Lapland

[Lostmystyle]

I would love to do a Lapland trip with my two kids - who would be 4 and 7 next winter.

Looking at ways to work it as best value as possible -

Is a day trip worth doing or just feels too rushed?

Has anyone gone in February and combined with a Santa visit then?

A day trip would be a very long day

If you want Father Christmas I'm guessing you want Finnish Lapland. Most of the main areas/ski resorts in Finland will have Father Christmas stuff in December but not necessarily after and these will tend to be linked to specific hotels/resorts or package holidays rather than the "ski resort" so not necessarily accessible if you've got an Airbnb for example. The Santa Clause village in Rovaniemi is open all year round though and has Father Christmas to visit all year. It is free to enter but then it's lots of businesses selling stuff inside. There is also a Father Christmas in the centre of Rovaniemi, not sure when he starts and finishes.

We've had 3 trips in Feb and heading back in Feb again. It's a great time, the snow cover is deep and secure and you have more daylight than in December. We just get Ryanair flights, bus out of Rovaniemi to somewhere quieter and get an Airbnb. Mix of skiing, hiking, saunas, relaxing.

Lapland is a vast area covering several countries with a really rich cultural history. It is so much more than Father Christmas and is a wonderful place to visit.

Thanks. I would love a longer trip more focused on wider activities and exploring than just going to see Father Christmas but when my youngest is a bit older - he will only just be 4 next Winter so would like to do more of the trip you describe in few years

Ruka - search on here there are lots of posts

We went in December to Finland when my kids were 10, 12 and 14. It was magical and we all loved it. But also really really cold (-20). I’m not sure a 4 year old would enjoy it as much as it is so cold and tiring - just putting on all the clothes walking round is tiring, your face gets cold, feet get sore from the boots ect. I think a little older is definitely better. I think maybe 7 or 8. Plus then they will remember it.

The elves all com home in January, but they will be back from mid November when they are quieter and flights easier to get.
My DD is an elf in Saariselka.

It’s lovely but can be incredibly cold, all dc are different so consider if they would want to be doing activities in minus 20. It’s actually open year round and is a lot cheaper in summer, the overnight train from Helsinki is fun. We are going next summer, no kids. Obviously the activities are tailored to no snow but last winter there was no snow in late November and lots of disappointed families.

Yes the day trip was defo worth doing my kids aged 3-7 It was exceptionally cold we all enjoyed what was on offer. I was glad I was heading back to the airport having being outside several hours (5/6hr). When you get frozen to the bone and that’s being perfectly dressed for hours. I would not of wanted to go back to a hotel to repeat exactly the same experience again. So yes a day trip is great. However now, I wouldn’t fly 4 hrs plus there setting off at 5 and getting back at midnight / 1am we was lucky the back seats of the plane were empty so all my kids were zzzz flat across the seats.

Everyone was singing Xmas songs on an am it was fun but nighttime everyone is just very tired.

It would be boring to stay at the same daytime resort and repeat day one again. Maybe go somewhere different for day 2 but it’s exceptionally cold even if wrapped up with proper clothing. Also, bear in mind it gets pitch black very early so harder to watch your young children especially if they are running up and down the hills / reindeer rides / sledging off into darkness etc (if young as it’s quite busy with people)

Also, depends how far the drive home from the airport - we live very close to an airport so seemed to be ok to get home to bed

We went on a day trip about a week ago and it was excellent. Tiring but we did all the activities and saw Father Christmas. We went to Pajala in Sweden. The activities don’t last a huge amount of time so I think you’d be a bit bored if you went for too long. A one night 2 day trip would be ideal but I can’t find a package that long. They all seem to be 2-4 nights.

it was only -6 when we went so bearable and they give you the snowsuit/boots etc. I think if it had been -20 to -30 we would have found it more difficult.

We did 3 nights in Ruka.
definitely wouldn’t have gone for any less as I think it would have felt rushed.
The first day is mainly spent travelling so we had two full days. The night we arrived we went on a northern lights snowmobile hunt (didn’t see them!) Next day was the tui tasters - husky sled, snow mobiles, sledging etc. second day we visited santas cottage in the morning and booked our own husky experience in the afternoon. We then had a tui gala meal in the evening. It was full on but brilliant!

Don’t do it as a day trip. There are ways of diy-ing that are a bit cheaper eg by booking flights and a lodge. You can also get some ski deals and add on Santa.

We went last year and It was really wonderful but you have to be really conscious of just how cold it is. My 5 year old was on the cusp really age wise and struggled a lot more than my eldest who was 8 and I think we’d have perhaps been better to wait an extra year. We went for 5 days and it meant we could take quite a chilled pace and also have lots of breaks to warm up between activities.

We easily managed to fill a whole week between Finnish and Swedish Lapland with a 7 year old (Lulea and Levi) That was in February and it wasn't that cold, around -10 at worst.

The thing she remembers best is the sledging and ice skating and just the sheer quantity of snow.

We went with a 4 nearly turning 5 year old, I would say that is the youngest age to enjoy all what is involved.

You can visit Santa Claus Village all year round. The best times are probably April/May and September/October. Those are the least busy months in northern Finland, between the snow season and the summer holiday season. It won't be quite the same as visiting in Deember but it will be less than half the price.

You just need flights to Rovaniemi, a hire car and somewhere to stay.

We went to Ruka for a week in December with a 5 and 7 year old and it was perfect age for magic of meeting Santa etc. We also did lots of other activities and skied and was one of our best holidays. BUT it was very cold!!