No Snow in Lapland 2018!!!

W222RDY

Help required,


RE - No snow in Lapland 2018.


We have a holiday booked to Lapland departing 4/12/18 and due to the current weather situation of no snow (or very little), I'd like to ask if anyone else is in the same situation and what our options are?


I've spoken with my tour operator 'Santa's Lapland' this this morning 27/11/18 and they aren't offering alternative dates or allowing cancellations.


They have told me that alternative activities would be would be offered in the resort if conditions didn't improve however they cant tell my what these are.


Do we have any rights to cancel through our credit card company on the grounds that the trip is likely to be vastly different to what they have advertised.


Full details of my trip are:

• Destination - Saariselka, Finland
• Tour Operator - Santa's Lapland
• Package - Santa's Aurora
• Dates - 4/12/18 - 6/12/18 (Two nights)
• Cost £3666.00 ( Family of four)

Any advise would be greatly received.


Regards,


J.

814man

I think you may be getting worried too soon. Webcams and weather forecast shows snow now and more due:
https://www.webkams.com/finland/lapland/saariselka/602681
https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Saariselka/6day/top

Having said that I'm pretty sure that somewhere in the Terms and Conditions it will mention this.

LABMAN

In their Terms & Conditions:-

Some activities rely on satisfactory levels of snow and/or ice and should the levels be inappropriate, providers will do their best to offer alternative activities.

https://d2fx0t6tji7tyk.cloudfront.net/media/1740/santas_lapland_general_informationmar18.pdf

martindow

814man wrote: »

I think you may be getting worried too soon. Webcams and weather forecast shows snow now and more due:
https://www.webkams.com/finland/lapland/saariselka/602681
https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Saariselka/6day/top

Having said that I'm pretty sure that somewhere in the Terms and Conditions it will mention this.

I'm not sure the forecast is very promising - light snow and freeze/ thaw Friday and Saturday. It doesn't sound like the foot of snow that is really needed.

W222RDY

Thank you for the replies.


I had previously been on all the available webcams and i'm obsessively checking the forecasts.


Both BBC and Accuweather reports do show some light snow prior to 4/12/18 but only for very short periods. If the day temperatures do rise this could easily disappear.


I realise the Weather is out of the tour operators control but when you have paid just shy of £4K for a trip I would have hoped the operator could at least give us some assurances as to what the alternatives are likely to be and if these aren't acceptable what compensation will be offered.

andrewf75

Can’t see how you could possibly be entitled to compensation any more than you would if you went on a beach holiday and it rained all week.

hollie.weimeraner

andrewf75 wrote: »

Can’t see how you could possibly be entitled to compensation any more than you would if you went on a beach holiday and it rained all week.

I'm off to Mauritius shortly and only booked because it was supposedly wall to wall sunshine. Are you sure I can't get a refund if it rains. :rotfl::rotfl:

W222RDY

Lets say on your beach holiday you were all inclusive which included excursions and water sports.
Prior to departing you find out that these excursions and water sports may not be available.


You contact the tour operator to ask what the alternative's are. The TA cant give you an answer and even more worryingly they cant say if you will be compensated if alternatives aren't offered or are unsuitable.


The purpose of my posts in relation to this thread were to seek advice. If you don't have anything constructive to say please don't waste mine time or others.

bradders1983

W222RDY wrote: »

Lets say on your beach holiday you were all inclusive which included excursions and water sports.

All inclusive to include excursions and water sports? Hmm.

Anyway, it sounds like the tour operator has covered their back with the "providers will do their best to offer alternative activities" line. All you can really do is go, see what they are and then consider your options afterwards.

hollie.weimeraner

W222RDY wrote: »

Lets say on your beach holiday you were all inclusive which included excursions and water sports.
Prior to departing you find out that these excursions and water sports may not be available.

That analogy doesn't make sense due to the fact that weather is a variable and cannot be guaranteed.

Excursions and watersports would be a commodity.

https://d2fx0t6tji7tyk.cloudfront.net/media/1740/santas_lapland_general_informationmar18.pdf

From the above link "Insufficient snow or ice in resort is not considered a reason to cancel or grounds for compensation."

heatherw_01

Weather can never be guaranteed where ever you go!