It was time for the very last edition of this year's travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. This week's news includes driving, architecture and vaccine passports. Stay tuned!
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How Swedes drive at Christmas compared to drivers in other countries
Nextbase, the Swedish market leader in dashcams, together with YouGov, conducted a survey on winter driving behaviour in 10 countries. The survey found that:
- Czechs spend the most time behind the wheel - 14% of Swedes (and 24% of Czechs) spend more than 8 hours in the car during the Christmas holidays.
- Poor road conditions cause concern - 66 per cent of Swedes think that changing road conditions with snow and ice are the biggest problem.
- Biggest fear of drunk drivers - 45% of Swedes (and 66% of French people) think that drunk drivers are the biggest behavioural problem.
- Few Swedes drive after a few drinks - 1.6% of Swedes (and 26% of French people) say they drive at Christmas after drinking alcohol.
Liseberg presents Luna Park for the park's 100th anniversary.
In 2023, Liseberg celebrates 100 years. This will be marked by Liseberg's Jubilee Project, which includes Grand Curiosa Hotel (2023) and Oceana Water World (2024). But already in 2022, the new Luna Park area will open, as well as two new family attractions: Turbo and Tempus. For the 100th anniversary, another attraction will be added as the crowning glory, the Luna family roller coaster.
The Wood Hotel by Elite named best architecture of the year by The Guardian
In October 2021, The Wood Hotel by Elite opened the doors to Norrland's latest international hotel destination. An ambitious wooden building that has now been named the best architecture of the year by The Guardian's architecture and design critic, Oliver Wainwright. The building, designed by White Arkitekter, stretches 20 floors and 75 metres above the ground, and includes restaurants, a rooftop spa, 205 designer hotel rooms, a rooftop bar and a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding area. Skellefteå and the forests of Norrland.
Vaccine passport valid for 9 months in the EU
The EU vaccine passport, which is used when travelling, should be valid for 9 months after the second dose. This is reported by several media outlets. The decision was taken by the European Commission just before Christmas. The validity period will be extended after a booster vaccination, which means that the validity period of the vaccine passport will be the same in all member states.
SJ invests in the fast trains of the future
To meet the increased interest in climate-smart, comfortable and efficient train journeys, SJ has decided to purchase 25 new high-speed trains. The trains will be the fastest in Sweden with a top speed of 250 kilometres per hour. They will be used for long-distance train services between major cities in Sweden. Sweden but also for cross-border traffic to Denmark and Norway. The new trains are expected to enter service in 2026.
Record number of ski centres and slopes open by Christmas
The season is underway for Sweden's ski resorts, according to a press release from SLAO (Svenska Skidanläggningars Organisation). Thanks to a cold start to the winter, more than a hundred resorts across the country were able to welcome visitors already at Christmas, which is more than usual. For example, Flottsbro in Stockholm has not opened so early in nine years. Hammarbybacken in Stockholm has also opened. Vallåsen on Hallandsåsen opens on 28 December.
Reflection of the week
It's really important to keep track of entry and exit rules in different countries in the age of coronavirus. At the moment, it looks like it will be important to take the third vaccine dose when it is due, if you want to be able to move easily between countries in Europe.
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Charters, sustainable theme park and asteroid hunting
You might also like:
Covid Care, free face masks and continued toughness for the industry
Fair camping tickets, digital museums and sand sculpture festival
Ended lockdown, stricter rules and rowing across the Atlantic Ocean
Fake e-vignettes, litter in the mountains and a visiting astronaut
Direct flights to Tunisia start today
English (UK) 
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Ama de casa says:
Fantastic that little Skellefteå got such a nice award! That building really stands out (and up!) in its surroundings 🙂.
27 December 2021 - 9:20
Helena says:
Right? Really funny! 🙂
28 December 2021 - 18:53
BP says:
The Wood Hotel in the middle of the forest or "in the middle of nowhere" is really something special. Really, really cool. Have read that Skellefteå goes all in when it comes to the "capital of Norrland". Understand it when I look at that hotel. However, guessing that many will not like the "building".
27 December 2021 - 17:15
Helena says:
Maybe it's that not everyone likes it? Fascinating and cool I think!!!
28 December 2021 - 18:53
Maria/emjis says:
Oh Liseberg 100 years! What fun! Then we have to go there! As a child, we went there with my grandfather who always had a free pass when he worked in Folkets Park. Do not ride any carousels but like to walk around the park and just be!
27 December 2021 - 22:36
Helena says:
What fun! I (Helena) am like you and do not like carousels, but I like the environment! 🙂
28 December 2021 - 18:55
Monica says:
It was a cool hotel in the middle of the jungle. When it comes to covid, there are tests that apply and should be done upon entry with very much documented as which laboratory performed it, when and the right analysis etc. etc. The covid passports are ignored for the time being because apparently it has reached out that they say nothing about infection or not, only that two syringes have been put in the arm. And it seems that a third one will soon be included in the passport that gives some new ak hopefully. The 'old' ones are considered gone after nine months. If they even existed, it is not tested generally but only in research.
People are detained when they are not tested but have a covid passport and it is still unclear whether they will be sent back home.
But tomorrow something new might happen, who knows😌.
Wishing you a happy new year and a little more clarity in everything we hope for, research is moving forward as long as it reaches out and politicians listen and take notice.
Hope you can do some nice travelling and have a good time.
29 December 2021 - 0:23
Helena says:
I agree that the hotel is delicious! When it comes to entry and exit rules, it varies between different countries, and also changes all the time. When we travelled in the late autumn, the vaccine passport worked (without pcr or antigen test) in the countries we visited (Czech Republic, Turkey and Tunisia), but as I said, it changes all the time, so you have to check the current country just when you are going to go simply. Wish good continuation and a really Happy New Year!
30 December 2021 - 9:26