Focus on: Spring awakening

If you feel all giddy and excited that Spring is finally here…

…it might be time to set up a little get away. There are few things that are as great as going away in Spring, It probably has to do with me living in the cold Nordics, but when Spring is finally here it is like the entire systems goes into overdrive. Basically, I just want to hug the world.

So what is a perfect place to go in the Spring? To me it is easy. Cities! And especially cities that have just experienced a long, cold Winter and are now gearing up for the next bright phase. So for logical reasons I tend to have a yearning to go to cities in the northern part of Europe and watch as they wake up from their hibernation.

And what kind of hotel do I usually go for? It has to be a hotel that has some kind of outdoor area, garden or similar. Where you can find a sunny spot, sheltered from the wind and just let the sun warm your face. Aaaahhh… I can feel it now.

Here are five hotels that I would love to go to in the Spring. Which one do you wanna go to? 

Hotel Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands

This hotel is located in a residential part of Amsterdam, in the up and coming eastern part. The hotel sits on a corner of the lush Oosterpark. This is a park where the locals come to have a picnic, go for a stroll, let their kids play or just hang out by the pond with something to read. This is the perfect hotel for a Spring weekend in this great Dutch city.

Read more about my wintery stay at Hotel Arena here!

Michelberger, Berlin, Germany

The east part of Berlin used to be well hidden behind the Iron Curtain. When the wall was torn done at the end of the 20th Century this evolved into a hotspot for creatives from all walks of life. Cheap rents, cheap food, cheap beer and a relaxed attitude continued to attract people to move here and visitors like us to want to live here. A hotel that embodies this vibe is this one, Michelberger. A fun, quirky hotel with a great courtyard where you can hang out in the sun with a cold beer and great company. .

Read more about my stay at Michelberger here!

Hotel Pilar, Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp is a real hidden gem. Very few (ok, everything is relative) has discovered this Belgian city and what a great weekend destination this is. Great restaurants, shopping, night life and world class chocolate. What is not to love!? If you come here in the Spring there are plenty hotels with great outdoor areas where you can enjoy one of my favorite sports: people watching. Best enjoyed while eating and drinking something. This hotel, Pilar, is located in my favorite part of the city, just West of downtown.

Read more about my stay at Hotel Pilar here!

Coco Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen… It is difficult to imagine a better destination for a Spring weekend. The Scandinavian cities really blossom (literally and figuratively) when the Spring comes. You can see it in peoples faces, in their step. A hotel that is perfect to stay at this time of the year is Coco Hotel. Located in the hip Vesterbro area, an eclectic area with so much to offer when it comes to restaurants, bars, cafés and shopping.

Read more about my stay at Coco Hotel here!

Ett Hem, Stockholm, Sweden

Ok, I also have to have a hotel in my own hometown, Stockholm. This is Ett Hem, a boutique hotel located in Lärkstaden in the swanky Östermalm area. This hotel is everything! It really feels like you are staying at someones home (hence the name, which means A Home, in Swedish). Like all citifies in this part of the world, Spring is when life returns. You will see Swedes saying hi on the streets to total strangers (I know, it is crazy!) and maybe even smiling a little. This is worth experiencing.

Read more about my stay at Ett Hem here!

See you in the sun, leaning against a wall somewhere. At least that is where I’ll be.

/RG