father christmas in Hi We have been to yllas for the past 4

Hi We have been to yllas for the past 4 years but fancied a change have looked at Saariselkä which looked really nice we are going 24th jan 2010 but inghams have said their Father Christmas trips stop just after new year.

Does anyone know if there is anyone else who does a FC trip. If not it looks like Yllas again, cant go to Lapland and not see him our son would be devistated!

Thanks

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Hi

You can contact e.g. Lapland Delight:

http://www.laplanddelight.fi/

greetings:

pera

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Thanks

have sent them an email today so fingers crossed!

Anyone going with Magic Of Lapland?

Hi there,

We are flying to Kittila on 16th Dec from Gatwick with Thomsonfly, it%26#39;s through Magic Of Lapland. Has anyone else booked through this company?

Best Regards

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Hiyah!

I see you went to Lapland last year with Magic of Lapland. we are looking at booking a trip with them this December to see Santa.

Just wondered what you thought of magic of Lapland / the trip etc? Also, where did you stay?

Hope to hear soon.

Thanks

Legal paperwork for Lapland Marriages

I%26#39;m getting married in the Snow Village Ice Chapel in Jan and any info you guys and dolls can give me about the paperwork would be appreciated.

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Hi,

I%26#39;m hopeless at the copy n paste stuff but just googled lapland weddings and a whole bunch of stuff came up including paperwork!!xx

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hi , we got married in levi last dec and we too we worried about paperwork, you need to go to th foreign and commonwealth office to get your birth certificates apositle stamped- shows that paperwork is legal and correct, then u fill in marriage in lapland forms - one each i think and one other form! cant remember what its called now!! ill try and find out the info you need i know i was getting stressed about this last year, some companies want your passport apostile stamped as well but we didnt need that! we had to go to registery office in uk to announce wedding first as you would in uk to make sure no body objects this takes 21 days from when you see them - to gain certificate of impediment-think its what it is called !

day trips to lapland

We are considering a day trip to Lapland from Newcastle (have a young baby who we think would be too cold on the trip, and can only leave her for a day). Our other kids are 4 and 6. Will it be very hectic on the day? Has anyone done a day trip and could give us advice- particularly which company to choose- we have looked at Canterbury. Thanks!

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hi just a word of warning we booked with canterbury travel january this year to go the 5th dec with our 2 grandaughters we had one free child place due to booking so early so we paid our £400 dep then last wk we had a letter to cancel our trip only 2 alternatives were offerd bristol or gatwick (we bkd cardiff) and a wk later on sunday not a saturday both these ariports are to far for such a long day with a 4yr old . today we rang to see why we could not go on the 21st or 22nd of dec trips witch go out of cardiff ? they will not honour the free child place !!!!!!! we can book if we pay full price for four so great they have had our money for 10months we get nothing what a con free child places are

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Thanks for your warnings- not great advertising for their company....

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Hello there

I did a day trip to lapland (Rovaniemi) with my children in 2003. We booked with canterbury Travel and they were a great company BUT very expensive. The day trip is a long, long day but still magical.

We had to catch the 7am flight from gatwick to Rovaniemi arriving at lunchtime. We were taken to the place where you are given your snow suits ect. Then we went onwards on the coach to the Arctic Circle crossing area in which we did a 45 minute trip by Skidoo/ slege drven by a skidoo if you don;t drive. That was simply magical seeing all the snow. It was christmas card perfect.

We were taken to Snatas activity centre in which it is hidden in a forest lit by candles and fairy lights. You see reindeers, have rides on the baby skidoos, see husky doga and get to slege down hill.

Yiu then get to see Santa in his log cabin for your personal few minutes of which they video for you. Yiour child has a gift.

Then you go on to have a meal in the restauant (log cabin) which consisted of soup, rolls, a meat stew and then fruit filled pancakes. There was hot berry juice to sip too. Lovely.

Then after that you are taken to santa village in which you can post your cards which will have the Arctic circle stamp on it. You can post your letters to santa and buy some nice quailty souleneers from the lovely shops.

Then all too soon at about 5 you have to go back to the airport for your flight home. You get back to Uk at about 9pm

At that time I paid about 375 for my (then) 7 year old and 475 for adults.

It was a magical day.

BUT

have you considered looking at First choice and for a hundred pounds or so more each you can do a three night stay. The baby would go free and would be fine if wrapped up warm.

I have done the 3 nights break with First choice in 2007 and it was fantastic value for money.

I am doing the 4 night night break with first choice to Yllas this year.

A good hotel for you would be Snowy Wilderness lodge in Pallas as it is all inclusive.

Are Canterbury Travel Worth the Money?

Hi, we%26#39;re looking to take my two boys aged 6 %26amp; 8 for a short break to see Santa in December (around 4 days) preferably after school has finished although we could take them out if necessary. We want to have good experiences with Husky rides, snowmobiles, reindeer etc but most important is a magical holiday %26amp; the best possible Santa experience. Canterbury%26#39;s brochure sounds seductive but prices are almost beyond our reach %26amp; certainly out of our comfort zone! I%26#39;ve read many posts on here recommending diy trips or using ski specialists such as Inghams %26amp; booking trips seperately but would it be as magical? I believe from what I%26#39;ve read that we will become hooked %26amp; want to go back in the future but this year, whilst they still believe, I want the best possible experience for them %26amp; us. Will Canterbury Travel give us this? should we blow our budget or are we throwing money away unnecessarily? Revies from people who have been with them seem scant - anybody out there got any details?? I so want to get it right - help please!!!

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We are looking to go for the first time in December.First choice online seems to be good value.I started another thread asking for some advice on going with them and so far it all seems good.

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Have not been with Canterbury although I havent really heard anything poor about them...

but their prices tend to be gob smacking!

For us- and of course it%26#39;s personal- I would blow my budget on experiences when I get there...and excurions are available in all resorts-via english travel reps or Local reps.

For example a tour on the snowmobiles with a company worked out 3x dearer than arranging it ourselves..and we went out on our own and didn%26#39;t have to follow a line of about 10 others! what fun we had!!

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We have friends that have been with them and said how great they were but they are very expensive.

Try looking on www.santatrips.com for some of there shorter lapland trips.

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would you confider a week stay - it can be as magical as you want it to be and it%26#39;s cheaper too - at least that way you will have the quality time doing the activities and time take in this wonderful place

if you go to levi you can have santa visit your cabin and all that - you will be able to book a variety of trips thought inghams etc

inghams also have some special offers on at the mo via lastminute - including christmas week in a catered chalet for under £500 each - great deal and half the book price too

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Haven%26#39;t travelled with Canterbury but we went on a 4 day once in a lifetime %26#39;Santa%26#39; trip with Esprit and like most others on here became hooked on Lapland and have returned each year since for a week with Inghams. The Inghams trip is actually cheaper for a whole week and their excusrsions of a good quality and competitively priced BUT you definitely do not get the atmosphere there is on a Santa trip and all the little extras like carol singing on the plane, Sami and reindeer at the aircraft steps to greet you, elves at the airport and along the way, gala dinner etc etc, it was truly magical and for that reason i would not do a Santa trip again as I would not want to compare it to that first time and spoil the magic. Having said that Lapland is a magical place anyway and always excited to be going, you can book excursions, Santa visits etc independently in resort and create your own magic as many others have done, down to your own preference really.

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Thanks for all of the replies, costed up a week with Inghams %26amp; now tempted to go down that route although all options still open at this stage so any more replies re experiences of organised trips still very welcome.

Next question - (do I need to start a separate thread for this?) where is best to go? %26amp; we are all skiiers although children need ski school some of the time. If we go for a week, do we book lift passes, ski hire etc for a whole week before we go or if we are doing huskies, snowmobiling, reindeer %26amp; santa trips will be be too busy?

Also, if we have ski-wear, will we need to hire thermal suits for the trips?

Thanks

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have a look at this thread as it gives an idea of the costs of trips with inghams

tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189915-i2262-k3…

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as the ski school prices with inghams are good it%26#39;s probably financially a good idea to get the week ski school and then just miss the days you don%26#39;t want to go

when we first went we did a week ski school and all the activies in the afternoons - if you book with inghams and pre-book the ski school and activies too then make sure you tell them not to double book your activies with the lessons as this has happened in the past to some guests

if you already have ski gear you will not need to hire outer suits etc, just make sure you have enough layers

you can start another thread if you want to but there is probably all the info you need here and on lapland-forum.com

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Hi snowhope,

My husband and I took our boys away with Canterbury last year and it was truly WONDERFUL. It cost an arm and a leg but was worth every penny. Every detail is dealt with wonderfully!

Have a look at some recent posts of mine and you will see some good information.

Only problem is how short your stay is on this sort of trip - an action packed agenda and its over just too quickly (although with this sort of holiday-of-a-lifetime experience...I doubt you would ever want it to end, no matter how long or short).

From what I have read on the forums....no matter where you go or who with...you will have a wonderful time so if your preference is now for a longer stay and better value for money (wouldn%26#39;t blame you!!!!) -then go for Ingams as they seem highly recommended and you will be able to organise magical activites for your children in any case :o)

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hi we booked with canterbury travel in january this year to go the 5th dec with our 2 little grandaughters booked early to have a free child place ,this week we had a letter to say it was cancelled out of cardiff dec 5th we are gutted to say the least .they could only offer us one alternative a week later and on a sunday out of bristol that and gatwick were the only ones they would gaurantee .still crying

Inghams January 2011

Hi, not going this year but am interested in January 11, (seems so far but is not!) Does anybody know when Inghams will be bringing out their prices. How many of you are snow watching now!

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Hi Neavsie

Inghams usually have there prices online around the first or second week in December.

Last year they were out on the 10th but sometimes they are out a little earlier.

Definately snow watching here:-)

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Hi Neavsie

We are going back to Levi in Feb. 2010 and booked as soon as the Inghams Early Bird brochure came out. I think it was Nov. last year. We missed a year as we last went in Feb. 2008. I was green with envy when everyone was posting about their trips last winter, but it has flown by, it will be 2011 before you know it!

Have been watching the web-cams, Levi had a snow fall last week.

Sharon

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Hi neavsie, nice to see you back on this forum and to see that the Lapland magic is luring you back again. As the others have said Inghams earlybird goes on line in December

Santas Secret Hide away

Has any one been on this excursion? We have paid for it now....so hopefully will be positive feedback!

Apparently its a 15 minute trip from Levi and you get to see Santa at home. Would love to hear what it is like. Thanks

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Who is the trip with?There are 2 that are around the Levi area,One is on snowmobiles to visit santa and one is by coach.

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If its the trip that Inghams run, then it%26#39;s a very good trip, we have been on it a couple of times.

When you get there you walk down a longish path lit by candles, then into a large open cabin where there is things for the children to do and drinks and bisuits.

Outside there are a reindeers to to feed and stroke, a few games to play also, there is also a place to cook sausages.

And then obviously you get to meet Santa in a smaller cabin.

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Thank you. All i know about the trip is that it costs just over £100 for the 4 of us and that it is the out of christmas season Santas Hide away trip. I have no idea how you get there etc!

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Molsky

Im sure it will be fab which ever trip it is.

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Have you booked it with Inghams?

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Yes we did book through Inghams. I found a very negative response to a Santa trip but it was dated for a few years ago.....rather plastic and a complete rip off!!! not found any others like that though!

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That may of been a trip to see santa in rova,Im sure that in Levi it will be lovely.

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Thank you...i hope so!

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It will be the same trip that we went on, alot more personal than the Rovaniemi trip.

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decided to start this thread up again!

has anyone booked or been on the santas secret home trip with Inghams? I have been reading up on the aurora trip but don%26#39;t fancy that one now. I think someone said that inghams use the same santa on their trip as the christmas party so that will be good for consistency.

Any views please?

Global student organization AIESEC

Global Student organization AIESEC invites you to join Informational Evening and Assessment Center this Monday, 12th of October at 6:30pm at Cafe Niord, Casa Academica in Helsinki.

You can also find more information here:

www.facebook.com/home.php…

power points in Helsinki?

are they standard european? or maybe brittish type sockets? flying out tommorow and was hoping for some advice in advance.

plus how far is the olimpic stadia away from the centre of helsinki.

Thanks in advance

Andy

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Yes, standard European. The Olympic Stadium is about 1 km from the centre.

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Euro 2-pin type.

The Olympic stadium is within a stiff walk of the city centre in a straight line along Mannerheimintie - dead easy. A more interesting walk is along the train tracks (left-hand side) through a park virtually the whole way - you%26#39;ll see the stadium as you get close, distance practically the same. Alternatively it%26#39;s a 5-minute tram ride on Mannerheimintie.

Restaurants for Christmas

Hei, my parents are coming to Turku around Christmas so we%26#39;d like to go out and have some good food. We%26#39;d prefer a restaurant which offers various meals, not just cuisine from one country.

Perhaps offering not just meat but also fish and pasta.

Does anyone have a special tip? 50€ per person would be quite much, perhaps a little less than that.

Any ideas or experiences?

yllas

anybody going on the on the 16 december to yllas from manchester ?i an so excited have not told the kids yet

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hi iam goind on 27th dec for 1 week just me and my wife carn%26#39;t wait kev.

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Hi

I am flying from manchester on the 16th but will be staying in Pallas, just planning my trips now can%26#39;t wait.

flights from Gatwick to Enontekio

Hi there. We are booked on Xmas Legends with Transun flying from LGW to Enontekio on 23rd Dec for 3 nights and staying at Davvi Arctic lodge.

Can anyone pls tell me the approx flying time and which airline operated the route last Xmas as we have still not been told a carrier yet.

Thanks

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The flight time is approx. 3hrs 30mins.

As for the carrier they charter planes from other companies so you may not know who you are flying with until you arrive at the airport.

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hello, we went last yr from manchester, so your flight will be about 3.30 mins.

can%26#39;t remember the name of airline but they were german and were ok, didn%26#39;t quite get our christmas carols though!!

have u looked at the reviews? any questions feel free to ask

trips in yllas

hi going to yllas on dec 27th should i wait and book the trips when i%26#39;am their, or book before i go anyone help thanks kev.

Yllas Trips

Hi staying at the yllas saaga hotel on dec 27th for a week, is it best to wait till i get their to book some trips ? or book them before i go,anybody help with some info thanks kev.

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if you are going with inghams then they are the cheapest to book with and they are good too - you can book in advance or when you get there

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hi thanks for the reply going with first choice ,can i still book the trips with inghams ?

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ask the reps when you get there - we went with crystal one year and booked our trips with inghams

they will only take cash payments so make sure you have the money and at the end of the day, they are on commission so I am sure the reps will be happy to sell you their trips, just be discrete about it and maybe don%26#39;t actually tell them that you are not with them, they won%26#39;t know

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If you wait till you get there you can book them localy at a cheaper price.

Finland for forest lovers

Hello,

I am planning on visiting Finland in January. I love the fact that Finland is the most forested country in Europe (according to what I%26#39;ve read), and was wondering if anybody could suggest a good place to stay for those who love to be around forestry. Or is every place equally great to stay, since most of the country is forested?

Responses are greatly appreciated :)

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Well, there isn%26#39;t a whole lot of forest in the city centres of Helsinki or the other main cities, but if you like trees, you%26#39;re in the right country. You could easily take a short bus ride to Nuuksio or Kuusijärvi outside Helsinki and be as good as out in the wilds. Kuusijärvi also offers sauna and ice swimming in January.

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It depends - do you want to %26quot;get away from it all%26quot; or stay in a town, with a possibility to do a day trip into a forest?

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JohnTheFinn: Thank you for the suggestions, I will look them up online.

Nettle: I suppose I want to %26quot;get away from it all,%26quot; though either option would be fine with me.

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Finland%26#39;s forests are generally snow-clad in January. It%26#39;s not really the best time of year to be out in the woods, most people find.

We could be more helpful if you tell us more about what you%26#39;re looking for.

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I understand. I would have preferred to visit in the spring or summer when visiting forests is easier, but it%26#39;s much more expensive and I don%26#39;t know if I%26#39;ll have any time off in the spring/summer to go there.

I%26#39;d just like to be somewhere where I can walk through a forest if the mood strikes and enjoy the nature, if that is possible. I haven%26#39;t seen many forests since I moved from my former country (Ukraine), and it%26#39;s really not worth going back there just for the forests. ;) The other conditions of the trip (location, accommodation, etc.) can be adjusted wherever necessary.

By the way, thank you for your suggestions and for taking time out to help me :)

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I see. Well, for a simple stroll in the woods, Kuusijärvi is most accessible. There%26#39;s a log cabin café where you can have a beer, coffee or simple meal before or after a walk around the lake, and several saunas with a possibility for ice swimming. Kuusijärvi is popular in summer with our Slav immigrants, who probably find it reminds them of lakeside beaches at home.

Take bus 730 from Rautatientori, the larger of two squares next to the train station. It takes about 20 minutes.

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You might consider Tampere as well - there are two forested recreational areas within the city - Pyynikki and Kauppi.

If you%26#39;d stay eg. at Hotel Rosendahl, Pyynikki would be at your doorstep (some wintery photos here: http://palvelut.tampere.fi/kuvapankki/kategoria.php?kategoria_id=7). Hotel Kauppi would then be close to - you guessed it - Kauppi. Of the two, Pyynikki would be the more scenic as it is also a national park. Kauppi is more geared towards sports activities.

If you want more of a wilderness experience, there%26#39;s Seitseminen National Park within striking distance:

http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=5327

www.luontoon.fi/page.asp…

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One option in Helsinki is Central Park, www.hel2.fi/keskuspuisto/eng/1centralpark/ there you have trails to use.

Out in the wilderness in Jan you need either skis or snow shoes.

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Thank you very much, all of you. This was really helpful. :) Sorry for the delay in response.

polarbearfin: Thank you for your suggestion. Would combat boots be acceptable to use as snow shoes?

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That depends on how deep the snow is and how strong a crust has formed on it. You should be OK in boots in any area that gets a reasonable number of walkers unless there%26#39;s been recent heavy snow. Please DO NOT walk on ski tracks as this is considered very impolite (I suppose it%26#39;s the same in Ukraine).

best safari company and other questions

we would like to book a personal 4 day safari for 2 adults this winter including outdoor wear hire.any recommendations?

also,we want to know if it is worthwhile hiring a car.are the roads safe to drive on in winter and if so,which car hire company can be recommended?is it better/cheaper to use taxis?

does anyone know if the sky hotel has its own website?

thanks

shuli

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Sky Hotel Ounasvaara is part of Lapland Hotels chain, laplandhotels.com/EN/hotels/lapland-hotel-sk… .

It depends on your interests whether it is worthwhile renting a car. Sky Hotel is about 4 km from the city center. Roads are safe to drive and all cars have winter tyres. Of course there is snow and ice on the roads, but as long as you pay attention you will be fine. I recommend that you rent a four wheel drive. Check Europcar and Budget, both have rental at the Rovaniemi airport. http://www.europcar.fi/in_English.iw3 and http://www.budget.fi/index.php?sl=en .

There are several safari companies, but start with these: Safartica, www.safartica.com/pages/intro.php?lang=EN and Lapland Safaris http://www.lapinsafarit.fi/?deptid=20046

More useful information on Lapland at http://www.laplandfinland.com/In_English.iw3 .

And finally a restaurant tip. Try Nili, http://www.nili.fi/index_eng.html, which serves delicious Lappish food. It is located in the city center. Also Sky Hotel%26#39;s kichen is very tasty.

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thanks

do you think it will be safer and cheaper to take taxis?

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Taxi can be cheaper if you are not going to explore the surroundings. Taxi costs about 12-15 € from your hotel to the city center. Fares vary slightly according the weekday (weekend) and the time of the day. If you want to visit Arctic Circle there is a bus conneciton from the city center, but pricewise it is almost the same to take a taxi, which costs around 20 € one way.

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Driving in ice and snow takes some getting used to. Also, snow tyres affect road handling even when the roadway is clear. Unless you%26#39;ve had more experience of driving in icy conditions than most Israelis, I would be careful of hiring a car.

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thanks so much for your help

shuli

Snow at Santa's House on the Arctic Circle!

Have a look - the snow has started to arrive here too! :o)

http://www.santaclaus.fi/?deptid=11779

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Tomorrow we will get the first snow storm this winter season in Lapland. They predict 10-25 cm of snow in Lapland on Wednesday. Well, some rain in southern parts too. Very windy too.

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Hello!

Had a look this morning and it looks like its setting in! :o)

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Oh,everywhere is looking lovely and white up there!!!!xx

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Lot of snow and more coming! it is forecasted to get colder towards the weekend, even -10 in the night time.

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Hi,

My husband and I will be arriving in Rovaniemi with our 6 year old son on 17 December staying at the City hotel. There seem to be so many trips available reindeer, husky, sledging etc. Anyone got any great itineires they would like to share as we only have 3 full days. Thanks Ann Newcastle

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does anyonee know a good webcam i can look at?

hopefully going start of dec :)

x

Salla or Ruka?

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to book a Lapland holiday for this January :D

I was wondering if anyone could offer some adive/opinions etc. Inghams currently have some good deals on Ruka and Salla. Which resrort/area would you recommened?

Thanks x

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Please tell us your preferences. What kind if things you are looking for?

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if you are going self catering then there is only a mini mart in salla, the main supermarket is some distance away, and more importantly, some cost away

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Salla is far smaller resort than Ruka!

There are practically only two hotels and cabins in Salla and all in all 4 restaurants. As said, all other services (like supermarkets) are in Salla village centre which is 10 km away from the ski resort. There%26#39;s also a very limited amount of night life in Salla. That said it might be a good location for a relaxing holiday in the middle of %26quot;wilderness%26quot;.

See further info at http://loma.salla.fi/en/

Ruka on the other hand is pretty similar kind of a resort as Levi is. The centre of Ruka is a village like place with all services at hand. However, there are plenty of accommodation (cabins) outside the actualy Ruka centre, so you%26#39;d better check the location of your accommodation. There is also a ski bus service in Ruka. There are e.g. two supermarkets in Ruka centre and many other services, too (e.g. many restaurants and night clubs and bars, too). More services are available in the centre of Kuusamo town which is ca 29 km south of Ruka (ski bus service connects also to the Kuusamo centre where one can find e.g. a tropical spa Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki).

See further info on Ruka at http://www.ruka.fi/winter_eng/

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hiya, we%26#39;ve been to Ruka twice, 2008 %26amp; 2009 and we love the place. We have stayed in Ruka Suites and our favourite, Maston Aitio Cabins. All the activities that you may want, ie Husky Dogs, Reindeers rides, snow mobiles etc etc are all available from Ruka and they have some good skiing too. The shops are very close by and there are a few nice restaurants too.

Feel free to ask any questions........

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%26quot;if you are going self catering then there is only a mini mart in salla, the main supermarket is some distance away, and more importantly, some cost away%26quot;

There are actually 3 supermarkets in Salla village, some offering better value than others.

I know this is probably neither here nor there, as you still have to find a way to get there, but just wanted to clarify :)

As the other posters say, main difference is that Salla is very small and quiet - good for those who want a peaceful holiday away from the crowds, Ruka is good for those who like it busier, with more amenities and nightlife.

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the place where you will be staying is not in salla village -

salla village has the supermarkets,

the place where inghams go does not have a supermarket, only a mini mart -

there is a thread on here saying about this very issue and the cost involved to get to salla village and that it was an added expense that proved costly

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here you go

tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189923-i10930-k…

Cheap Helsinki lunch options

My husband and I will be visiting Helsinki for four days in mid-October. We got a great rate at the Hotel Glo, so we%26#39;ll be staying there.

We%26#39;re on a fairly tight budget, being that we%26#39;re grad students, and given the prices of food in Scandinavia, we%26#39;re hoping to eat one REALLY cheap lunch each day so we can have a nicer (though not expensive) traditional Finnish dinner.

Or vice-versa.

Anyway, I%26#39;m wondering if anyone could recommend specific, very cheap restaurants for lunch? I%26#39;m not looking for fabulous food, just something that tastes OK and won%26#39;t give me heartburn (We did the same thing in Copenhagen earlier this summer and ended up eating at a falafel joint and Chinese takeaway each lunchtime, and that was fine).

I%26#39;m a vegetarian, though I do eat fish, by the way. And we love Indian/Asian food.

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Hello Anandita! Half a million finns eats their lunch at Fazer Amica restaurants, at least you could try one, for example Restaurant Ravintola Agora

Mannerheimintie 103 b Helsinki and more of them look at fazergroup.com/templates/…

Or you could try to select from other options from

http://en.02.fi/restaurant-guide/

brgds Mod

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Students in Helsinki eat for a decent price at Unicafe lunch restaurants. There are plenty of them in the city centre. You can look for a daily menus beforehand in their website:

www.unicafe.fi/index.php…

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Unicafe is fine and Porthania is practically next door. I don%26#39;t know if foreign students get the extra discount, but the list price is quite attractive too. Be prepared for some queues.

Some kebab/pizza places have bargain prices as well, type pizza 5€. Indian/Asian places tend to be a bit pricier. The more central the location, the higher the price, as a rule of thumb.

The lower prices are for lunch, dinner will be more expensive.

BTW The hotel breakfast is usually buffet style (English/American) and with that you might be able to skip lunch. (Never had a breakfast in Glo though.)

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I have heard good things about Cafe Caisa:

http://www.mesopotamia.fi/ (unfortunately in Finnish only)

Click on Yhteystiedot and you will see the location on map.

They have buffet lunch Mon-Sat, 10:30-17:30, including starter, soup, main course, bread, water, tea/coffee. Price 8.20 Euros.

It is a Kurdish restaurant so the flavours will be Mid-Eastern.

|||

Cheap lunches are no problem at all in Helsinki, as restaurant compete for the office-worker trade. One of your best bets for vegetarian fare is the Namaskaar chain of Indian restaurants. There is one on Aleksanterinkatu, close to your hotel.

Since you eat fish, you may enjoy an old Finnish favourite, Baltic herring with mashed potatoes.

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I would suggest for you Restaurant Perho, which is a nice place to have lunch in Helsinki. The food is excellent and on weekdays the lunch costs just 9,20 euro. There%26#39;s usually a buffet with a small salad table, a soup and two kinds of main courses - coffee also included.

The place is the teaching restaurant of the culinary school of Finland, so the service is excellent. A small restaurant with 6-8 waiters ready to help you all the time. Have been there a few times and enjoyed especially the service from the young students.

On week-ends they offer a slightly larger lunch with more variety, on Saturday the lunch is 16 e and on Sundays 22 e.

It%26#39;s located not far from the Church in the Rock - at

Mechelininkatu 7.

http://perho.fi/ravintola/english/index.htm

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I wouldn%26#39;t describe Perho as near the Rock Church, and there are no other tourist sights nearby either. I%26#39;ve had varying experiences with the quality of the food and service there. In my opinion, our friend Anandita will be better off staying in the city centre, where there are many hundreds of restaurants to choose from.

|||

This comes maybe too late but when visiting the Rock Church, there is in the last crossing Arkadiankatu / Fredrikinkatu a nice lunch place CAFE RED.

They have 2 daily soap choises 6 eur with plain bread (reissumies) and a bit more if you want a cheese chiapatta with the meal. One hot meal alternative incl small salad, bread, coffee about 8,20 euros.

Smaller dishes such as lasagne, pies, salads etc are of course always available.

Recommended!

When does the snow generally start falling?

Hi all

I am just curious as to when the snow usually starts to fall please and which web cam should I look at for yllas please?

|||

Hi Fudge - the snow has already started falling! Have a look at the website below. Make sure you click on Lapland on the map and then check out the various webcams to track the weather - including Yllas.

tiehallinto.fi/alk/…kelikamerat-frame.html

Enjoy! :o)

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You can find a selection of Ylläs webcams:

http://www.yllas.fi/?deptid=16694

|||

It%26#39;s already snowing in Helsinki, let alone Lapland.

|||

WOW

Thanks

Another ? about day trips to Lapland - 2009

I have looked at prevous posts from 2009 and noticed Canterbury and first Choice mentioned, but Canterbury cancelled some bookings earlier this year and I have seen some disappointed reviews about FC before.

Would anyone recommend any other companies? Cost isn%26#39;t as important to me as having an unforgettable day for my 4 year old. We really can%26#39;t go for more than one day and I would like something well organised and professionally done for my child.

Any other companies that get the thunbs up?

|||

Hi i am hoping to go end of the year too

Canterbury is supposed to be amazing, there is a day trip where they search for santa in reindeer sleighs and find his cabin in the forest with the reindeers outside, they loved it but there + did loads of activities

Other than first choice try transun, cosmos or thomas cook

have fun x

Santa Claus for Kids

Hello -- I woudl like to take my 2 grandchildren ) age 10 and 9 to Lapland to meeet Santa --- amy information/help greatly appreciated

|||

Leeay you have left this question too open...where would you like to go,for how long,hotel or cabin,what are your priorities...

Sorry but this will improve your chances of replies... x

|||

There are several destinations in Lapland. Do you prefer a smaller resort in the middle of nowhere or a bigger with more choice on restaurants etc.? Are you interested in other things than meeting the Santa? Perhaps husky/reindeer safaris or skiing?

Maybe Lapland travel portal helps you to get started:

Lapland tourist regions: laplandfinland.com/In_English/Planning_a_tri… . See for example Levi, Yllas, Saariselka, Pyha-Luosto and Rovaniemi.

Christmas in Lapland:

laplandfinland.com/In_English/Planning_a_tri…

|||

Canterbury travel seem really expensive,

have a look at first choice or inghams for some good deals

x

|||

Thank you for al the suggestions --- what I am wondering is a 1 night or 2 nights -- (a one day I think is crazy with a 4 hour flight from Dublin each way!!)

Any suggestions for hotels? Area to visit or do all tours go to Rovaniemi?? We would mainly be there for SAnta and some activites in the snow with the kids.

Is a package tour the best way?? Can it be organised by ourselves??

Thanks again

|||

dont bother with canterbury we booked in jan this year they have just cancelled our trip wanted us to go out of bristol instead of cardiff there are flights out of cardiff at a later date but they will not honour the free child place we had we can have the seats if we pay full price even tho they have had £425 pounds of our money in their bank account for all these months very very dissapointed and they just dont care .helena

|||

I recommend 2 nights, if you do not have more time to spend. There is a lot to do and I am sure that if you stay only for 1 night you wish you had stayed longer. Hotels in Rovaniemi: visitrovaniemi.fi/VisitRovaniemi/In_English.… , see for example Santa Claus, City Hotel, Hotel Pohjanhovi.

|||

with first choice you can get a 3 or 4 night deal cheaper than a 1 night deal with canterbury - theyre so expensive

If you go with first choice you get various trips free, taster reindeer and husky rides and trips to santa park + village (if you stay in rovaniemi)

taster sessions arent long but you can buy the trips (inghams trips seem the best value) or book when your there as youl get better deals

also santa comes to visit the hotel/wherever you are staying on the last night, if your looking for a santa based holiday inghams do a search for santa trip where you go out into the forest to santas log cabin, meet the reindeer etc.

Where you go in lapland is up to you, rovaniemi is the capital and has lots of restraunts etc whereas the other areas are less commercialised

hope this helps

x

Packing Meat products in suitcase?

Hi,

Anybody know if packing meat products in the suitcase would be ok, going to lapland.

I.E: Sausages, and bacon, etc.

Are there any restrictions on packing such items in the suitcase?

Thanks,

|||

That is fine lots of people on here take things like that in their suitcases i usually put mine in a coolbag as well before packing into my case

|||

try to get vacuum packet meat you butcher could do this...

|||

According to the Finnish customs website, a traveller arriving from an EU country may bring with them for their own use meat and meat products, fish and other fishery products, milk and dairy produce, and egg products without limits.

The only problem may be at the UK end - I was once there during a foot-and-mouth scare and ALL food products were banned on the way out of Britain. I lost six packets of crumpets that day. They didn%26#39;t find the Marmite, fortunately.

|||

John

your crumpets and marmite comment has made me laugh alot!

Thanks

Catherine

|||

HI John...

I%26#39;m sorry for your loss .......6 lots of crumpets and you still seem bitter!!

Uk at the moment is only worried about liquid and gels!!

it just seems to depend on the scare at the time!

|||

I%26#39;m visiting the UK this weekend - please tell me there%26#39;s no foot-and-mouth panic at the moment! I%26#39;m out of Marmite again.

|||

To be fair, the airport bureaucrats did offer to let me eat my crumpets, but since they could offer me neither butter nor the use of a toaster, I declined. 36 dry crumpets are well beyond my capacity.

|||

No foot and mouth! Plenty of people have a cold...most are calling it swine flu.. !!

as said before liquids and gels are a concern!

Hope you have a great time over here in the UK ... we will be back in Lapland for New Year!

Helsinki in January 2010

I%26#39;ve booked cheap flights from UK to Helsinki in January for a short break with my wife. Please can somebody tell me whether the Crowne Plaza is a good place to stay - given it has a pool and Spa etc then I thought this would be a good choice?

If any one has any experience of this hotel I would be interested to hear your views.

Also, we%26#39;d like to go to Tallinn for a day. Is this a good idea in the middle of winter?

|||

There%26#39;s no reason you shouldn%26#39;t go to Tallinn for the day. Most of the ferries run throughout the ice season (with the exception of Linda Line), and the Old Town has plenty of pleasant cafés and bars to warm up in. Hours of daylight are very short, however, so be sure to make an early start.

|||

I cannot comment on the Crowne Plaza, as I have not stayed there.

But, I can definitely advise you on Tallinn. This past New Year (January 2009), I did a similar trip that you did--Helsinki, with a day trip to Tallinn.

There are multiple cruise lines that carry passengers between Helsinki and Tallinn. During the summer months, fast hydrofoil boats make the trip in 1-1.5 hours. But during the winter, only the larger cruise boats operate, making the trip in 2.5 hours. You can buy tickets at the ferry terminal, or at any of the ferry offices (Viking Line and Silja Line, for example, have offices very near the Helsinki central train station). Viking Line cost 25 Euro/person for a round trip.

The only thing I didn%26#39;t enjoy about my trip to Tallinn was that I did not have enough time there! :-) Because of the 5-hour round trip, you only have about 4 hours to spend in Tallinn if you want to do only a one-day trip. With the travel time between the boat dock and Old Town Tallinn, your time is reduced to 3 hours or less. If I could re-do my trip, I would take at least an overnight trip to Tallinn, as the Old Town is so unique and interesting!

|||

Crown Plaza is anyhow one of you premier hotels in Helsinki, can recommend that even I have not stayed there overnight.

The location is beautiful opposite park and lake Töölönlahti, a 10 min walk to city center or just a couple of tram stops. Nice, less touristic restaurants, are located %26#39;around the corner%26#39; at Töölö Market Square area, such as Kuu and Mamma Rosa.

See hotel fdetails: www.crowneplaza-helsinki.fi/?switch=ENG

A daytrip to Tallin is just a great idea to spend a day in the romantic old town in any season. In wintertime can recommend Viking Line or Tallink only. Bring your longjohns and necktie and gloves! The best activity during the boat trip is eating...that saves you time for sights and shopping in Tallin.

|||

So sorry...necktie will not be needed and it will not warm ... bring in stead a warm SCARF!!

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A day trip to Tallinn is really worth the effort. However, to make most of a one day trip you should take the earliest Tallink departure and then select one their evening crossings back to Helsinki. Tallink%26#39;s timetables will allow the longest stay in Tallinn on a one day trip.

See timetables at www.tallinksilja.com/en/schedules/helTal/ (these are valid only until 23 Dec 2009, but in their booking engine you can see already the timetables for 2010, too).

Snow

It%26#39;s snowing in Salla,

Check out the finnish road cams:-)

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WOW - what a place hey!!!!! :o)

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Hi,Its looking lovely eh???and so it begins...xxx

|||

It%26#39;s looking lovely - I have the webcam on the ski slopes book marked and look regularly even in summer. Shame we%26#39;re not booked to go again (yet;).

|||

Hi Bluny.

Have you booked yet, where are you going ?

No chance of snow yet in Austria.

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Wally - a link just for you to make you smile -

www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/news/story.aspx…

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Looks like snow in Levi too!!

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Now there%26#39;s a decent amount of snow in Lapland, see eg Pyha. http://ski.pyha.fi/

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It%26#39;s looking fab again:-)

Wally,Have nothing booked as of yet,still waiting for a deal:)

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What a beautiful morning!

laplandfinland.com/In_English/…Webcameras.iw3

|||

LOL bluny you are at it again and its only october :-))

Snowmobile adventure with first choice

Hi I have booked Lapland with first choice and would like to go on a snowmobile excursion, they offer a day time and a night time trip any feedback on either would be much appreciated. Also does anyone know if I will be able to arrange a snowmobile excursion with any other company, staying in Pallas which i know is quite remote thanks.

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Pallas is remote and small - mainly only one fell (downhill slopes will be opened 20.February !!! 2010) and one hotel. So propably you%26#39;ll have to book their safari (hotel%26amp;safaris are a chain)

Night time is nice if it is clear evening, you%26#39;ll see bright stars maybe even northern lights, but if it is cloudy you don%26#39;t see so much scenery than on a day safaru. But it%26#39;s in a way exotic to do a night safari in wilderness

Renting a log cabin near Santa's Village in Rovaniemi

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me with a name of a website that I could rent a log cabin for 6 people around Rovaniemi near Santa%26#39;s Village this Dec., 09

Linda Line

I know it%26#39;s a bit of a long time off, but what%26#39;s the likelihood of the fast ferry service operating to Tallinn at the end of March? Over the last few years has the ice and weather put paid to the service? Any info appreciated.

Tony

|||

It%26#39;s really too early to say. Even when the ice is clear, bad weather can easily lead to cancellations early in the season.

If you%26#39;re really keen to make plans so far in advance, go with Viking Line - you%26#39;ll only lose half an hour one-way compared with Linda.

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Thanks for the info John, the problem we have is that we%26#39;ll be on a flight that lands at 1620, and ideally want to get to Tallinn as quickly as possible. If LL is running we%26#39;ll be ok, if not we have a problem.

Tony

|||

If you%26#39;re really pushed for time, take a connecting flight from the airport. In any case, Linda may not save you any time at all compared to other ferries, depending on departure times.

|||

I agree with John, if you%26#39;re really in a rush, you%26#39;d better take a flight from Helsinki-Vantaa airport thus saving you from the trip to the ferry port for which you should allow at least 40 min + the check in deadline for the ferry (30 min).

There are numerous daily flights from Helsinki-Vantaa to Tallinn. And if you are flying into Helsinki by Finnair, you could book a flight from your point of origin to Tallinn via Helsinki, this will make the connecting flight from Helsinki to Tallinn way cheaper than if booked separately.

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But if you really want to make it by a ferry and plan it so long ahead, check also Tallink as they have more departures than Viking Line. The travel times of the ferries: Linda Line 1.5 h, Tallink 2 h, Viking XPRS 2.5 h.

Notice that all ferry companies to Tallinn operate from different terminals in Helsinki (Linda Line: Makasiini Terminal of the South Harbour; Viking Line: Katajanokka Terminal of the South Harbour; Tallink: West Harbour). In Tallinn they all arrive very near each other (Linda Line: Linnahall Terminal; Viking Line: A terminal of the passenger harbour; Tallink D terminal of the passenger harbour).

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Agree with all others, Linda Line is the weakest point and riskiest choise as it%26#39;s the smallers vessel. Bigger ferries are much safer choise in season starts (and ends).

Linda Line is also like a bus trip, you can hardly more around during the trip and seating is prerry tight and not very comfortable. Linna Harbour in Talllinn is further away than other harbours/terminals and it means taxi trip if you have anyheavier luggage. It looks like only estonian workers use Linda line as a busline between home and work due it%26#39;s slightly cheaper than other.

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You%26#39;re being a bit unfair to Linda, MEKANS. It%26#39;s not at all like bus seating and there is a café/bar. You can also go on deck if the weather permits. I find it no more or less comfortable than any other ferry.

Maybe you haven%26#39;t been on Linda Line recently. They put a new vessel on the route some time ago.

Also, you say the harbour used by Linda is %26#39;further away%26#39; - from what? Most passengers are going to the Old Town, and the distance is practically the same as from the other ports. If you%26#39;re heading for a hotel in the business district it is slightly farther, but anyone with luggage will need a taxi in any case.

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Dear JohntheFinn,

my opinion of Linda Line is based just on a very recent trip - out with the new vessel and return on the old vessel. Did that just because of the inspection purpose and at least for me it was the first and last trip on Linda Line if I can choose. I%26#39;m travelling quite a lot and this was my honest opinion of Linda, I might have higher expectations for my travel standard and understand well that there area also another opinions of this matter.

Also my opinion of the TLL harbour is still in my opinion %26quot;far away%26quot;, it%26#39;s not very accessible by foot; on arrival we were thinking to follow the cars or follow the pedestrians, choosed the pedestrians and found huge amount of steps ahead and in a fresh wind and rain it was not a happy memory. That makes the walking distance feel much longer. Returned to the harbour by taxi and could see that that way the road had no uphills but of course the route was longer...The terminal itself is kind of a joke (still my opinion), not very professional by service or standart of anything...lost cost is always low cost in all meanings. Sorry...

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OK, that%26#39;s your take. I make this trip 10 or 15 times a year and I use Linda Line 80% of the time. I like Linda%26#39;s small terminal in Tallinn, which you consider %26#39;a joke%26#39;, as one does not have to wait in long, slow-moving lines there as with Tallink, Viking or Eckerö, but mainly I use it because it%26#39;s the fastest service. On a day trip, it gives you an extra hour ashore, and that doesn%26#39;t include the time you gain from short queues. The Linda terminal at the Helsinki end is more convenient for most travellers than West Harbour.

All the ferry lines have pluses and minuses and I%26#39;m sure this discussion will benefit a lot of travellers.

Visitin Kittila

Hi i m going to Kitilla for a week in December, is it far to where Santa Claus is? is there any transport that goes there?

|||

Where are you staying -

Most people just fly into there and then go on to another resort such as Yllas, Levi ,Saariselska .

You will find Santa in all resorts,

Lapland New Years on a budget?

(i had to select a forum topic so picked Levi, but actually its a general post)

-------

Hi everyone,

I%26#39;m looking at the costs of visiting lapland for maybe 5-7 nights over new years (go just after xmas, return 2nd jan etc) for myself %26amp; fiancee.

I%26#39;d like to go as far north as possible to try and see the northern lights, plus activities like husky, reindeer %26amp; snowmobile trips.

I%26#39;m wondering whats the cheapest way to do this?

Packages seem great in that they sort everything out, as well as winter clothing etc, although there is obviously a higher cost to this %26amp; the activities are on prescribed days.

Here are some packages I%26#39;ve found...

Emagine, 6 nights, Harriniva Wilderness Holiday Centre

£1,469 per person

emagine-travel.co.uk/lapland-holidays/new-ye…

First Choice, 7 nights, various hotels

around £1000 aprox per person

http://tinyurl.com/y8pxslt

Inghams accommodation for 7 nights around £500 per person, but only on 13th dec or 3rd jan

www.inghams.co.uk/WinterMagic/Resort.aspx…

I%26#39;d really love to try and stay in a glass igloo here for 1 night

kakslauttanen.fi/winter_kakslauttanen_specia…

Do you think its realistically possible to try and book flights, hotel, insurances (that cover activities), food etc etc etc cheaper than the packaged holiday deals?

Are there any special events on new years eve that I should look out for, I read somewhere about lanterns and fireworks lakes etc.

Any other attractions in Lapland you think shouldn%26#39;t be missed?

Thanks!

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if you go with inghams you can just arrange all the trips you want to do yourself i.e husky sledge rides snowmobiles etc etc and most likely still work out cheaper than going for 1 of the more expensive trips you also have the added bonus of arranging them at your choice of time/day so can go at your own pace, if you go with inghams have a look at Saaraselka we went there last year and hired a snowmobile for 3 days and while we had it we drove to the glass igloos(about 10-15 taxi drive away)to have a look at them, they were fab if we had been on our own and no kids we would have defo stayed a night in them

Enjoy picking your hols, any more questions just give a shout someone will be able to help you.

|||

By the way dont think it works out any cheaper trying to do it yourself imho

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flights on skyscanner are cheap for a week departing on Boxing Day..but accomodation may be limited!

|||

I would check the inghams website again,they now have lots of offers on there website including large discounts for new year week.

|||

%26quot;I would check the inghams website again,they now have lots of offers on there website including large discounts for new year week.%26quot;

Thanks for the tip, Bluny! I found a package (a cabin with self catering) to Salla for me and hubby for about the same we would have paid for scheduled flights to Kuusamo!

|||

That%26#39;s great nettle:-)

|||

some great deals now starting to come up on lastminute.com

check them out!

|||

Shhhhhhhhhhhh Kimi - Lapland is a horrid place - remember ;-)

|||

So bad some have decided France is better...

NB limited info given out on this site! :-)

|||

hi,

I have just booked a 4 night trip for two adults over new year. I have booked seperate flights ect, i booked flights with FINNAIR departing 31st dec and returning 4th Jan and 4 nights acc with GTHOTELS staying at the Crazy Reindeer B%26amp;B and so far it has only cost £1000 for us both (flights %26amp; accom) !! I have been in touch with numerous people about booking trips ready for when we arrive also, i cant wait!!!

Hope this helps, let me know if u need any other info

Ferry Tickets in advance?

Hi

I%26#39;m visiting Helsinki and Tallinn in October (less than four weeks now!).

I%26#39;ve booked the flights and hotels but I%26#39;m not sure if I need to book the ferry in advance or if it%26#39;s ok to just turn up as a foot passenger?

Any advice appreciated!

Deb

|||

No need to book in advance tickets are well available. Maybe in order to avoid queues you could get the tickets e.g. previous day.

|||

Thanks for your help, Tampereman. Really looking forward to visiting Helsinki!

Deb

|||

If you%26#39;re taking Linda Line (the fastest), it%26#39;s a good idea not to book in advance. Their smaller craft are the first to be cancelled in rough weather. Just check the weather forecast the day before and plan accordingly. There is never a problem getting a place in October.

|||

Thanks for the info, John.

Deb

|||

Hi

Just to follow up, we bought our return tickets from the Tallink Office first thing in the morning, then managed to pack in a few shopping hours until the crossing! Absolutely no problems with the tickets or the crossings.

Deb

|||

Thanks for the feedback.

Recommendations for tour companies

Hi all,

I%26#39;m going to have a week off just before xmas, and I plan to head north into Lapland (I%26#39;m currently in residing in Tampere, Finland). I%26#39;m looking for recommendations for tour groups operating in and around Roveniemi or even more far north (Inari?). I%26#39;m interested in snowmobiling, sledding, and er, whatever else they have to offer aside from skiiing or snowboarding (not really my things). I%26#39;d prefer perhaps a 3-4-day tour as opposed to one-day excursions. Does anyone have experience with any companies that they can recommend?

|||

Hi,

Lapland Travel Portal, www.laplandfinland.com, provides information on all destinations and major service providers.

See also Lapland Safaris, www.laplandsafaris.com, and Safartica, www.safartica.com, both operate in Rovaniemi and Lapland Safaris also in Saariselkä (Inari). Of course there are also other companies, but this is something to start with.

|||

Check also http://www.saariselka.fi

Lapland holiday booked

After debating which resort and hotel we have finally booked our trip. We have decided on the 3 night stay with Firstchoice leaving on the 6th Dec. I managed to get a good deal and the travel agent even beat the internet price.

We are staying at the Crazy reindeer hotel. I can%26#39;t wait to see my 2 children%26#39;s faces light up when we get there.

I had to share it with you all as i%26#39;m So excited.

|||

Hi yes it makes it so exciting once you have booked, I stayed at the crazy reindeer last year it really is a lovely hotel well placed for all the facilities in Levi you will love it. Now starts all the planning, We booked early this year and it%26#39;s just starting to feel real now.

Clothing??

Can anyone tell me if inghams supply your ski jacket etc

I read that first choice do but cannot find any info about it on the inghams website

Thanks x

|||

When you make the booking online there will be a list of optional extras you can select, such as hiring a thermal suit and thermal boots.

|||

yes they do, optional though. Check the rate for your resort. Saariselkä: overall + mittens + hat 40 €/week, snow boots + woolen socks 20 €/week

|||

Hi if you book one of the santa breaks lasting 3 or 4 nights they provide an all in one suit and boots, free of charge as part of the package

European vaction with teenagers

I am planning to take a European vaction with teenagers around a year from now, and I was looking for some advice. Like to spend about 21 days including flight. Looking to free travel with the euro rail. Like to visit the most places we can to get an great overall experience of Europe. On a budget since having to save for a few years. Any advice?

|||

You%26#39;re planning to spend 21 days traveling and you%26#39;%26#39;ve copied this posting into 21 country forums? The first thing you need to do is narrow down your focus. Get a couple of general guidebooks for Europe and trim your itinerary to a small number of countries or you%26#39;ll spend all your time getting from one place to another.

|||

As much as I like Finland, it a great country to visit in summer. The winter scan be quite dreary; short days, etc. On the other hand, the spas %26amp; saunas are wonderful.. If you teenage kids would like some Scan. Country in winter, I would suggest Iceland (hot water, scenery, quite inexpensive these days of financial crisis). Bring them back in summer, the do St. Petersburg %26amp; the Baltics...

I think you need to involve your teenagers in planning, then posting your specific questions on specific forums....

|||

I agree with John, you need to focus - choose a theme or an area, and a handful of countries. Otherwise everything will be just a blur and you will be exhausted, spending all your time travelling from A to B.

Helsinki this weekend :)

I%26#39;m in Helsinki for 24 hours from Saturday afternoon (on my way to Hong Kong) ---is there anything special happening in town this weekend? Where would you guys recommend a good, relaxed hangout spot for a solo female traveller, possibly to meet fellow travellers or try to coax Finns into small talk! :D

Are there any decent coffee places which are open til later in the evening? I don%26#39;t fancy going to a restaurant or bar or...god forbid, pick-up joint (!)

|||

Hi,

Kauppatori , this wonderful market place is located on the waterfront and is the real hub or focal point of Helsinki. The array of fish stalls is clearly a visual delight, here locals and tourists come to buy fish, vegetables and fruit. There are also small stalls selling local handicraft and food.

This is a absolutely fabulous place to stroll around and the food on display is amazing, you can find just about anything here including reindeer, various weird and wonderful meat, cheese%26#39;s and small-goods.

Its also a place to pick up a take-away lunch if you are thinking of having a picnic in one of Helsinki%26#39;s stunning parks

Most of the island and canal cruises leave from the market square. You will find many different tour operators offering excellent variety of tours.

Have fun in Helsinki.

Santa park Day trip - time and clothes

Hi, we are due to go on the day trip to Santa Park with First Choice and I am a bit worried that we will not have enough time to do all the outdoor activities as well as seeing Santa and going to post letters etc. Is there a certain order we should do things in to get the most out of the day or will we be told when to do things on arrival?

Also, what clothes are best to wear as I know that we get snow suits on arrival?

Thanks

|||

Hi,

Unfortunately I don%26#39;t have any idea how your tour operator runs its itineraries, but anyhow Santa Park is a cave, i.e. indoors. Does your visit include also the Santa Claus Village? They are a bit apart but there%26#39;s a bus and/or a minitrain travelling between the two. There%26#39;s also a reindeer park in between the two places. Links to the websites of different sights in Rovaniemi area are available at visitrovaniemi.fi/VisitRovaniemi/…Sights.iw3

Approx. 1.5 - 2 hours will be enough to wander around the Santa Claus Village, then add to that the activities you wish to engage in. In those two hours you should already be able to write your greeting cards and post them at the Santa Claus Main Post Office. In Santa Claus Village there are some souvenier shops in a kind of a small indoor %26quot;mall%26quot;, but other buildings are all separate, so you%26#39;ll have to go outdoors while exploring the Santa Claus Village.

Anyhow, the tour operators have arranged the visits hundreds of times and will take care of transportation between the different places. They have usually also arranged their own visits to the Santa Claus, so you do not have to queue with the general public.

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Thank you for this information, I am not sure if we are going to village aswell, was under the impression that the outdoor activities were just outside Santa Park but will have to wait and see!

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I have not been on a day trip, however, from what I have read, everything will be taken care of as regards to what you are doing and wearing etc - I woulod suggest though that you take some snacks with you just in case you need more than they offer you, pack everything you need in a back pack and don%26#39;t take too much stuff, the more comfy you are the better so perhaps stuff like tracky bottoms will be better than jeans etc, also, take your own hat, scarf and mittens with you rather than using the ones they give you (if they do give you them).

have fun

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If you go to the Santa Park, I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll have a chance to visit the Santa Claus Village, too. Would be silly if not, as the distance between the two is even walkable if you have the time (2 km = 1.24 miles). The renewed Santa Park has also a post office and souvenier stalls nowadays. The Santa Claus Main Post Office is in the Santa Claus Village.

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During 3 weekends in December from 12 am local time Santa Park is open only for those on day trip with First Choice. There is only a short bus trip (10-15 minutes) from airport to Santa Park. You meet Santa and post the letters indoor. There is a restaurant, shops and some indoor activities. Prepare that prices might feel expensive and that there will be some queuing too.

You will find the outdoor activities by following a path through the woods. Those reindeer etc rides are short ones thanks to many people (3-4 planes) and not so much time during day trips. What I have read some are disappointed but you have to think about the animals too. Hats and mittens are important as it can be very cold.

After a few hours busses will take you back to the airport. So I think you won´t visit other places.

Btw Santa Park has got new owners since last winter so some things might have changed there.

I hope you enjoy your trip and that there will be a lot of snow.

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Thanks all for taking the time to reply.

Directions to Hotel Glo from Airport

Hey all,

Does anyone know how I would get to the Hotel Glo from the airport? I%26#39;m thinking of taking the taxi there, but wanna see what my alternatives are.

P.S. I heard this is the best hotel. Can%26#39;t wait to go there : )

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Take the Finnair bus or city bus 615 to the end stop at the train station. From there it%26#39;s a short walk. You%26#39;ll only need a taxi if you have a lot of luggage or are very unfit.

Lapland in April

Please can people give me their views on visiting Lapland in April...

will there still be plenty of snow? will the holiday be as magical as visiting in Dec/Jan etc?

thank you :)

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I have been to Yllas on the 6th April

Yes there was still lots of snow but it was not as magical as the earlier months, the snow in the village was all melting and the snow ploughs churned it up onto the side walks, it was yucky and muddy, not the white magical snow. AS the snow melts during the daytime it turns into ice over night making walking dangerous, our cabin was located where there was no other option but to walk on the road and we all slipped lots of times - it was not much fun

the days were light to about 11pm too which takes away that mystical darkness feel that you get earlier on in the year

skiing was fine and it was nice to ski in sunshine.

Personally I would not go back at that time of the year, I much prefer it in Feb, however, it may be a different story up in saariselka, it maybe still white and nice etc

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Hi,

early April is fine. Some years the snow disappears mid April and others it is still about well into May.

In March and April you experience amazing long, bright and hopefully sunny days. It is a great time for doing activities such as long husky and snowmobile safaris. It will still be cold, especially at night so don%26#39;t forget your thermals.

Have a brilliant time in Lapland.

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We%26#39;ve visited at both times - April and Christmas - and both have their merits. We%26#39;ll be in Yllas again April 2010.

April - long days, more slopes open and for longer, good snow,

Christmas - busy(!), twilight, fewer slopes open (limited to those with floodlights), good snow, great atmosphere - visit Santa, snow village and ice hotel.

I guess it all depends what you%26#39;re after from the holiday.

Cheers

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thank you for your replies!

I have decided to book for dec/jan xx

Lainio Snow Village Wedding

Hi guys, me and my partner have finally decided on a date to get wed 25.02.2011 we love the idea of getting wed at the Lainio Snow village and wondered if anyone would share their thoughts and photos. We%26#39;re undecided whether to wed in the ice chapel or the wooden chapel??? HELP!!! :)

I have hundreds of questions flying around in my head; should we spend the wedding night in an ice suite? What are the teepee%26#39;s like?

The date hasn%26#39;t yet been booked i thought i%26#39;d try and find out a little more before i took it a step further. Please share your happy memories or nightmare stories to help us come to a decision.

Thanks everyone x x x x

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Look at www.laplandforum.com

lots of pics on there of snow village and yylas and someone is also getting married there this coming march i think

shell

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We have booked our honeymoon in Dec, staying in Tepee cabin and then one night in honeymoon suite so will let you know how it all went.

My email address is

yvonne@sonicdreams.org

stay in touch and we will give you a full report

12-15 days in Finland: Itinerary Advice

My husband and I are planning on spending 2 weeks in Finland in July 2010. We start in Helsinki and will head north. But where to go and what to see? Should we travel by train or hire a car. Once at the top of the country we wish to scoot across to Norway by train, so if we hire a car it will be one way. Should we stick to trains? We like nature and villages as opposed to large cities. Should we book accommodation or just wing it as we go, how busy is it in July? Any ideas would be appreciated.

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First, you need to do some basic reading to identify what interests you in Finland. Try http://www.finnguide.fi/

Lots of visitors hire a car and zip around, seeing zillions of lakes and forests till they%26#39;re sick of the sight of them. Avoid this. Stop and get to know a particular lake, make that one forest special to you. The traditional Finnish holiday is spent in a cabin with sauna by a lake, which sounds like it would suit you. July is prime holiday season for Finns, so book early. This site will help you along: http://www.lomarengas.fi/

Trains don%26#39;t take you everywhere in Finland. Lapland Province is particularly thinly served by rail. You could, however, take a bus from Finnish Lapland into Norway.

Perhaps hiring a car to explore the south combined with train and bus for the northern leg of your journey might be the best option.

The drive from Helsinki to Turku has plenty of attractions along the way, from the craft %26amp; design village of Fiskars to the impressively reconstructed castle of Raseborg in Snappertuna (foreigners love the names).

Here are a couple more useful sites:

www.visithelsinki.fi/In_English/Visitor.iw3

http://www.helsinki.fi/en/index.html

I hope this ragbag of ideas gives you something to start on, and please feel free to ask us more detailed questions as your plans take shape. We try to be helpful!

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There are no trains in the northernmost Finland, even less in the Northern Norway. Railway tracks in Norway reach only up to Bodo and Narvik can be reached by railways via the Swedish railway network (via Kiruna), but even there the tracks are mainly used by cargo trains transporting ore from the Kiruna mine to the port of Narvik.

So, I would suggest renting a car - will also allow you to plan your trip more freely. Then drop the car off into a car rental agency in Finland, take a bus to Norway and then you could rent a car there again, or travel by bus down to Bodo where you can take a train. Or you can of course also travel by the Hurtigruten coastal ferry towards south.

July will be the peak season both in Finland and in Norway, so booking accommodation in advance will save you from a lot of headache...

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Just a warning that its a long, boring drive to Lapland from Helsinki, its mostly single carriageway roads with a lot of speed cameras (and traffic). I hope you like trees because thats all you see :-)

The West side of Finland is very dull, I%26#39;d recommend driving up the East side via the Savo/Lake District area (Savonlinna/Kuopio), Suomossalmi and Kajaani to Lapland, then return via Oulu, Tampere and Hameenlinna (all three very nice towns). Lapland beyond Rovaniemi looks pretty much the same so I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s much to be gained by heading further north. The scenery towards Narvik in Norway is wonderful.

You can also put your car on the train from Helsinki and Rovaniemi, travel overnight in a sleeper car. It won%26#39;t be cheap but it saves a long drive.

Fishing in Rovaniemi

Good day.

We are fishermen from Lithuania and we are interested in spending some time in Finland (Lapland) during the end of November. So we would like to know, what sort of fresh water fishing we will be introduced to? I mean, open water or ice fishing, lakes or rivers, types of fish?

Also, if you don%26#39;t mind telling us about the weather conditions in the region? And weather difficulties please. And lastly, we are traveling on our car.

Thank you in advance for the info.

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I%26#39;m afraid that time is too early for ice fishing and too late for open water angling. There are both lakes and rivers in the area, but you won%26#39;t see many (if any) people fishing in late November.

There should be snow on the ground by then. It%26#39;s too early to tell for sure.

The range of fish species caught in Lapland is very wide. It%26#39;s famous for its salmon, for one.

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Thanks for answer, we%26#39;ll think about!

Will i see the Aurora in Feburary

Will i have a chance of seeing the aurora between the 7th and 14th of february this year in Levi ???

any info world be helpful

thanks x x x

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You%26#39;re certainly in with a chance IF the sky is clear and IF the solar weather plays ball. No one can tell you for sure (although postings like these usually attract a lot of %26quot;I saw it in February so you will too%26quot; replies).

Unfortunately sunspot activity has been at a record low for some time now, which reduces the frequency and level of displays, but you will certainly be in one of the best places for the aurora at the best time.

Good luck!

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There is a chance, if the skies are clear, and you are lucky enough.

You can find more information by searching %26quot;aurora%26quot; or %26quot;northern lights%26quot; in Finland forums. This topic has been discussed a lot.

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as long as there%26#39;s a chance I%26#39;m happy

thanks x x

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One thing that%26#39;ll be useful is to google for the phase of the moon during your visit: full moon bad, new moon good for aurora viewing.

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Full moon is not a bad moment to see aurora! Nights are lighter (if clear sky) and the whole light is different. Makes it even more magigal and I have taken some of my best pictures during full moon northern lights. Forecast for next 24 and 48 h can be found for example http://www.spaceweather.com . also many resort provide forecast for both weather and northern light at receptions.

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Depends. Any other light source is a nuisance as the aurora is very faint, but a very strong display will get through. I%26#39;m afraid we can%26#39;t expect a lot of those, the solar weather being what it is this season.

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Hi ,we saw them last feb half term twice, only had one clear night and saw a weak show look out for green clouds! if the rest of sky is completely clear, the cloud changed shape into an arc and spread and dissapeared after an hour into thin air! the next time it was foggy but could see colours through it at times . basically if you have a clear night keep looking up! Good luck and have a great holiday.

Best deals on care rental

Hi all

Please can anyone recommend car hire companies for lapland. I have googled a fair few and all are very expensive!

anyone know of any cheap companies?! x

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where are you going to?

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we are arriving at Kittila

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A lot of people use Atlas Choice

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used autocars last year....Lapland is expensive to hire a car!!

Yllas or Levi

Hi there,

We are a couple in our 20s (no kids) desperate for a trip to Lapland in early December for 3/4 nights. We can%26#39;t decide on which resort to go for. We want to do all the activities like husky/reindeer rides, snowmobiling, possibly seeing the northern lights, but we also want a real Christmassy feel to our break, so Santa may be an option as well!

We%26#39;re thinking either Yllas or Levi. Yllas appeals a lot because of its setting, but I would like there to be a few shops for us to potter round in the resort to buy some Lapland gifts! I know Levi is bigger, but is it just for skiers?

Also, do you suggest we go for a tour with all the excursions included (eg. First Choice), or do it ourselves?

Any help appreciated!

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personally I would recommend Saariselka as it is a good combo of both yllas and levi - chic little shops, nice places to eat etc

you will find that if you go early dec that you can get some great deals for a week - look on last minute . com

I would always go for the holiday and then book the trips with inghams, they are so much cheaper than a complete package

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Both Levi and Yllas are great resorts, however, we prefer Yllas.

Levi is more built up than Yllas which is more of a traditional village.

If you swaying towards Yllas, you will find gift shops and a large supermarket, all of which sell many types of gifts. Both resorts offer all activities/excursions. Santa%26#39;s house is at the Lapp Village in Yllas too.

You are never too old to visit Santa !!

Going independently, we find, works out cheaper.

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I have been to both resorts- I personally think Yllas is more spread out and more of a village whereas Levi is more of a town with a centre.. Levi I think caters more for the skiier. I also think Yllas gives you a better chance of seeing the northern lights- IF ...the conditions are right.

Both are beautiful places and the excursions will be very similar.

You will find Lapland a resort only for kids! Yes kids that range up to 100+

Adults tend to have so much fun here and Laplnd brings out the child in everyone! It really is a fantastic holiday destination I know you will enjoy!

Good luck in whatever you choose! x

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I have been to both resorts- I personally think Yllas is more spread out and more of a village whereas Levi is more of a town with a centre.. Levi I think caters more for the skiier. I also think Yllas gives you a better chance of seeing the northern lights- IF ...the conditions are right.

Both are beautiful places and the excursions will be very similar.

You will find Lapland a resort only for kids! Yes kids that range up to 100+

Adults tend to have so much fun here and Laplnd brings out the child in everyone! It really is a fantastic holiday destination I know you will enjoy!

Good luck in whatever you choose! x

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Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

poe.tuesday - I can%26#39;t seem to find Saariselka on lastminute.com?

Out of Yllas and Levi it sounds like Yllas is much more up our street, I will start having a look - is Inghams good for booking it independently?

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saariselka isn%26#39;t on there at the mo but there are deals to yllas - keep an eye out for saariselka though

also, have a look at inghams to see what saari is like

Canterbury Travel & Pyha Hotel Suite rooms

Hi -

We%26#39;re interested in booking a 3 day tour with Canterbury Travel and staying in the Pyha Hotel Suite rooms. I keep seeing reviews for Pyha Log Cabins but does anyone know about the Hotel Suite Rooms? And, any experience with Canterbury Travel?

thnks,

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all I know is that they have been cancelling trips so make sure you do your research and get assurances from them that you will actually be going

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canterbury have cancelled our trip and we booked in january and paid our £425 dep they have been no help what so ever and i cant begin to tell you how dissapointed we are .i asked my local travel agent about them today and she said they do this every year,

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Hi,

I%26#39;m not now entirely sure are you staying at the Hotel Pyhätunturi rooms or at the ski in appartements. Both are quite nice I would guess. I%26#39;ve stayed at the ski in (Pyhä Suites) Appartements when they were band new on 2006 - then it was really nice.

Here is a link to Pyhä Suites English introduction:

laplandpyha.fi/winter/…introduction.html

And here to the hotel rooms:

www.hotellipyhatunturi.fi/eng/rooms.htm

I can warmly recommend Pyhä - you can really experience Lapland%26#39;s nature at it%26#39;s best there. =)

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They have just cancelled the Artic express trip too, as you said they have been no help informing me that I have only two other options on airports that are both 2 hours away from where I live and only one tour to choose from.....They are also still avertising this but saying it is fully booked.....strange as they have cancelled saying %26quot;not enough people have taken the trip up!%26quot;.

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Lots of companies are cancelling holidays...if they find that they cannot sell these holidays then it is not cost effective to go! As Canterbury prices are high I can understand why,in this climate ,they are having trouble filling planes! Last year other companies combined flights so I guess they are trying to do this or something similar.

I however am not saying this is right, especially as I know people book their time off and look forward to their holidays,and for them I feel sorry.

It%26#39;s just business!

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but when they have a flight going out of your choosen airport with seats available they should honour your free child place they have after all had our money in their bank account for 10 months we can go if we pay the full amount ,i just wonder how many people they have let down and just how much of other peoples money they have had for the laST 10 MONTHS in their bank .

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Have you looked at Inghams or first choice -

May work out cheaper - also last min.com

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Bethbel...I totally agree that they should honour your free child place! Trouble is they are within their rights to cancel your holiday at any time and refund you! Grrrrr...

I would now look at other companies and try to get a better deal- maybe a real cheapie and pay for luxurious excursions when you get there..!

Good Luck! x