Best age to take dc's to Lapland?

[LittleAuk]

I'm slightly Christmas obsessed and for years have been saving to take dc's to Lapland to meet FC. I've got enough saved now, and wondering when would be best to do it. Dc's are currently 5yo and 19mo.

Unfortunately we're too busy to do it this year, but do you think next year would be good? Or will dc2 still be too young (he'll be nearly 3). I really want to take them while dc1 still believes and think 6yo sold love it next year, but what if by the time he's 7yo he doesn't believe?

I know he'll love it even if he doesn't really believe it, but it would be awesome to do it while he still does!

I've been looking at booking with Canterbury travel. If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations it would be very much appreciated!

[LeavesinAutumn]

I wouldn't worry too much about older one not believing. I have found belief can drop off, fall away, a part still wanting too much rather than adult clinical cut off, ie I think you could squeeze more belief out . So I would wait as long as you can.

[Isadora2007]

I believe it’s very cold and not really suitable for very little ones due to the hassle of snowsuits etc. So another few years would be better and if the older one isn’t a believer anymore he can help keep it magic for his little brother?

[noseyjosey]

I’m hoping to get our visit when youngest is either 2 or 3 and oldest is 5 or 6. 3yr age gap. I can’t wait. Never been but looks amazing

[iknowimcoming]

Canterbury are excellent but we booked over a year in advance so bear that in mind. We took mine when they were 4 and 6 and tbh I wouldn’t want to take a child younger than 4 as they wouldn’t remember any of it and I don’t think they’d enjoy the other activities as much as an older child, also as pp said snowsuits etc are quite a faff. I wouldn’t be worried about not believing so much as most kids believe(ish) till year 5/6 and it’s enough to make anyone believe its so magical! HTH

[Lily2007]

I've done it and personally would not take a child under 5 as its too cold for them. Kids under 5 were screaming with the cold.

It is amazing but it was close to minus 30 outside when we went even with thermals and snow suit its freezing for any length of time. Mine were nearly 6 and 7 and the youngest could only just manage the temps. Both of them loved it but 5 year old asked to go inside at times. Anything 5 up is fine they will love it. Obviously think under 3s are free so people do take and for people with 3 plus kids its hard and they may have no option but if there's a choice I would advise against. The non believing thing isn't an issue, my 7 year old was totally converted. Day trip is also too long for under 5s we did 3 day one much better at any age and I've heard people say younger children very over tired on day trip.

It's amazing definitely worth doing though.

[Lily2007]

We went 3 day Thomson Santa Sport and would recommend that, have a pool/spa and playcentre for kids (small charge) but very good value at just over £400 each including meal with fireworks, Santa and reindeer, reindeer and husky sleighing, meeting Santa, elves, gingerbread making, a lovely lunch etc. It is very full on, we slept when we came back but as we loved it so much!

[Frazzled2207]

Mine are 4 and 2 and I think the eldest is (just) at the age where I think he’d really enjoy it so I’m going to wait until they are 6 and 4, or possibly even 7 and 5. I think my 2 yo might like some of it but might be very grumpy with the cold. We’ll only be going once so I want them to remember it too!

[Lily2007]

The under 5s will enjoy some of it a lot but some is just too cold plus mine don't remember anything really from then. They did remember things for a year or two then seemed to lose the memories. My 7 year old is now 11 and still remembers it. I think my nearly 6 year old also remembers but less sure.

Quite a lot is inside so fine, meeting Santa, elves, meals etc, fire works is 5 mins outside.

The issues come one on the day trip being incredibly long but do the 3 day one and that's solved. Then other issue is husky and reindeer sledging, basically one adult may well need to sit these out if the child is too cold. There are two opportunities for reindeer sleighing so you could take it in turns, less sure if his kids were twice but you could probably both just go once on that too. The under 5s were screaming in the queues for these, they were 20 minute queues in minus 30. You could sit them out inside though. If its free for under 3s I guess you could work round it though they may not get to do everything and won't remember so I would wait unless you plan to go again. Would love to go again but very expensive.

[Lily2007]

His kids should huskies

[BillBrysonsBeard]

I'm aiming for 5+!

[NC4now]

I took mine at 7 and nearly 4. It was the right age. They are 15 and 11 now and both still remember it. I think if they were smaller the youngest wouldn't remember it as much.

[iknowimcoming]

I just wanted to add that we went the weekend before Christmas so returned home on Xmas eve and stayed for 4 nights I think, however the previous flight to us was delayed by 4 hours and we overheard people saying they were on the day trip, so just bear that in mind that for a day trip a relatively minor flight delay could seriously affect the trip. I still remember my dcs faces when the plane was coming in to land and we could see the blizzard outside the plane. We have subsequently been back 3 times to Finland ski-ing as we loved it so much, once our flight had to abort the landing as there was a reindeer on the runway (totally non-dangerous)

[RedPandaMama]

I'm 21 now and when my parents took me I was 7.5 and my sister 4.5, I think it was the perfect age. We both remember it well enough and it was so magical. I don't think I believed quite as strongly but the trip to see reindeer, snow and 'the real Santa' made me believe again. It was absolutely magical and I adored it. It was my favourite holiday aside from the 2 weeks in Disney Florida we did.

[Stompythedinosaur]

We went with Canterbury Travel last year when dd1 was 5 and dd2 was nearly 4. We had a good time, it was amazing, but with hindsight I would have left it another year. Dd2 got very tired and was a bit young for some of the activities. Do and I got very tired of coaxing her in and out if the snowsuits.

It wasn't awful, we had an amazing holiday and enjoyed it. I think nearly 3 is going to be very young. We were the youngest on our coach, there were lots of older kids (up to around 10) who seemed to still believe. The elves do such a good job that it is hard not to believe.

I would probably go in 2 or 3 years tbh.

[sadandanxious]

Following thread with interest. We'd love to take DSD there at some point but won't be able to this year sadly.