Is Lapland worth it?

[pontipinemum]

Is Lapland worth the cost? I just looked it up, for a family of 2 adults 2 children it is €5,500 with TUI for 3 nights.

It would be a once off if I ever do it. DS is only 1 and DC2 isn't born yet so I'm thinking in 6 years so could save in a credit union account.

But it is so much money! Our last holiday to Rome for a week cost us €1,500

Not much help but I've been thinking the same recently. Think I need to do it this year if I do it at all.

Friends who have been say it def is. But then again if you do go, you have to talk yourself into believing it’s worthwhile I suppose!
I really want to but it’s just too expensive IMO.

If you're on Facebook then join the group "Lapland on a Budget", loads of people post there on how they do it for much much cheaper by booking everything themselves. There's loads of other advice and tips too.

I haven't been but really want to when my children are a bit older!

@Clearinguptheclutter I do wonder that, is it one of those things regardless you'll say it's great because it cost so much. The first person I knew who went was a girl I lived with at uni. Her mum took her for a very long day trip. She said even as both being adults it was magical. I think a day trip would be mental unless everyone is an adult.

I priced this up when my son was 7. There would only have been 2 of us but it was still cheaper to book a lodge, flights and trips individually than go through a tour operator. I think a lodge makes it more magical than a hotel. Also, booking an individual Santa visit (he comes to the lodge) sounded so much better than visiting him and queuing.
It is very daunting and I would second joining the Facebook group to get hints and tips from others who have been. You have lots of time to plan

I'm going to take my son when he's a bit older . I went 3 times as a child (last time I was about 12) and sadly all I remember is the long days , cold and being tired. Im sure my DF would be very upset if I told him that's all I remember 🤣. We did see the Northern Lights when walking to the plane on one trip . I wish I had appreciated it more !

Me and DS went in 2022. The amount for two people obviously sounds more palatable than the amount for four... But yeah it's a lot of money for a short holiday.

That said, we loved every single minute of it and I'm now scrimping and saving because I've booked for us to go back in December.

I've travelled a lot and lived/worked in ten different countries and think Lapland in the winter is the most magical place I've ever visited.

We went for 4 nights with Tui to a lodge in the middle of nowhere. DS (9 at the time) said it was like living in a snow globe.

Obviously will not affect your kids negatively in any way if they don't get taken to Lapland. But if you can afford it, it's a pretty unique experience. I'd definitely wait until they're old enough to fully enjoy it and remember it.

I booked Lapland around 3 days ago for 500pp for 2 nights including flights, breakfast and a stay in Lapland Chalets with free sledding and tobogganing. Happy to go into detail about how I did it if anyone’s interested. Three of us are going and I paid 1500 including thermals!

I refused to pay £1500 for TUI!

@ButtonNoses I would love to hear how you did it please!

Would you consider going at a different time, not in the run up to Christmas? Santa is there all the time and it’s very magical, in fact you get a better experience as it’s not as crowded.

We went for a week during February half term and it was amazing. Well worth it and I’d argue it’s a better time to go.

I went 20 years ago, my son was 8. He still talks about it now. We went skiing for a week and stayed in a log cabin in the woods with a sauna. It was fantastic. We also went on a husky ride (with me driving the huskies and him in a papoose on a sled, reindeer rides ice karting and snowmobiling. We also went to see Father Christmas in Father Christmas land. This thread has made me want to go again.

It's so unbelievably worth every penny!! The most magical place on earth. But saying that definitely book yourself you'll save an absolute fortune. Lots of groups on Facebook with amazing tips how to diy it.

Easyjet have direct flights to Rovaniemi, book an airbnb and get the bus to the Santa Claus village and do a couple of other day trips from Rovaniemi. It will be thousands less I'm sure.

Following

Yes. Every penny. Magical memories. Best thing I ever did with my dc. Do it!

I am one for going places off season as I don't love big crowds, but I would be worried that it would need to be near Christmas. Was it not strange to see Santa in Feb? did the kids wonder about that?

Baby no 2 has arrived and is 2 weeks old so I think we are a few years off going! But maybe when they are 6 and 8 would be good. I want the younger DS to understand fully what is going on, but older DS to still completely believe.

wow what a fantastic deal! When you book it all yourself can you hire the heavy ski wear clothes somewhere?

Lapland is an amazing place and really lovely to visit. But the price you mentioned is very high!

Are you asking about visiting Lapland or doing a Father Christmas experience in Lapland? They are very different things and really you’re paying a mark up to be conned as a tourist!

There are lots of great things to do in Lapland, some free of charge (hiking, going to lakes, the outdoor grill areas that you can take your own sausages etc to grill on, frozen lakes that you can ice skate on - you just need to hire some skates or pick some up in a local 2nd hand store for anywhere between €5-€20) but if you go down the tourist package routes you will likely get ripped off. But on the other hand, paying more means less planning an researching on your part.

whatever you decide to do, have a lovely time!!

Hello loves, sorry sorry I went a bit awol I’ve been travelling for work last few days. So basically, it’s been a life long dream to go but I couldn’t bear to pay £1500 per person through Santa trips, Canterbury or TUI.

So this is how I did it. I searched Lapland/Rovaniemi on Love Holidays this was for the first week of December but cheaper if you go end of of November. Found a deal of 390.00 per person for flights direct from stansted AND 2 nights in Lapland Chalets which is 4 bed and has sledges and breakfast included. Bargain. I then added our seats together and 10k bag each and this came to around £450 per person.

I then went onto Google and found this company that you can hire your thermals and they’re delivered to your hotel for when you arrive and picked up when you leave. You just give them your sizes ahead of time when you order. This was £50 per person- so all in total came to £500.00 per person for everything.

The chalets are a 10 minute taxi from Santa’s Village or a 25 minute walk or sledge in the snow. Santa’s village is free entry and there are optional excursions you can book on the day such as “Visit Santa £30”” “Husky Ride £25” or “Reindeer Sledge Ride £30”

There’s also a snowman world and Christmas land option entry at £30 per person as well. But again, you don’t need to do all these activities and they’re optional on the day.

We are just adults going so doubt we will do everything but costs considered even if we did 3 activities each it would still only be £590 per person. As breakfast is included we plan to stock up on food to last us until dinner time where apparently you can get street food or there’s even a McDonald’s! Or restaurants of course. The chalets have a kitchen so you could even cook as there’s supermarkets nearby and of course this is all in the snow!

I’ve added some screenshots (hidden a few things for privacy such as our flight details)

@ButtonNoses thank you so much!!

Lapland is totally worth it, but not at 5.5k!

We’ve been 3 times. Having a year off this year but will be back next Christmas.

We usually get cheap flights for £100 return each and pay 500 euro for accommodation for a week through Levi tourist board. All your kids will want to do is sledge. Enjoy the free activity and invest in your Santa experience which is about 500 euro for a family but totally worth it and usually includes a reindeer ride. Yes you can visit Santa for free at Rovaniemi Santa Claus village but it’s a huge queue in December and is just a photo (chargeable) rather than experience. In January when it’s quiet he may engage in a small chat but it’s not happening pre Christmas.

Book flights on launch day or opt for the Santa Claus Express sleeper train with a cabin from Helsinki for the novel factor of waking as the train crosses into Lapland - my DD’s favourite

Yes please

Hello I’ve put the details up the thread :)

I went for 4 nights with my kids a few years ago - I went with an operator, and I really appreciated all the stuff that came with it - eg. when we checked in at the airport, the air crew were all wearing elf hats, and they handed out a little bag with hats/sweets for the kids, and on the plane they did games and a bit of singing (yes, it sounds like hell, but the kids lapped it up)

Then the 4 days we were there, no thinking was required - you arrived, got shepherded over to a warehouse for winter clothes, and onto the bus to the hotel, all meals included, trips to see santa/ice-hotel/husky/snowmobiles etc. just turn up where you're told, and there's an elf on the bus who keeps the kids entertained.

I know it's expensive, and it was a one-off for us following a nasty split between me and their dad, and I don't regret spending a penny of it.

Thanks so much @ButtonNoses