Come and talk to me about short breaks in Lapland

[TheHouseofMirth]

i have been given the responsibility of planning a 3-4 night pre-Christmas trip for 3 and 7 yo DSs, DH, MIL and me. This is a treat for from MIL so budget not too much of an issue but as DH is very sniffy about the whole thing and DS1 will be 7 1/2 and pushing the boundaries of believing in Santa I really need to get it right.

We want somewhere truly magical without even a whiff of naff. Is this possible?

I took my kids about 9 years ago - just for the day. It cost about £2k for 2 adults and 3 children which was extortionate, I felt but I was going halfers with my mum.

I was really poorly with swollen glands and a temperature. My youngest had a screaming fit and it took 4 elves (no, really) to hold her down and put her snowsuit on. I got sick from the petrol fumes in the skidoo and stood in the queue for three hours to see Santa while my mum and kids had hot chocolate by a roaring fire, gazed in awe at the Northern Lights and went on reindeer rides and peeked at the wolves who peeked back at them.

So, I really wasn't having a great time but I have to say that Santa was absolutely magnificent.

He was warm and loving, telling my children that he'd like them to leave him a mince pie and some carrots for his reindeer on Christmas Eve, just like their mummy and grandma did when they were little. My middle girl pulled a face and declared that she'd prefer a Kitkat! Santa caught my eye and we just crumpled up laughing.

That moment was so precious.

Alas, my youngest, upon returning home, told everyone that she'd seen Santa in MATALAN!! < sigh >

I hope you have a wonderful time - I'm sure you will!

Lovetats that's hilarious!

I could have killed her :)

Maybe we should just go to Matalan. Would be so much easier...

True, if you were paying for it (hehe).

It is brilliant though - you'll love it!

Canterbury travel, many threads about them on here in the past but unless something has changed recently that I have missed think they were undisputedly the best at magical without a whiff of naff! Not cheap but worth every penny imo.

Oh and we went the last weekend before xmas which was booked up a year in advance! So dont hang around! I will never forget the oohing and aahing as the plane descended into a blizzard, singing xmas carols with the cabin crew on the intercom and the inflight film was polar express! Am getting very nostalgic! Oh and dont worry about non-believers - by the time you get back you'll believe again too!

if you look at trip advisor there's lots of info on there - Esprit gets the best reviews these days but Thomson and Inghams seem good too and are lots cheaper. Im currently trying to organise a similar trip myself so keeping close eye on prices - they've already dropped a lot in the last month or so....!

Trouble is, sunnyday123, I keep reading bad reviews for all those operators too and then start panicking.

i've come to the conclusion there are always people who moan! - 4 star in Lapland will be totally different to say Mexico. We have just got back from Greece from a hotel with mixed reviews and it was fab!

I would go with Esprit if i had the money (not seen any bad reviews for them on lapland forum?) but will prob end up with Thomsons! I would resist Canterbury Travel as they have a history of canceling trips at the last minute - if you go by people on trip advisor!

Worked for this company, even older children 8,9,10+ who were dragged brought along enjoyed it as the atmosphere is really magical and IMO they choose their staff elves brilliantly, employing a lot of drama graduates :)

Santa's Lapland

yes that link is to the Esprit site - goes by santas lapland!

Agree Esprit does look good but just not keen on the fact they use Easyjet.

Feel like I'm going round in circles. I thought Activities Abroad might be it but their dates are no good for us and lots of their family trip are no good for 3yo DS2.

We don't normally do package holidays but I think with a short break in possibly iffy weather conditions it makes more sense than travelling independently.

I've also realised that a lot of companies offer holidays to locations which involve internal flights and this really adds to the travelling time.