To think Lapland might be a let down?

[WillowB]

Hoping for some advice from people that have been.

In short DH has some company shares that mature next year. Should be around 4K in total. We had always said that we would use the money to take our boys aged 7 & 4 to Lapland.
Anyway we moved into a money pit of a house last yr & I'm thinking that maybe it would be more sensible to spend a bit on the house (have no floor in the hallway) and the rest on a cheaper short haul holiday to Majorca or similar.
I'm a bit torn though. We have little disposable income as I currently work part time so wouldn't really be able to save for Lapland. If DH takes out another share save then it won't mature for another 4 yrs so it's probably now or never.
If you've been, was it worth it?

I've not been and heard it is great but... Why not a compromise and lapland UK... And short haul? Have they been away. I think for dc that age, being free on a beach, sea... Would be more magical than freezing cold and trussed up in lapland

I've been as an adult with no DC and I loved it! I was living in Scandinavia so I took a train. They're very efficient would it be cheaper to get a flight somewhere a bit more South and take the train up? I am saving to take my DC but when they're a bit older. Yours are probably the perfect age. However I do understand the house needing work too. I would go to Lapland as long as the house was safe and liveable even if it wasn't to my taste.

We went December 2016, cost a fortune but worth every single penny. Was the most magical place & the kids have memories I hope they'll treasure forever-we certainly have.
We shared a log cabin with another family which cost more but was absolutely worth it as made it so much more special.
If you do go can highly recommend Santa's Lapland.

No it is an amazing experience. I loved every minute and don't think a price can be put on husky sledging through snowy woodlands or meeting Sami people at their reindeer farm.
It depends what you want from it. I remember a lady complaining to the instructor on a snow mobile tour it was too cold! Yes it was well in the minus teens but we were 110 miles north of the arctic circle at the time 😂 kids in heated pods and additional boots/gloves provided!
My son was a month away from 6 and did not complain of cold once even with frozen hair and eyebrows. It was fab in my opinion. People say once in a lifetime experience but I'll be going back

I agree with the others. I went with my DS years ago. It was a magical experience. We stayed for 2 nights and it was worth every penny. It is a very beautiful place. I would love to go back .

We went December 2016 and it was worth every penny!

It was brilliant. Kids were 3 and 6. We used Canterbury travel. I’d love to go back again for more reindeer and husky rides, snowmobiling etc.
But I do understand prioritising the house as you live there EVERYday.
Can you increase your working hours if your house is that much of a money pit? Sounds like you won’t be taking any holidays at all!!

The most amazing place !
My nan and grandad surprised us when I was 11 and my sister was 13 and we loved every minute of it!
Maybe wait till there a bit older! They will still love it then!
Hopefully I will be able to take my daughter there one day 🤞🏻

I have been to Lapland and it was amazing but if I'd just moved and house not in a comfy state I'd prioritise house I think. Hope you enjoy whichever hols you go for.

Wow I am amazed at these responses! I’m sure I’ve only ever heard/read negative reports before!

We considered going and it does look magical but at the end of the day you're paying a lot of money to see I guy dressed up as Santa. I know there is other stuff to do whilst there but that was our reason against going.

I've been on an adult trip there to do some of the activities now that my dc are grown up, and I can only wish I had taken my dc somewhere like that when they were younger, with or with out the visit to FC.

I’ve never been personally, and was a bit dubious before, but reading the posts above has made me wish we’d been when the DC were small and not bothered doing work on the house!

We went to Levi in December 2016. It was fabulous and I would definitely recommend it.

We tried to do it as cheaply as we could. It was much cheaper to book a ‘ski holiday’ for a week than a ‘Christmas break’ for 2/3 days. We booked all our excursions directly through the Levi Tourist office rather than through the tour operators which meant we saved a lot and the trips were much much quieter.

I don’t think you’d regret going.

I went with 5 other adult friends 5 years ago and it was a wonderful week. Its a lot cheaper if you book a package ski holiday to Finland (where there is an amazing place called Santa Claus Village at Rovaniemi). We paid £200 each for a weeks self catering and return flights in a log cabin and just arranged our own excursions. Huskies, Northern lights and santa Claus village! Best holiday ever and I want to go back this winter. The marketed lapland holidays and daytrips are hugely overpriced to go to the same area and same activities

Thank you so much for your replies. Sounds as though those of you who've been haven't regretted it which makes me think we should do it.
In response to some of the posts above; We can afford holidays but it's usually a week away in the U.K. With the odd weekend away here and there.
The house is perfectly liveable but just not to my taste & a bit shabby in places. Stuff that could wait a bit though while the kids are little. I'm just impatient and spend too much time looking at nice houses on instagram!
To the poster who suggested I increase my hours at work; I definitely will at some point but youngest DS is about to turn three and I want to make the most of my time off with him before he starts school.

I'll definitely look into Canterbury travel and the skiing holiday tips - thank you for that!

We've been twice once to Saariselka and once to Roviemeni both magical but I preferred Saariselka.

Everything is fabulous the flame torches the husky rides, hot chocolate and cookies, reindeer rides and seeing the real santa

The one we saw is the one that does the portable North pole messages

Fantastic

Absolutely loved our trip to Saariselke in 2009. My DC were about the age yours are now. They still talk about it.
Pure magic ❤️

We are going as a one day trip in December. It's not cheap but obviously will be less than 2-3 nights, if that might be a workable compromise?

We've went to Lapland with Esprit when the DCs were 4.5 and 9. It was Saariselka that we went to and we had a wonderful time, made all the more wonderful by visiting Santa on Christmas Day itself. The snow was glittery, the trips magical and the DCs talk about it years later. We don't ever holiday abroad but I'm so glad we went to Lapland.

Can't recommend it enough
It was incredible
Went to Saariselka and it was truly magical
Even got to see the Northern Lights
Friends of mine did a day trip and were disappointed- only got about 4 hours there and was only slightly cheaper than our 3 days there

ive been and it was INCREDIBLE. absolutely amazing. went with tui and stayed at the crazy reindeer. my DDs were aged 6 and 7 and it was just so amazing. everything was magical and they have so many memories. want to go again so hoping to go next year!

sorry, to add we stayed in levi in finland

I used to live in Swedish Lapland!

Hi sorry to jump on the post, but how did people book for these - though a company or all separately? Thanks