Arsenal Women stars: “At a hotel, personal touches really count”

With ticket sales and viewing figures breaking records each new season, women’s football is now a truly international affair. Arsenal Women is a prime example, with a squad from all over the world. As England’s most decorated women’s side, their success on the pitch has meant a lot more travel to overseas matches—and the players have developed as keen an eye for a good hotel as they have for the opposition’s goal.

Catching up with defender Leah Williamson (the England captain and UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 winner), forward Cloé Lacasse (born in Canada, but now an Icelandic citizen), and Swedish defender Amanda Ilestedt (who previously played for Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain) is a great chance to reap the benefits of their hotel expertise—starting with the front desk.

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The first thing they look for, says Williamson, is staff “making everything easy after your journey. And when you can tell that they’re happy to have you there.”  
 
Lacasse agrees that the simplest things make a big difference. “Like if there’s a chocolate on the pillow, and sparkling water on the nightstand. And personal touches really count. I was staying at a hotel recently and the lovely cleaning-service person put a little face cloth by the sink, and arranged all my lotions and creams on it, so my skincare routine was ready when I got in. I really liked that, it was a nice touch.” 
 
When it comes to a favourite location, it’s no surprise that some of the places they recommend are closely linked to sport. “I love the Ritz-Carlton in Downtown Toronto,” says Lacasse. “It has access to all the sports centers, like the Raptors for basketball and the Blue Jays for baseball.”

Ilestedt sticks to football: “There’s a hotel outside Gothenburg where the Swedish national team stay before a big tournament—the Sankt Jörgen Park hotel. It’s like a spa hotel, with lots of pools and treatment areas, so we always feel very good there—treated like princesses!” 

But it’s not just about the facilities on offer. Williamson remembers a team trip to Japan. “Before we went to Tokyo to play the games, we stayed in this small, traditional rural hotel where we ate our meals sitting on the floor, you know, like proper proper [Japanese]. There were blossom trees and if you were going to paint a picture of Japan, that’s what it would’ve been. Getting into the culture was really nice, because when you just go into big city hotels you don’t always see that side.” 

On that theme, but rather closer to home, she recommends The Brownswood in London’s Finsbury Park to traveling supporters. “It’s a pub with guest rooms where you can stay upstairs. If you want the full experience of coming to London to watch an Arsenal game, I think that’s really cool. Stay in a proper old-school boozer.” 

One major change they have all seen during their careers is that players no longer have to room together, which provokes mixed feelings. “It was like having an automatic buddy,” says Lacasse. Williamson agrees: “You felt like you were on holiday with a pal. Plus, my roomie always used to bring a diffuser with her, which fixed my sinus problems as soon as I walked in!”

Ilestedt stresses the importance of etiquette: “I think I need to have someone who has kind of the same routines that I have. I wake up earlier than most of the girls, and I probably go to sleep earlier as well, so that’s important. And I want my own side in the bathroom, with my towel and all my things in there. I don’t want my roomie to go over to my side!” 

In the off season, there’s no shortage of ideas for places to visit. Mother-to-be Ilestedt is ready for adventure: “I’ve heard about this safari hotel in Namibia called Our Habitas. You’re right in the middle of nature, waking up to see an elephant passing by.” By contrast, she’s also keen to try an ice hotel in the north of Sweden. “I haven’t seen the northern lights because I’m from the south of the country, and I really want to. I love the idea of staying in a hotel made completely from ice—including the beds. And in the bar, even the glasses are made from ice.” 

Also drawn to winter pursuits, Lacasse wants to explore Canada more. “I snowboard, and normally I just stay at my family’s house. But I’d love to go to the Fairmont Chateau out in Whistler, or a ski lodge in Banff. Take a couple of friends, try the local breweries, wake up early and hit the slopes.” 

Williamson completes the hat-trick of snowy dream stays: “I want to stay at the Bürgenstock Hotel Spa in Switzerland. It’s an Instagram find. I see pictures of it all the time. It’s built into the landscape next to a mountain lake. And there’s a couple of rooms that have baths in the window, with the greatest views.” An Alpine escape looking out over the mountains would be worth visiting at any time. But after another season as a key player with most successful English women’s club in history, for Williamson this kind of break isn’t just good—it’s perfect. 

Michael Smith

Writer

Michael Smith has been a journalist for titles including the Financial Times, GQ, Esquire and FHM, as well as presenting numerous travel series on British television, which saw him exploring the Amazon in Brazil, swimming with sharks in South Africa, and skydiving in Australia.