Luxury hotels don’t always need to be filled to the brim with high-end amenities or over-the-top entertainment. There are several unique stays across the world where luxury is actually the beauty of nature. A newly launched hotel in Southern Sweden promises such an immersive staying experience at the heart of a forest, where the silence, natural landscape, and simple architectural design have taken center stage.
The Hotel
Trakt Forest Hotel is a unique five-suite property, conceived by acclaimed Swedish architect Gert Wingardh. The distinct architecture of the hotel is inspired by traditional Swedish hunting towers, which are elevated from the ground for tracking moose. Retaining the architect’s penchant for dark bold tones and sharp geometric shapes, the forest suites of the hotel are built with locally sourced materials. The floating rooms are built on pillars, minimizing the environmental impact, and seamlessly blending the property with the surrounding tall trees.
The Interior
As Wingardh explains, simplicity is the key to appreciating nature, and the hotel embraces this very ethos at its core. Located in the southern part of Sweden, the elevated design of the Trakt Forest Hotel suites invokes a sense of privacy and safety. With Scandinavian simplicity in design and custom accents like locally-made chairs, sleek sofas, and wood-burning fireplaces, the suits of the hotel ooze understated indulging luxury. On top of everything, oversized windows and skylights allow the guests to immerse themselves in the lush beauty of the forest.
The Cuisine
The in-house restaurant, named Trakt Kitchen, is located in a timber house. Being true to the traditional culinary culture of Sweden, the restaurant specializes in authentic home-cooked fare prepared with locally sourced fresh ingredients. Mattias and Sandra Salleteg, the founders of the forest hotel, explain that they prefer to let their cooking take time, like making their own sourdough or smoking meat with patience. En-suite services are available for the guests, who can enjoy a breakfast basket or book a three-course lunch and dinner.
3 Commandments to Help Pick a Good Travel Agent
For those who have travel on their minds, you are not alone. With vaccine drives worldwide and news of countries opening up their borders for vaccinated travelers, summer vacation is not a distant dream. However, the process might still be quite complicated. The global situation has warranted many regulations, and traveling solo might not be the best idea. Finding a suitable travel agent today is no different from looking for your soulmate on dating apps. Nevertheless, we bring you three commandments to guide you in your search.
Look around you
Before rummaging through the internet, pick up the phone and ask your friends and family if they know someone. Getting a recommendation in person is still more trusted today. If that fails, it is time you search for local businesses. Not only is supporting small businesses essential but also easier since you know where to look.
Pick your destination
Are you searching for a different approach? You could also look for a travel advisor based on where you are planning to visit. It is wiser to book your trip with someone who knows the destination well. According to the international travel agency network Virtuoso, “Choosing someone who specializes in a destination is a good first foray into working with a travel adviser. But when you work with the same adviser for a while, they become a specialist in you.”
Find out their professional network
Only a resourceful travel agent can help you travel hassle-free. Make sure they are part of some consortium or larger network. Erica Richter of the American Society of Travel Advisors says, “Ask them what sorts of benefits they get from their professional networks. Upgrades, free breakfasts, late checkouts when available — who doesn’t want some of those freebies? Getting an insight into their professional relations will help you understand who to pick.