LAPLAND!!!

[frazzledbutcalm]

We're going in 4 days. Any tips/advice i should know? Myself, dh, ds aged15, dd aged 9, dd aged 5, ds aged 3.
TIA

I'm watching this thead.
I too am off to chillier climes.
Are you taking your own sled and that?

No. Trying to travel as light as possible. We have to drive to Manchester airport (4 hrs from where i live). Car full as my mum coming with us. Our family of six have to fit all our things in 2 med suitcases.

Lots of thin layers for the kids so you can add take away as necessary. Assume you are going to an organised centre that is providing all the cold weather gear. Bag to carry spare layers in and thats about is as they supply everything.

When you pick up the gear make sure you get good fitting stuff as you don't want to be uncomfortable and try and get mits that come up to your elbow especially for the littlest as the overlaps stop snow getting into the mits.

Its a great trip enjoy.

Thanks dad! Yes we're going to organised centre, cold gear included. Got thermals, microfibre top, long sleeve top then outer wear provided. Will that be enough? I'll remember advice about mits.
We're going for 5 days, i'm planning on wearing the same clothes couple days running. Hope it works out that way!

Have our tickets got info books with them? I collected mine yesterday for our 5 day trip 14th Dec and I was surprised to see on the clothing diagram that they supply suit and boots, but not gloves/mitts.

I had actually bought the DC some mitts (come halfway to elbow) at TK Maxx so not a big problem, but will nip and get DH some - I have ski gloves anyway - but had I not noticed that would have been a big problem. I was convinced they did, but perhaps that was a diff company we looked at?

The DC and I have 2 sets of thermals but dh only 1 as he insisted on v expensive ones, so he will have to hum gently!

Have mostly just then gone for long sleeved ts and a microfibre fleece then suit. What top are you wearing over microfibre layer?

Got tickets. It says they supply mitts to go over your own gloves. I assumed they supplied proper snow gloves. Have got gloves etc anyway but will also use theirs. Over microfibre will be long sleeve cotton tops or football t-shirt then long sleeve. I just don't feel organised! I'm packing for me, dh, 4dc. Keeping it minimal. We're also going for 5 days. Have only packed 2 sets nighttime clothes each. Is that ok do you think?

the nights will be well heated - the insides will be well heated - where a thin pair of trousers underneath warm suits. When you go inside you will want to take suits off (e.g. for meals) and you don't want to be wandering around in your undies!. but anything too thick will be very uncomfortable underneath suit

at wandering round in undies!!
Thanks for advice dad!

We had already discovered this dilemma (I think I asked on here), we all have thin trews for under suits. (Yoga pants/tracksuit type)

I think 2 sets of nighttime outfits (if you mean going out rather than PJs) will be fine. I'm hoping to only have one trouser plus 2 tops for me, a top each night for DS who is a messy eater and 2 for DD and DH.

I'm now trying to get the DC to write their letter to Santa, so I can buy and wrap (and hide in the luggage, suitably labelled etc) the gifts for FC to present to them on the last day.

You have to take a gift??????

Yes, we get a certain amount discounted from the holiday as a present allowance. (£15 per child)

You get the DC to write to Santa saying what they would like. You then highlight on the letter what you have brought to Lapland. This has to be wrapped, labelled with name of child, name of party, name of accomodation etc. and hidden in the luggage.

On the first night you have to secretly hand over parcels to organiser.

On second to last day when you actually find Santa, he gets out your DCs letter and says, "Ahh, DD you wrote me a lovely letter etc here is your gift." When DD opens said gift she is amazed that Santa actually gave her what she asked for.

Or something like that anyway You may be travelling with a diff co to us that provide presents, we are going with Canterbury.

Are you staying in hotel or cabin?

We are staying in a cabin, DS needs to eat regularly due to metabolic condition so needed a small kitchen. Also thought it would be fun and different.

Now a bit concerned about having to suit up and walk to restaurant every am/pm due to faff and clothing under issue!

I have got yoga pants for the day and some smarter wool trousers for the pm, with a couple of nice jumpers/warm tops for pm - but will have snow boots and warm socks on so will have to put shoes in a bag to put on on arrival at reastaurant. DS has SN so I can see some stress excitement ahead!

omg!!! I assumed you'd go to restaurant in snow boots/suit etc and just take off jacket/suit. Never thought about spare shoes!!!! We're going with first choice, stayin in hotel. There was no mention of gift or letter so i assume ours will be different. I hope it is anyway!! Think i'll try and ring them.

I'm presuming you'd take off snow boots as (hopefully) they would be all covered in snow and make the floors slippery? Who knows? Perhaps I'll just pack some ballet pump type shoes that'll go in my pocket no problem.

Have a lovely time!

Just rang travel agents, we don't need to sort gift. We have 4dc so 4 pairs of shoes just won't go!! We're off to Manchester tomorrow then flying out on Wednesday. We'll have a great time, you'll have a fab time too!!

Suits are all in ones so would get very hot indoors. If you are staying in hotel this is not an issue as you don't need to go outside, if you are in a cabin this will be an issue.

We are in a cabin, so am envisaging getting all kitted up over suitable evening meal clothes (trousers and jumper) getting to hotel/restaurant and stripping off suit and boots.

That'll be fun twice a day with my wriggling over-excited DS!

Dadinstead, you have been a wealth of info on these Lapland threads.

Done the trip twice (age gap in DCs too big) definitely got more out of the second trip because we were prepared - so happy to share to help you enjoy what is a really amazing experience.

We're thinking we'll do it again next year for the same reason. This year will be a learning curve!!

We also went in December and it was excellent! We went on the Wonder of Santa Trip with www.santaslapland.com brilliant