Most travellers avoid Sweden, and Scandinavia in general in the winter, but for the more adventurous souls who don't mind having to bundle up more heavily during the winter months, travelling in Sweden for winter holidays is a rewarding experience. For one, operas, theatres and most other major cultural avenues shut down in summer so you'd miss them if you were to travel with the pack, but are open in winter. The university towns like Stockholm are more populated during the winter months, as the students are back in class by then, making the towns more vibrant. Also, a major draw would be the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, which can only be viewed in winter.

Hotel Rival is the place to stay during your stay in Sweden. Located in Stockholm, it is owned by former ABBA star Benny Andersson, who has given his hotel a cinematic theme. For one, there is a 1930's Art Deco-style red velvet cinema, 32" flat screen TVs in each room, portraits of film stars covering the walls of the bistro, and last but certainly not least, a DVD library where guests can borrow - for free! - DVDs.

The Rival is located in the Mariatorget square, which is a hub for entertainment and dining, which will further enliven your stay. Also, the hotel itself is constantly buzzing as a social hub, keeping it alive and cheerful at all times. Don't worry about being crowded out, though, one of the two bars is reserved solely for guests.

The rooms are thoughtfully decorated, with Egyptian cotton sheets and an extensive pillow menu that lists stuffings from goosedown to buckwheat. All in all, a very good boutique hotel with a unique theme. A wonderful place to rest after a long day of sight-seeing and marvelling at the beauty of the Northern Lights!