Family short break to Lapland 2017

We chose the resort of Saariselka with Santa's Lapland based on feedback I’d had from families and colleagues, and I was booking so many lucky families to Lapland in 2016 I just knew we had to go as a family before our eldest no longer believed. We certainly were not disappointed from the moment we arrived at the airport and saw the “Santa flight” at check in.

During the flight the children were involved in carol singing and games to keep them occupied, on arrival into Ivalo we were met by cheeky elves and reindeer and again Christmas songs on the transfer to resort. A very speedy check in and welcome meeting and collection of thermal suits. The children loved the afternoon sledging in the mountains of snow and sledge runs around the resort.

Great accommodation with two bedrooms, basic food but very filling and yes drinks are expensive in Finland, so I recommend you take a bottle of your favourite wine to enjoy in your room once the children are crashed from the day's excitement.

The search for Santa day is so magical, you are given an allocated departure time and husky ride time and the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy all the wonderful activities on offer. My top tip, do not let the children be outside too long, we took warming breaks after every activity so they did not get too cold at any point. We experienced temperatures of minus 23 and a lot of children were very cold and crying. There are warming huts with open fires and the main restaurant with warm drinks and yummy biscuits on offer. Don’t put pressure on to get around everything as I believe it's more important to enjoy the experience rather than crying in pain.

We were lucky enough to enjoy the mini ski-doos, tobogganing, Santa's house, reindeer ride, husky, elves workshop and igloo fantasia before the last transfer back to our hotel. We were not lucky enough to experience the Northern Lights while there, but with young children you would find it hard to stay up late when the timing is best.

I would totally recommend this experience to anyone with a young family and looking for lifelong memories. You cannot leave Lapland without armfuls of cuddly reindeers and Christmas memorabilia!

We believed before we took our trip this would be a once in a lifetime - I would love to go back.