Elite Grand Hotel Norrköping Sweden

On our road trip, we stopped for a night in the city of Norrköping. The city, which is south of Stockholm, used to be considered a major hub for Sweden's textile industry before textile production became irrelevant (in Sweden).

We really enjoyed our stay at the kid-friendly hotel, the Elite Grand Hotel. Located next to the Motala River, this elegant hotel is centrally located and the customer service was pretty great!

It's always nice when hotels offer tea and coffee all day for their guests and Elite Grand Hotel did just that :)

While the grown-ups check into the hotel, the kids can sign themselves in by standing on a stool and writing their name on a notepad at reception. 

Kids received a bag with some playing cards, stuffies and coupon for ice cream which was a popsicle in case kids have a dairy allergy. 

The room had one sofa bed for the kids to share which worked out perfectly for us. The complimentary breakfast buffet included various kid friendly items and even Vegan waffle mix to use to make Heart Waffles!

We had a lovely stay and the hotel staff were very helpful with ideas for which places to stop in the area as we continued our roadtrip.

If you're looking for a family friendly hotel in Norrköping, check out the Elite Grand Hotel! We would definitely stay again!

Don't forget your snacks!

Elite Grand Hotel Norrköping 

TYSKA TORGET 2, 600 41 Norrköping

Check out their website for more info

TUI holiday at Atlantica Aegean Park

This was our second time booking a Tui resort holiday to a warmer climate but it was the first time grandparents joined us on the trip. 

Why people stayed in all inclusive resorts was something I really wondered about before becoming a parent! After becoming a parent, I realized why these places are so great for families! Especially with young kids AND aging grandparents coming along. 

Details

• One week all-inclusive with TUI to Rhodes, Greece. 

• Trip was taken during Fall break, late October to early November. 

• We flew Aegean airlines and most if not all, of those onboard were also staying at our resort.

Popular kids cartoon character Bamse and Captain T and the "Bamse kids club" with the evening dance activities for kids was a huge hit! Grandparents enjoyed watching the kids dance. The kids made sure to finish dinner most nights so they could see the show. 

Atlantica Aegean Park is a TUI Blue hotel located at Kolymbia Beach on Rhodes. To get from the airport, buses were waiting at the airport exit. When leaving the hotel to go back to the airport, shuttle buses picked us up at the hotel.

Good

• 2 separate rooms - one for us, one for the grandparents 
• Rooms faced Pool side 
• Exercise classes available 
• Kids club 
• Kids entertainment 
• Kids pool
• Buses took us from airport to the resort
• Allergy substitutions 
• Very friendly and helpful staff
• All inclusive includes 1 free dinner at each of the resort restaurants 
• Condition of the hotel was pretty good for it being the last week of the season
• There was a water park that was free to visit with slides and a kids splash area!

Snack bar offered greek iced coffee 

and slushies all day.

Would have been nice to have

• More Greek food options
• Kids club stayed indoors instead of walks outside for example
• The flight was 10pm at night so by the time we arrived it was early morning and kids were cranky and exhausted 😩 
• They gave out sandwiches but unfortunately they were all cheese and ham and with allergies we didn't eat most of them.
• The wristbands didn't work at the sister hotel (with the water park) for any snacks.
• It was missing a spa with a sauna and jacuzzi. There was spa services like Massages and facials but not much else. 

Excursions

The hotel is located next to a couple of small shops but not much else. You can walk along the beach to get to another area and it was nice being right by a beach.

There was also a hiking trail up a mountain that you could do for an incredible view of the island.

Atlantica Aegean Park also offers daily excursions to different parts of the island that you can sign up for.

There is scuba diving nearby. Check out my past blog on Scuba diving on Rhodes.

Overall, we all had an enjoyable time at Atlantica Aegean Park! We enjoyed pool time, the fitness classes, water park, walks and scuba diving. 

The grandparents visited a few towns and did some shopping. The kids loved the Bamse kids club and evening entertainment! It was great not to have to worry about what's for dinner or any cleaning for the week! 

We visited on the last week of the season but the hotel grounds were in great shape and the staff was friendly and always attentive. We especially appreciated the allergy alternatives they had for my little one. 

We would definitely visit again!

Don't forget your snacks - The snack bar by the playground was always open for snacks like Gyros and fries!

Atlantica Aegean Park

Βρυξελλών, Kolympia 851 03, Greece

Check their website for more information 

Madame Thu Vietnamese Restaurant Stockholm

It's always nice to try new restaurants and support local businesses!

Madame Thu is a Vietnamese restaurant that is located in the neighborhood of Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Offering traditional Vietnamese dishes for lunch and dinner, Madame Thu is quickly gaining popularity. A daily lunch menu is also available for those who enjoy a "Dagenslunch".

The restaurant also offers some unique coffee drinks like Vietnamese Ice coffee and Hanoi eggpresso - both were delicious.

We have enjoyed their Beef Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup, and Beef Luc Lac dishes. 

Even the takeaway Pho was tasty and kids can't get enough of this delicious noodle dish.

Their Minced Beef wrapped in Lolot leaves dish was really tasty! This is a dish we haven't seen at other Vietnamese restaurants.

Madame Thu brings the traditional flavors of Vietnam to the neighborhood. If are in Stockholm and enjoy delicious Vietnamese food, or curious to try it, be sure to stop by for lunch or dinner and try some of their delicious dishes. Great to support local businesses as well!

Don't forget your snacks!

Madame Thu

Hammarby allé 130, 120 66 Stockholm, Sweden

Check out their Instagram for current menu

Goodstore Vegan Stockholm

 

It's not always easy finding Vegan alternatives at the regular grocery stores. They do have a few options thankfully but I am also glad to have found Goodstore, which carries even more Vegan and nut free options. 

The cafe and grocery store is located in the neighborhood of Södermalm in Stockholm, Sweden and you can even order online (delivery fee applies)!

I finally had an opportunity to check out the store and when I first walked in, I was surprised that it was much bigger than I had expected! From Vegan lipbalm and soap, to Vegan pastas, pancake mix and even seasonal treats, there is a pretty good selection.

Many snacks to choose from at Goodstore! 

Of course, with every new snack I am interested in, I read the ingredients list carefully. Being a parent to a very allergic toddler, there's no avoiding this extra check. We have gotten quite used to it by now and easy to read labels on the item and the allergens marked in bold helps a lot.

During this visit, I found some cereal bars, vegan candy, their favorite marshmallows and some chocolate.

Will have to try the cafe snacks next time I visit! 

Toddler was very happy with the snacks I found that day, especially the marshmallows 😋 I will definitely be going back for another shopping trip. Glad to have a Vegan store like this in the city!

Don't forget your snacks!

Goodstore Vegan Cafe and Grocery

Åsögatan 116, 116 24 Stockholm, Sweden

Check out their website for ordering online 

Cafe Pascal Stockholm

 

Located in the neighborhood of Södermalm in Stockholm, Sweden, Cafe Pascal is a lovely, cozy cafe to sit in for a coffee or take one with you.

It's always nice to have a quiet moment to sit and relax at the cafe before continuing my day 😌 

Cafe Pascal staff have always been friendly and ready to take your order. The cafe and bakery offers sandwiches, including, croissant sandwiches, and a variety of yummy pastries. It really is difficult to decide what to get and also hard to eat just one!

I make sure to take some extra pastries home with me ;)

My visits have been kid-free but I notice that there are always a few families with babies and toddlers. The cafe provides baby chairs and some parents take tables by the window. Parents don't need to worry as the Cafe noise cancels out any crying 😉

Cafe Pascal has indoor seating during the winter season but during the warmer months (or a nicer winter day) there are covered tables outside as well.

Indulge in one of their sweet croissants or one of the savory breakfast croissants and pair with a coffee. You won't be disappointed.

We enjoy visiting the Södermalm location but there are also café locations in Vasastan and a Kaffeebar in Östermalm.

Don't forget your snacks!

Cafe & Bageri Pascal

Skånegatan 76, 116 37 Stockholm

Check out their website for more information.

Vasa Museum Stockholm

Located on Djurgården, in Stockholm,  Sweden, the Vasa Museum houses the world's best preserved 17th century war ship, the Vasa, which sank just minutes after it started sailing.

This museum which opened in 1990 is a popular attraction to see when visiting Stockholm. 

There is a movie in various languages that plays throughout the day that gives some background on the Vasa and also shows how they recovered it. 

If you are interested in a tour, the museum offers free museum tours (in English too) to join where a guide takes you around and talks about the ship. This tour is great for the grownups but a bit lengthy for kids. Toddlers are not recommended as they can be.

Of course, the museum also includes a restaurant, but strollers need to park outside the doors.

If you have allergies, it may be more difficult to find something you can have. You can ask what they have as a substitute or ask for a dish without that particular sauce.

There was also delicious bread and coffee included with the lunch.

We have visited the Vasa Museum twice with kids. It's nice to have a restaurant right inside, but if you prefer to eat something you've packed, there is also an area on the main floor near the entrance where you can sit with kids to have some snacks or drinks.

Depending on the age of the kids, the free tour offered by the museum, might not be a appropriate. With a toddler, I'd say don't bother taking them to the tour. My toddler preferred running around so I couldn't listen to anything on the tour. The tour guide actually got upset with the noise so we didn't continue the tour with the grandparents and instead walked around ourselves and found the kids area.

There is a small kids area that plays the movie about the Vasa through the eyes of a little piglet. It replays all day in different languages. There are also some kids books about the Vasa and the little piglet in different languages. 

If you have a stroller, it's ok to bring it around the museum with you. There are elevators (but sometimes take a while to arrive) Bringing a sleeping child or one who is happy sitting in stroller on the tour is probably OK. Strollers can also be parked by the lockers near the exit of the museum.

Note: You need to park the stroller if you are going into the restaurant as well. There is parking located to the left of the restaurant entrance.

There is a nice big gift shop before the exit (after the locker area) for those who like souvenirs. We have actually been gifted a Bamse and Vasa book in English! Bamse is a popular kid's cartoon character in Sweden.

The Vasa museum is a great place to spend the afternoon especially if it's chilly or rainy outdoors!

If you're in Stockholm on a visit or live here and haven't checked it out, definitely visit the Vasa Museum.

Don't forget your snacks!

Vasa Museum
Galärvarvsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Check out their website for opening hours and more info.