Visiting Santa in Lapland - Advice please

Snozzle

I have just booked to take the family a trip for 3 nights to Finnish Lapland and wonder if anyone has been if they could tell me what they wished they had known and done in hindsight.

I am thinking of things like clothing - what to take and how many of each item, what not to bother with, how much cash, best activity/ies to do - do we book them before we go or once there, food - should I take any (e.g. chocolate......), snowboots or are walking boots enough? We are staying at the Hotel Tunturi. Have I forgotten anything?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

TBeckett100

I'd wish someone told me Santa wasn't real. I would have then opted to sit on his knee for £2 in the village hall instead of traipsing up North on a commercial merry go round

Poppet18m

Hi,
Does your holiday include the clothing? We went a few years back and ours did.
If your holiday does I would recomend getting a snow boot size bigger and wearing thick thermal socks.
We took all the winter clothing but under the snow suits they give you it is quite hot, we found it ok just wearing thermals and thin layers.
I would take thermal gloves, hats and scarfs or snood as the parts of your body exposed can get quite cold. they do give you these but i prefered my own.
Also we had taster sessions and then booked the excursions when we were there as we didn't know what the kids would prefer.
We chose the Husky ride as we thought this was more child friendly rather than the snow mobiles.
We bought hand warmers from sports direct and these were fab I would take these as I didn't see them there and they were quite useful for the kids
We did struggle with the food a bit just not our taste, but on the last night we had a gala evening and that was lovely. i would take some crisp, chocolate, biscuits etc.
Have a wonderful time we did and would love to go back

spender

If that is in Saariselka then you are in for a treat. They have a fantastic toboggan trail goes on for miles. I would suggest buying a few cheap pairs of white cotton gloves from Boots (they sell them at the pharmacy) as this act as inner glove keeping your hands warm. If clothing is not provided then you would need base, mid and fleece layers. Drink is very expensive in bars as is food but Saariselka has a wonderful supermarket. You can book trips locally and would recommend the snowmobiles, huskys etc. Good boots are definitely required as dependant when you are going the snow will be thick. If you are taking young children they will cry with the cold if not well wrapped up.

Lapland is great we have been several times

badskindollheart

Ooh, you lucky thing! We went last year to Levi and it was magical, just the best holiday ever:T

Food & drink is very expensive, so budget plenty for this. If you do anything at speed eg snowmobiling, husky sledding make sure you have a balaclava as the windchill really burns your face.

Most Lapland hols include thermal clothing, which you pick up at the airport - double check if your has this. We ski so had the gear anyway, but if you're not planning on a winter holiday again in the near future, I'd use the stuff they supply - which saves space in your luggage too. For under your outer layer, I'd take thermals, leggings, track suit pants and a couple of thin layers for your top half. You won't need anything fancy for the evening, perhaps a jumper with a bit of sparkle for the gala evening (assuming you're a female, sorry :rotfl:)

I read a lot about not using make up, creams etc as it can freeze on your face when outside - I didn't experience this but it only got VERY cold on our last day (-26), so maybe bear this in mind.

Make sure to have some hot berry juice in a Kota, so lovely. Take lots of pics - especially of the beautiful pink skies. God, I'm so jealous!

Just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Snozzle

Thank you for some great advice and taking the time to give me it! Much appreciated.