Lapland visit 2014

[helenlouisey]

I thought I'd post this while hopefully there's lots of people still around. We're hoping to take our 6 year old and nearly 3 year old to Lapland next year. We want to go a non commercial tucked away resort and it will be to also celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary so I want it to be extra special. Budget not much of an issue as will start saving now. Any recommendations on the following

• travel companies to book through?
• when to book to get best deals?
• any particular resorts recommended?

Any other tips would be really appreciated

Thanks

X

I've been looking at Canterbury travel as they were recommended to me. Prices vary depending when you go, but from what I gather it's between £1000-£1500 per person

Just been looking at esprit for Lapland. It looks amazing and the reviews are good. I haven't been yet (saving like mad so can take dd when she's 5/6 for a four night visit) so jealous of those going this year.

We went with thomsons 2012 to sariselka and paid £2200 for family of four for four days inc activities and clothing. Not at all commercial. You could get the same holiday in 2013 though last minute for £1200 for four at one point!

I have just booked a trip to Lapland for my then 4 and 3 year old.
I have read up on additional clothing to take but was wondering what are those heat pad things that activate when your hands and feet are exposed to the cold ?
Also not sure weather to book the northern lights trip as its pot luck if you actually get to see them would I see them from our resort Saariselka

Regards
Denise

On our trip we do get to experience most things but am thinking of booking extras such as a husky ride and the reindeer dash.
Anyone experienced these or other trips that you think we should book

Place marking to respond later after school run!

I know this is a zombie thread. But do any of these resorts have Santas with real beards? Most of the images I see are photos of Santas with huge very fake beards. I want to do this next year or the year after but only if the Santa has a real beard.

We went to Saariselka last year for 3 nights and loved it. Springer I didn't check Santa's beard as clearly he was the real Santa so the beard was his. I believed!
We had a husky dog ride and reindeer ride included but booked longer ones for our extra day- was glad we did as the included ones are fairly short.

I didn't book he northern lights trip but on our last nights we walked away from the lights of Saariselka and were lucky enough to see them. Amazing!
I took the heat pads, think I got them from mountain warehouse but we didn't use them much.
It was an amazing few days! Have fun!

Canterbury Travel were great, well recommended. So magical.

So want to do this, thinking 2017 when DS will be 5.6 and I will be 40.5

who cares if this is zombie what a pleasure to read this - peoples reactions to it!! Its a must do - am sorely tempted to do it!! Would love some up to date experiences though

Does this help? A Lapland Review from last year

gorgeous thank you telephone

humidseptember I only went last December if there's anything in particular you'd like to know? This was the trip I did, highly recommended. I want to go again!
www.santaslapland.com/choose-your-break/4-day-breaks/

The Lapland trip advisor forum has everything you need to know 😀

I'm thinking of doing this for Christmas as am getting a bit of a tax rebate soon - totally sold on saariselka with Santas Lapland but will DC be too young at 2.5 and 5? I've read that the young ones can struggle with the cold - although dd runs about 10 degrees hotter than everyone else anyway!

I found DD 5 was too young to be honest so I'd wait, it's -18 most days and very tiring or try to ancient as more to do indoors. Most excursions are 4+

We were thinking of 2017 when DS will be 5 and a half. Should we leave it a year? I don't want him to have stopped believing.
I believed until 11 but those were simpler times...!

I should add that Santas Lapland (esprit) are double the cost of thomsons - both go direct to Saariselka and offer pretty much the same trip (tasters are same time regardless of what esprit say!).

Thomsons do offer party flight tho- entertainment on plane, singing down intercom, party packs, Santas hat for all etc whereas esprit use easyjet!

I'd recommend thomsons and save the 1.5k for optional excursions!

Ignore what esprit say about holiday club being the best - we stayed there and it's not. Hotel snowflake (Rekonlina) and Tunturi both much nicer

My further above post typed wrong

For young kids Rovaniemi has more indoors but it's a city so less remote. I really would suggest over age 6

I think we'll leave it until next year when they'll be 3 and 6. Thanks for feedback :)

Moose - I've done that exact trip. Mind blowing!