I was looking to go away at Christmas time to Lapland with my boyfriend, my parents, my brother and his partner.. however, due to my dad's job we are only able and would prefer to go for New Year.
I've found a really good holiday with Emagine travel which is from 27th Dec-1st Jan...includes good activities etc, but it is about £1099 each. Is that a very steep price for this sort of holiday?
I have looked elsewhere, but all of the other Lapland activity holidays only go up until Christmas eve and we can't go before then.
Anyone got any other ideas of where I might be able to find some Lapland holidays at this time. Also if not any other sort of activity winter holiday that are avaliable. Only me and my brother can ski so this might not be ideal and probably more expensive??

Thanks in advance

We went to Levi earlier this year (Feb 2005), it was fantastic. Our kids are 10, 8 and 4 and loved it. Amazing breathtakingly beautiful scenery, ski school was good, and slopes perfect for kids learning to ski. Desperate to go again! Saw Santa which was great, and you have to try the husky safari's! Fantastic fun! We went to a restaurant for a fondue on last evening at top of mountain, food fantastic and incredible views! Temp was minus 18 most days, one day it was minus 30 which was a bit unbearable for our 4 year old but we got through it! I've skiied Bulgaria and Andorra but Levi in Lapland beats them both hands down for me. Perfect for families and so magical, especially seeing the Northern Lights! Not a lot to do apart from ski, we couldn't get our kids off the slopes though, they loved it. We stayed at the Matkailumaja chalets which were beautifully furnished with their own indoor saunas! We used to come in after a days skiing and jump in the sauna....heaven!

There was a supermarket nearby and we cooked ourselves most nights, the kids were too exhausted to go out in the evenings! Sledges are for sale everywhere but be warned, leave them lying around and somebody will take them! Happened to us first day we were there!!! You have to try the family slopes just a short bus ride away, we spent hours there on easy long cruising slopes that we could all ski! Don't go at Xmas when the prices are horrendous, we went in Feb for one week and only paid £2500, ski lessons and hire included. I've known people pay nearly that for visting Lapland for a couple of days in December so that their kids can meet Santa, Santa is still around after Xmas in Lapland!!! Any questions then please e-mail me.

Sounds wonderful - can I ask who you booked with. My 2 kids getting skiing lessons just now and want to try them on some snow this winter. Always wanted to do Santa at Lapland but grudged the amount it would cost. Skiing holiday with santa visit sounds ideal.

I can only confirm that the above posts are right on the money. It may not be cheap but it is amazing. When I went I booked through a Glasgow clarkston travel agent Beaches Travel, you can find their web site at http://www.santatripsonline.co.uk

When I was talking to them on the phone it was obvious that they had actually been there and it was more reassuring for me to deal with a high street shop than a purely internet based business.

Hope you enjoy yourself as much as we did.

The tour operators are a bit pricy if you book with them. I used a local glasgow agent who trades as http://www.santatripsonline.co.uk
and the price I paid was less that the prices I have been seeing here. Shop around. Also when I spoke to the member of staff she had actually been there and gave me some useful info.

Have booked for 5 days to go to this hotel on 30th November (£2500 family of 4, First Choice) .
Has anyone been there ? Any advice / info ?

My husband will have his 40th birthday while we are there and would like to arrange something special but am a bit short on ideas - e-mailed hotel but they just replied "your husband will have lots of nice surprises here" , possibly a bit of translation problem I suspect !

Hi,
We are thinking of going to Lapland for a 4/5 day break before christmas. Our children are aged 7 and nearly 2. The 7 year old still strongly believes in Santa at the moment, but I feel that in another year he may start to realise the truth. However, our youngest son is nearly 2 and I am worried that Lapland will not be suitable for him. He is quite well travelled and has been abroad a few times, and to be honest he acts a lot older than his real age - copying his big brother at all times!
But obviously the temperatures are very cold in Lapland and I am not sure if it would be fair to take him. Has anyone elso took children as young as this - I would appreciate any advice. Also, we have had Canterbury travel recommended to us although this is quite pricey, any other recomendations out there?
many thanks!

Most tour operators advise not taking under 4's. We went 2 years ago and in fact are going back this December to Yllas. I would definately say that 2 is much much too young. Suffice to say in believing, my youngest is now 7 and the way they present "Santa" and all the magical things happening even I start believing again as an adult. It is magical no matter how old the child but 2 is much too young.

Hi there!

Went Lapland with First Choice last Christmas for 5 days. Stayed right over the festive period and can honestly say it is the best trip ever done. On landing snow everywhere. So much to see and do. Definatly advise you to hire a snowmobile and go on the night safari- what an experience!

I must say when I booked I found this site very helpful, so just ask! One thing I did learn that although it only reached -15 (I know it sounds cold) it was not as cold as you think. A different kind of cold compared to this country.

Took loads of photos too so make sure if you have digital camera to have extra memory stick. You will also find hotels are so warm you will wear short sleeves.

Could not fault First Choice. Our Xmas this year will be so flat after that one.

Hi again

Just to update you we had a full refund from Transun re our 'rogue' lapland trip. Cheque arrived start of September as it had originally been sent to travel agent.

Would have taken the free return trip offer but too late to rearrange annual leave by the time it was sorted.

Would give Transun the official 'thumbs up' for sorting it out and putting their hands up for circumstances that were clearly beyond their control.

Regards

Brownie775

hi guys
not been on for ages last time seemed to be on for weeks , we went to pegasos tropical in turkey ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
thinking of going to lapland any help would be great is it all about £2300 for 4 adults 1 of which is 15 and 2 kids please give me any advice thanks x

Wonder if anyone who'd done the trip could give some advice. Firstly, whilst we were in Cyprus this year the Helios plane crash happened and our eldest, who'd enjoyed flying before, suddenly became very nervous and the flight home (in summer weather) was a bit fraught. What are the flights like in the middle of winter into Lapland? Are they very bumpy etc?

Secondly, I'm a keen photographer, what's the light like for taking photos? Finally, any recommendations about what to take (drinks, snacks etc)

Thanks

HI out there
This is my first time!
I have been reading comments about Lapland which have been helpful although now I am TOTALLY confused.
Is Levii 'plasticky' and commercial??- some say it is, some say it isn't. I am trying to strike a balance between a holiday with a real christmas feel eg no 'Santa theme parks', and a holiday with enough for the kids to do. Dont want to pay any more than £4000 for 2 adults and 2 kids over Xmas.
Currently looking at either Emagine or cheaper first choice with a view to using the money saved on extra outings. Just dont want it all to be too 'Disney' I want magic!
Does anyone have any suggestions/ recommendations.

Hi

Sorry, can't give you any advice regarding Lapland but if you're considering booking with First Choice do have a look at http://www.eclipsedirect.co.uk as they may possibly be cheaper

Pippy

Went a couple of years ago to Yllas with Cosmos and indeed are going back this year. However they are expensive. We passed through Levi which is a skiing centre with plenty of hotels and shops, although I do not know if they have theme parks. Yllas is totally isolated and very quiet but beautiful. If you pm me I will send you a list of companies that all do lapland trips, most of them give good information.

Have you looked at staying in Rovaniemi? Stayed in Hotel santa Claus over the Xmas period last year.It is so central. Only a 2 min walk away from the snowmobile safari office where the excursion goes from.
Shops and restaurants right there too. It is not at all commercialised like here either!
Went with First Choice. Excursions pick you up straight from Hotel. The good thing about Rovaniemi is if not on an excursion plenty of things to do as it is central.
We had snow all the time whilst there. It is wonderful. Even better than you imagine.
Please pm me if you need any help.

Thank you all for info!
I am still pondering (confusing myself further) The tip re Eclipse was good- yes they do come out cheaper. It seems that wherever you go people are having good experiences lately in Lapland. Lots of people planning on going back, which is a good sign.
Anyway will keep pondering and make a decision tomorrow. (maybe!)

Have you looked at the Snow Princess hotel in Yllas? We have been there twice with the kids with First Choice and we all had an excellent time. The hotel is really family friendly with lots of activities laid on outdoors in the daytimes, and things for the whole family in the evenings. Not a bit of tackiness or disney in sight, just a really magical holiday, great views, and local Lappish atmosphere!! Hope you have a good time whatever you choose.

Hello,

Try Inghams, they offer 1 week trips to Levi and Yllas and you can choose as much or as little content to your holiday. They are a ski operator, but you don't have to buy the ski packages, they also sell husky, reindeer and snow mobile trips etc in resort. There won't be the big santa element at New Year, but the trips are absolutely fantastic and really worth it. Try the Sirkantahti hotel. A nice adult atmosphere in the bar in the evening and good food, and the rooms even have their own sauna!!