Hi all!!! I'm taking my children to lapland for christmas.We are going with first choice and although I'm sure it will be lovely will it be okay on christmas day? We are staying in Rovaniemi at the Winter wonderland hotel.I will be taking a mini tree but do they really make it christmassy enough?

Marissa

Hi there we are off to yllas and staying in the snow elf hotel in dec. has anyone stayed there or knows anything about this hotel.
~thanx~

Hi lincs lass and welcome to HT!

I have asked for this hotel to be added to our Hotel Review site. Perhaps you would like to post the first review after your visit.

luci

Hi Marissa.

We were at that hotel on Xmas day 2 years ago. Never have we been anywhere so Christmasy...
It was absolutly perfect. I have lots of piccys with us there too in deep snow. We went with First Choice.
You will not need your Xmas tree neither so would not worry carrying it.
Have fun

Hi Sunseeker! Thanks for your reply! So were you there on christmas day and if so what did they do to celebrate? Also we are going half board.Will there be food there at other times if needed? Hope you reply i'm really grateful for any insight to put my mind at rest!!!

Marissa

Marissa, on Christmas day we did the excursion with First Choice which was to visit santas village and then to the actual artic circle which was wonderful.
At Santas village there is alot to see and visit Santa himself.
We then were taken on the coach to the Artic Circle which has the actual post office (North Pole) where all the post across the world is sent to Santa himself.
A good tip is whilst there to buy and write postcards- not forgetting one for yourself- so that it has the actual North Pole stamp on it and the Xmas day date when you post it.
We had lots of snow whilst we were there which was pretty. There is lots to do and see there.
http://www.santaclausvillage.info/eng/village.htm try this for a taster.
During the evening all theFirst Choice Guests gather at the hotel from others for the Xmas meal. Here santa appears with gifts.
As we did the organised excursion for the 25th we found it so Christmasy.
We also did the excursions- snowmobile rides and visited the husky dog farm- which entailed a ride too
The excursions are pricey but well worth the experience. After all it is not every day you go to Lapland.

Thankyou Sunseeker!I cant wait for christmas!!!

Marissa

Hi Greenacres

We stayed in Luosto 5 years ago with Canterbury but we stayed in the log cabins which were amazing. The brochure does not do them justice. Pure magic- unlike anthing else I have experienced. We popped into the hotel and it looked fine but we had no regrets about the cabin choice.

Advice re clothing. It was warm when we were there - -6 to -15. The suits and boots they give are fantastic. Would recommend that you buy or borrow the best quality gloves and hats you can afford. Also suggest thin thermal balaclavas(sp?) for the kids to keep their faces warm. We had M & S
best quality thermals (long sleeved/legged) and added one more layer of jogger bottoms and a fleece .

It was THE holiday of a life time - I have goosebumps thinking of it now.
Only regret was not booking an igloo before we left England. We left it too late but visted them and longed to spend one night in one.

Have a fantastic time.

I have just been told that Lapland has snow !!!!!!
Can anyone confirm it for me.
We are off to Yllas on December 17th............sooooo excited, it's a first time winter holiday for us all and we have had the trip booked since a year ago.
Anyone else travelling with Inghams on this date?
Bye for now

Yip - have been looking at the Yllas web site and they have LOTS of snow - have a look at http://www.Yllas.fi - there are some webcams ---


The page is:

http://www.yllas.fi/?deptid=17044

Hi

We went to lapland in christmas 2004 and it was brilliant. We stayed at the Snow Princess Hotel in Yllas and it was fantastic.

We were both 18 and 19 yr old and we are generally big kids.

It cost a bit but we really enjoyed it. We travelled with Packyourbags, there mini-site http://www.holidays-in-lapland.com/.

We booked over the phone and really liked it.

I have a load of pics of the hotel, but not so many of the area, my camera flash was rubbish so they are a bit dark. Happy to answer any q's if ya like

Thanks
Ant

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

The webcams are great, the snow is fantastic.
Presto......when are you off to Lapland, I know you and I have answered a few topics from each other ?

Going to go and hire the childrens ski clothes at weekend, and start buying our thermals and fleeces. (More Money) !!!

lol

We're off there at xmas too!!!!!Can't wait to see the kids faces! Not sure what clothes to get though! I presume thermals, a long sleeve top and fleece jumper will be enough under snow suit????
Also any ideas for foot wear?

Marissa

Marissa - you will feel extremley warm with that under your snow suit. We even just wore a thermal long sleeved top as found the layers to be very warm- even though it went to almost -15. It is a different kind of cold to what we get here
As for shoes you will be given certain bootswith your snow suits of which you can wear with ordinary clothes too- when out and about on your own. We also took a suitable ski jacket or warm rain type jacket to wear when we just went for a walk in the snow as you will not always be bothered to put your snowsuit on and off constantly.
Make sure you take extra gloves too as although the ones provided are good- they will get very wet.
Ifyou forget anything we found the snow accessories and jackets etc very cheap in Lapland too.

Thanks Sunseeker as usual very helpful!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!! Are there any pictures in the galleries of lapland? I'll go and see!!!

Marissa

Hi Guys, I've always valued and appreciated your help in holiday destinations and this forum is SUPERB for answering questions and finding advice.

I have FINALLY managed to convince my husband that a Day Trip to Lapland for the children is THE best surprise EVER.

I checked First Choice initially but found them incredibly unhelpful and not knowing what was actually included and what was extra as well as a little expensive.

I really only have a budget of not more than 1,200.00 (pds) for the 4 of us... Can anyone direct me who to book with for a Day Trip?

Weeeeeeeeee in process of booking a Day Trip to Lapland via Santatrips.com.... its going to be the best surprise for my children EVER - not to mention me

Has anyone had any experience with this company or the Day Trip itself?

Have you tried Cosmos for a day trip ?

We are only paying £1700 for a family of four and we are going for a week in Lapland on December 17th.

The majority of day trips and short breaks are always pricey, but hope you find something suitable.

yep I tried them.. time isn't on our side so we have no alternative but to only go for a day
Santatrips were extremely helpful (far beyond any other agent I rang to enquiry with). We're paying 1,257 for the day.. but I consider its worth every penny.

I am, however, concerned at what to wear and how many layers to wear. I bought some 'thermals' yesterday but I'm not convinced that thermals and a pair of jeans under their snow suits is adequate.

Any suggestions?