Lapland

Nicholajp

How lucky are you, booked already, I am still waiting for my bargain!! Enjoy your planning!!

Nichola

poe.tuesday

sara o

in yllas there is santa's post office, it's within walking distance and you go and see santa there http://www.lappvillage.fi/en_index.html to get there you walk down towards to supermarket from the akas hotel (this is the main road through the village) and then before you get to the supermarket and Julies (the pizza place) right near some shops you need to take the turning to the left down towards destination lapand, you will find santa's post office down there - it will have everything you want for your santa fix and yes, you can just turn up and pay - inghams (who is the tour op you will be going with) will offer you a trip to santa village in rov - don't do it - it's tacky and 4 hours away - however - take them up on the other trips as they are much cheaper than anywhere else and good too, you will be able to book these when you get there, here is an idea of their prices

Reindeer Mini Safari Adult £24
Reindeer Mini Safari Child £20
Reindeer Super Safari Adult £43
Reindeer Super Safari Child £28
Husky Mini Safari Adult £38
Husky Mini Safari Child £22
Husky Super Safari Adult £75
Husky Super Safari Child £37
Snowmobile Safari (Single) Adult £78
Snowmobile Safari (2 Sharing) Adult £47
[FONT=&quot]Snowmobile Safari (2 Sharing) Child £17[/FONT]

now, food and your cabin - your cabin will be fully equipped, take some dishwasher tabs with you as you don't want to buy a big box there, also, take a tea towel and dishcloth too, everything else will be there but you have to make your beds up which is a drag when you arrive late at night

there is a massive supermarket there, just down from the scan burger on the main road. you can get a token for the trolleys from the info desk. Food and other stuff can be very expensive so plan your meals and take things out with you if you want to, alo, find out what the finish for things like pork, lamb etc is as sometimes you will not be able to identify the meats. frozen stuff like pizzas are ok price wise - the supermarket prices are like shopping in waitroses or marks and sparks and some things like small cartons of soup at 8 Euros so watch out with the prices - we take out loads of meals such as chili, curries etc all frozen and in a freezer bag and the the hold - this has saved us a fortune as as you have done the holiday on the cheap it would be nice to keep the spending down too - when you go to the supermarket get a sledge from your cabin (there should be some under the steps or in the porch of your cabin) and take it shopping with you, make sure you take it into the store too or tie it up well as it will get nicked. you will need the sledge to pull your shopping home - also - in the supermarket you get charged for each bag you use so you need to put them on the conveyer belt with the food - most people do not speak english so be prepaired

clothing - you have to make sure you have lots of layers just in case it gets cold - see https://www.lapland.fruitbandit.com for everything you need to know about what to wear and a good tip is that primark do fleece PJ's, these are great for your mid layer

don't stand on any of the cross country tracks, you will get shouted at !

back to your cabin - the children will probably sleep upstairs - if you have the fire on it will get very hot up there, the cabins are very very hot and dry so make sure you drink lots

eating out - julies is the main place to go eat, it's a pizza place - it's ok and go early with young ones - don't be put off by the tough bikers outside without their bikes

also, just down from there on the same side you will see a place that looks like a bar, at the side there is another pizza place, you order at the counter and they bring you the food - both places are nice and you will pay about 10 euro a pizza and you children can share as they are big - most places are closed at about 9pm and children are not allowed in bars after this time

there is then the bear - this is opposite julies - it's a great place to watch the locals whilst they dance but it's expensive to eat there, then there is the poro, this is down towards santa's post office, the best place in town, expensive though but good if you want a special meal - you can also eat in the hotels - personally I think you are going to be soooo tired that you will all be in bed by 9pm

as for the must does - the huskies are fast and great fun, the super one is about 30 mins long, take an extra blanket with you, something to cover your faces and goggles too as it can be really cold, those of you in the sleigh need to be wrapped up really warm, if your OH is driving the sleigh then he needs to wear something to cover his face, hat and something to cover your ears

the reindeer is slow but stunning, get the one that goes in the afternoon so it's dark when you take your trip, it's like being in narnia - the journey to the trip is about an hour so take some snacks etc

the snowmobile - I was not that impressed with the one in yllas as the one I did in levi was so much better but our friend who came with us loved it, however, they do not have a heated pod for the children and they can get very, very cold sitting in an open sleigh so you may be best paying extra and going with a local company such as snowfun who have enclosed pods for the children to travel in - you can always check with the inghams reps if their one has the enclosed/heated pods and if they don't then don't go, your children will be miserable

hope this helps, take lipbalm as you will need it and you are going to have such an amazing time - any questions - just ask

Nicholajp

So has anyone else booked yet, or are you all still hanging on for a bargain? Would love to know. I'm still hanging on and wondering whether to book for the first week in Jan, 2 Ad, 1 child, 7 nights half board (Akas hotel), £1177, including Husky mini safari & Real Reindeer Village excursion staying in Yllas, or for a little more Ruka (Hotel Rukahovi) £1237. Any views, shall I book or wait and which resort is best?

Thanking you all,
Nichola

FluffyFiFi

Hi Nicholajp, I am hanging on as I didn't want to spend more that £1,000. However, don't think I'm going to get anything for this price so will probably not be able to go now. Last time I was in Levi so can't help with which resort is best, however having the trips included looks a good deal. Is the hotel in Ruka half board? If you have to eat out it will end up being a very expensive trip so makes the first option a good deal

Nicholajp

Thanks Flufflyfifi. Both hotels are half board with the free excursions. I hate this waiting game, makes me so nervous, don't want the prices to go up! Fingers crossed we get to Lapland!! Thanking you.

FluffyFiFi

Hi Nichola, I know what you mean, it is hard to wait. At least once you've booked the decision is made and you can have the fun of trying to buy all the stuff you will need. Hopefully you will come to a decision in the next few days. Good Luck.

Fiona

Nicholajp

Hi Fifi, already started buying, infact just placed an order on M&S for thermals for my daughter!! So fingers crossed all pans out or it snows here!! Here's to waiting!!

inspector_monkfish

I'm all booked for Dec 12th - 3nights.

:T:D

SJP

Hi all

We've been wanting to take our son to Lapland for the last few years however the price with all the choices always seems to put me off....

Could someone tell me where I need to start???

I appreciate that this has probably been posted previously, however i'm sure the deals that people will have already booked will have gone now...

Any help would be great

Thanks:j

inspector_monkfish

SJP wrote: »

Hi all

We've been wanting to take our son to Lapland for the last few years however the price with all the choices always seems to put me off....

Could someone tell me where I need to start???

I appreciate that this has probably been posted previously, however i'm sure the deals that people will have already booked will have gone now...

Any help would be great

Thanks:j

try here...

http://www.santatrips.com/MegaQuote/MQsearch.asp

and here...

http://www.santaslapland.com/Specials.aspx