Anyone been to the REAL Lapland and done the ice hotel/Father Christmas thing?

[Miggsie]

OK, okay, its way too early to think about Xmas but I mentioned going to Lapland and seeing the Northern Lights in December last eyar and DD has a memory like the unforgetting elephant, so I'm looking into booking a trip to the Artic Circle, Reindeer sleigh ride, see Santa and the little elves, possible ICe HOtel stay...the whole thing.

So, anyone got recomendations of which tour operator to go with?

There seem to be a few options when I trawled the net.

My friend mentioned he did a one day fly out and fly back job but I wanted an overnight stay at a hotel as I'm a rotten traveller!

Anyone got a good experience?????

We went last Christmas with Esprit for 4 days and 3 nights. You can go for less.

Great experience but it was so cold when we went. -28 on Christmas Eve. Bearable in all the special clothing unless you are stuck in a trailer behind a skidoo. The children were crying with cold.

We did the Arctic Circle ceremony (as we stayed within it anyway), did the reindeer rides, husky sledging etc.

Didn't do the Ice Hotel but to be honest the warmth of the hotel was bliss after being outside and the heated pool !!!

The company were good and my parents also used the same company when they took dd. Wouldn't do a day trip personally though I have got friends who did and said they were fine.

I went for the day last year with Igloo. It was extremly well organsised, visited Santas log cabin, husky ride, reindeer ride, Artic Circle ceremony. Lunch at Santa Village, sleigh ride, snow play, bit of shopping and visit to the ice palace.Last plane home.

My 7 year old LOVED it and was in awe all day. It was just the 2 of us but everyone was friendly and helpful. Would thoroughly recomend it. I was tired the next day but the atmosphere just keeps you going.

There are two main companies that do these trips (a lot of the others are just acting as agents for them).

Emagine and Canterbury travel have travelled with both (age gap for DCs) and had amzing trip with both. In terms of overall experience I would say that emagien edged it, they just thought of little details (like keeping us at the hotel not the airport when our return flight was delayed) that make big differences.

Haven't stayed at the ice hotel so can't comment.

DH has just told me he will stay at the ice hotel only if the alternative is death!
So that's out then, luckily DD doesn't know it exists, she just wants to see Santa and the elves....!

Thanks for the recommendations and I'll look into them...and get something booked

lillybloom could you do a link or website address for Igloo? I googled but can't find it. I am planning a day trip with ds and your trip sounds perfect. Thx