Lapland - 10 top tips for booking the family trip they will never forget!

Lucy Bishop on 07 November 2018
Yes, it’s expensive and a bit chilly, but it is most definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that the whole family will love and never forget! In this short blog I have hopefully addressed some of your burning questions!

Can I book all the elements myself or should I use a tour operator?

It is much easier and much safer to use a reputable tour operator for this kind of trip, as they are the experts. I use three main companies who are tried and tested and highly recommended. It’s not worth the few pounds that may be saved by booking the elements yourself and exposing your money and holiday to the risk!

How inclusive are the trips?

This varies by tour operator. As a base level, you can expect the tour to include flights, transfers, accommodation, at least half board meals, thermal clothing and boots and some kind of Lapland based activity. The operators I use all include a PRIVATE meeting with the Big Man too. Then after this, some operators will include a variety of excursions like husky sledding and snow-mobiling and others will off this to book as an extra. It’s up to you how flexible you want to be!

What is the accommodation like?

You can book into a log cabin in the woods, a room in a hotel or even an apartment. Again, it varies by supplier. It’s worth noting that the cabins can be a short walk from the main hotels through the snow, making it necessary to put all the thermals on to go to dinner! The standard of accommodation is generally basic but good, warm and with everything you need for a few days in the snow. There is so much to do you won’t be in the rooms much!

What are the locations like?

This depends which trip you plump for, but there is choice! There are larger towns which, by their very nature, will be a bit busier, livelier and have the benefit of a few more activities on offer. In these kinds of resorts, you would be on half-board or self-catering and you would find small supermarkets and a range of restaurants and bars. The included excursions would be fewer and this leaves you free to choose and book your own. Lots of people enjoy this flexibility. At the other end of the scale are the more remote places with very little in terms of amenities, so these tend to be the more inclusive tours and are very magical as you are surrounded by the snowy wilderness!

What is the food like?

The food is simple, but filling! Even fussy children can find something they like at mealtimes! The hotels will also cater for any dietary requirements you may have. It’s a good idea to take some snacks in your luggage that you can stuff in everyone’s pockets for during the daytime, just in case hunger strikes! You have a full luggage allowance on the flights so no worries about space.

Will the other half be grimacing at all the elves trying to get you to sing along?

Not at all, I have never had a bad report from any of my clients! In fact, most parents agree that it is really very magical and that the entertainment is carefully planned to build the excitement levels, not get in your face!

What ages are the trips most suitable for?

Technically speaking, they do allow children two and under to go on the trips, but in all reality, it is not suitable for babies and very young children. It can be very cold, down to minus 30 degrees and little ones can’t move that well in the big suits, so they get cold and nobody wants a cold child on their hands! I would recommend that it is a trip best suited to children aged between 5 and 12. Older children will enjoy all the snow-based activities, so you don’t need to worry if you have older ones too!

What is the best time to book?

There are limited spaces on these trips, especially if you want to go near to Christmas so it’s best to get in early. The tour operators go on sale around 13-14 months in advance, so you can book now for December 2019. The earlier you book the more choice you will have of hotel, room and date, as well as departure airport. That said, if you did decide to go last minute it is always worth checking. There are still some spaces left for tours this Winter.

Is there a way to spread the cost?

There is no getting away from it, this is not a cheap holiday, but there are a couple of ways to lessen the impact! If you have decided that this is the trip you want to take, then get it booked a year in advance. You put down a non-refundable deposit and then have a year to pay off the balance, which my clients can do with me through an easy to use app! Always make sure you have adequate travel insurance in place when you book, just in case you do have to cancel for any reason.

Where can you fly from?

It depends which tour operator you go with. There are a high number of tours departing from London Gatwick, but also some regional departures (for example, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Doncaster and Exeter).

I hope this blog has been helpful to you, please don’t hesitate to email me if you have further questions or queries that I can help with!