We're going to Lapland in December. Anyone been? Any tips?

[LyraSilvertongue]

I'm so excited. We're going for three days with DSs (6 and 4). Staying in a fab-looking hotel where you can apparently see the Northern Lights.
Has anyone been? I've got no idea what to expect.

Thank you both, that is reaasuring.

Canterbury travel THE BASTARDS have just called to say that further to their call of yesterday to ay we would be flying from Gatwick not Stanstead (much better) we will not be flying at all as the holiday is cancelled due to OVERBOOKING!!!

I booked and paid a deposit in Feb and paid fully in March.

They are complete bastards and my children will be devastated.

Emagine have one for around the same time, but not a log cabin (with kitchen facilities) which we need as DS has special dietry requirements which will not be fulfilled by reindeer stew! (has a metabolic disorder)

I am shaking and in tears at the thought of having to explain to my DS and DD that we may not be going.

Oh no
Try Esprit. I know the hotel we're staying at (the Sky Hotel) has log cabins too. It's worth a go. Hope you sort something out. Fingers crossed for you.

Esprit are (according to the travel booker we use) full.

We put in excess of £20k of business travel through this booker per year and actually part of the fault lies with them, they did not reply to the 'first come first served' gatwick letter for a week - so this is why we have been bumped.

The have now got Canterbury travel going through their manifest calling passengers to see if £500 off will make them move to an earlier date (30th Nov or early dec) as we cannot take DD out of school.

Apart from the extra cost of the emagine one (which actaully I think the travel booker will cover) and the 3 hour transfer (ds will not cope well with that at all) I like the look of it better!

We travelled five years ago with Emagine over Christmas. Everything was included, and it was a brilliant experience.

Maybe marmaduke this is one of those occasions where getty very stroppy is worth a try - I am so sorry they have done this. Is it worth threatening them for breaking the contract, as they have had your money for so long?

Thank you aj I have told them we will get stroppy, I also reminded them that my DH runs a PR agency and has lots of media contacts and they are denying a disabled child a holiday he has been looking forward to

I don't think we can threaten Canterbury as they wrote in plenty of time, it just happens that the person they wrote to was on hols and no one else dealt with their mail. The travel booker have held there hands up now.

Please tell me about the Xmas lunch, what was it like - DS will not cope with a long drawn out affair and DH and I will probably have to take it in turns to leave the room! How old were your DC when you went and which resort/hotel did you stay at?

Also thanks lst for the fingers crossed.

I have a dreadful headache, DS has been abandoned in front of Thomas DVD (not that he cares) and I have been desperately trying to find a suitable alternative.

Just sometimes you need to use the disabled child card. It works, but makes you feel shitty ... and you know what, YOU shouldn't feel shitty, you need to do what ever it takes, this is to big a treat for your kids to be disapointed.

It is now sorted, after much emotionalblackmail conversation and a financial inducement for someone else to swap (paid for by the travel agent who didn't reply to the letter moving the flight to Gatwick) we are still going.

I feel weak with relief, just picturing the look on my DD's face as I told her was killing me.

I'm so pleased for you marmaduke.
You've put me off booking with canterbury travel for life

Hope you have a fantastic time!!

That's fantastic news.

My daughter worked for Canterbury Travel a few years back, running the kids club and i had the chance to go and visit. Wonderful place. Stayed in Luostto. Did all the activities, horse back riding, husky dogs[collided with a tree at speed and have had two operations on my shoulder!!!!}reindeer rides,slept all night in an igloo, snow shoeing. Do eat reindeer, very tasty. The suits they give you are plenty warn enough, take layers,a hat and scarf as it does get very cold and everything exposed freezes!!!
Went to Santa Claus village, so magical and i'm an old lady of 50+!!!!!!!!