SH7-8 sep26 23/9/08 13:12 Page 78
knowledge lapland
ttglive.com
Families
Want to meet
Santa, deer?
Family trips to see Santa Claus can be a lucrative
market, but you need to know your elves from your
goblins to sell it properly, says Dave Richardson
L
ast December, 128,000 British Short break in the city
people went on Santa Claus trips Rovaniemi is the main city in Finnish
to Finnish Lapland. Lapland and is situated right on the Arctic
You can go on a day trip or a Circle.
short break to a wilderness destination, a ski It is the location of Santa’s Village, a
resort or the city of Rovaniemi – and you commercial development of shops, and
can fly from almost every airport in the UK. Santa’s Post Office, which is open year-
Some Santa Claus experiences are round. Accommodation ranges from city
unashamedly commercial, resulting in centre hotels to resort hotels and log cabins
hoice
st C
disappointed families and prompting outside the city. F
i
r
headlines such as “Santa’s Grotty”. Nightlife is a strong point and venues
But some operators have reacted by include karaoke bars and clubs.
finding new locations and creating a more Sample price: A three-night break with First
individual experience. Now is the key selling Choice at Hotel Santa Claus, Rovaniemi,
season and trips may sell out quickly. costs from £2,288 for a family of four, B&B,
Finland dominates the market although and including Santa’s Post Office and
Activities Abroad includes Norway. Christmas dinner. Optional trips include a
Here, we look at the types of visit your snowmobile safari (£45 adult/£12 child) and
customers could consider. a visit to Santa Park (£37/£33).
■
firstchoice.co.uk
Day trip to forest
Day trips can be exhausting, and a flight Short break in ski resort
delay could seriously disrupt the trip. But Levi is a downhill and cross-country ski
you can pack a lot in, and day trips are the resort, meaning you have more options than
cheapest option for families on a budget. usual during free time.
Kittila is well inside the Arctic Circle, and Along with nearby Yllas, it offers a choice
Cosmos – now in its 20th year in Lapland of hotels (half-board) or log cabins dotted
– takes you into the forest for toboggan, around the forest for self-catering.
husky, reindeer and snowmobile rides. Inghams, which operates all winter to
A buffet lunch is followed by a visit to these resorts, has doubled capacity for
Santa’s Post Office to see the elves at work, dedicated Santa breaks available in
and a meeting with the man in red. Ski suits December.
and boots are included. Sample price: A family of four departing
Sample price: A family of four pays a total on December 3 to Hotel Levitunturi for
of £1,676, and flights are from Gatwick, four nights’ half-board pays from £2,557,
Luton, Manchester and Birmingham. including flights, thermal wear and dinner C
osmos
■
cosmos.co.uk with Santa. Optional excursions include a See Santa’s Post Office in Kittila with Cosmos
78 26.09.2008
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