Nordic Light Hotel, Stockholm

At first glance, style seems to take centre stage at Nordic Light Hotel – a block-shaped design hotel close to Stockholm’s main train station.

But while the lobby is quite daring with its icicle-shaped chandelier, minimalist armchairs and weird, phallic ornaments, the rest of the hotel’s design is pretty tame, with straight black-and-white corridors leading to rectangular rooms.

That’s not to say Nordic Light isn’t a lovely place to stay – it is. Even rooms on the bottom rung of the price ladder will have you quickly feeling snug. Organic amenities are provided in the bathrooms, which have small tubs in addition to the usual corner showers, and in-room coffee and tea facilities come as standard.

Larger superior and deluxe rooms add flashes of orange and blue to the mostly monochrome room design. Beds in these rooms are also illuminated by mood lighting, which you change whenever it suits you.

Generally speaking, rooms at the back of the hotel are quietest but if you take one of those you’ll forgo a view over Vasagatan – not the prettiest street in Stockholm, but certainly one with excellent potential for people watching.

Prices here aren’t too bad at weekends but go skywards during the week – a move that reflects the hotel’s popularity with big conference groups.