ANNO 1647 Hotel (Stockholm, Sweden)

In one direction, near neighbours include the metro and Gamla Stan (the Old Town). Head the other way and you hit a huge selection of bars and restaurants. The location couldn’t be much better than this.

Rooms are really quite nice and clean (*the main priority anywhere). Perhaps a bit basic, but they include some bonuses too, such as a handy heated towel rail.

Members of staff represent their country very well and create a lasting impression of competence, patience and friendly assistance at all times.

When the hotel was built in 1647 they omitted to include a lift and the staircase is ‘spiral’! Neither, (since then) has anyone considered the introduction of air conditioning. The Swedes are a healthy bunch so they don’t quibble about such things. More pampered and over-weight nationalities may not feel the same way.

Not much thought has gone into the design of the bathroom. There’s no shelving for toiletries etc, and the shower is very small. You may still be one of the lucky ones though. Some rooms have ‘access’ to shower and toilet facilities … areas that are shared with other rooms.

It is clean and has a good deal of charm, but it remains expensive for the basic nature of what is on offer. If an example is needed, it comes with the ‘en-suite’ problem. Generally, guests now expect an en-suite room. Here, the 'non' en-suite rooms are quite expensive and there is a further very significant price increase if you must have a private bathroom. Also, some rooms are exceptionally tiny, even by Stockholm standards.