Experiences of Lapland (how cold?!)

[SnowSeeking]

We've been offered the opportunity to spend a few days in Finnish Lapland in the Feb half term. Kids are 7 and 2. I'm so very tempted but have a few reservations - has anyone on here been? How did you cope with the cold - is general ski/snow wear enough? I'm worried we will get there and it will be so cold we will just hole up in the room. Seeing the Aurora would be once in a lifetime though...

It can be anything from around zero to -30, so it's hard to say how cold it'll happen to be. General gear that you eg. rent in Lapland should be fine (unless maybe if it's closer to the -30), but take layers you can add underneath as needed. I'm not sure how well general British "winter wear" things would be. You can be outdoors even in -30 degrees, if you're properly dressed, and have something protecting your face.

We're planning to go next january and will be bringing thermal base layers, two fleece midlayers and ski outers, plus two layers of gloves, ski socks and hats and balaclavas just in case. If it's warmer we can always ditch some layers but going fast on a husky sled in -25 is going to be the coldest thing we've ever experienced.

I'm concerned that my littlest (who is on the small side) is just going to be a big ball of clothes and he won't be able to move around or enjoy the experience at all.

We took my biggest to Canada when he was a similar age and it was so cold he didn't want play in the snow or really be outside at all :/

We’ve been with a 3 year old, who was fine, but it was definitely an effort with all the snowsuits and boots etc. If your 2 year old is co-operative about wearing gloves and hats etc, then you should be fine. I would definitely rent their thermal snow suits as they are much more effective than general ski wear in extreme temperatures.
Whilst the chances of seeing the aurora are higher in feb, they’re definitely not guaranteed and I definitely wouldn’t be taking little ones on the specific night time excursions for this as there is a lot of sitting around and waiting.

It’s definitely workable, but if you can wait a year or two then I think you would all get more out of it.

We were there in Feb 2016 and it was about 0 / +2 which was very warm really, we were quite hot in all our layers but at least you can take things off.

It got down to -40 when I was there. The rented thermal suits were essential.

We went to Saariselkä in Dec with a 7 & 4 year old. The youngest definitely struggled with the cold and despite the thermals, couldn’t stay outside for too long.
In hindsight I wish we had waited a year.

Personally I wouldn’t be taking a 2 yr old...I actually thought the recommendation is not to take under fours which is why we waited as my youngest was 4 in Oct.

We went to saariselka this year in November with ds who is 5. He is quite small and very skinny (wears age 3-4 still) and he was totally fine. It was - 17 which was unusually warm, but we were all boiling hot in the snow suits and boots they give you. Ended up taking off mittens and hats quite quickly.

Its a very different kind of cold to the UK.

We had loads of thin layers on which helped. I was warm enough in my thermals and layers to go from the inn to the shops with just my normal winter coat and snow boots. The rented suits and boots are a must for the main day though as it's much colder.

Also take sunscreen. I'm not sure if I got sunburn or frostnip (maybe a touch of both?) but my face was very sore and red after three days.

I do think 2 is far too young though. They won't have a snow suit small enough and the ones you can get here will definitely not be warm enough. The suit they gave ds was only just small enough, and it's not somewhere that is easy to get around with a pram

We went in December and minus 27C, we were given special snowsuits, gloves and boots - would get it locally and wear thermals and layers underneath. It was amazing but even with thermals, jumpers and special complete body snowsuit it was incredibly cold and as an adult could only manage 2 hours outside. Under 5s were crying, my 5 year old was borderline with cold, 7 year old same as adult. Would recommend place but if weather similar in February would try and work out way to keep 2 year old inside as much as possible. Place we did husky, reindeer and snowmobiles had restaurant on site so you could alternate. Maybe look up average February temps in location. Hotel was about 30C so it was one extreme to another, you could go round that in shorts and t-shirt.

If you will get same chance another year would delay. If not go for it.

I wouldn't take a 2 year old either, our DD was 3 and was in tears the majority of the time as she was so cold. It was between -10 and -15 when we were there.
My older boys (then 6 and 8) absolutely loved it though.

Decided to go for it! Where we are staying has an indoor pool and also a decent sized soft play so if it's too much for the little one then one of us can stay with him inside whilst the other does stuff with the eldest and swap. Wish us luck!

Have a lovely time. When we went we had a hotel Santa Sport with big pool and indoor playcentre and that worked really well.

When we went found it useful to take some snacks and drinks with us as huge luggage allowance and they are really expensive over there. When we went to Lapland in summer was much better for food so may depend where you are or maybe the snow adds to food delivery costs.

Thanks penguin, we also have plenty of luggage allowance so I will do the same. The costs that I've been googling are a bit eye watering!