First of all, this was the best trip we could ever have imagined, and totally exceeded our expectations. For the record, our kids were 10 and 5.

We booked our holiday through SantaClausTrips - a chap called Brian - and we could not be any more delighted that we followed his advice.

There was apparantly a complaint from a guest the night before we left that the variety of food was poor, and not enough fresh food was available for the kids.

I mean ... wow! Here we are 140km inside the Arctic Circle, with at least a foot of snow covering everywhere across a rather baron land, and somebody was expecting fresh fruit and caviar!

Enough of the nonsense, this was simply brilliant. Ian, the hotel manager, was the most visible of hotel managers, ever! Sue on reception could not have been more helpful. Our Transun rep - Greta - was warming, friendly and bloody helpful.

We stayed in a log cabin, which as we were told, was small, but warm, comfortable, and all that we needed for a 4 night stay in Wonderland. To be frank, we only used it to snooze and sleep in, oh and have the occasional Sauna, but just the romance of staying in a log cabin in Lapland was great. Our photo's are brill.

The excursions that were included in the package ('Sleep in Heavenly Peace' package) were ezceptional, and in hindsight, probably all that we needed. We did book up a couple of extra excursions, but with all the fun available at the hotel, anybody looking to book their holiday for 2011 will probably need to strongly consider whether they book additional excursions or not.

Santa was fab. We all tugged his beard, and he was the real Santa. The private family trip to see Santa is the most amazing family moments to treasure, and completely to die for.

The huskies, the reinderr, the skidoos, the snow, Santa - everything was just brilliant.

From the kids eyes, this was simply perfect and magical all rolled into a 5 day stay!

(Travelled on Heavenly Peace, December 2010)

Hello Brian.

I just had to write to let you know what an absolutely fantastic time we had in Lapland with Santa from the 8th to 10th of December. We did have a bit of a panic when the first snow arrived the week before, wondering if we would be going.

I was convinced that as I had been planning this holiday in my mind and in pictures for the grandchildren, there was nothing going to stop us from going.

It was amazing, the best holiday I have ever had, and congratulations to you and Esprit for making this Granny's dream come true.

The holiday was everything I had hoped for and more. Nothing was too much trouble for the 'reps', who did an amazing job with the children and the grown ups, and some of us who are yet to grow up.... We wanted for nothing all the while we were there.

Thank you for helping me with the arrangements, and even the last minute hiccup with changing from Bristol to Gatwick. Once we arrived at the hotel at Gatwick the excitement was building and my three grandchildren were like bottles of pop, bubbling over with excitement and anticipation.

Thank you sounds so inadequate, in the words of Bethan (the middle one) 'This is awesome, Granny. Thank you for bringing us'. Rhys and Sian made similar comments.......

To me that made it all worthwhile and proving that it was money well spent.

Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a great start to 2011.

Dear Brian,
We just wanted to thank you for a wonderful trip. We went for 3 days/2 nights with our two children aged 6 and 9 and from the minute we boarded the plane everything was wonderful. Everyone was helpful and the flight was full of excited children. The staff at Esprit bent over backwards to help anyone and get us all in the holiday spirit. The accommodation at the Holiday Club was perfect, food good, rooms good, no hassle with check in or getting our thermal suits. It ran like clockwork. If anyone was thinking about going with their children then just do it – it will be a special memory for all the family. The activity day and visit to meet the main man was wonderful – my nine year old said “he’s authentic I really checked out his beard and face and he was the real one!” The husky ride, ice fishing, reindeer ride were all great and the gala dinner rounded it off perfectly. Thank you for a truly magical break.

Hi Brian,

I just wanted to drop you an email to tell you what a wonderful time we had in Lapland, everything went perfectly, and was out of this world.
Our Santa experience was amazing, my eldest is 9, and she is on the border of still believing, but she was totally taken in, especially when Santa knew she supported Manchester United! :-)

Many thanks again for all your help with our booking!

Hi Brian
Just to say thank you for our lovely Lapland holiday.

It was magical to see our grandchildren's faces when the met ''The Real Father Christmas'' it brought tears to our eyes. Everything about the holiday was brilliant, the hotel, food, activities,and the reps were exceptional. We will have lovely memories of our time in Lapland.
The only downside was we had to come home
Thanks again

Travelled on Santa`s Spectacular December `08
Stayed in the Tunturi Type A rooms

We were up there on the Santa Magic trip last Thursday, Friday & Saturday and I have to say the Kieppi hotel was perfect.

We were fortunate enough to get an upgrade to a cabin which was spotless and very spacious - we even had a sauna in there too.

The whole time was fun-filled and so much to do for all of us.

Our girls enjoyed seeing Santa (although Lauren, 13, was more so playing along for Chloe's sake, 6, ........at least I think she was!!!), husky sledging, reindeer sledging, skidooing, etc, etc, there was so much to do.

We were very well looked after by all the team in Kieppi and kept well informed about what was going on and when to meet.

I have certainly recommended this trip to friends so hopefully you'll be seeing them there for next season.

We're actually emigrating to Australia in January but will certainly call on your services again if we pop back to the UK to visit family & want to combine a trip further North with it too.

We've certainly had a head start with getting into the festive spirit thanks to you.

Dear Brian,

Just wanted to drop you a line after returning from 'Santas Delight' on Sunday 10th December to tell you that we had a fantastic time! as the adult in our party of 3 and someone who is well travelled I can honestly say it was an amazing experience . From the moment we popped out of the clouds to land at Ivalo the whole day had a magical feel.

Everything was well organised and the snowmobile safari to see santa was superb when my children saw Santa and he knew their names and had 'their' letters they were just dumbstruck, my 11year old daughter had been told by friends that santa did not exist and she was desperate to believe he did and this was the icing on the cake for her- she definately believes now!
Everyone was very friendly and couldnt do enough to make it a special day. Food was great, activities were great and the kids love the idea that they will be reincarnated as reindeer.

Thank you so very much this was money well spent!!!

Would just like to be able to tell you that the trip we took on Thursday 21st December was without a doubt the most magical experience of our lives!

It far exceeded my expectations of the trip in every aspect.

The fights were wonderful, food great and we were well looked after. When we arrived at Kittila airport our every need was taken care of and we were issued with all the over clothing we needed, we needn't have taken any ourselves.

Facilities and activities at our Lapland Village were enchanting, the Elves were outstandingly friendly and played with the children all day.

Father Christmas was without a doubt the REAL one, according to my children. They met with him open-mouthed and he in turn certainly gave the impression of being the real thing.

In all we enjoyed a day to remember for the rest of our lives.

It was my daughter Stephanie's 11th birthday on Dec 25th and so she had a birthday present to top all birthday presents!!

Our thanks to all who arranged our once in a lifetime experience,
 

Hi Rhona,
I've been meaning to contact you ever since we returned from our trip. Thank you so such for a truly wonderful experience- I'll certainly never forget it and neither will the children. It as truly magical and never at any point as anything too much trouble from yourselves right to the elves at Kittila!
I've passed your website round the office,
PS If there should be any job vacancies amongst the elves...

Dear Marie [of Santa Claus Trips],

Pass on my thanks to Brian [of Santa Claus Trips] for all his help with the booking and to you for these arrangements. Had wonderful day and intend going back 2-3 years when my youngest is older. Lapland was excellent as was the staff there both in attendance and on the flight.

Dear Brian [of Santa Claus Trips],

I just wanted to write and say that we had the most amazing and fantastic day on Saturday (Dec 10th) in Lapland. My seven year old god daughter was overwhelmed and it was one of the most magical places I have ever visited. I thought it was well worth the money we paid and it was brilliantly organised.

I was very impressed with the organisation there from start to finish and as I say we could not have had a better day it was superb. I know you said you had been before but the place is spotlessly clean and maintained to a very high standard. Everyone there was very helpful and completely accommodating. I think it is the the best present that anyone could give a child.

There is nothing that you could moan about at all from the time we checked in to the time we landed. Thank you very much and my God daughter said on the plane on the way home that she will remember that day as long as she lives and I will as well.

It was brilliantly organised and I would recommend it to anyone in the future and will be recommending they book through you.

Dear Lynne

We had been looking at going to Lapland as a surprise for my 5 year old...We stumbled across your website and were thrilled to find a trip which was affordable and included everything. We rang up just to check a couple of things and were even more thrilled when we found a trip leaving from East Midlands at no extra charge. Lynne was excellent and we recommended others who were thinking of going to get in touch with you first! Your company was friendly, helpful and efficient - everything went smoothly.

Right from the outset, we could not fault a single thing. The crew on the plane issued all the kids with reindeer antlers which was a lovely touch and got everyone into the spirit of things. The food on the plane was excellent and the staff were brilliant - nothing was too much trouble - they even had us singing Christmas carols on the way there. When we got to Lapland the 'elves' who were waiting to take us to Santa village were very friendly and extremely efficient to get us on the warm coach quickly.

We got to Santa village and the place was just magical. We were all togged up in our thermals and out playing in the snow within 40 mins of us landing ! Excellent! The magical forest was just wonderful - and it made it even better as they had had 4 inches of fresh snow that morning. My little girl was in her element - as was myself and my wife. The reindeer rides, husky rides and snow mobiles were brilliant!

We had a very nice lunch (kiddie friendly again - burgers, chicken nuggets and chips) and then it was time to meet the main man himself. He was the best looking Santa any of us had seen - really authentic. We then had more time to play in the snow before it was time to leave - to be honest we didn't want to go...we'd had such a fantastic day.

The plane journey home even had us having a full Christmas dinner to round the day off. All I can say is, it was a truly magical day and one which we shall never forget - thank you!

Good Afternoon Brian,

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to assist me so much with my holiday reservations and with the safaris/trip organisation. I cannot tell you how wonderful it has been to talk to someone who knows so much about the resorts, hotels and trips and really appreciated the benefit of your experience and expertise to advise me on my first trip to Lapland.

Superb quality service, I will recommend your organisation to everyone and all my colleagues at work have been very impressed in your ability to help me and cope with my exacting requirements (for which I am infamous)!
 
Karen from England. 25/04/12

Dear Brian [of Santa Claus Trips],

I just want to say thanks for the most amazing day, Lapland was wonderful. I cant say thank you enough for all your help with my questions and everything that I wanted to know before I left.

My son had an amazing time and liked the reindeers and huskies best, especially when we nearly fell off the sleigh and hit the tree !!!

The reps were excellent , we had an English rep and also a Lappish one that had excellent local knowledge there wasn't a question that he couldn't answer.

We met Santa and sent some postcards , and went on the ice slides !!!

Everything was planned amazingly well and my little boy had an excellent time. I don't think my son will ever experience anything like it again or myself for that matter !!

Thank you again for making everything so perfect for us , I believe my little boy lived every child's dream at the weekend

I hope you have a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year.

Kindest Regards

Dear Lynne [of Santa Claus Trips],

the staff at Santa Claus Trips were extremely helpful and had obviously been on the trips they were selling. Their experiences of just how cold it really is were very helpful in organising what to take and having first hand knowledge of the accommodation on offer is really comforting as for most people its a first time vcisit..

The kids were amazed at just how powdery and deep the snow was and tobagganing to the shops was a real thrill - and snowmobiles, reindeer and huskies in one morning was a huge highlight. In The first hour they made more snowballs than they had in their entire lives...