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Original poster

Booking Lapland Trip

33 replies

sparklemagicsnow · 09/12/2021 10:33

Hello,

I'm looking to book a trip to Lapland in December 2023. Children will be 7 (nearly 8) and (just) 5 by this time, is this about the right ages to go?

Any recommendations? We've got a decent budget as this will be a once in a lifetime trip so happy to splash out a bit.

Thank you ❄️

OP posts:
GiltEdges · 09/12/2021 10:42

We've booked to go next year, when DS will be almost 4. 8 is probably a bit of a borderline age for still believing in Santa, so personally I'd have probably gone with a year earlier, but I'm sure it'll still be magical even if they don't.

I'd recommend having a look at Swedish Lapland. It's less popular/commercialised than the more well known Finnish version, but equally beautiful and kids can still do the whole meet Santa / sleigh rides / huskies, snow mobiling, etc.

Babymamaroon · 09/12/2021 10:48

@GiltEdges have you booked the Swedish one?
I've been meaning to do this with the kids and have still not got round to it.

How much is it PP?

GiltEdges · 09/12/2021 10:51

[quote Babymamaroon]@GiltEdges have you booked the Swedish one?
I've been meaning to do this with the kids and have still not got round to it.

How much is it PP?[/quote]
Yes, we have Smile It's with Newmarket Holidays and we're only doing the one day trip next year (to test the waters!), but inclusive of flights, transfers, meals and all activities it's around £600 per person for me, DH and DS.

Original poster
sparklemagicsnow · 09/12/2021 11:55

Ooh that's interesting that you can do a day trip, I hadn't realised that. Might be a good option!

OP posts:
Babymamaroon · 09/12/2021 12:11

Me neither! That one sounds fabulous!

Original poster
sparklemagicsnow · 09/12/2021 12:23

It does, but then I'm thinking £2300 for a day trip (for four of us), I expect we could do a 3/4 day trip for just a bit more than that. Hmmm..

OP posts:
CharlotteRose90 · 09/12/2021 12:25

I haven’t done but I work In travel and can honestly say don’t do the day trip it’s not worth the money. The amount of people that come back and say they wish they’d had more time for the money they spent.

Intimissimi · 09/12/2021 12:30

I've booked Lapland December 2022 for 2 adults and 1 child who will be 5.5. We are going for 2 nights... it was £3200 😳😳😳 however, I'm so excited and it is going to be once in a life time and totally worth it!
Its our first time so no recommendations sorry, but, following with interest 😊

RedToothBrush · 09/12/2021 12:31

We did a ski holiday which was Christmas focused. So lots of day trips including one to see santa. DS was just 4. It was as young as you can probably do it. It gave plenty of time to go skiing and wasn't ott commercial either. There was something to do everyday. It might work better for slightly older kids. 5 and 7 is probably the best window you will get to go.

GiltEdges · 09/12/2021 13:02

@CharlotteRose90

I haven’t done but I work In travel and can honestly say don’t do the day trip it’s not worth the money. The amount of people that come back and say they wish they’d had more time for the money they spent.
I suppose that depends what you're looking for though. Admittedly value for money wasn't high on our list and we're happy with what we'll have the chance to do in the day that we're there. We have caring responsibilities at home that can't be covered overnight so sometimes there are other factors to consider 🤷🏼‍♀️
RainbowCrayons · 09/12/2021 15:10

I'm thinking of going the same year when DS will be 4.5. It will be a once in a lifetime thing and I'm thinking of taking my parents too as they always wanted to take me and my sis when we were little but could never have afforded it. Following with ibterest as Swedish Lapland sounds good if it's less commercialized and we can still see Santa.

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 09/12/2021 17:43

I did the day trip with my siblings many years ago and thought it was fab. To be honest I'm not sure what more we'd have got out of 2 or 3 days, they really packed in the activities.

Following this thread with interest though as we're hoping to book for Christmas 2022.

Original poster
sparklemagicsnow · 09/12/2021 19:38

@Intimissimi

I've booked Lapland December 2022 for 2 adults and 1 child who will be 5.5. We are going for 2 nights... it was £3200 😳😳😳 however, I'm so excited and it is going to be once in a life time and totally worth it! Its our first time so no recommendations sorry, but, following with interest 😊
Who did you book with? I'm leaning towards a longer trip I think (2/3 days) I think getting it all in on a day trip might be a bit much with young children (we've decided we're going next year now, so they'll be 4 and 6). They'll be miserable and tired!

We'd expected to spend £3000-4000 so your trip is ok our budget!

OP posts:
ExplodingCarrots · 09/12/2021 19:45

We went 2019 to Levi and booked through Inghams . We paid around 3k for 4 days / 3 nights . It was just right for us. We were able to visit Santa's village , husky sledding, reindeer sledding , explore Levi . Our daughter was 6 when we went and I found that age perfect as it was all still magical and she could cope with the thermal suits etc

No way could we have done a day trip. It's 4 hours on the plane .

Intimissimi · 10/12/2021 07:32

Canterbury travel. Really brilliant customer service.
I wanted to do 3 nights but it was an extra 1k for no extra activities so couldn't really justify it

Intimissimi · 10/12/2021 07:33

@sparklemagicsnow forgot to actually add you to my reply...

flippertyop · 10/12/2021 07:37

We went with Canterbury travel. The issue with the day trip is not the amount you get to do - there's loads, but you have to leave really early in the morning. As a result the younger kids were knackered and so grumpy the whole day. So I wouldn't do that again

Queeen · 10/12/2021 07:48

Mine were (just) nine, and four and a half. Your ages are perfect, I reckon you could even wait a year.

We went DIY, and got a week self-catering for about the price of your organised two- or three- day trips, and everything to our schedule. I'm really glad we got a full week. Shorter wouldn't have fitted everything in. We went to Rovaniemi.

Bunnycat101 · 10/12/2021 07:52

I’ve been researching and lots of reviews say to extend the trip if possible especially with young children as otherwise it’s a very long and jam-packed day with off flight times.

LaPufalina · 10/12/2021 07:52

Interesting, I didn't know about Swedish Lapland!
Mine are 5 and 3 and was thinking of next year or 2023 but I also want to take them to Disney, so I need to plan (and save!)

Zodlebud · 10/12/2021 08:12

We went with Canterbury Travel and would seriously recommend. We did the Magical Interlude trip, staying at the hotel in Luosto.

www.canterburytravel.com/lapland-destinations/luosto/luostotunturi-hotel/#modal-popup-subscribe

We had twin interconnecting rooms which was awesome as the children could go to sleep and we could share a bottle of wine (we bought one each from home as booze is very expensive). We thought about a log cabin but all the meals are in the hotel which means you have to get all dressed up in winter gear, walk to the hotel, get out your gear to eat, then put it all back on again. It also has a pool which was good.

The magic starts literally once you get on the plane - it’s all decorated and the crew have an organised karaoke for the children over the tannoy system. The meeting with Santa was EXTREMELY well done. Just magical.

I personally would avoid Rovaniemi. There’s a Santa on every corner it feels like. Very commercialised.

Original poster
sparklemagicsnow · 10/12/2021 09:58

Th k you @Intimissimi and @Zodlebud I have just sent an enquiry to Canterbury Travel that looks fab!

OP posts:
BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 11/12/2021 16:46

@sparklemagicsnow

Ooh that's interesting that you can do a day trip, I hadn't realised that. Might be a good option!
I would advise against a day trip. When we went we were booked for three nights. We were on the same flight as families booked for a day trip and our flight was delayed by six hours …. six hours off a day trip awful, six hours off our three night trip was fine.
BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 11/12/2021 16:49

We went with Canterbury Travel when our children were 4 and 9. It was an amazing trip and our, now adult, children still talk about it.

We had a log cabin for three nights as our son has SEN so was uncomfortable in hotels.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 11/12/2021 16:57

I went with Tui Dec 2019....stayed in Yllas very tranquil- the hotel was lovely had a nice pool too.
Did 3 nights, dd was 8.