Lapland in December- The search for Santa
Discussion
Would like to take my three children (9,6,4) to Lapland in December. I think it may be the last year that my 9 year old daughter really believes in Santa so want it to be a great trip for her as well a my two younger boys.
Have heard some worrying stories about families arriving and finding very badly organised events, trips to see Santa in a coach and then only a group visit etc etc..
Has anyone been before that can recommend a reliable and reputable company. Also there seems to be a choice of venues in Lapland to go to....
Any help to make a magical trip would be great.
Kev
Have heard some worrying stories about families arriving and finding very badly organised events, trips to see Santa in a coach and then only a group visit etc etc..
Has anyone been before that can recommend a reliable and reputable company. Also there seems to be a choice of venues in Lapland to go to....
Any help to make a magical trip would be great.
Kev
We went on a day trip a few years back with nieces and nephews. It wasn't really long enough as the area looked as if it had loads to offer. When my two are old enough I'm thinking along the lines of flights to Helsinki, and then a railway journey to the arctic. Sounds like a lot of fun. 'Santa Land' is found around Rovaniemi, if you Google it loads comes up about excursions (other than Santa) , Hotels etc
I spent 2 weeks in Dec '04 in Levi (fly to Kittila) & 2 weeks in '05&6 in Rovaniemi, going up to Levi for Xmas/Boxing day. This was for work, and although not on the actual day out part of the Santa trips I did get to see the areas/places they visit & spoke to lots of the day trippers.
IMHO Levi would be a much better choice than Rovaniemi, as it's a bit further North (hence more/better snow) & a nicer place - Rovaniemi itself is like a small '60's UK new town & SantaLand is quite tacky & very overcrowded.
Levi also has ski slopes, as has Yllas which isn't too far away.
http://www.levi.fi/en/home.html
My other recommendation is to make it a 3 day trip instead of just for the day. IIRC it's not much more expensive & a daytrip will be a very loooong day (flight leaves UK at 0700 & gets back at 2200) but only give you 6-7 hours in Lapland.
The area between Levi/Yllas/Kittila is also a lot of fun on a proper snowmobile (not the ones they put you on for a daytrip) if you can lose the kids for the afternoon...........Just beware that if it goes wrong it could go very wrong!
I wouldn't book any type of trip untill the last minute tho' - in '06 there was hardly any snow in Rovaniemi & very little in Levi. The locals told me that they think in a few years time there won't be any snow of xmas at all. Check the weather & snow reports before you decide to go.
Other than the main tour operators, Travelsun & Canterbury Travel were also running trips whilst I was there.
HTH
IMHO Levi would be a much better choice than Rovaniemi, as it's a bit further North (hence more/better snow) & a nicer place - Rovaniemi itself is like a small '60's UK new town & SantaLand is quite tacky & very overcrowded.
Levi also has ski slopes, as has Yllas which isn't too far away.
http://www.levi.fi/en/home.html
My other recommendation is to make it a 3 day trip instead of just for the day. IIRC it's not much more expensive & a daytrip will be a very loooong day (flight leaves UK at 0700 & gets back at 2200) but only give you 6-7 hours in Lapland.
The area between Levi/Yllas/Kittila is also a lot of fun on a proper snowmobile (not the ones they put you on for a daytrip) if you can lose the kids for the afternoon...........Just beware that if it goes wrong it could go very wrong!
I wouldn't book any type of trip untill the last minute tho' - in '06 there was hardly any snow in Rovaniemi & very little in Levi. The locals told me that they think in a few years time there won't be any snow of xmas at all. Check the weather & snow reports before you decide to go.
Other than the main tour operators, Travelsun & Canterbury Travel were also running trips whilst I was there.
HTH
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