Early this year I went to Västerås as a kind of one day getaway. I heard the Steam Hotel was great (it is). What you say is pretty accurate (in Stockholm I wonder how they keep anything white from turning grey from all the black clothing they wear. I guess they are good as separating wash.) I live in a small city but anything smaller than Uppsala feels really, really tiny. I did most everything I could do in Västerås in the time I was there. Not a bad place, despite me being a bit of a snob due to living so many places that are larger. Anyway, I can't agree that gym membership is cheap here. Even the lowest ones where you see they should have dusted things off a few months ago are quite expensive. Sure, some employers do subsidize memberships but it's not free ride.
I love to see another Steam Hotel evangelist! It is great, isn't it?
As for gym costs, my husband and I do have subsidized memberships through his work, which helps. I am also coming from the perspective where in the US, gyms are typically an all or nothing proposition. For example, you can get a very, very cheap membership to a gym like Planet Fitness for as low as $5/month, but the gym is essentially just a massive room in a strip mall filled with exercise machines. Really not a stimulating or motivating environment.
Or, you can pay around $70/month for a gym with greater amenities like your local YMCA which would have access to an indoor and outdoor pool, offer group classes, and maybe have a sauna or steam room (families and couples get discounts at the Y, but it's almost cost-prohibitive for a lot of young, single Americans.)
My husband and I are members at Actic which offers tons of classes, a pool, and a great sauna. When I first toured the facilities, I was blown away by the normal membership price! It's less than 450 kr/month if you pay out of pocket, about $43. (Actic should really be paying me for marketing at this point 😂) All of that for such a low price is really hard to come by in the US.
I have thought about write a post comparing gym culture in the US and Sweden, and you have definitely given me the motivation to do so!
I guess when you talk about costs it depends where you lived. The "Y" where I was a member for a time was crazy cheap and was equal to private gyms. But it wasn't a big city. The Steam Hotel was great fun, even if I was on my own. Chatted with friendly staff and that's not too common in Sweden. Although the bar tender was from Belgium. :D
Right before we moved here in 2023 I had a single person's membership which was $70 but the city had at least four Ys with different facilities and amenities. I bet location and year affect price a lot!
Ha ha ha!! Spot on. Last winter I hung my coat at a restaurant’s coat rack. When I went to retrieve it at the end of the evening, I had a difficult time finding my very dark grey coat amongst the sea of black coats. Mine was literally the only non-black one. Next day I went out and bought the biggest, brightest red puffer coat I could find. Now I can always find it and I stick out in town. Yes, I’m over 60. 😂 I grew up in Los Angeles and was a teen and young adult in the 80’s so lots of color, vintage clothes, crazy style and hair colors. I’ve sometimes felt disappointed in my lovely daughter’s beige, black and denim Scandi conformity but it doesn’t dim her beauty even if she tries!
Thanks again for your comment! I would be very curious to know what your daughter thinks of fashion trends in Sweden as the daughter of an American raised here!
Early this year I went to Västerås as a kind of one day getaway. I heard the Steam Hotel was great (it is). What you say is pretty accurate (in Stockholm I wonder how they keep anything white from turning grey from all the black clothing they wear. I guess they are good as separating wash.) I live in a small city but anything smaller than Uppsala feels really, really tiny. I did most everything I could do in Västerås in the time I was there. Not a bad place, despite me being a bit of a snob due to living so many places that are larger. Anyway, I can't agree that gym membership is cheap here. Even the lowest ones where you see they should have dusted things off a few months ago are quite expensive. Sure, some employers do subsidize memberships but it's not free ride.
I love to see another Steam Hotel evangelist! It is great, isn't it?
As for gym costs, my husband and I do have subsidized memberships through his work, which helps. I am also coming from the perspective where in the US, gyms are typically an all or nothing proposition. For example, you can get a very, very cheap membership to a gym like Planet Fitness for as low as $5/month, but the gym is essentially just a massive room in a strip mall filled with exercise machines. Really not a stimulating or motivating environment.
Or, you can pay around $70/month for a gym with greater amenities like your local YMCA which would have access to an indoor and outdoor pool, offer group classes, and maybe have a sauna or steam room (families and couples get discounts at the Y, but it's almost cost-prohibitive for a lot of young, single Americans.)
My husband and I are members at Actic which offers tons of classes, a pool, and a great sauna. When I first toured the facilities, I was blown away by the normal membership price! It's less than 450 kr/month if you pay out of pocket, about $43. (Actic should really be paying me for marketing at this point 😂) All of that for such a low price is really hard to come by in the US.
I have thought about write a post comparing gym culture in the US and Sweden, and you have definitely given me the motivation to do so!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. (-:
I guess when you talk about costs it depends where you lived. The "Y" where I was a member for a time was crazy cheap and was equal to private gyms. But it wasn't a big city. The Steam Hotel was great fun, even if I was on my own. Chatted with friendly staff and that's not too common in Sweden. Although the bar tender was from Belgium. :D
Right before we moved here in 2023 I had a single person's membership which was $70 but the city had at least four Ys with different facilities and amenities. I bet location and year affect price a lot!
Ha ha ha!! Spot on. Last winter I hung my coat at a restaurant’s coat rack. When I went to retrieve it at the end of the evening, I had a difficult time finding my very dark grey coat amongst the sea of black coats. Mine was literally the only non-black one. Next day I went out and bought the biggest, brightest red puffer coat I could find. Now I can always find it and I stick out in town. Yes, I’m over 60. 😂 I grew up in Los Angeles and was a teen and young adult in the 80’s so lots of color, vintage clothes, crazy style and hair colors. I’ve sometimes felt disappointed in my lovely daughter’s beige, black and denim Scandi conformity but it doesn’t dim her beauty even if she tries!
Thanks again for your comment! I would be very curious to know what your daughter thinks of fashion trends in Sweden as the daughter of an American raised here!