Friends of RG: Anna
Friends of RG: Anna
Anna comes from Uppsala, just north of Stockholm where she still resides with her husband and two of her three kids (one has already left the nest). She is an avid traveller and two places that are extra close to her heart is Florida and anywhere in the Alps. Anna has been in my life for many, many years and is one of my closest friends, which I didn’t think would happen when we first met, considering that I was sure she didn’t like me. This is something she still doesn’t understand, since she thought she was just her lovely self. I guess delusion is something we have in common. Another thing we have in common is a passion for skiing and mountain sports, as well as our constant ambition to try to outsmart the other. Neither of us ever says no to huge Aperol Spritz or a glass of wine for that matter. And just like me, Anna is a hotel-fanatic.
What hotel were you staying at when you first realised that you were a hotel-fanatic?
In a way I guess I have always been one. One of my earliest hotel memories is when I was a kid and my family used to do roadtrips around Europe. After the long first stretch through Sweden and Denmark we always stayed at the same little guesthouse in Sierksdorf in northern Germany. The experience of arriving, getting to stretch my legs, being greeted by the lovely woman who ran the place and later, getting to crawl into the bed with those typical German fluffy duvets… I think this was what turned me into an eternal hotel lover.
What kind of hotels do you usually go for?
The simple answer to that question is; it depends. Sometimes the key factor is the geographic closeness to something or something connected to logistics. But if I am totally free to choose, I tend to go for a smaller hotel with a relaxed atmosphere (I am allergic to everything that feels snobbish) where a huge effort has been made to create something unique with the interior. I love a good breakfast and if I am staying for a couple of days, I don’t mind if there is a cozy restaurant and/or bar that serves food. I have started to choose hotels where I want to stay in compared to before, when I preferred venturing out to look for restaurants. And a final thing, it is always a plus if there is a gym or a spa.
What has been your most memorable hotel stay thus far? And why?
I am afraid I can't chose one, it has to be three.
Ett Hem in Stockholm, Sweden. This hotel is just plain perfect.
Ekies All Sensens Resort, Vourvourou, Greece has kooky, fun design with a relaxed luxurious feeling where it is easy to kick back and relax for days on end.
Mooser Hotel, Sankt Anton, Austria. It is a dream to return to the hotel after a long day in the mountains. And once you have returned, you feel compelled to stay put. It is just that cozy. There is a fantastic spa area and at the back of the hotel is where you will find the (in)famous Après Ski mayhem, Moserwirt, which you hardly don’t even notice when you are in the hotel.
One of Anna’s top three hotel experiences is this one, the fabulous Ett Hem in Stockholm, Sweden
3 of your musts when staying at a hotel?
A really comfy bed. I always have my best sleep in hotels and always look forward to the bed. I also like if there is a cozy lounge or similar where you can people-watch, which is something I love. And finally - a really tasty breakfast.
If you have stayed at any of the hotels featured on SbRG, which one is your favourite?
It is easy. it has to be Ett Hem, especially since I have already listed it as one of my most memorable stays. But I also have to say that I have a little hotel crush on Villa La Madonna in Italy and Trakt in the south of Sweden.
Anna really appreciated her stay at Trakt, located just outside the small town of Vetlanda in the south of Sweden.
Which of the featured hotels on Selected by RG are on the top of your wish list to stay at?
All of them! But if I have to choose I think I will go for one located somewhere in the Austrian or Italian Alps. I think I will say Hotel SEPP in Maria Alm.
Hotel SEPP in Maria Alm, Austria with the famous caravan sauna is the hotel Anna would like to stay at next.
Are there any hotels you think should be featured on Selected by RG in the future?
I don’t have one particular hotel in mind but I would be curious to see what Selected by RG can find in classic skiing regions such as the French Alps or Colorado in the USA:
