Hi all,
Reposting after updating my password/settings, hoping for a response regarding the Swedish Archipelago. We have wanted to travel there and have been fortunate over the last 3 weeks to find a local travel consultant who found accommodations for us and provided some info. But we're a bit queasy about the availability of groceries and restaurants. Maybe it's alot like the places American families escape to that have very limited facilities.
Would very much appreciate your experience traveling in that area, which appears to host many locals over the summers. Have 'heard' from local group travel experts that Swedish dominates, which surprises me as most of Scandinavia is extremely English fluent. We also have been told that the accommodations are 'primitive' (perhaps reacting the the American stereotype of requiring high-end amenities).
Finally what we've about concluded that the archipelago would be best if combined with a tour to other European locales, rather than a stand-alone.

All comments welcome.

I haven't been to an island in the Stockholm archipelago but am familiar with the archipelago north of Gothenburg. I will try to answer as best I can.
There are over 30,000 islands in the Stockholm archipelago. Some can be reached by ferry and some by bridges. Do you know the name of the island?

I am a bit puzzled as to what you mean but I think you mean that English is not commonly spoken as a second language among the people out on the islands? All children learn English from the third grade on and most people under 50 should have a very good knowledge of English so that shouldn't be an issue.

If you do rent a cottage on an island, I would make sure it's accessible by bridge and I advise you to rent a car as public transportation will be extremely limited. Unless you rent in a village, there most likely won't be a grocery store and certainly not a restaurant (except perhaps a pizzeria or hot dog stand/kiosk) within miles. Perhaps that's the reference to primitive conditions. You would need to stock up on food for a week or so.

Good luck with your plans.