Hi

I visited Lapland in December 2004. We (husband and two children 5 and 7) went with Emagine and stayed for 4 days at the Hotel Riekonlinna in Saariskela. It was the experience of a lifetime and worth every penny.

Everything about it was magical. We arrived in time to go toboganning just a short walk from the hotel (what a slope, what fun). The next day we went to a frozen lake where there were loads of different activities to take part in and hot chocolate in a log cabin on tap (great to warm the feet). Our family was taken aside by the guide when it was our turn and we were taken through the forest on a candlelit route to visit Santa in his log cabin lit by the light of a roaring fire. What was great was each child was asked in hushed voices not to mention it to the other children making them feel really special. The children were speechless and are absolutely convinced that they met the REAL Santa - it was the most fabulous experience in this world to see our children have such a magical time. We also went on a husky ride and did snowmobiling which was amazing and the children were wrapped up snugly. I can absolutely recommend the Emagine trip - I talked to other guests who were with other companies and there is no doubt about it that Emagine really knew what they were doing. All costs were included so the only extra cash needed once there was for drinks. The other great thing about the trip was when we returned to the hotel mid afternoon tired but happy we were able to leave the children in the children's club with the Emagine guides who entertained them for an hour and a half whilst we nipped back to our room for a sauna. The children looked forward to it to because they had such fun with the guides who seemed to really enjoy the job.

My advice is go with Emagine if you are going to pay out for the experience you want to be sure that its going to be worth every penny and it is. Everyone I work with will be booking soon I am sure as they all heard all about it on my return. Some of them like you had knowlege of people whose trip of a lifetime turned out to be a disaster.

If you do decide to go have a fabulous time - we did. Oh and the other amazing thing was seeing the Northern Lights - we would have missed it but the Emagine guide sought us all out to let us know it was happening. Whilst I know Emagine can't guarantee a sight of the Northern Lights it was great to be amongst people who really cared about their guests.

Angela

Angela,
Thank-you so much for your feedback - your holiday sounded wonderful. We are still holding on to see what Emagine will have on offer this year, since we think they sound like a good company - now I am even more keen to book with them!
I had just called them, before reading your post, to see when their 2005 brochure will be out. Apparently it is due next Thursday/Friday, so not long to wait now.
Thanks again,
Lynne

My wife and I recently considered taking our 2 children on one of the many 'Lapland ' - meet Santa etc trips in 2005.
I was amazed to see that for a day trip your looking at paying about £1,500. A 2 night trip is around £3,300.
Are these people taking the or what !!!. For £3,000 you could get a week in Spain - all inclusive ( and probably hire a car ! ).
Are these prices really what I'd be loking at paying ? - As wonderful as the trips sound, it would be hard to justify the expense !!.
What are people's views ?>

this is why we are taking our son to see Santa in march and combining the trip with a week's skiing in Lapland.

The whole trip isnt costing us more than £2k and that includes the trip to Santa, a reindeer safari, a weeks ski passes, ski school, equipment hire for my son and ski hire for me and himindoors.

And, we get a whole week there.

Why is your proposed trip so expensive??? Cos its another way of ripping people off! Take them out of season (ie not Xmas) and enjoy a whole week there, including skiing. Your children will thank you for it!

Thank's for your response - it is much appreciated.
What you advocate would seem to make good financial sense. Just out of interest, who are you travelling with ?.
Regards

Richard

Hi Richard.
Fully understand with what you are saying about the price. My advice to you is definatly shop around!
We left it until October to book and had 5 days (4 nights) for 2 adults and 2 children aged 12 and 10 for £2,300 and that was in the top notch hotel from the brochure.
Went with First Choice- absolutly excellent. What we paid was fully justifiable to the trip and it was so fantastic would have defo paid more!!!!
Oh and we went right over Xmas day too which was well worth it and will never forget experience!!
Love my sun hols but decided after that snow holidays take alot of beating.
BOOK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Price too was with winter sports insurance

Hi Richard

We are flying with Inghams......

have been away skiing with Inghams quite a lot and would recommend them highly. Havent had a problem with either their accomodation or their accuracy of holiday descriptions!

Thank's for your advice !!!

Richard

We took our two children to Lapland in December 2004 at a cost of about £3,000 for four of us in two rooms with a sauna and all meals and activities included in the cost. The highlight of the trip was seeing our childrens faces when they met the 'real' santa in his forest grotto which we reached by snowmobile through a candlelight trail. The experience was fantastic and the magical memories will stay with me for ever. On top of that we partook in a range of activities including a husky safari and snowmobiling and loads of toboganning and if that wasn't enough we were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. The guides were fantastic and on two of the days the children went to Kids Club at the end of a very busy day where they had more fun with the excellent Child Co-ordinators. The whole experience was magical and I know my children will remember it for the rest of their lives. Although it felt a huge extravagance it was worth every penny and if you start to break the price down in to the various parts - accommodation, food, flights, activities - I definitely did not feel I was ripped off. We went with Emagine whose staff were brilliant from when they met us at the airport to when they put us on the plane home. We felt like we were leaving friends - it was so refreshing to meet people who clearly enjoyed their job.

Its a big decision to spend £3,000 but I can definately recommend the Hotel Riekonlinna 4 day trip with Emagine.

Angela

Hi Angela !.

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post a very informative reply - it's much appreciated !

Richard

Just got back. One week there at the top ski resort. Probably one of the best kept secrets in Europe!

Had a superb time, incredible weather, sunny blue skies every day and not a blizzard in sight. Fantastic range of slopes, everything from the best nursery slope I have visited, to the scariest red on the home run ever! (Watch out for this resort, this week on tv as its the World Cup championships now!)

Beer etc was a bit pricey, the food was fantastic and we nearly got away without eating reindeer! Dont believe the hype!

We did the Santa trip, a reindeer safari and still had time to ski every day! The temperatures were very cold, but its a dry cold and bearable with adequate protection.... hats, scarves, gloves were de riguer!

Also, met some incredible people over there, both Brits and Fins alike! The local Lappish people were friendly, the resort is NOT commercialised and we cannot rate this resort highly enough. In fact, forget everything I just typed I dont want it to become too popular!!!!! Dont go to Levi, please!!!

I have booked the one day Spectacular trip to Lapland on 10 December 2005 for myself, husband, children 3 and 7 and grandparents. Has anyone been on this trip and could tell me what to expect and also what sort of clothing should be take with us and how much of it.

Hi, I have just started writing a bit on my website about this sort of stuff, so you can have an early peek at my ramblings! Hope it helps. Ali :-)
http://www.aliscorner.myby.co.uk/arcticwear

From what I can gather, they will supply thermal suits at the airport on arrival.

But, be warned. This is going to be one VERY long day and very very cold. We just returned from a week in Levi, skiing (and from what I can gather, paid about the same as you for your one day trip)......

the Santa trip was fine, but frankly I wouldnt pay upwards of £2k for one day there........ (and lets face it, its about a two hr visit maximum)...... I think you have to be a bit bonkers.

The airport at Kittali, is tiny with little or nothing on offer for children to do. Expensive tea/coffee etc and DO NOT buy anything touristy..... you can buy far cheaper in resort...... but again, there was NOTHING to buy, bar postcards and reindeer skins at the Santa trip.

Your kids will love it though, my 5yr old certainly did - but I think he enjoyed the skiing far more..........

As for buying expensive thermals........ I wouldnt! Use pjs for the children and extra cotton tea shirts or pjs for yourself. Long sleeved preferable.

As for the bottoms - both mum and dad would benefit from some thick denier tights.......

I would recommend changing at the airport as everywhere is geared up to the low temperatures and rooms are extremely hot! One man had a fainting session in the airport whilst we were there........ it was so hot and thats just cos one flight was delayed.

When we arrived, we had to walk across the runway, so I packed our hats, gloves and scarfs (or neck scrunchies - I prefer them!) balaclavas etc in the hand luggage and whipped em out as soon as the doors opened...... and then spent ten mins trying to get my lad out of the snow on the runway......

Thank you to all that replied to my question regarding what type of clothing to wear for my trip to Lapland. Ali I have visited your website and that has also been really helpful. Love the photos.

Hi everyone,
I have recently joined the site and would like some advice on the Snow Princess Hotel in Yllas Lapland. Both myself and my future wife are going there in December to get married ( to each other before you ask).
We have booked through First Choice and they are arranging the wedding ceromony etc.
What i would like to know is what activities are available to the non skier, as neither of use ski.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi everyone,
I have recently joined the site and would like some advice on the Snow Princess Hotel in Yllas Lapland. Both myself and my future wife are going there in December to get married ( to each other before you ask).
We have booked through First Choice and they are arranging the wedding ceromony etc.
What i would like to know is what activities are available to the non skier, as neither of use ski.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Hello

Visited Lapland twice, firstly Levi and last December Yllas, Snow Princess, was definitely the best, as a party of non-skiers we had no problems, you will get the tasters for Snow Mobile, Husky riding etc, go to "The Hut" just to the right of the hotel to book your excursions as they are a quarter of the cost of First Choice and excellent value, we did the snow mobiling and husky driving, we also took the free bus from the hotel to the slopes, you can book your own ski tuition or just take a sledge as we did, we spent a few hours there and then went in the bar for a warm drink. The times of the buses are up in reception. We could not fault the Snow Princess on service and cleanliness, the food was also excellent, hope to be back there next year. Grab a sledge when you arrive as they go quickly, they are just left outside the hotel.

Have a wonderful wedding, the setting should be magical.