 times and still want to go back. There so much to see and do, beautiful palaces, luxury cafés, great shopping, museums, opera & restaurants. It is not so easy to pick the top things to do as there is so much to choose from but here are some of my favourites.

Top 10 things to do in Vienna
Visit Hofburg Royal Palace, the former imperial residence in Vienna. It was the royal residence for over 600 years. It consists of 22 muesums today, 240,000 m², 18 wings, 19 courtyards and 2,600 rooms. It is a beautiful palace.

The St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche) is a baroque church from 1701. It was inspired by the St. Peter's Basilica of the Vatican in Rome. It is in the very city centre of Vienna.
When you finsished your visit to the St. Peter's Church you should go to the beautiful cathedral Stephansdom. If you need some exercise, skip the gym and take the 343 steps to the tower of the Stephansdome.

Now it is time to spend a few hours in the main shopping district situated around the Stephansdom.

If you want to have a quick lunch try Sushi. There are nice Sushi restuarants everywhere.

If you prefer a luxury relaxed lunch in a garden. Have a lunch in the garden of Steirereck im Stadtpark (in the city park). It is a Relais & Chateaux Restaurant . The “Steirereck” in Vienna is located in the heart of the central "city park", close to the famous Johann Strauss statue.
If you´re a foodie who loves cheese. Don´t miss the milk bar in the basement with 120 cheeses from 13 countries.

After lunch it is time for some culture. Bank Austria Kunstforum has marvellous exhibitions. I always try to stop by here when in Vienna.

The capital of cafés? I have read that no other city in the world can rival Vienna in terms of the number of historically significant coffee houses.
You should try atleast one of them. I like the Sacher café, Café Landtmann, Café Imperial, Café Mozart and Café Ministerium.

When tired of walking, go with the Tram (public transport) for a sightseeing tour in Vienna. The Vienna Ring-Tram, has a yellow Tram which takes visitors on a tour of the most beautiful parts of the city.

In the summer, you should go for a swim at Schönbrunn, another former royal palace. The beautiful Schönbrunn palace in Vienna is built in Rococo style in a magnificent park. It has a hotel, the world´s oldest zoo and a public pool.

I just love opera so an evening at the opera house is a must for me. It is a gorgeous building so visit it even if you don´t like opera.

A dinner is nice at the fine-dining DO & CO restaurant with a great view of the Stephansdome.

Stay at the Palace, Palais Coburg Residenz, also known as Palais Saxe-Coburg. A prince built this impressive palace which today is a beautiful hotel and restaurant.

Another nice hotel is the SAS Palais, address: Parkring 16. Not so fancy as the palace Coburg, but great location.

Blooming Budapest

Top 10 things to do in Budapest

The first time I was in Budapest I was amazed by all the beautiful buildings. I was walking in Budapest and stopped by a beautiful building and asked what it was. The answer was the Hungarian post office. Hmm... well the post office where I live is not half so beautiful. The conclusion was the the Hungarian Post Office was better looking than my city´s castle... So if you like beautiful buildings, art, culture, opera, spa, shopping and nice food - Budapest is the place to go.

Stay at the hotel Hilton West End if you like shopping. It is located in the huge shopping complex in the city centre. So there is no excuse not to check it out. Because it is important to know all the fire escape routes in case of a fire ;-)
Buy some cheap and sweet marzipan figures which is sold in the supermarket on the lowest floor in the shopping centre. Another Hungarian specialty to buy is the lovely sweet white wine Tokaji and the Hungarian sausages.
If you want more shopping go to the main shopping street Vaci ut.

The best place to stay is the Four Seasons hotel Gresham Palace. It is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Central Europe. The hotel has a great location by the Danube river with a view of the Chain Bridge and Buda calste.

Some other nice luxury hotels in Budapest city centre are:
Corinthia Hotel Budapest with a luxurious spa
Hotel Kempinski
Le Meridien

Sightseeing

1. A boat sightseeing on Donau is a must. Lovely trip and great for those who like to take a lot of photographs on their holiday, just like me. Book your trip at Legenda, Hotell Marriott, Vigadó tér Pier No. 6-7. Phone no: +36 - 1 266 41 90.
2. A tour in the Parliament is recommended. The parliament is so beautiful! Go on a tour and see the the Crown, Sword and Globus Cruciger of Hungary. It belonged to the former Hungarian Royal Family.
3. The Buda castle is another must-visit-place. Take a walk there if you like/need exercise and dont forget to visit the Budapest museum inside the castle. Magyar Nemzeti Galéria is an art museum in the former royal castle hosts a large exhibition of Hungarian art.
4. Szoborpark Múzeum (Sculpture park museum) displays a large collection of sculptures and statues from the city during the communist era.
5. Heroes’ Square (Hösök tere) was established for the world expo in Budapest in 1896. It has statues of historical persons of importance to Hungary´s history.
6. Szent István-bazilika, Stefan basilica, is named after the first Hungarian king and should be on your sightseeing program .
7. Szépmûvészeti Múzeum is a large art museum in Budapest often with international exihibitions of famous painters as Monet and Van Gogh.
8. Take a relaxing walk on the Margaret Island in the city centre is a lovely island with huge park and nice restaurants.
9. There are many famous spa and bathes in Budapest. Maybe a visit to the Spa at Hotell Gellert to relax after the sightseeting and shopping?
10. I just love the opera house in Budapest. I been there several times and I have heard that even Puccini has visited the opera house. Book tickets by phone or ask you hotel reception to help you. The tickets are really cheap if you compare to some other opera houses like in Austria or Italy.

Where to eat?

• The restaurant Robinson Étterem is one of my favourite restaurants,.
• Another favourite is restaurant Gundel, establisehd in 1894. It is oldfashion and very famous, so reserve your table in advance. I am not sure but I heard that even the Pope visited the place.
• Restaurant Apostolok is 100 hundred years old with a unique interior and handmade furniture.
• Restaurant Articsóka is combining food and culture. They serve lovely Medditarian food and atmosphere with performances of Hungarian artists.
• A nice cafe for a cup of coffe or a light lunch is Cafe Kör.
• If you like sportsbars you should try the sportsbar and restaurant BoxUTCA

The Unesco World heritage sites of Budapest

• Hollókő
• Budapest
• Pannonhalma
• Hortobágy
• Pécs
• Tokaj
• Aggtelek
• Lake Fertő
• Andrássy Avenue
• Castle district
• Danube embankment

Read more on http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/400 and http://www.budpocketguide.com/sights_sounds/world_heritage.asp

Best of Bangkok

If you are not afraid of heights. You should try the Sirocco Restaurant in Bangkok. I got a bit sea sick when I felt the building moving, but the view was marvellous! Check out the photos of the restaurant.

I liked the Vertigo Restaurant, Banyan Tree Hotel, even better. It is a top roof restuarant as well but I did not get sea sick and the view and the food was great.

The hotel Mandarin Oriental has been voted the best hotel in the world.
Stay there and enjoy a lovely view of the river. Or at least have lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants just to feel the atmosphere. If you like jazz be sure to visit the Bambo bar for live jazz in a junglelike place.

The most romantic evening was the dinner on the Horizon Cruise. It is a boat which is operated by the Shangri-la hotel. We had lovely Asian food on the Chao Phraya River in the middle of Bangkok. I was stunned by the friendly and service-minded staff at the hotel.

When in Bangkok, you must go to the Grand Palace for a visit. It is a complex of buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. It served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand. It was built in 1782. It is a beautiful palace, do not forget your camera.

Bangkok is also a lot about shopping. There are so many shopping malls and markets that I did not know where to begin... But I can recommend the Central World Shopping Complex and The Emporium Bangkok.
But the best bargains is made on the markets on the streets.

If you have time do take trip on the river during daytime. Watch the houses, the floating shops and get a bit closer to the life in Bangkok.
Maybe even visit the floating market?

And yes, We went to a Thai cultural show. It was nice, a bit of a tourist trap, but fun to watch.

Romantic Rome

10 top things to do in Rome?

I was in Rome on my birthday. It was nothing like I thought it would be. The old beautiful monuments were in the middle of the city. Wow! I like!

I thought it was going to be the shopping that was amazing. But I was astonished by the beautiful city, and I almost forgot the shops.

We walked and walked and walked. And we saw so many beautiful buildings, monuments and the most beautiful one was the fountain “Fontana de Trevi”. Don’t miss it!

We also visited the Gucci shop, expensive but a must when in Rome. Suddenly the staff in the other shops treated us differently. It is amazing (and scary) what a shopping bag from Gucci can change peoples attitude towards you. The Gucci shop is next to all the other exclusive designer shops on Via Condotti 8.

In the evening, we had an unbelievable romantic and expensive dinner with at lovely view over Rome. Suddenly the Gucci bag felt quite cheap ;-)
But the best food during the trip were at the Giggetto restaurant.

There are so many things to see in Rome, the Vatikan city, Roman Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish steps, piazza navona, trastevere. Check out google maps, buy a tourist book or go on a guided tour.
Or just grab a map from the hotel reception, walk alone and enjoy the magic of Rome.

If you like classical music, visit the opera house in Rome. It is one of the best in Europe. But book in advance… But don´t go to Rome during the summer, as the weather is way too hot. Go to Rome during the spring, in March-May.

Italian travel expert http://twitter.com/ItalyTravelista recommended me these luxury resturants in Rome: Hotel de Russie, Hotel Hassler, Hotel de la Minerve & St. Regis.

Fashion magazine Elle recommends these restaurants in their magazine recently:

• Salotto 42 for drinks & antipastibuffet. Address: Piazza Di Pietra 42
• Dar Poeta, restaurant in Travestera with fab pizza. Address Vicolo del Bologna 45
• Ristorante Lagana restaurant with great pasta, fish & meat dishes. Address: Via del´Orso 44.

Top 3 piazzas (squares) in Rome by Ving travelagency:

• Piazza de Popolo, from 1800 with Rome´s largest obelisk . The famous street Via del Corso starts here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_del_Popolo 
• Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful squares in Rome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_Navona
• Campo dei fiori,  A market with fruit and vegetables during the day, and a large party in the evenings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo_de'_Fiori

Pure pyramids in Egypt!

• 
  10 top things to do in Egypt?
  
  A visit to Egypt should include both a visit to Cairo and to the beach in Sharm el Sheik. I liked Cairo best but we went there off season so it wasn’t so warm in the sea. Maybe that’s why I liked Cairo more. I will tell you abou the Cairo hotels, Cairo sightseeing, Cairo shopping etc. that I found to be on the top list!
  
  Ett besök i Egypten måste innehålla både Kairo och kusten vid Sharm el Sheik. Jag tyckte bäst om Kairo men det var inte så varmt i vattnet när vi var där. Kanske var därför jag gillade Kairo mer. Här berättar jag mer om fina lyxhotell och restauranger i Kairo, sightseeing i Kairo, pyramiderna, shopping i Kairo som jag tycker platsar på topplistan!
  
  In Cairo there are plenty of things on the must-to-do-list… I chosen the major three things… sightseeing, dining on or by the Nile and shopping. Surprised?

1. Sightseeing

• The Pyramids of course. You can also go inside for a visit if you want. It is very close to the town so just grab a taxi and go there.
• When you are there. Also visit the area where the The Sfinx is.
• The Eyptian Museum. Don’t take pictures here. I did and it wasn’t popular at all.
• The Cairo Tower. It has a restaurant on the top and the view is supposed to be great. I didn’t have the time to visit but it seems nice. Bring your camera and take pictures of the panorama views.
  
  2. The Nile
  
• Have lunch or dinner at restaurant Ramses Hilton by the Nile. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Nile and the Pyramids from the 36th-floor
• A dinner cruise on the Nile is a fantastic experience. The one we went on is operated by the luxury Oberoi hotel with great food and a nice dance performance and band.
  
  3. Shopping
  
• Go to the hotel Intercontinental City Stars. Have an early dinner and go next doors. There is a huge shopping mall. It is open very late and there is a lot to see and shop. It felt a bit strange to pass the safety guards and checks to go in to a shopping mall but I guess it is the way it is here.
• You have to visit the Khan al-Khalili, it is a medieval souk with bargains for everyone. Make and blend your own perfume here, it is a great gift to take home.

Desert vacation in Dubai

10 top things to do in Dubai?

The first new country this year was Dubai. It was exciting to go there and to see the desert but one visit is not enough and I will go back. This is my report from the city of sand.

Visting the desert
There are many excellent hotels in Dubai. I just love the desert!
Bab-al-shams...
Do I need to say more?

Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa is an excellent retreat in a traditional Arabic setting in the desert outside Dubai. I just wished we had stayed here for the whole week!
I was a tiny bit scared of the falcon that the falconer wanted me to hold. They also offered me a trip on a camel in the desert before we went back to town.
I bought a lovely red camel to take home. If you want one you can order one at http://jumeirahcollection.com/Art/For/Home/79-105-22509/Camel+Caravan+Saandhni.aspx

Shopping capital of the Middle East
Dubai is labelled the "shopping capital of the Middle East". We visited the Dubai mall. Supersize and super empty. Where is everyone??But on the other hand there were no queues in the shops. Shopping in Dubai, takes time, so many shops, so little time. But it is the same stuff in the shops as at home so do spend your time in Dubai on other things.

I bought some lovely art at Gallery One. Check out their arab pop art in the Dubai Shopping Mall or on But I bought pictures of the Arabic desert

In Dubai there is actually something called a shopping festival Dubai… believe it or not. I was there a week before the festival started. Bad luck or not?

The taxi driver told me the business was slow and not so many tourists and customers as before. He thought of moving back to India. Maybe that is why the shopping malls were so empty??
Strange and a bit scary to watch people ice-skating in Dubai for the first time, without helmets….in a huge shopping mall...the Dubai Mall

Another huge shopping mall in Dubai is Mall of the emiratesIt was fun to watch people skiing for the first time at the indoor Ski Dubai at the mall of the emirates.
We had dinner at one of the 44 (!!) Restaurants in hotel Madinat Jumeriah in DubaiDo not miss this place! After dinner take a romantic trip with a boat in the canal in the hotel area or sit down and watch the Burj al arab in the sun down.

We went down to “the walk” in Dubai by the beach and sea and have lunch at restaurant Paul and a walk afterwards on the beach or by the walk watch all the luxury cars. But the best lunch was at the hotel resturant The Adress by the pool with a view of the world´s tallest building in Dubai centre. But do avoid the Atlantis area and restaurants. It was not worth the trip.

To summarize the week: in Dubai I really relaxed by the pool at the beautiful Desert Resort. I wished we had stayed in the desert for a week. 

Costa Brava in Spain

10 top things to do in Costa Brava?

This summer we visited the Costa Brava coast in Spain. We flew to Barcelona and rented a car to go to Costa Brava on the coast close by. We drove to the small town Platja d’Aro. On the mountain with a view over the sea is the lovely small bed and breakfast hotel called Cal Fonei. This is a perfect vacation for a family with kids.

Vi spenderade den här sommaren i Costa Brava kusten i Spanien. Vi flög till Barcelona och hyrde sedan en bil. Vi bodde på ett litet jättefint hotell som heter Cal Fonei. Det ligger i bergen med otrolig utsikt över havet och kusten. Det här är en perfekt semester för en barnfamilj.

The hotel Cal Fonei has only a couple of rooms, big swimming pool and a super nice view. The friendly couple who runs the hotel arranged a lovely barbeque for us one night. It feels like staying with friends in their home. A great feeling when you are on vacation.

There so much to do. You can visit Barcelona to see the buildings by Gaudi. It is worthwhile the trip! When tired of sightseeing by bus in Barcelona we visited Spanish Zara mega store for some shopping. Summer sale was on. Shopping in Barcelona is great.

Three must do´s in Barcelona according to Ving travelagency are:

• El Born, a bohemic are with the Picasso museum "Museo Picasso", cafés, restaurant, bars and vintage shops. 
• The squares in Grácia with outdoor restaurants, bars, markets, bars. There are more bars per squaremetre here than any other place in the city.
• Enrique Granados, a lovely street with art nouveau architecture, cosy restaurants and several masterpieces of Gaudi.

After Barcelona we went back to Costa Brava. We took the car and and drove around to new towns everyday. It is nice to eat out in the evenings in the different villages around the coast.

Restaurants Costa Brava?
We also visited the village Lloret de mar. Totally full of tourists. But I forgot about that while eating at restaurant La Pampa while watching the beautiful church. Address: Santa Lucia

The favourite place is the simple pub like restaurant Ray de Jamon in the harbour of Saint Feliu de Guixols. Address: Ctra de Palamos 2. They don’t speak English but it doesn’t matter because the food is marvellous. Quite expensive, but with great food and off the tourist streets is restaurant Toc de Sol in Castell d’Aro very close to Platja d’Aro.

Small scale shopping in the small shops in Palamos was nice. I couldn’t find any nice restaurants but I am sure the must be some.

Dancing in the street got a new meaning in Tossa de mar when the inhabitants of Tossa dance to the sound of Sardanes in the streets of the city. Happens one day in July every year. Wow!

Shopping in Andorra!When we were in Spain we took a days trip and drove to the Andorra for some mega shopping. But the stunning views in the mountains beat the shopping by far. It took far longer to drive there than planned. So all the shops closed about one hour after we arrived. Or maybe it was well planned?
I only bought one perfume in Andorra, it was kind of to many shops. Strange feeling. But at least I visited one new country. So I could get a tick in the box on my “must-visit-two-new-countries-a-year-list”

Andorra was full of cyclists and shops. Plan the shopping or nature adventures on http://www.andorra.ad/en-US/What_do_you_need/Shopping/Pages/default.aspx

Shopping in Costa Brava
There are not so many nice shops here but I managed to buy a DKNY bag on sale. One nice thing about a summer holiday in July in Spain is that the sale is on in all shops.... Go to Barcelona and shop at Zara, Mango, DKNY, Cortés Ingles, etc. etc.

Österlen is fantastic

10 top things to do at Österlen?

I do love Österlen in Skåne in the South of Sweden. These are my favourite places...

Österlen is a region on the eastcoast of Sweden. It is by the sea and I really like the region for its nature, lovely small houses, art galleries, design hotels and great restaurants.

I looked at 25 artists work at KAOS south of Kivik. It is easy to find. I found a lot of things a liked and bought some. This is where I bought my giant tea cup I have at work. It is made by Saga Johnsson. You can also visit her shop and workshop on the way to Stenshuvud.

The must-try-drink when you are at Österlen is the local apple juice and food made of fruit made locally in Kivik. Buy it by the street. I tried a glass in the café and then I bought a lot in the factory shop at Kiviks musteri or the smaller and lovlier Kivikås close to Kivik.
Where to stay at Österlen? I like Östangård bed and breakfast and design shopBut I love Karlaby Kro hotel and spa even more.
Have lunch or dinner at Karlaby Kro and you will be happy for a month.
A friend told me that the hotel and restaurant Vitemölla Badhotell is a must. But I missed to go there last summer. But I will not miss it this summer. It looks supernice!

The best place for coffee and cookies is the bakery Olof Viktors
http://www.olofviktors.se/

The rooms are not so nice but the food is lovely at hotel and restaurant Brösarps gästgiveri. I had the fish "Helstekt Spätta från Simrishamn med Champinjoner och brynt Smör" when I stayed in Brösarp. Mums as we say in Swedish! But the best restaurant is Maritim Krog, address Hamngatan 31, in Simrishamn. Evelinas Kök is also nice for at meal, address Storgatan 3.

Some more shopping? I found Himla table cloths & things at great prices at Stärkan kvalitetsoutlet in Kivik. Dining at home will be even nicer this autumn with things I bought...

I feel in love with a painting when I visited the gallery on Eliselundsvägen 45 in Kivik. The artist was friendly enough to show us his gallery and studio which had a great view of Kivik.
Check out his marvellous paintings at http://www.hagman.se/main.php?page=konstnarer&subpage=konstnar.php&username=Bengt%20Yman
There is also a nice shop in Kivik at Eliselundsvägen 18, just opposite with handmade design things.

I feel happy when I look at Gunilla Manns paitings. A lot of colours and happiness. She has a studio in Rörum and a shop in Simrishamn. Buy a painting of a postcard as a memory of your trip to Österlen. I like the one of Nyhavn in Copenhagen a lot.
It is perfect to go to Österlen in May-August. But if you like art you should try to visit it during Easter beacuse of the "konstrunda". It is an art exhibition where 150 artists open their homes and studios to the public. I was there in 2009 and loved it, although it snowed heavily during the whole weekend.
Do you dream of a house at Österlen? Look at this real estate homepage. Their presentations of the houses that are for sale totally look like an interior design magazine! http://www.uppvik.nu/

Finally some must do things från my friend Eva who lives in Skåne:

1. Play golf at one of the beautiful golf courses; for example the golfcourse Lilla Vik outside Simrishamn. You can stay at their hotel and play golf for a weekend. I tried their restaurant and checked their rooms last summer. Looks good!
2. Visit Kronovalls vinslott (wine castle). Have a wine tasting sesscion, have dinner and stay at their hotel. It is quite expensive and I have not tried it but it seems like a nice place.
3. Visit Konstrundan

You might guess what her hobbies are by the above tips?

Trosa - A truly beatiful end of the world!

This weekend´s trip was to small town Trosa by the sea on the east coast of Sweden. It is close to Stockholm and also called "the end of the world".

Den här helgens resa gick till den lilla staden Trosa vid havet på svenska ostkusten. Trosa ligger nära Stockholm och kallas också ”världens ände”.

The town is so sweet and lovely by the sea and with a canal in the middle of the town.

Visit it on a sunny summer day! In the winter, many shops and restaurants are closed!
http://www.trosa.com/ or http://cityguide.se/trosa/

We stayed at the hotel Bomans hotell. I have read about this small Swedish design hotel and boutique hotel it in loads of design and travel magazines.

It looks so nice on the internet. All the rooms are in different styles. Check out their suite La Dolce Vita and the other rooms
I am curious as I have high expectations for this place. Can Bomans hotel meet my expectations? Checking in isn’t until 15.00 so we take a stroll around the town. There are so many small shops with clothes, interior design and other stuff. I can´t resist some new candle light holders and a vase at the shop “Nätverket Hjärtans glädje” on the street Österlånggatan where all the small shops are. http://www.lusthuset-heminredning.se/

We also spent some time in the small shops on the square. Albins gården has ceramics from Bruka design. Nice!
At the square we cross the canal in the middle of the town, take a couple of pictures of the boats and the lovely small wooden houses by the canal.

On the other side is the Trosa hotel and restaurant in Trosa Stadshotellet. The food is excellent. The hotel and spa also seem nice. I might stay here if I come back another time.

Now it is check-in time at Bomans hotel. Our rooms are so totally sweet with Laura Ashley design. Sweet! If you want to copy the design visit the closest Laura Asley shop.
Or international http://www.lauraashley.com/

In the evening a four course dinner at Bomans restaurant. Starter and desserts are great. Main course isn’t spectacular but ok. All in all - a great evening.

The last day a stroll in the harbour checking out the boats and more small shops.
An ice-cream by the harbour in the sun is nice. Or a “fika” (coffee and cookies) in the garden at the bakery “Tre små rum” on Österlånggatan.

We pass hotel Vega, the world´s smallest hotel?, which looks nice by the canal. It is a four star hotel with three rooms!
There is also and Bed and Breakfast hotel “Ågården Bed & Breakfast” next to Vega.

We also had to visit “Kutterkonfekt” the chocolate “factory” and shop on Österlånggatan. We buy some handmade chocolate before we leave.

You can also play golf or go on boat trips in the Swedish archipelago

There are three old castles close by. One of them is royal Tullgarns slott which is owned by the Swedish Royal Family.

Cool Copenhagen

10 top things to do in Copenhagen?
I visited Copenhagen, Denmark last week. Copenhagen is a lovely city with loads of great shops, restaurants and museums.
Where to stay in Copenhagen? Hotel The square has a perfect location in the middle of the centre.
Enjoyed the Arne Jacobsen design hotel Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Turned on the ipod and sat in the coolest chairs ever in the lobby. Drinks on the top of the house... at the 20th floor with a fantastic view of Copenhagen at the Radisson hotel.
A drink or lunch at Restaurant Puk is a must after a day of shopping. Design viewing & shopping at Illum is nice but do try shopping on street Vandkunsten and the streets around. It is much better! I just love the small shops around here!
On Copenhagen on a Friday? Don´t miss the great Rock conserts at the Fun park Tivoli. Spent the afternoon at fun park TiIvoli. Watch out for the scary airplane and screaming people!!! (maximum speed 100 km/h, 360 degree turn). OK I admit. I didnt dare to try...
Lunch at restaurant Ida Davidsen (only open on weekdays, make reservation) is something special. Super shopping on the street Ströget and a cosy dinner at smoky restaurant Skindbuksen (reservation is needed)
Boatsightseeing followed by lunch on the sqare. Danish classic food (smorrebrod) in restaurant Nytorv. We had a lovely dinner at the Sankt Gertruds kloster (the St Gertruds convent).
If you like art, like me, don´t miss the art museum Glypoteket. The museum Louisiana is also one of my favorites, but it is outside Copenhagen and you need a car to get there. But if you go there, stop by at the Karen Blixen house and museum on the way.

The best restaurant in Copenhagen is Noma, it has been named the world´s best restaurant. Reserve in advance to experience extraordinary Nordic gourmet cuisine at its best. Read the review in the Telegraph UK.

Other cool design hotels in Denmark are:

•  Hotel Fox. Each room is different. Choose among rooms with comical styles, graphic design, street art, fairytales and Japanese Manga to mention some.
• Hotel FRONT with stylish sophisticated design. It is on the Condé Nast Traveller's 2007 Hot List.
• Hotel Nimb with the aim to place the hotel in the absolute world-elite of small, luxury city hotels. Placed in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. The design of the exterior of the hotel reminds me of Taj Mahal.
• Hotel Skt. Petri is one of Copenhagen's leading design hotels.