Lapland

Niki

Hi, I really need some help from you kind people.

My boyfriend and I are wanting to go to Lapland on the 27th Nov to the 2nd Dec (give or take the odd day). Whilst there we want to do husky sledging, snowmobleing and have a little ski. Now would it be best to book it all ourselves or do a tour? I dont want to get caught up in the Santa part of it though, as much as we love kids we dont want to be in a mainly kids area if you know what I mean.

I know this is going to be an exprensive break but I would like to try and keep the cost low ish!

At the moment I'm struggling with flying direct there and can only come up with flights for £600 each.

I just need some advice.

Thank you all in advance!
:T

chuckles1066

Niki wrote: »

Hi, I really need some help from you kind people.

My boyfriend and I are wanting to go to Lapland on the 27th Nov to the 2nd Dec (give or take the odd day). Whilst there we want to do husky sledging, snowmobleing and have a little ski. Now would it be best to book it all ourselves or do a tour? I dont want to get caught up in the Santa part of it though, as much as we love kids we dont want to be in a mainly kids area if you know what I mean.

I know this is going to be an exprensive break but I would like to try and keep the cost low ish!

At the moment I'm struggling with flying direct there and can only come up with flights for £600 each.

I just need some advice.

Thank you all in advance!
:T

At that time of year, I'm afraid most pre-packaged tours are the "in search of Santa" type.

Wrap up warm though when you do go, it was -21C when I went :eek:

Doozergirl

Inghams offer ski holidays which aren't particularly santa orientated. They are primarily ski holidays.

Lots of us on the boards grabbed bargains on Lastminute.com - our family, 2 adults, 2 kids went for a week for £697 half board! Booked in October for December.

se999

If you want snow do check there is likely to be snow there on the dates you are going.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3085085.ece

Luke_Warmwater

The Inghams Ski packages are usually the best bet - a weeks half board is usually not that much more than a Santa daytrip. However, they don't start their charter flights until the first week of December, so this year that means the 7th.

The ski season (& Snowmobiles/Huskey trips etc.) usually opens mid/late October, but this season it was a little later because it was so mild. However, by the end of November there is usually plenty of snow, but the skiing can be a little limited as not that many pistes are opened.

As a guide, take a look at the Levi web site lots of info on accomodation, excursions and skiing. Other resorts are Yllas/Akaslompolo, Pallas, Olos and Saariselka.

For the week you specified, you'll probably have to make tour own way there and, as you've found out, Finnair flights can be quite expensive. If you fancy a real adventure, Ryanair fly from Stansted to Tampere in the south of Finland, from where you can get an overnght sleeper train to Kolari, then a coach meets the train and goes on to Yllas & Levi. We've not tried this yet, but hope to next winter.

A word of warning, if you do make it, you will catch the Lapland bug. We originally went 6 years ago because it 'looked a bit interesting' and have been back every year since (sometimes twice a year...)

Niki

Thank you all especialy Luke Warmwater for all your info!!! I think I have caught the bug now and I havent even been yet!!! Am sooooo excited!

After thinking about it we are going to hold off and go in Jan/Feb instead and book it as a last minute package.

Thanks guys
:beer: :T

poe.tuesday

becareful that you do not plan to go in the feb half term and also the Fins are on half term in feb too, this is over a 3 week period

check out www.laplandforum.com for more info and deinately go for a last min deal, we got one in the feb half term (luckily) and got a square deal with inghams (you don't know where you are staying or what the accommodation is) and we paid £1200 for 4 of us and ended up in a luxury 5 bedroomed log cabin, we are also going again in just over a week's time, again, a last min deal with crystal £140 each for flight and log cabin - they have a few deals left if you want to grab a bargain in the nest few weeks, the snow is still plentiful too

shed_head_2

poe.tuesday wrote: »

becareful that you do not plan to go in the feb half term and also the Fins are on half term in feb too, this is over a 3 week period

check out www.laplandforum.com for more info and deinately go for a last min deal, we got one in the feb half term (luckily) and got a square deal with inghams (you don't know where you are staying or what the accommodation is) and we paid £1200 for 4 of us and ended up in a luxury 5 bedroomed log cabin, we are also going again in just over a week's time, again, a last min deal with crystal £140 each for flight and log cabin - they have a few deals left if you want to grab a bargain in the nest few weeks, the snow is still plentiful too

Do you have the web address for crystal? I could do with some cheering up at the moment. House flooded last year and we are still waiting for them to start the rebuild work! :mad:

poe.tuesday

www.crystalski.co.uk

they have the yllas log cabins available for the 13th april the price for a family of 4 will be in the region of £700 as you have to pay the under occupancy costs - flights are from manchester

as regards to gear to wear - don't waste your money buying it as crystal will hire it all to you

I hope you go, it is really fab out there and let me know if you need any help

poe.tuesday

just checked again and they also have flights from Gatwick but this is to resorts further south - Salla and Ruka etc

you will just need to check to see their snow conditions as it is coming to the end of their ski season but from what I know, there has been pleanty of snow all about finland

hannah29_2

we went 2 years back and did a diy it was brilliant. we stayed in a hilton hotel, 2 adults and 2 kids, and did all the trips for just under 1000, 3 nights and 4 days. we left on the 19th dec and returned back in the uk on the 24th. it was an adventure in itself and would do it again. we flew from gatwick to stockholm, then caught the overnight ferry to helsinki. the ferry was amazing, swimming pools, casino's etc. we then had a day in helsinki which was an adventure before catching the santa claus express train up to rovaniemi. 3 days there to book and see santaland, huskies, reindeer and do some skiing before heading back the same way. it was a struggle at times with a 9 year old and a 14 month old but as a couple it would be so easy and very cheap and you get a days shopping in helsinki. the christmas market was really good. let me know if you are interested and would be happy to help
hannah