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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Lapland

28 replies

floatinginthesea · 01/09/2010 15:21

Anyone been on a good Santa trip? I've seen the bad reviews for Canterbury travel and was hoping someone might have had a good experience with another agency?

OP posts:

DadInsteadofMum · 02/09/2010 15:58

There are two main companies that specialise in these trips Canterbury and emagine. I have travelled with both and to be honest we had a great trip both times, though for me emagine edged it in terms of value for money and the attention to detail.

VivaLeBeaver · 02/09/2010 16:02

DD went with Esprit and had a good time.

myredcardigan · 02/09/2010 16:09

We were thinking of this earlier in the year though we're now moving house instead!

Anyway, we were very swayed by the canterbury brochure but the reviews on here and on both trip advisor and holidays uncovered were not good. Crucially the poor reviews were in the last 2yrs which was interesting then i came across a really scathing review from a rep who had worked for them and said they'd suffered badly under the recession and their service had gone dramatically downhill.

Lots of bad reviews of Transun too even thought their brochure was very glossy.

If we were still going I'd go with Esprit as they had great reviews both on here and on the travel review websites. Reasonably priced compared to the others and as they fly to Ivalo their resort is only about half hour away so no long transfer.

Oh and not great reviews for First Choice either as apparently FC comes round at dinner and randomly dishes out gifts. Lots of reviews saying how awful this was compared to the private family FC meeting you get with the others.

Do a search on here then check both tripadvisor and Holidays uncovered. You could also google the destinations offered by each to see what they're like.

We're hoping to go next year now so please post back a review (if you go) as it's all helpful.
HTH

Original poster

floatinginthesea · 08/09/2010 09:37

Thanks all. I am going to do some more research for Esprit - i've ordered their brochure but it's not arrived yet. I hadn't heard of emagine so I'll check them out too. I'll let you know how I get on!

OP posts:

EssexBecca · 19/09/2010 12:21

Check out Inghams too - we went with them in 2008 to Levintunturi and it was fab. I chose them after reading bad reiew of Canterbury travels too.

amidaiwish · 14/10/2010 21:17

i am going to book with Esprit in the morning for Lapland!
DDs are 5 and 6.5

am I mad?

any top tips?

what extras should i book?

TIA v excited.

amidaiwish · 15/10/2010 09:37

bump
i can't book this until you guys tell me great things!

MollieO · 15/10/2010 09:51

I had planned to take ds this year but couldn't find anyone who had been who actually enjoyed it. Most people I know thought it was an overpriced disappointment. Instead I've booked a trip to see Santa at Harrods (£5) and spent the rest of the money on a skiing holiday.

amidaiwish · 15/10/2010 10:15

really? oh no? this isn't Lapland UK but proper Lapland...

MollieO · 15/10/2010 10:16

No I mean the proper Lapland, the one which costs over £2000 for two of us for a couple of days or £900 for a day trip. I don't know anyone who has done the Lapland UK thing.

amidaiwish · 15/10/2010 10:24

but thanks for saving me £2k!

MollieO · 15/10/2010 10:56

You may find people on here who did enjoy it. I just know that out of various friends of mine who had been both recently (last year and the year before) and others who had been a few years ago, none thought it was worth the money. The general comment was it was a bit of a let down, very basic and very very cold (that included some who were used to skiing so ordinarily not bothered by the cold).

I also thought a lot of the extras were incredibly overpriced and could be done a lot cheaper as part of a normal ski holiday.

amidaiwish · 15/10/2010 11:02

well the last thing i want is to spend £2k on a 3 day trip and for us not to enjoy it. supposed to be a "once in a lifetime" thing. The only family I know who have been went when their mum was dying so i can't really quiz them about it.

amidaiwish · 15/10/2010 12:27

ok anyone got a voucher code for Lapland UK?!?

Bumblelion · 15/10/2010 12:36

Have been to Lapland twice - first time in 1996 with my mum, aunt and daughter (aged 4) whilst expecting my son. Can't remember where we stayed but went with First Choice and had a fantastic time although it was -25 degrees. Driving the snowmobile (while 7 months pregnant) with my mum behind me and my aunt and daughter in the sledge behind in the dark through the woods was amazing. The Father Christmas experience was fantastic although the queue at the Post Office was a nightmare. Husband couldn't come as he could not get the time off work.

Also went in 2005 with my mum, aunt, daughter (then aged 13), my son aged 8, daughter aged 4, niece aged 15, nephew aged 10 and nephew aged 3. Stayed in Rovaniemi but it didn't snow! When we went on the various trips into the woods, there was snow but in Rovanieme itself it rained! Still had a wonderful time. Didn't see Father Christmas at the Post Office (the queue wasn't worth it) but the kids had a great time sledging down the hills at the North Pole.

Also went to Lapland UK (near Tonbridge) in 1007 - one word, CRAP! Okay, a lot cheaper but really wasn't worth it. Wrote a letter of complaint - no way did it compare to the real Lapland.

Bumblelion · 15/10/2010 12:37

Obviously went to Lapland in 2007, I wasn't born in 1007. Preview, Preview, Preview.

amidaiwish · 15/10/2010 12:40

ah, ok.
-25 ! was it unbearable?

EssexBecca · 18/10/2010 22:37

Oh, what a shame, we had a FAB time in Lapland.
re: the weather - we took lots of layers including thermal vests, long johns, thermal socks, balaclavas, ski gloves etc plus those hand/foot warmer things. Inghams gave us all in one snow suits (we looked like hilda and harold) and boots and we were never cold, on warmer days we would actually undo the zip at times.
We did the santa park but I can't remember which one, the one we went to was really good, included reindeer rides and a snowmobile ride through the woods. There is another that is supposed to be rubbish (inghams wouldn't sell the trip for it) so needs researching first to make sure you get the right one. We did a husky ride, got pulled over a lake in a sled by a reindeer as well as lots of sledging etc.
On the -tive side - the food was not so good and the flights were delayed.

DS was just turned 5 at the time, now nearly 7 and really wants to go again as it was so good but can't really spare the time/pennies again but would def do it again if practical.

dietqueen · 19/10/2010 12:38

floating - how did you get on booked anything yet?

LittleManktiesMum · 19/10/2010 13:47

We're going to Lapland early in December with Inghams. We spent many hours researching all the options as for us, like many, this is truly a 'once in a lifetime' trip. Inghams was recommended to us by some friends who had done the same trip a couple of years earlier and had a fab time, and we've read good things about the trip too on sites such as Trip Advisor.

Sushiqueen · 19/10/2010 14:40

We went last year for Christmas. It was dd's second visit there.

We stayed in Saariselka and had so much snow. The food wasn't brilliant and if you want alcohol buy it in duty free on the way out or in the off licence when you get there. They have to import most of the food so it can be a bit limited and we got used to being offered frankfurters with every meal. Take some snacks with you, although the supermarket was open ever day including Christmas day for a few hours.

It is expensive, but there are place's offering free or reduced childrens places. We went with Esprit and the reps were fantastic. The dedication of the 2 we had was amazing.

it is expensive for what it is but we are very glad we did it. It went down to -28 on Christmas Eve which was too cold for the children in the trailers behind the snow mobile.

Bits of it were absolutely magical. Driving the huskies was brilliant even if I did come very close to hitting the tree when it was my go. Loved the snowmobile and the ride to find santa was well done by our team. DD joined in with the whole thing and missed the "naughty elves" when we came home. They eere everywhere throughout our trip, even we arrived at Ivalvo.

We wouldn't do it again but are glad we did it.

amidaiwish · 20/10/2010 12:47

oh wow
now you're making me think.......

Charlotte1001 · 06/11/2010 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

sailorsgal · 08/11/2010 18:07

there was a whole spread in one of the sunday papers the other week. It said it was much better to go for a 3/4 day break as it is around 3 hours travelling time each way with a four hours at the airport!

I am thinking of booking for next year as dh is away this year and don't think I am brave enough to go on my own with ds, even though I've travelled the world on my own.

candieh · 09/11/2010 22:43

Has anyone else booked with Metier Travel?
Thanks

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