Lapland

inspector_monkfish

poe.tuesday wrote: »

ah yes, this is canterbury that are apparently cancelling trips !!!

leave it with me for a bit and I will see what I can find

I will always recommend that you go for a week not in school holidays, the deals are fab - I have now done 3 last min deals - the last one was to saariselka, the week before the feb half term and it cost me £160 each for flights, transfers and a cabin

monkfish - I know you want to go for the whole christmas thing, would you do christmas week if it comes up cheap? and the santa stuff carries on into the new year so would you concider that given this info?

don't mind christmas week, but really want to be there before, rather than after - so the kids can do the whole 'give santa a list' thing (although i suspect our just turned 11yr old will be a bit dubious without actually admitting it)

inspector_monkfish

FluffyFiFi wrote: »

Hi Inspector, just did a quick check on Lastminute.com and there is a holiday on there for 4 nights, going from Gatwick on 2nd December for £1876

http://www.lastminute.com/site/travel/holidays/holiday-availability.html?skin=lmnukgoogle&dim46=2&dimension45=-1&destText=&ERROR=JUD038&maxOffset=0&children=0&adults=2&searchType=basic&dim14=258%2C1-5+nights&depDay=0&expandThreshold=5&productId=810946686&sourceType=1&minChildAge=2&maxResults=10&childAge0=7&discount=0.0&childAge2=-1&childAge3=-1&childAge4=-1&childAge5=-1&childAge6=-1&childAge7=-1&maxChildAge=6&depAirportGroup=-1&dimension5=-1&dimension0=Ski+%26+winter+sports&childAge1=11&dateRange=20091201-20100101&depMonth=12&dimension23=Finland&ERRORDESC=JUD038+Problem+with+party+ages+-++A+passenger+is+not+a+valid+age%2C+passenger+age+is+7+but+should+be+between+2+and+6&durationRange=1-5&sortBy=0%2C1


Or another for 4 nights in Levi but half board and this is £1996.

http://www.lastminute.com/site/travel/holidays/holiday-availability.html?skin=lmnukgoogle&dim46=2&dimension45=-1&destText=&ERROR=JUD038&maxOffset=0&children=0&adults=2&searchType=basic&dim14=258%2C1-5+nights&depDay=0&expandThreshold=5&productId=634887084&sourceType=1&minChildAge=2&maxResults=10&childAge0=7&discount=0.0&childAge2=-1&childAge3=-1&childAge4=-1&childAge5=-1&childAge6=-1&childAge7=-1&maxChildAge=6&depAirportGroup=-1&dimension5=-1&dimension0=Ski+%26+winter+sports&childAge1=11&dateRange=20091201-20100101&depMonth=12&dimension23=Finland&ERRORDESC=JUD038+Problem+with+party+ages+-++A+passenger+is+not+a+valid+age%2C+passenger+age+is+7+but+should+be+between+2+and+6&durationRange=1-5&sortBy=0%2C1

As poe.tuesday said if you can get half board it will save you a lot when you are there as (I'm sure you're well aware) the euro is so strong at the moment.

thanks for that,

yes i had seen them, and planned to show mrs IM tonight.
to be honest, i was a bit put off by them inssisting my 6yr old travels as an adult !! but its only £20 difference, so doesnt really matter!

FluffyFiFi

inspector_monkfish wrote: »

don't mind christmas week, but really want to be there before, rather than after - so the kids can do the whole 'give santa a list' thing (although i suspect our just turned 11yr old will be a bit dubious without actually admitting it)

We went just before Christmas and our son was 11, he came away telling everyone he had met the real Father Christmas, he was so convinced. They had a meet Father Christmas night and he arrived by sleigh, the reindeer was Blitzen and the children were told to go and say thank you to Blitzen for bringing Father Christmas and making sure he got to them on Christmas Eve.

poe.tuesday

I would suggest that you go as late as possible in dec so there is more snow
those deals on last min are inghams trips - they do require you to take off 3 days though
also at the mo - you can get christmas week for all 4 of you for 1 week (going on the 20th dec) for approx £2300, this is part of their lapland square deal - you don't know where you will be staying etc - this is a good option, however, I still think that they will be better deals about

here is an idea of the cost of the excussions that are not included in the week long stay

Thermal Suit Adult £20[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
Thermal Suit Child £10
Thermal Boots Adult £10
Thermal Boots Child £5
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]

I would recommend that you do the super safaries and the snowmobiling
if you go at christmas then you can do the search for santa or the santa park (the later is not recommended as it's IMO tacky)

you really need to weigh up what you want from this holiday - if it's a santa break with all in then you are going to have to pay someone like cantebury to do it for you, there are rarely deals to be had with those type of trips and they have a tendency to cancel if they are not fully booked

then if you want to go for a week then you could do skiing too, or if you want to just go for the shorter 3 or 4 nights trip with inghams then you will need to add on the excussions to both trips - the shorter breaks work out about the same as the week long stays

the other option is to think about it and leave it either to see if a good deal comes up or to wait until next year and really research into what you want and you can also plan around your leave entitlement too - christmas week there would be magical

we first went when my daughter was 10 and she was still believing, she is now 12 and still loves the whole santa thing even though she knows the truth

I will keep on looking and will let you know if anything comes up, one thing, have you looked at activities abroad - it's expensive but not as expensive as canterbury and looks far better (less tacky) - that may be an option you want to look into - just remember though - it's mainly in sweden which is south of the artic circle so you need to concider the snow fall - the more north you go the better

inspector_monkfish

poe.tuesday wrote: »

I would suggest that you go as late as possible in dec so there is more snow
those deals on last min are inghams trips - they do require you to take off 3 days though
also at the mo - you can get christmas week for all 4 of you for 1 week (going on the 20th dec) for approx £2300, this is part of their lapland square deal - you don't know where you will be staying etc - this is a good option, however, I still think that they will be better deals about

here is an idea of the cost of the excussions that are not included in the week long stay

Thermal Suit Adult £20
Thermal Suit Child £10
Thermal Boots Adult £10
Thermal Boots Child £5
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]

I would recommend that you do the super safaries and the snowmobiling
if you go at christmas then you can do the search for santa or the santa park (the later is not recommended as it's IMO tacky)

you really need to weigh up what you want from this holiday - if it's a santa break with all in then you are going to have to pay someone like cantebury to do it for you, there are rarely deals to be had with those type of trips and they have a tendency to cancel if they are not fully booked

then if you want to go for a week then you could do skiing too, or if you want to just go for the shorter 3 or 4 nights trip with inghams then you will need to add on the excussions to both trips - the shorter breaks work out about the same as the week long stays

the other option is to think about it and leave it either to see if a good deal comes up or to wait until next year and really research into what you want and you can also plan around your leave entitlement too - christmas week there would be magical

we first went when my daughter was 10 and she was still believing, she is now 12 and still loves the whole santa thing even though she knows the truth

I will keep on looking and will let you know if anything comes up, one thing, have you looked at activities abroad - it's expensive but not as expensive as canterbury and looks far better (less tacky) - that may be an option you want to look into - just remember though - it's mainly in sweden which is south of the artic circle so you need to concider the snow fall - the more north you go the better

wow, thank-you so much for all this fantastic info
you really are a superstar!!

things that we def want would be a private family meeting with Santa, log cabin, lots of snow, husky safari, snowmobiles, and to see the northern lights - and for the rest of the time, we would just want to enjoy the whole atmosphere of the place

we're not be too bothered about doing any ski-ing


like the price for the christmas week, but would be a bit concerned about what kind of accommodation we would be getting
plus to be honest, i think the grandparents wouldn't be too impressed if the kids weren't around at christmas !!


so looks favourite to go somewhere around mid Dec for 3 nights and try and swerve something with work, where they lend me a day from next year's holiday allocation. (may even take a sickie - never done it before, but its not like i'm gonna come back with a tan is it !!)


as you say, maybe best to wait a bit and see what offers comes up.
i emailed a few companies today asking for quotes, and was surprised at how fast they came back. they all seemed a bit desperate and over eager if you know what i mean!

thank again poe
you're a superstar!


regards
IM

inspector_monkfish

FluffyFiFi wrote: »

We went just before Christmas and our son was 11, he came away telling everyone he had met the real Father Christmas, he was so convinced. They had a meet Father Christmas night and he arrived by sleigh, the reindeer was Blitzen and the children were told to go and say thank you to Blitzen for bringing Father Christmas and making sure he got to them on Christmas Eve.

kind of thinking this could be our last chance to convince our 11yr old!!;)

poe.tuesday

the accommodation you would get would be fine - you will probably find that it will be the crazy reindeer in levi, however, you may get the option to state that you want a cabin etc

as regards to a private santa visit - you can do this in levi for sure, no idea about yllas however, there is a lovely santa and post office just out of the village where you can get a private visit with him - far more cost effective than the private visit

we have been to lapland for christmas and new year, the latter was too busy for us and there were lots of fireworks everywhere, where as christmas was just so magical, candles all lit up in the lanes, kids playing - a truely magical time

I have just looked again at the winter deal that they are doing, for an extra amount you can pick your resort, you can pick between yllas, levi and saariselka - I would predict that the hotel in yllas would be the akas hotel, the one in levi will be the crazy reideer and the one in saariselka would be the holiday club - have a look at those and see what you think - it's not the cabin you want but they hotels are all good, espeically the holiday club - you could always call up inghams and see if they have a self catering option

as for the grandparents - take them with you

Rachie_B

I soooo want to go this yr,but we have had a "big" holiday this year think hubby would flip if i booked lapland too haha!

maybe next yr!
whats the latest you could go ? i am thinking feb half term ? or would the snow not be good then ?

just want to do snow activities,possibly a bit of ski ing ( hubby and kids not me lol ) stay in a log cabin sort of thing

inspector_monkfish

poe.tuesday wrote: »

the accommodation you would get would be fine - you will probably find that it will be the crazy reindeer in levi, however, you may get the option to state that you want a cabin etc

as regards to a private santa visit - you can do this in levi for sure, no idea about yllas however, there is a lovely santa and post office just out of the village where you can get a private visit with him - far more cost effective than the private visit

we have been to lapland for christmas and new year, the latter was too busy for us and there were lots of fireworks everywhere, where as christmas was just so magical, candles all lit up in the lanes, kids playing - a truely magical time

I have just looked again at the winter deal that they are doing, for an extra amount you can pick your resort, you can pick between yllas, levi and saariselka - I would predict that the hotel in yllas would be the akas hotel, the one in levi will be the crazy reideer and the one in saariselka would be the holiday club - have a look at those and see what you think - it's not the cabin you want but they hotels are all good, espeically the holiday club - you could always call up inghams and see if they have a self catering option

as for the grandparents - take them with you

hi poe
thanks once again

after chatting with mrs IM last night, think we can def rule out going over christmas day.

fave dates would appear to be anywhere in the first 2 weeks of december

found some good ones on here
http://www.santatrips.com/MegaQuote/MQfromPrices.php

but dont know much about this company



unfortunately, grandparents have other grandkids too, and dont think they would be happy to miss out on seeing the other ones over christmas - nice idea though!

FluffyFiFi

inspector_monkfish wrote: »

kind of thinking this could be our last chance to convince our 11yr old!!;)

We convinced our's, however on return to school his teacher told him that it wasn't true, that was four days before Christmas. As you can imagine we weren't very happy as he had come back so sure that it was all true.

On the trips we did we enjoyed the Reindeer sleigh ride the best, they are totally mad and as only two can go in the sleigh I went with my daughter and my husband went with our son, their Reindeer was slow and plodded over the frozen lake, our reindeer was on a mission to treat it like a race and win whatever the cost. You have no control over them and ours overtook everyone and all we could do was laugh, especially when we overtook the boys!