Love hotel Venusgarden promises a better sex life

SWEDISH hotel offers guests some unique services including sexy lessons and erotic gifts.

THE entries in the guestbook of the Venusgarden guesthouse near Skurup, in south Sweden, tell a happy story.

"The night for us was filled with exciting surprises. It was beautiful, wonderful and full of new knowledge."

"You have created a place of paradise. A paradise we all need. You are our priestess of love."

For the landlady of a country B&B, Ylva Franzen has an interesting and unusual sideline. She is a professional orgasm coach - although she prefers the job title "erotic pedagogue".

The 67-year-old Swedish former teacher runs the country's first "love hotel" with her husband, Ake.

Some B&Bs offer coffee and tea-making facilities in their bedrooms. Venusgarden offers a range of love-making facilities.

"That's why we call it our love hotel," says Ylva.

"Some people have called it an orgasm hotel. But that gives completely the wrong impression. We aren't tacky, sleazy or fetishistic.

"It's a place of romance and romantic bonding. We hope Venusgarden is the ultimate romantic destination. It's a place for couples. But firstly for women.

"Sweden is far more prudish and conservative and less liberal than many would believe. We took a long time to get permission to open. But we succeeded and we have been proved right. We all need stimulation.

"And, judging by our popularity, we obviously hit the right nerve."

A 20-minute drive from Malmo and 40 minutes across the 8km Oresund Bridge to Copenhagen airport, the tasteful guesthouse looks out over rolling hills and sugar beet fields.

The Baltic is only a few kilometres away. There is a family of deer. There is also a rose garden.

"We've had honeymooners, couples celebrating anniversaries and young unmarried couples. But most of our guests tend to be middle-aged people who already have fantastic relationships and know each other very well and remember the wonderful days of passion and intimacy. And want to revive them," Ylva says.

"It's touching to see and very satisfying that we have helped them to be happy. Pleasure is what people are after. And everyone who goes on holiday wants to have a good time. I quit teaching because I wanted to make people happy."

Ylva bought the farmhouse in 2004. It has three themed bedrooms - Kama Sutra, Venus and Tao. Each comes with sable brushes, feathers, massage oils, incense, Indian silk overhangs, red lanterns, perfumed candles, erotic illustrations and a basket of love toys, which are included for $227 a night.

Ake shows me up to the attic and the Tao room.

"I don't think you'll be needing that as you're single occupancy," he grins, dismantling a swing above the round bed that has a large mirror cannily placed on the ceiling so - presumably - I can shave in bed.

Ake used to sail a charter yacht around the world. He is now 73. Marrying Ylva grounded him.

Ylva wrote the best-selling book Orgasmera Mera (Orgasming More), now in its third edition and due to be published in Poland and Germany.

"It was the first Scandinavian sex book. It's not a sex manual. It's aimed at women. I have written the follow-up. For men. It's half a page long!"

Ake serves guests breakfast in bed. His wife advises on aphrodisiacs chocolate, red wine, cheese and jasmine - they are apparently the perfect mood enhancers.

Would you stay at Sweden's love hotel? Tell us below

Staying there: see www.venusgarden.se
Currency: $A1 = 7 krona
More: www.skane.com