help to choose

Hi

We would like to visit Lapland for the first time this festive season and would appreciate some suggetions.Shall we go over the Christmas week or New Year?We would like a magical setting and also to go in search of Santa as we have a 7 year old son but I have seen alot of companies on the internet and they confuse me.The longer the days we spend the better,like 7 or 8 days but not alot of companies do these itineraries.I was looking at Pallas ,Levi ,Yllas and Saarileska,and preferably be staying in a log cabin.Hope someone can help.

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I have been to lapland for christmas and new year and I preferred christmas week - it was more for the children as new year was very busy, full of drunk people letting of fireworks in the streets etc - tiw as fun but just a bit too messy and busy for me where as christmas was magical and great for the kids

we spend both christmas and new year in yllas (on separate trips)

there are lots of companies in the UK that you can pick from to get you to lapland - some specialize in the santa breaks that give you all the excursions too included in the price - these can vary in length from 1 to 5 or so days, then there are the ski companies such as inghams who also do a short 3 or 4 day trip but they mainly do 7 day holiday - they have a good variety of resorts to choose from and a wide variety of accommodation choices

personally I would always recommend the week log stays with the ski companies and then book your excursions either with them (which do tend to be cheaper) or locally - they all offer a good variety of excursions too

if you want to go christmas week then you should start looking now, there are still lots of options etc but I think that they wiil start to get booked up soon so your choice maybe limited

as regards to what resort - it really is a personally matter, when we went for the first time we picked yllas and loved it and have been there 3 times in total, we also went to levi that did not have the same charm that yllas has but had more anxieties and I was still preferring yllas but then I went to saariselka and fell in love with lapland all over again - the village is beautiful and the cabin was idyllic - it was very rustic but magical and the position could not have been better

good luck and just to let you know, flights with inghams depart on sundays for a variety of UK airports and flights with neilsen go on sat and only from heathrow (I believe)

if you decide of saariselka then there is an additional 3 hour coach journey on top of you flight - but it%26#39;s worth it

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One (maybe even cheaper) option is to book everything independently. This way you can also fly to Ivalo Airport which is only 20 mins drive from Saariselkä. You can also purchase programme services independently. All ski resorts have a central booking agency through which you can get all the information and even book the accommodation and services you want:

Levi: http://www.levi.fi/en/home.html -%26gt; Book a vacation in Levi

Pallas: laplandhotels.com/EN/destinations/pallas.html

Ylläs: http://www.yllas.fi/?deptid=17046

Saariselkä: www.saariselka.fi/index.php?id=14%26la=en

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flights from the Uk to ivelo and kittila over the christmas/new year can be very expensive and it often works out cheaper to book a package deal

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Thanks for your help

Now I am between Yllas and Saariselka.Yllas I like as a lot of reviewers said that that reindeers roam freely round the cabins and also as from there I can take my son to Santa%26#39;s Village in Rovaniemi,while Saariselka being more North makes me think that it is easier to encounter the Northern Lights from there and besides,I checked on its website and alot of events take place there in Christmas like church services which would be nice on Christmas day.Also I would like us to bake gingerbread cookies,see the elves and Mrs Claus,is it possible on independent trips or it is not worthwhile?I liked a 7 day package form an agency which includes everything but it is in Kuhmo and I don%26#39;t think Kuhmo is above the Arctic Circle and another one in Iso-Syote.

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Christmas will be a cheaper option to New Year...we have done both but I have to say Christmas is NOT the same as at home and my kids missed that!

KIds being daughter and husband!

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I prefered having Christmas there to New Year , My kids loved the idea of santa dropping there presents off first and loved waking up christmas morning woth guarenteed snow.

New year was not a fun experience, people throwing fireworks, drunk people with fireworks, we didnt feel safe at all.

We are all different, and prefer different times the hard decision is yours lol.

Shell

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Saariselka was fab at new year.

The resort was peacefull and also very quiet compared to some of the other resorts with far less people.

Not so sure though i would choose levi or yllas over the new year period due to how busy they are which i personally do not like.Saying that though both of the other resort are great resorts for different reasons.

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From what I have heard it may be better to give the santa village a miss??

Whether you choose Yllas or Levi you have the choice of visiting an ice village at Lanio which I think is great!

Yes Reindeer are seen often in Yllas especially around the more remote cottages,but on several occasions deer have walked across the piste at Levi while I have been skiing and are often spotted on the fell.

I doubt there is a %26#39;better%26#39; chance to see the northern lights in Sarri but I think Yllas gets good viewings as there seems to be less light pollution especially down at the lake.

I have been to both Levi and Yllas both are beautiful but the choice must be yours! It really depends what your priorities are!

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Thanks to all for your help

Today I have done some more research and I think I will be choosing Yllas.I have seen some amazing pics of the Yllas log cabins in a magical forestry setting not far from the Akas Hotel.I don%26#39;t know about the food though,hope we could find some nice restaurants and good food.Also,do you know if in Yllas they do a christmas church service as in Luosto and Saariselka on christmas eve or day?Re visiting the elves and Santa,I have seen the Santa village with good reviews.Has anyone been to Joulukka as well?

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Just to through something else into the mix - we have been to the christmas service in Levi the last 2 years on the 24th as thats when the Finns celebrate christmas not the 25th like us, both times its been magical as then at 3pm i think it is everyone gathers at zero point for the decloration of christmas and sing songs - its AMAZING

Shell