Has anyone been to Lapland?

paddygirl

Just wondering if anyone has ever been to Lapland?

I am looking at booking for december this year with my 2 children. Looking at Levi.
I dont like the cold though so not sure how well Im going to get on!!:rotfl:

**curlywurly**

I took my daughter age 4. In my opinion that was slightly too young. We went on December 23rd, and it was unseasonally cold (-27 degrees when we left). I have a photo of her with frosted eyelashes! We had a fabulous time, and I would recommend it, but it is worth researching. I went with Canterbury, and I think they ONLY do Lapland so they know what they are doing. At the resort we went to there were just two coachloads of people. I have heard of people going to a resort where there are hundreds of others, and therefore no guarantee that you will get to do all the activities you want to do, including meeting Father Christmas.

If you don't like the cold, I'm not sure it's for you though !!!

poe.tuesday

yep - been there 5 times and to three different resorts

I will always suggest going with one of the ski companies for a week as they are better value - thompsons, inghams, crystalski etc but if you want to go on a 'santa' break then espirit and activites abroad are ones that I would recommend

as for the cold - as long as you are prepared for it you will cope fine - I too have experienced temps of -29 and it was an experience but an amazing one

City_Girl_2

Hi, could you give me an idea on price for Lapland?

Thanks
CITY

Enterprise_1701C

We went for four nights when our kids were 6 and 8, it was absolutely magical. We went with Canterbury Travel and stayed in Luosto (I think!!). We had a wonderful log cabin, with our own sauna, and there was a warming room for clothes so we would be nice and warm when we went out. We certainly were not cold, we took several layers and they provided the outer layers, you do need to get good snow boots and gloves though.

To see the kids' faces when they met Santa was incredible. The only downside was that I had to tell my son (then aged 11!!) that there really was no Santa, that broke my heart but he was getting teased at school about it, until that point he solidly believed because he had met the "real" Santa.

Words cannot describe the memories that we all hold of that time, if I could repeat it I would a thousand times. When it snowed it was glittery and that added to the magic. It was quite funny, there was two pensioners on our trip with no kids, they had a wonderful time and even went to see Santa with the rest of us!

paddygirl

City_Girl wrote: »

Hi, could you give me an idea on price for Lapland?

Thanks
CITY

Im getting around £1600 for 1 adult and 2 children, 3 nights in Levi B&B. This includes snowsuit and boots,some mini trips and a trip to santa. This is for w.c 16.12.12. Thomson

poe.tuesday

the price varies greatly on when you want to go, how long for, how many people and if you want all the activities in

if you go with inghams or crystalski for a week over christmas or new year self catering then its going to cost a family of 4 about £2500 - if you do the same holiday in january you will get it for half that and if you wait for a deal (such as crystalski have got now) then you will be able to do it for £800

if you want a santa break then it can cost you from £300 each for just one day

you really need to tell us your budget, what you want from it etc and we can advise from there

Chunters_a_lot

I went in December 2007. I plan to return - it was the most inspiring and magical experience:D

Got to admit that I do not like the heat, makes me ill and short tempered! But as others have said if you prepare for the cold it is very manageable - layers and layers!

The night we landed it was -17 it stayed below freezing the whole week. My kids were 3 and 5 at the time and coped really well.

We went with Inghams (pretty sure poe tuesday posted the deal on here!) and got a weeks half board at the Crazy Reindeer in Levi for less than £2500 for 5 of us:j

ETA - my profile pic was taken on the reindeer sledge ride we did - honestly one of the most awesome holiday experiences of my life and in such an outstanding landscape!

jaffacat_2

Hi im looking to go before xmas this year (cant take xmas/new year off work) for 3 or 4 nights. 2 A and 2K (3 & 6) I would love to try and see the Northern Lights aswell well we are there, which is the best location for that (some say Sarxxx)?

Will look at thomson, espirit and crystal - if anyone finds any decent offers let me know as im not really sure what im looking for - want to include sleigh (reindeer) ride, meet santa, tobogganing,would prefer HB - the lodge sounds nice but not bothered if in hotel with others as could be nice tomeet others whilst there:)

What other trips can you do?

poe.tuesday

sar is saariselka - its wayn up in the north and if you go with inghams you have to do a 3 hour coach transfer from kitilla airport - if you go with espirit then they fly to ivalo which is 15 mins from saariselka

I have been to levi, yllas and saariselka and the latter is my fab but they all have something magical - I have only seen the northern lights once and that was in yllas on new years eve

I really think that if you can go in jan your money will go so much futher and it will still have all the santa stuff going on

crystalski have an activity week that gives a lot of trips etc but it is for a week

if you want to go for just a few days then look at inghams as they also do a short santa break and then you can book the trips with them too but they do not do the whole santa experience where you get picked up by elves at the airport etc, companies like espirit do and they have a very good reputation

please however, do be careful of transun, they do not have a good reputation so it really is important that you do your homework

as for trips, there is snowmobiling (your children can not go on the snowmobiles but can go into the pods that are pulled along - reindeer trips everyone can go on - huskies are amazing and fast, the children will be fine with this trip - you can also do snowshoeing, ice fishing etc

levi is a big resort and it does have a great place called kidsland where the children will have the best of time - yllas is a spreadout village and more 'natural' - saariselka is a combo of the two and it has a great taboggon run too

there are other resorts such as ruka which may also suite you but these are more southerly and going by this year, the snow came really late and did not hit the southerly resorts so its best to go as far north as possible

have fun invesitgating and do check out tripadvisor

jaffacat_2

Anyone know of any offers to Lapland, have shopped around and they are still quite expensive, someone said August time there are usually offers? we are 2 A 2 C(6 + 3)