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

Original poster

Is Lapland worth it? Or....?

53 replies

Flibbertigibbettytoes · 26/12/2023 22:53

I love the idea of Lapland next winter - the possibility of northern lights, snow fun, Santa magic for DC. But, breaking it down, is it really that much more than a ski holiday? Or should we be thinking about something else entirely if we want to blow the holiday budget on just one trip? Any advice from people who've had fabulous trips.this winter??

OP posts:
Missingmyusername · 27/12/2023 08:34

Following, so want to do it but DM has been ill on and off and I’m always overwhelmed by the options! Have a 7 year old, can’t ski (do you take lessons in the U.K. first?) I can’t skate either so god help me.

Original poster
Flibbertigibbettytoes · 27/12/2023 08:45

It sounds as though you need to book well in advance. Would we already be late for winter 2024?
Has anyone stayed in a glass igloo?

OP posts:
Curioustoknow1 · 27/12/2023 08:49

It's amazing! Our favourite place to go! We went this year again (got back 21st). Our children are 17 & 14. First few years we did the Santa trips/ reindeer etc, this time we've done huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles & skiing. We were lucky enough to see the northern lights too. It's so beautiful there, you won't regret it, we went to Disney world
Florida in the summer this year, but my 17 year old still prefers Lapland. We've been four times in total, twice booked as a package with TUI, twice booked DIY. Booking DIY has been better for us as we've gone for longer/ been cheaper & also the trips were better booking them ourselves.

Original poster
Flibbertigibbettytoes · 27/12/2023 08:56

That's interesting that you can get better trips going DIY. We have never done a package but I thought this was the one time we might need to.

OP posts:
Curioustoknow1 · 27/12/2023 08:59

Flibbertigibbettytoes · 27/12/2023 08:56

That's interesting that you can get better trips going DIY. We have never done a package but I thought this was the one time we might need to.

I wouldn't know where to start if we went elsewhere, we always go to Levi so find it really easy to book things ourselves. Levi tourist office website has some great trips too.

Greenandgreed · 27/12/2023 09:03

We went to Levi when our kids were in yr1 and reception - with Thomas Cook at the time and it was magical . We didn’t ski - but could have done in Levi and didn’t see Northern Lights . I’d love to go back and also interested in glass igloos !

thaisweetchill · 27/12/2023 09:09

minipie · 27/12/2023 01:21

Can I join? I’ve been considering for Feb half term (no Santa obvs) it all looks amazing but sooooo cold?! I am not great with cold, will I hate it? Those who have been, did the cold bother you?

You will be very hot, trust me 😂 you have that many layers on you're sweating, me and DP kept taking our hats and snoods off because of how insulated you are.

EasterIssland · 27/12/2023 09:12

Agree we were hot last week bar a bit when we watched a show outdoors and didn’t move for 1/2 hour.

op I booked

December 22 airbnb
January 2023 the Santa visit
march flights
April husky
june reindeer

and we only went last week. So def not late also there are many companies so unless you want an specific one then you would never have any problem really

WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 27/12/2023 09:18

I did there and back in a day with DS about aged 5 and it was plenty long enough. Flew out of Norwich, it was so easy.

Did reindeer ride, husky ride, skidoo, met Santa, played in snow, festive lunch, and was there about ten hours. Each activity takes about an hour, so you have about 5 hours of milling about just playing. All clothes and ancillaries included.

It was superb. I would have been bored on a 3 day stay like others have mentioned. Think of it as the same principle as a theme park. Wow activities, that you can only repeat so many times.

It was £999 for the two of us.

Original poster
Flibbertigibbettytoes · 27/12/2023 11:34

Super helpful, thanks all.

Thinking of it like a theme park puts me off though. I'm not really a theme park person - I don't mind treating them to a day out but would never blow the budget on Disney. I guess what appealed about Lapland is that I thought it would also be a fab winter holiday and I'd love to see the northern lights.

OP posts:
RedToothBrush · 27/12/2023 11:42

Ruka. Ski Holiday. But with Santa. Skidoos. Huskies. And Reindeer. Northern Lights (though these aren't guaranteed). Cold weather kit included (though skiing is extra)

Crystal ski.

Everyone a winner. Not too Santa overkill. Can ski if want (or chill if want).

countrygirl99 · 27/12/2023 11:48

If seeing the northern lights is important then you are better going in March rather - less likely to be cloudy but still plenty of snowy activities.

MrsFloof · 27/12/2023 11:48

We did it over 4 days, 3 nights and there was plenty to do to keep busy all day everyday, we stayed in a hotel which had an amazing swimming pool with spa bits and a children's playcentre but even without its really easy to fill the 4 day trips and nothing like a theme park.

Re the cold temp when we went it was -27C but they give you lots of special clothes if on a package and its also only daylight about 4 hours a day so most of the day is still spent inside where its incredibly hot and heated to like T-shirt and shorts temp. Pool was also very hot. Only the under 5s were struggling with the cold temp and would not recommend it for that age group unless you have a tougher than average under 5. Though on trips out there were always restaurants etc you could go to if cold but as adults we never did.

Its very magical and nothing quite like it. We had the husky rides, reindeer rides, crossing into Artic circle, a 3 course dinner with fireworks and santa arriving on a reindeer through the snow, swimming with jacuzzi parts in pool/spa, children's playcentre, elf workshop, there were snowmobiles etc, ours was non-stop activities from breakfast to dinner for 4 days and we were worn out after but in a good way. No skiing for us, it was an option but seriously cold when we visited, in milder weather maybe. We were glad to be in a hotel so close to pool etc but that's personal preference.

MrsFloof · 27/12/2023 11:49

Northern lights are never guaranteed, we didn't try to see, wasn't really the aim of the Christmas trips and they should always be viewed as a bonus rather than we will do this.

poolviewthanks · 27/12/2023 11:55

WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 27/12/2023 09:18

I did there and back in a day with DS about aged 5 and it was plenty long enough. Flew out of Norwich, it was so easy.

Did reindeer ride, husky ride, skidoo, met Santa, played in snow, festive lunch, and was there about ten hours. Each activity takes about an hour, so you have about 5 hours of milling about just playing. All clothes and ancillaries included.

It was superb. I would have been bored on a 3 day stay like others have mentioned. Think of it as the same principle as a theme park. Wow activities, that you can only repeat so many times.

It was £999 for the two of us.

Bored if you went to Lapland for more than a day?!! Sorry but that's a ridiculous thing to say. One day there must be so rushed and no wonder you felt like you were at a theme park. Must be like you're on a conveyer belt being shifted from one thin to the next. I've done lapland a few times and would hate to experience it like that.

Proseccoismyfriend · 27/12/2023 11:59

If it's affordable it's better to go for 3-7 days then you can take your time. We walked everywhere and pulled the kids in sledges and could stop and build snowmen along the way, that was one of their most memorable experiences us having time to relax and go at their pace. It's not a relaxing holiday we came back shattered! -10 for us and we never felt cold. We hired a ski instructor for the day who was excellent and took us all over the safe parts of the mountain which was about €120.

Kendodd · 27/12/2023 12:00

I went when my children were about 7, 8 and 9. It was brilliant! I wanted to take them while they were old enough to remember but young enough to believe. We are skiers but didn't do any skiing. Reindeer sleigh rides through the forest to visit FC. Dog sleighing across a frozen lake, snow mobiling through the forest, sleging down hills, it was worth every penny. We stayed for three nights/four days so nothing was rushed. We also didn't go to the main busy city or 'Santa Land'. We stayed somewhere really far north, 500k north of the Arctic circle, a tiny little place with just wilderness, snow and starts around. Didn't see the northern lights sadly but everything else was amazing. So, so glad we went.

RedToothBrush · 27/12/2023 12:03

Re Disney thing - it really depends on where you go. Some options are more Disney than others. There are options to suit all tastes.

Kendodd · 27/12/2023 12:04

Flibbertigibbettytoes · 27/12/2023 11:34

Super helpful, thanks all.

Thinking of it like a theme park puts me off though. I'm not really a theme park person - I don't mind treating them to a day out but would never blow the budget on Disney. I guess what appealed about Lapland is that I thought it would also be a fab winter holiday and I'd love to see the northern lights.

Don't go to the main Santa Village/Disney type place. We didn't. We stayed in a tiny village on the Finish/Sweden border. There was a frozen river with a bridge you could walk across between the two.

Kendodd · 27/12/2023 12:05

Oh, I also wouldn't go for just the day. It's really, really far.

Time40 · 27/12/2023 12:36

The Magic of Lapland site is offering to rent you a private jet to get there, and says your own private jet is "welcome". Pushing the use of private jets to a fragile ecosystem on a planet that's burning up .... I wouldn't touch the buggers with a bargepole.

WillYouPutYourCoatOn · 27/12/2023 14:31

poolviewthanks · 27/12/2023 11:55

Bored if you went to Lapland for more than a day?!! Sorry but that's a ridiculous thing to say. One day there must be so rushed and no wonder you felt like you were at a theme park. Must be like you're on a conveyer belt being shifted from one thin to the next. I've done lapland a few times and would hate to experience it like that.

Show quote history

It wasn't rushed at all, quite the opposite.

Hence how I can't understand how people spend three or four days there, when they seem to have done exactly the same things we did in a day.

Winnipeggy · 27/12/2023 14:34

Literally the most magical place on earth. I've travelled quite a lot and northern Finland/Lapland in winter is just unsurpassable.

Letsrunabath · 27/12/2023 14:45

Do it, yes it’s expensive but it’s the most amazing experience. We went with Exodus stayed at a lodge with 2 other families and everything was included. Our kids still talk about all the activities they did, including going into the forest and choosing the Christmas tree for the shared lounge. It wasn’t commercial at all and brought the total magic of winter alive.

MrsFloof · 27/12/2023 15:19

When we went which was back in 2012 it was £2200 for 4 of us for 3 nights, 4 days over Christmas itself whereas the day trip was £400 each so you saved very little considering you didn't get 3 nights in a hotel, swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, 3 breakfasts, 1 3 course meal with santa arriving at midnight on a sleigh pulled by reindeer and fireworks, crossing into the artic circle, second husky and reindeer rides, a second lunch and two extra trips out. I would have done the day trip if that was my only option but not otherwise and it was poor value for money compared with the 4 day one. But if say you are working for the NHS and can't get time off then other than a day absolutely would go on a day one and gives a whistlestop tour of it. Each day was a different place. I think if you did the 7 day one then it was more you have 4 days to yourself but that would also have been great and I would happily have stayed longer.