While travelling through Poland and the Czech Republic, there was a fairly long break from the FREEDOMtravel News. But here we go again! Every Monday we present short news items from the travel, camping and digital world.
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ShareWe pick most of the news from this week's crop of press releases in our inbox. This week we tell you about records for Swedish camping, what Swedes don't want to be without on holiday and what foreigners are googling for their Swedish holiday.
Innehållsförteckning
Record summer for camping
It will be a record summer for camping, predicts Lars Isacson, CEO of SCR Swedish Camping in Dagens Industri. In SCR's annual survey, 52 per cent of camping and cottage companies state that they see an increase in the number of bookings compared to last summer. Lars Isacson believes that the increase is mainly due to the rising popularity of motorhomes.
Show holiday photos - but avoid these
A new survey by online travel agency eBeach.se shows that 43% of Swedes get excited by seeing holiday photos on social media and 77% are inspired to travel abroad themselves. But there are some pictures you should avoid! The images that most annoy Swedes are:
- Selfies that have nothing to do with the destination
- Posing in swimwear
- Legs by the pool
- Screenshot of weather report from destination
- Umbrella drinks
Sharing economy + caravan hire = waiting for solution
Europe's latest trend in the sharing economy is exploding: motorhome hire. Sweden is lagging behind because insurance companies are not keeping up. Dutch company Goboony rents out motorhomes in several countries and wants to expand, including in Scandinavia.
At present, they are hampered by the fact that there is no Swedish insurance for rentals between private individuals. "We are actively working to offer a solution in Sweden together with a fast and innovative insurance company", says Virginie Delporte from Goobony.
Swedes pack coffee and a pillow
A survey conducted by NOVASOL, in which 1004 Swedes answered what they can't live without on holiday, showed that as many as 60 per cent don't want to be without their Swedish morning coffee. Although coffee can be bought anywhere in the world, Swedes want what they are used to when travelling. Here are the top 5 things Swedes can't live without on holiday:
- Coffee (60%)
- A book (43%)
- Sunglasses (42%)
- The favourite pillow (14%)
- Training clothes (13%)
First Camp launches camping app
In a press release, the camping chain First Camp says that camping is the next industry to be digitalised. At midsummer, they launched their customer club "First club" as an app, which they say is a step in this development. The app can be used to book a campsite or cabin and to get information about destinations and events. The app is also linked to First Camp's points system so that you can see and use your earned points directly in the app.
More and more people are googling Sweden
In 2016, 11 per cent more searches were made on Sweden as a travel destination, according to a survey by Visit Sweden. A total of 3.4 million Google searches were made during the year about Sweden as a travel destination. The most popular searches are for ice hotels and the northern lights, but many also search for fishing, lakes, hiking, skiing, music festivals, tree hotels, fjords, shopping, city life and castles. By far the most Googles about Sweden, over one million searches, have been made in Germany.
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Popular destinations, 'click farms' and camping fair in China
You might also like:
Camping chains merge, new motorhome fair and round trips by train
Camping records, last minute tickets and new quiet class on trains
Covid Care, free face masks and continued toughness for the industry
Skansen closes, rhino baby and Apollo launches new island
New pitches, northern lights for Chinese and travelling sages
Fair camping tickets, digital museums and sand sculpture festival
English (UK) 
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Polski
LinizTravel says:
Exciting news 🙂 must admit that I also take Swedish coffee sometimes ha ha 😉 at least in the USA & Caribbean where the coffee is weak.... have a nice day!
Hugs from johsnnesviks camping in Bohuslän.
24 July 2017 - 7:58
Helena says:
I was actually a bit surprised that packing coffee was so common! We have never actually packed coffee (except that we of course have it with us in the motorhome, but when it runs out we buy new ones on site). On the other hand, we haven't been to the Caribbean 😉 Enjoy your camping holiday!
24 July 2017 - 8:36
Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Renting out the motorhome no. But swapping flats (weeks) with someone outside Sweden.
24 July 2017 - 8:51
Helena says:
Switching flats also seems like a smart move!
24 July 2017 - 11:48
Ditte says:
If it's going to be like at home, it doesn't feel as fun to me and I never bring coffee with me. Coffee is drunk all over the world although some Asian countries are more in favour of tea.
Books and sunglasses are with me when travelling, but never exercise clothes or a pillow. But if you have a campervan/car, you can take a bit of everything with you.
The popularity of Sweden as a travel destination is evident not least from all the cruise ships that want to come here and as well as many hotels both in Stockholm and the country that receive large bookings. And certainly Sweden has a lot to offer and most of it is also very easily accessible and easy to travel here it is.
24 July 2017 - 9:37
Helena says:
I can also understand that Sweden is popular as a travel destination! Beautiful nature and certainly exotic for many!
24 July 2017 - 11:49
Fru Eriksson says:
Hihi Here you pack nothing more than the bath towel ❤️
/Summer "light" Hugs
24 July 2017 - 9:55
Helena says:
That sounds like a handy pack! 🙂
24 July 2017 - 11:50
Rolle o Carina says:
You always want to have coffee with you (in the motorhome).
We want to keep the motorhome for ourselves!
Take care.......
24 July 2017 - 10:07
Helena says:
We also take coffee with us in the campervan, but if we run out during the trip, we buy more in the country we happen to be in.
24 July 2017 - 11:51
Geddfish says:
Real morning coffee has been the name of the game, but foreign coffee is also possible.
I don't bring anything else. Like to enjoy the food and drink of other countries.
No wonder so many people google Sweden, we have a fantastic country from north to south! And I myself would love to see the northern lights.
All the best 😀 ?
24 July 2017 - 10:24
Helena says:
I agree with you: I would also like to see the Northern Lights! We have met southern Europeans who want to go to Sweden to see the Northern Lights. I've been living here for 42 years, but still haven't seen the Northern Lights... 😉.
24 July 2017 - 11:52
Husbilen Helge says:
Coffee is included in the motorhome and in the suitcase when we had the house in Thailand. We understand that many people google Sweden, as we often talk to Germans (despite poor school German) and ask where they are going. They are extra happy to get some info about places and their sights, activities etc. that usually they can't find online. One man from Switzerland said that Sweden's nature was the most beautiful in Europe. He had probably had many hours of sunshine here because he was so lyrical. We ourselves think that Norway beats everything with its mountains and fjords.
24 July 2017 - 11:33
Helena says:
Sweden is beautiful and perhaps a bit exotic for many! Norway is also incredibly beautiful! Have been there a few times, but with the motorhome we have only driven back and forth to Oslo 😉.
24 July 2017 - 15:02
Znogge says:
Ha ha, I'm probably not that sensitive 😉 If I'm abroad, it should not be like in Sweden so I still take a refill of the coffee! If you want it like at home, maybe you should stay at home ...
24 July 2017 - 11:33
Helena says:
We also don't take coffee with us (except that we have in the campervan, but when it runs out we buy new ones abroad).
24 July 2017 - 15:03
Steve says:
Sure, I missed my Swedish coffee when I travelled, but not so much that I had to take it with me. Part of the charm of travelling is to "take the custom where you come from" and try something new.
The coffee culture has changed significantly since I travelled, but Swedish coffee seems to have a firm grip on us.
24 July 2017 - 14:48
Helena says:
It's certainly interesting to try what other countries have to offer. But coffee probably has a special place in the hearts of Swedes ... 😉.
24 July 2017 - 15:04
BP says:
It's great that the camping industry is doing so well! Camping with a motorhome is both a lifestyle and relatively affordable compared to hotels.
Selfies annoy me too. However, I find legs dangling in a pool really funny.
No, I do not take coffee with me, but on the other hand I do not camp. But book and sunglasses are given of course!
24 July 2017 - 16:14
Matts Torebring says:
Our press coffee, books, sunglasses are of course important details of the car
It is great that the industry is increasing and that the growth is as high as it is.
At the same time, many ignorant and unconscious motorhome drivers take to the roads and campsites. A terrible example of this was a campsite in the Småland highlands, which we visited on Saturday evening. The pitch was only valid from September to May and now it was camping. I was almost shocked! It looked like a pure ghetto with half a metre between the wagons. Obviously a shortage from the campsite management. But inexperienced campers do not understand themselves. Grey water empties everywhere and the list is long.
24 July 2017 - 18:13
Daniela / Discovering The Planet says:
Laughing out loud. I haven't included anything on the list :). I actually thought that technical gadgets would be high on the list.
24 July 2017 - 22:13