Hi, myself and my wife have just booked a 2 night / 3 day trip to lapland for December 2005, we finally decided to book this as our children will be 8 & 4 by then and it may not be too long before the eldest realises Santa is not true after all

We are booked into the Hotel Holiday club in the resort of Saariselkä which is in the far North of Lapland (nr to the Russian border) and it looks absoloutely beautifully picturesque, included in the price are Reindeer Sleigh rides, Husky Sled-rides, Artic Circle ceremony, meet the local Sami people at the Igloo Village, Go and search for and meet Santa etc.....
We realise it is an expensive trip in comparison but is also a once in a lifetime trip......so sod it !!

I must confess to be excited already even though the trip is 11 months away we have also decided not to tell the children until the day we go so as to see the great surprises on their faces.

Is there anybody out there that has already been on this trip or to the resort of Saariselkä so they can share their experience with me as i would love to hear all about it.

Thanks in advance.

Hi
We went to Lapland this Christmas for 5 days (actually over the Christmas period)
Our two children are 12 and 10 and do not believe in Santa which I was a little concerned about. However the trip is completly suitable for all ages. Honeymoon couples and older couples alike were on our trip.
We had the most fantastic time and can certainly say it is the best thing we have ever done!
Although we did not stay where you are staying the activities there were amazing. We travelled with First Choice which included a 5 day itinery giving us tasters on husky dog rides, reindeer rides, snow mobiles etc.
We also chose to do a snowmobile safari across the lake and up into the forest and a husky dog farm visit with a personal ride on the lake. These trips were expensive but well worth doing.
Also visited Santa park and Santa Village.
We stayed in Rovaniemi at Hotel Santa Claus. Very central.
Are you being provided with Thermal suits etc. First Choice provided all this and definatly needed. Only went to -10 whilst we were there!
All in all a fantastic busy 5 days. You will love every minute of it!
Much sleep needed on home return
Good Luck

Thanks very much for the reply, friend of ours also stayed in the town you stated in a trip pre-xmas which they enjoyed very much.

Thanks for the advice re: clothing but complimentary thermal over-suits and boots are included but we will obviously be tasking extra layers as have been told by thr travel agent it gets to about Minus 25 degrees and only about 3-4 hours of sunlight per day............looking forward to seeing the Northern lights though.

I may well look into the Snowmobile safari as that is an optional for Day 3 i foundon the website.

Snowmobile Safari: a 1½ to 2-hour adventure, zooming across open snowfields, and including a halfway stop for a warming mug of hot berry juice around an open fire.
Family Safari (1½ hrs) - Adults: £49 / Children (2-11 years): £39

Cheers...

We stayed 4 nights over Xmas in Levi. It was the best holiday ever and we will return maybe February next time.

Daylight is odd 11am-2pm some light you need flash, cameras and camcorders zap batteries so prepared

I found balaclava essential but the cold -15 worst was ok. The snow is odd, very dry. When it snowed it built up on you rather than wet you as it would at home.

I hope you have as wonderful time as we did. I booked in October 03 for Dec 04 and my husband and I were as excited as our son (6)

That's a fantastic report - makes me want to book a trip. unfortunately, when i looked into it this december, the cost for 2 adults & 2 kids was €2,500 - for one night!!!!!!! i'd have 2 weeks in orlando for the same price!

help!! we took our grandchildren to yllas lapland on 16th dec 2004 for the transun fad and have lost our photos, anything would be greatly appreciated :-)

I am thinking of booking a trip to Lapland over Christmas 2005 for 2 adults and 2 children (aged 4 and 6).

Having searched the web etc, I am now considering either Eclipse (5 nights at Hotel Snow Princess, Yllas - £2700) or Emagine (5 nights at Hotel Riekonlinna, Saariskela - £3700).

Huge price difference, but content of Emagine holiday does sound far more magical... is it really and, if so, is it worth an extra 1K?!

Some discussions I have read indicate that you should be wary of doing Lapland on the cheap (not that I consider £2700 cheap!!)

Any advice welcome...

hiya,
i know someone who stayed at the snow princess dec 2003 and loved it.
she was a college of mine. im a travel agent and she used to talk to my customers about and was never anything but honest about it.
hope this is some help.

Hi jakecella

Looking at booking the same for dec 2005 at the same hotel getting different prices from 1700 to 2700 how did you get on.

Clayton.

Hiya

I went to Lapland 2 years ago and had the time of my life!!
The was my mum, sister (17 at the time) and myself (25 at the time) and we loved it!
We went with First Choice for 5 days and stayed at the Crazy Reindeer hotel in Levi. The hotel itself was great. There was even a sauna in the room!!! The food was great and there was a bar. no entertainment but thats fine because we were shattered from the fun filled days!!
The weather was -13 at the warmest and it went down to -26 but you are so well wrapped up you really don't feel it!
Before we went we bought gloves and socks and boots and the like. we knew we didn't have to have snow suits as they are provided. When we landed at the airport we were greeted by our rep who then took us on a short bus ride to an airoplane hanger. In here there was lappish folk dishing out the snow suits and boots, gloves, socks!!! So you really don't need to buy anything!
We went on reindeer rides, husky rides, skidoos, met santa, met his elves and made cookies with them, horse drawn sleigh ride through the woods, sledged, stroked the huskies, kissed a reindeer! Amazing!!! And these were all included in the price The only extra trip we booked was a Husky trip which was about £50. I wouldn't say it was worth it to be honest. You got a longer husky sleigh ride and a meal. We learnt a lot about the dogs but didn't feel it was worth the money.

I really advise not going to lapland for the day as it's a 3hour flight and the children would be tired without the activities. It's worth saving up and going for 3 days at least.

Also in Levi are the Ski Slopes. Not massive but fun for the kids if they want to go sledging. The town itself has a few bars and shops which were nice to look round. The people are VERY friendly!!

If you need any more info then don't hestitate to ask!! We really enjoyed it and are planning to go again maybe 2006.

Hi Dannibb,
Thanks for your reply - it is of help . I have read another good review for the Snow Princess - it does sound a great hotel.
Lynneg

Hello mate, i booked my trip for 2 adults & 2 kids (aged 7 & 4) at the Holiday Club hotel in Saariselka for £2100, this is for a 2 night / 3 day stay, it includes thermal clothing and full board plus all of the activities that i included in my original thread, the hotel also has indoor heated pools with slides etc......

You can go for cheaper if you stay in a split level cabin in the resort as you can get a free childs place BUT it does mean you will be sharing accomadation with anither family..................it's perfect if you are travelling with another family.

http://www.santasmagic.com is the website that i booked the trip through.

We had a really good price for this Xmas (well last now- 2004)
Went 22 Dec for 5 days with First Choice. Stayed in the best Hotel and our total price with winter sports insurance was £2300!
Oh that was for 4 of us too!

Hi lynneg

Went to Lapland this Xmas for the 5 day trip right over Xmas. Stayed in Santa Claus Hotel and weny with First Choice.
Had a good price. Myself, husband and 2 boys 12 and 10 we paid £2300 and that was with Winter Sports Insurance too!
Booked it online in October on First Choice web site. Maybe worth waiting?
Christmas there was fab!

Hi Sunseeker1,
Thanks for the reply - yep might be worth waiting as that appears to be a very good price for that hotel. What was the content of the activities like ? Was the 'Santa experience' believable ? Thanks
Lynneg

Hi,

Thanks for all the info we have booked a 3 day trip with esprit via http://www.santatrips.co.uk staying at the holiday club.

like jakecella really looking forward to seeing the kids faces now.

clayton

We travelled with Eclipse this Xmas and stayed in Levi not far from Yllas. The hotel White Reindeer was good and all in all we had a geat time. I contacted the tourist information centre in resort and prebooked some more activities.This filled our free time and was much cheaper than Eclipses options. I would book well in advance though as the good trips do book up. We went to the husky farm and 4 hour snowmobile ride to find Santa in the woods, this was excellent. Also if you want to ski pre book any lessons if you need them as we could not get any and were disappointed. Levi was a lovely resort but small, I want to go back!!

Hi!
Thanks for your posting - that is really useful information, especially about being able to book the trip to find Santa.
lynneg

Great report - I've bitten the bullet and booked a day trip for Christmas 2005. I understand you get oversuits and boots etc. - what do you recommend in terms of your own footwear and clothing? Assume taking a rucksack is okay (will it go over the suit!) Are there any other tips to pass on?

Thanks in anticipation