Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [260]
Many businesses close early the day before and all day after official public holidays, including the following:
Nyårsdag (New Year’s Day) 1 January
Trettondedag Jul (Epiphany) 6 January
Långfredag, Påsk, Annandag Påsk (Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Monday) March/April
Första Maj (Labour Day) 1 May
Kristi Himmelsfärds dag (Ascension Day) May/June
Pingst, Annandag Pingst (Whit Sunday & Monday) Late May or early June
Midsommardag (Midsummer’s Day) First Saturday after 21 June
Alla Helgons dag (All Saints’ Day) Saturday, late October or early November
Juldag (Christmas Day) 25 December
Annandag Jul (Boxing Day) 26 December
Note also that Midsommarafton (Midsummer’s Eve), Julafton (Christmas Eve; 24 December) and Nyårsafton (New Year’s Eve; 31 December) are not official holidays, but are generally nonworking days for most of the population.
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INSURANCE
Depending on the type of policy you choose, insurance can cover you for everything from medical expenses and luggage loss to cancellations or delays in your travel arrangements.
In Sweden, EU citizens pay a fee for all medical treatment (including emergency admissions), but showing an EHIC form will make matters much easier. Enquire about the EHIC well in advance at your social security office, travel agent or local post office. Travel insurance is still advisable, however, as it allows treatment flexibility and will also cover ambulance and repatriation costs.
If you do need health insurance, remember that some policies offer ‘lower’ and ‘higher’ medical-expense options, but the higher one is chiefly for countries that have extremely high medical costs, such as the USA. Everyone should be covered for the worst possible case, such as an accident requiring an ambulance, hospital treatment or an emergency flight home. You may prefer a policy that pays health-care providers directly, rather than you having to pay on the spot and claim later.
Click here for information on medical insurance.
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INTERNET ACCESS
If you plan to carry your notebook or palmtop computer with you, remember that the power-supply voltage in Sweden may vary from that at home. To avoid frying your electronics, use a universal AC adaptor (many laptop adaptors already include this; check the label on your power cord) and a plug adaptor, which will enable you to plug in anywhere. Also worth purchasing is a ‘global’ or ‘world’ modem, as your PC-card modem may not work outside your home country.
For comprehensive advice on travelling with portable computers, visit the website of World Wide Phone Guide (www.kropla.com). Teleadapt (www.teleadapt.com) sells all the gizmos you’ll need. Most hotels have wireless LAN connections, and some even have laptops you can borrow.
Nearly all public libraries offer free internet access, but often the half-hour or hour slots are fully booked for days in advance by locals, and facilities may occasionally be blocked. Many tourist offices also offer a computer terminal for visitor use (sometimes free of charge).
Internet cafes are rare outside big cities, as most Swedes have internet access at home. Where internet cafes do exist, they’re full of teenage lads playing computer games. They typically charge around Skr1 per online minute, or Skr50 per hour. Wireless internet at coffeeshops, train stations and hotels is on the increase, although in many cases you have to pay a fee for access.
Click here for a list of suggested internet resources.
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LEGAL MATTERS
If arrested, you have the right to contact your country’s embassy, which can usually provide you with a list of local lawyers. There is no provision for bail in Sweden. Sweden has some of the most draconian drug laws in Western Europe, with fines and possible long prison sentences for possession and consumption.
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MAPS
Tourist