Lapland & Santa
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Looking for a recommendation for a Lapland experience.
If you've got photos to show what it's like, that'd be great (obviously don't expect photos of your families to be photoshopped to death
)
Just so we don't build this picture up in our head and get dissapointed.
Thoughts and experiences, as we want to make this special for our kids.
Cheers
dirt.
Looking for a recommendation for a Lapland experience.
If you've got photos to show what it's like, that'd be great (obviously don't expect photos of your families to be photoshopped to death
) Just so we don't build this picture up in our head and get dissapointed.
Thoughts and experiences, as we want to make this special for our kids.
Cheers
dirt.
DangerousMike said:
jump on a plane to helsinki
get the train to rovaniemi (this way you get to see Finland - trees and snow)
get a car there
go and visit Father Christmas.
easy
You make it sound so simpleget the train to rovaniemi (this way you get to see Finland - trees and snow)
get a car there
go and visit Father Christmas.
easy
Is Father Christmas a single attraction, I assumed each tour operator would have their own?
I don't know much about how many Father Christmases there are in Rovaniemi, but that is the place most of the tours go I believe. It is quite easy to get there from Helsinki, where flights go from Heathrow... You also have the advantage that you could spend a few days in Helsinki which could be quite nice in the winter. You don't need more than a day or two to cover the city and there will be lots to do (you could probably walk on the sea, if it's been cold enough, and go ice skating etc. etc.).
Don't be convinced, like these poor people:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7812536....
...that you can have a Lapland experience without leaving the UK. You can have a depressing muddy experience near Bournemouth Airport in the UK, but you knew that already.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7812536....
...that you can have a Lapland experience without leaving the UK. You can have a depressing muddy experience near Bournemouth Airport in the UK, but you knew that already.
Edited by RDE on Sunday 25th January 21:18
We went with Esprit in 2008 and their site can be found at www.santaslapland.com. We did the Santas Magic and stayed in the Holiday Club, Saariselka. The hotel was fine, had an indoor swimming pool which was lovely. Its advertised as a 3 day 2 night trip. Problem was you dont get there until late on Day 1 (17:30) so unless your children can cope with late nights you won't do much that day.
The second day we went off to the activity centre to do Huskys, reindeer,, see Santa etc. The day is well done, Husky ride was fanstatic, even if as I was the guy on the back in chrage iof steering, braking etc I had to run behind up the hills! Seeing Santa was also very well done. It was a good day, and a nice dinner that night.
On Day 3 we were unlucky as we were the first coach to leave for the airport, so no time to do anything in the morning. Thoose on later coaches could toboggan etc.
With the benefit of hindsight I'd do a 3 night 4 day trip, and I'd say your youngest child should be at least 5. We were lucky as it was only -5, had been down to -25! As our daughter cannot cope with late nights we couldn't do floodllit tobogganning, but it was still a great experience.
Would love to spend longer there and explore more. Oh alcohol is expensive, bottle of house wine £35!
The second day we went off to the activity centre to do Huskys, reindeer,, see Santa etc. The day is well done, Husky ride was fanstatic, even if as I was the guy on the back in chrage iof steering, braking etc I had to run behind up the hills! Seeing Santa was also very well done. It was a good day, and a nice dinner that night.
On Day 3 we were unlucky as we were the first coach to leave for the airport, so no time to do anything in the morning. Thoose on later coaches could toboggan etc.
With the benefit of hindsight I'd do a 3 night 4 day trip, and I'd say your youngest child should be at least 5. We were lucky as it was only -5, had been down to -25! As our daughter cannot cope with late nights we couldn't do floodllit tobogganning, but it was still a great experience.
Would love to spend longer there and explore more. Oh alcohol is expensive, bottle of house wine £35!
We did this last year - went on the 23/12 and returned on Boxing Day. It was great to see the real Santa! Did huskeys, reindeer slays, taboggoning, skiing, snow-mobiling. You name it we did it (wife and four kids). We told them half an hour before we needed to leave - they were gobsmacked!
Neil135 said:
My mum and dad paid for us to all go with canterbury travel. Have to say it was fantastic we went for 4 days 3 nights, If you have kids that believe they will love it.
Ding, exactly as Neil, we did it last year ,er no, the year before.Was a fantastic experience.Well recommended. The only downside is that f**king song................if you've been there, you'll know what I'm talking about...............dirty boy said:
DangerousMike said:
jump on a plane to helsinki
get the train to rovaniemi (this way you get to see Finland - trees and snow)
get a car there
go and visit Father Christmas.
easy
You make it sound so simpleget the train to rovaniemi (this way you get to see Finland - trees and snow)
get a car there
go and visit Father Christmas.
easy
Is Father Christmas a single attraction, I assumed each tour operator would have their own?
Just like Srebbe and Neil we did the Canterbury Travel trip - just bl**dy do it - 7 YO granddaughter believed every word and STILL sings that song!
Mind you she now wants skiing holidays every Christmas,
The reindeer, huskies, skidoos, countryside, elves, all fantasy but beautiful and very well organised, only shortfalls for the adults was Christmas dinner, the buffet food was generally good but trying to do the roast turkey thing was a mistake, and the price of alcohol, take your own supply unless your budget is vast.
I think we were the last to see Santa this year and we spotted that we flew home on the same plane as he did together with a lot of the organisers. I think there is a shift system of three santas operating.
And finaly, a mention for the Mad Scientist for amusing the kids at tea time, thanks Super Sian.
Rob,
all together now
"We are off in search of Santa and his elves..."
(Should have left my Freudian slip Satan there!)
Mind you she now wants skiing holidays every Christmas,
The reindeer, huskies, skidoos, countryside, elves, all fantasy but beautiful and very well organised, only shortfalls for the adults was Christmas dinner, the buffet food was generally good but trying to do the roast turkey thing was a mistake, and the price of alcohol, take your own supply unless your budget is vast.
I think we were the last to see Santa this year and we spotted that we flew home on the same plane as he did together with a lot of the organisers. I think there is a shift system of three santas operating.
And finaly, a mention for the Mad Scientist for amusing the kids at tea time, thanks Super Sian.
Rob,
all together now
"We are off in search of Santa and his elves..."
(Should have left my Freudian slip Satan there!)
Edited by robbin'b on Thursday 29th January 12:46
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