A Trip of a Lifetime!

What a magical time of year Christmas is, I never thought I’d like anything more than the thrill of racing downstairs on Christmas morning to find out what Santa Claus had left for me under the tree. Then I became a mum, and everything changed! There’s just nothing that can compare to seeing Christmas through the eyes of your own child.

Last Christmas, we were fortunate to travel to the home of the real Santa Claus, Lapland, and it was everything I dreamed it would be and more! We travelled to traditional Finnish Lapland for a magical two-night stay in Saariselka. Even though it’s possible to travel there and back in one day, I’m so glad we chose to enjoy the experience for longer as it allowed us some relaxation time as well as all the activities.

As soon as we arrived, I got all the feels as we were greeted by an elf and reindeer. We collected our Arctic clothing in our very own Santa hessian sack on the way to our hotel, which had the feel of a traditional ski lodge. **Top tip** Layer your thermals as it keeps you warmer!

The first afternoon was spent sledging and enjoying the pool and then it was off to the bar for a yummy hot chocolate with marshmallows and, of course, hot toddies!

Day two was amazing - skiing, children’s mini skidoo, Santa safari to meet the man himself, children’s show, ice sculptures, husky dog sledding, snow hockey and even ice fishing! This fairy-tale experience was rounded off with a traditional Christmas dinner and a Christmas party back at the hotel.

We travelled home on day three, after popping to the village shop for our must-have Christmas bauble, which now sits in pride of place on our tree. However, there is an option to add additional excursions/activities if you want an extended trip.

Seeing my daughter’s face when she met Santa Claus was a dream come true, a huge tick on the bucket list as well as memories banked for a lifetime.