Written by Satu
30 Jun 2017
Summer is my favorite time of the year. I guess most people think the same. I officially have preferred season since I live in Sweden. Back then in Indonesia, weather don’t really change. During this period, people are crazy either about holiday, vacation, going back home, summer sale, or like me, enjoying the benefit of season cards.
This is not the first time I hear about season cards. We have some in Indonesia too, but I don’t really use them. Probably because I don’t really like what they are offering. Or maybe because things way cheaper back home in Indonesia. In Stockholm, it feels really benefiting and I would regret if I missed this.
Grona Lund Summer Card: Free Concerts for 5 months
Gröna Lund is a famous amusement park in Stockholm. The place is great to have fun with friends. I did not go there for the roller coaster though. They have this concert stage as side feature of the park. During April to September, they will have concert almost every day. Out of that many performers, some of them is a big name. Last year they have Suede, Deep Purple, and Simple Plan. This year, the list includes Elton John, Korn, Sum 41 (replaces Blink 182), Megadeth, Zara Larsson, The Hives and the Cardigans. For full line-up, check out Gröna Lund’s page https://www.gronalund.com/en/entertainment/concerts/
Before we talk about the price, let’s check out few solo concerts’ ticket price. I watched Red Hot Chili Pepper last year and the cheapest ticket is SEK550 (USD65). Paramore’s concert this month costs at least SEK350. The Rolling Stones’ concert in October will be SEK932 at the cheapest. Though I like music and concerts, I think it’s too much to pay that much (RHCP was an exception, it’s on my bucket list).
Gröna Lund summer card cost only SEK250.
For 5 months, we can watch more than 60 concerts without any other cost. I would buy this card every year if I stay in Sweden after I graduate. Easy choice. Oh, and of course, since the card is a pass to enter the amusement park, you can take some ride in the park while waiting for the concerts. (different prices apply for different rides).
Citybikes summer card: Free bike rent for 6 months
There are lot of discussion about choosing transportation modes. Bicycle versus trains. I actually prefer train for daily commute. But, since Summer in Stockholm is very beautiful, and train usually goes underground, and walking cannot cover so many place, I would recommend biking in Stockholm during Summer. Now, I am not talking about not buying the train card and instead buy a bike that will only be used for 3 months (other seasons is too cold for me to bike), I am talking about the Citybikes, the bike you can rent in many part of Stockholm.
Right now, I have both monthly train card and Citybikes summer card. You may think it’s a waste of money, but Citybikes summer card is so cheap that you will feel it’s really okay to buy it anyway. The regular price for 3 days card is SEK165. While the summer card cost SEK250, for the whole April-October.
Since Citybikes is originally for tourist, there are certain rules for the bike rent. For example, summer card did not mean you can take the bike from the bike stand and have them at your home for 6 months. But instead, there are 3 hours rule of using the bike, to keep the bikes available at all time. I think that is fair. We can always put and re-take the bike to restart the 3 hours limit anyway.
Take them both!
I normally campaigns against over-buying and over-consumption, but for these two, I don’t consider them over-buying because their value is much bigger than the price. I sometime wonder, “Why they give us this offer? Don’t they want to make money?”. And I do hope more company can use this kind of pricing. You know, it helps students like us (or me? Lol)
What is your favorite summer card (in or outside Sweden)? Is there anything you think worth mention in this post? Write it in the comments ?
