STF Svartsö Skärgårdshotell & Vandrarhem

STF Svartsö Skärgårdshotell & Vandrarhem is very neat and tidy. The beds were very comfortable, and we enjoyed a quiet and peaceful night. The bathroom was small but more than adequate for our needs. The showers were in a separate building and were very clean; we didn't experience any problems with sharing them with other guests. Our host was very friendly and welcoming, and she made sure we had everything we needed (sheets, towels, etc.). Breakfast was included - it came in a prepared basket, so you got what you got. We enjoyed it, but others might prefer to make their own choices. Something to be aware of: There is no restaurant available in September (ever?), which we knew about so we brought our own food for dinner which we had in the spacious lounge area. We enjoyed hiking around the island. The scenery and solitude were wonderful.

The following is not a criticism of our accommodation – It’s information about traveling in the Archipelago in September. On September 1st, ferry travel becomes limited in the Archipelago. We planned to go to nine islands in nine days, arriving as early as possible, hiking the island, staying overnight, then repeating the next day. When we did our planning in June/July, the ferry routes made this look very doable. However, when we started on September 4th, we discovered that routes had been severely reduced, throwing our schedule out the window. We weren't happy. The other visitors/hikers/campers we met weren't happy. Our hosts weren't happy and they have been giving the government an earful about it to no avail. It was a mess. Fortunately, we were able to arrange for water taxis to get us to our next destinations. We eventually wound up needing four water taxis, which is a considerable expense, in addition to always wondering if one would even be available. We loved the Archipelago. The islands and hiking were wonderful, but just be aware of the ferry situation. If you go in September, make sure you can get to where you want to go in a time you want to go. Alternatively, maybe stay two nights in each place so you'll have time to explore. But that said: SAT, be better!

Clean rooms and easy bike rental. The staff are exceptionally kind and helpful.

Kind and helpful staff. Beautiful natural setting.

Not enough restaurants nearby. Nothing hotel can do about that. Hotel does sell some take-away meals prepared locally. The hotel description does advise about the meal situation, and advises guests to bring food. It is also a hostel, and some people cooked for themselves. The staff was exceptional. My passport had been stolen in Stockholm, and they kindly printed out all of the online documents I needed for my appointment at the US Embassy to get an emergency passport. Angels!

We enjoy the breakfast a lot.

The reception was not available 24 hours so we could not rent bikes or drink coffee and tea during the evening.