Lapland trip - recommendations?

[custardlover]

I want to take the DC on a trip to see Santa this year - I think it's the last when I can be sure that the eldest will buy it and the youngest will love it. I'd love you recommendations on the various trips and operators out there. My criteria is the most magical rather than cheapest - I'd pay a bit more for a marvellous and memorable experience (obviously would be great if that's not necessary too!) - have you been? Is it worth it? Thanks

We went for 4 nights to Saariselka with Thomson back in 2012 and it was amazing. We went from 22-26 December.
There is a free to use ski/sledge slope in Saariselka and a good chance of seeing the northern lights.
I would 100% recommend a reindeer sleigh ride, it was magical.

Thank you! That's exactly the sort of thing I'm envisaging - reindeer and mulled wine and hot chocolate! Did you see Santa too? That would be great!

I went with TUI 2 years ago. Santa, reindeer, huskies, sledges, incredible breathtaking scenery. Canterbury is the "top of the range" for a little extra, but TUI was cheaper and it's the same hotel, same food, partly the same activities provider, but they had more included (we paid for longer trips) and a posher find-father-Christmas.

There is a great Facebook page if you are on fb - Lapland holiday chat.

Also depending what you're after we went to Luosto. It's in a national park rather than a big village/city. There is an amethyst mine accessible by snow mobile where you can mine for your own bit of amethyst and it's quite stunning there.

Yes we saw Santa. We spent a day at Santa's land, lunch and activities included. We got a private visit to Santa as well.

We went with Canterbury Travels in Luosto for 4 days/3 nights and found them really good. Lots of activities were included that aren't in other packages, we were busy doing nice things all day! We had one of the elf character's come to read the dc a bedtime story at our cabin which was magical. Also the staff were really helpful and engaged the kids really well.

It was quite expensive though!

Thanks so much all. I hadn't thought that it would be over Christmas - what was that like? Do you have to bring all the presents etc (presume yes) and then have Christmas dinner at the hotel? I was imagining that we go a few day prior and only for 2/3 days but if a week over Christmas has enough to occupy the DC and you recommend, then am very interested!

I just took 2 presents for DS and my friend put the rest under the tree for when we got home on boxing day. Santa couldn't deliver all the presents to the hotel because he knows there is a baggage allowance 😂
I went over Xmas because I'm a term time worker and it was the only time I could go unless I went over new year but I didn't see the point in going after Christmas day.
The hotel do a Gala dinner on Christmas day followed by fireworks. We spent the day sledging on 25th and saw Santa on the 24th. The reindeer sleigh ride was on 23rd. The Finnish celebrate their Christmas on the 24th so everything was open on 25th, although there were only 2-3 shops back in 2012. The itinerary was planned by Thomson and it worked out great for us.
I wouldn't recommend a full week as there is not a lot to do in some of the resorts unless you have ££££ to spend on excursions. 4 nights was enough for us.
Bare in mind it is also -25°C so you can't really go wandering around without a purpose.
My friend went mid December but on a day trip and loved it. She went to Rovaniemi but I'm not sure who it was with.

We went last year to Luosto with Canterbury. Highly recommend- so magical. If I wentvagain I would pay for the a la carte restaurant as the food wasn’t great.