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THE LAPLAND SERIES, DAY 7

SAARISELKA – ROVANIEMI

Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi. Leaving Saariselka at 5am, for a 4 hour drive meant today was sure to be a long one but we had finally approached the run in to Christmas and we were soon to meet the 3 reprobates; Quinn, Drew & Alba.

CHRISTMAS DAY IN LAPLAND IS JUST AS MAGICAL FOR THE ADULTS AS IT IS FOR THE KIDS

The drive was long and rarely did we see a car. This didn’t surprise me considering the horrendous conditions and were blinded by the torrent of snow every time a lorry flew past us.

WHERE IS ROVANIEMI?

Rovaniemi

GLASS RESORT

As soon as we arrived, we could tell this resort was going to be the ticket! Everything from the entrance, reception, staff and house keeping was on point! The last thing I wanted to have was the same issue as Kakslauttanen especially when we were all together and it was over Christmas. It might have been more expensive but represented so much better value, well done Glass Resort you were fantastic.

Snow covered cottages at Glass resort in Saariselka, Finland. Arriving in Santa Claus Village

Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi

DAILY INFO….

  • DRIVE – Saariselka – Rovaniemi
  • MILES COVERED -161 miles
  • HOTEL – Glass Resort 8.5/10
  • ATTRACTIONS –
    Santa Safari
    Santa Visit
    Wilderness Kota Dinner
  • MILES COVERED -159.7 miles
  • STEPS – 12,400,

SANTA SAFARI

We weren’t long arrived before our first activity. There are a few main companies who do the majority of activities and they are all well organised. Collection points are dotted all around the town and then you are driven to the main office to get changed in their cold weather gear. As we were hanging around for several days we kept hold of ours the entire time which saved this hassle. You still had to go to their head office but we were all prepped before this.

The Santa Safari was purely for the kids, it involved a story around a fire about a four winds hat, a visit to Santa which took us completely (and the kids) by surprise and a few others bits and pieces such as a sort reindeer ride and a kids snowmobile. Pretty basic but a good start.

David Simpson and nieces riding sleigh in Saariselka, Finland. Arriving in Santa Claus Village

Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi

SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE

The main area to stay and visit during your time in Lapland has to be the Santa Claus Village. You can see they have tried to retain its authenticity and have tried hard not to over commercialise it (take note America), not easy considering the number of guests and day trippers. There are a host of different hotels, shops and restaurants which to be honest are very sub-standard. We found the lunches during the activities to be so much better.

Davis Simpson and family with Santa in Saariselka, Finland. Arriving in Santa Claus Village

Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi

WHERE IS SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE?

Santa Claus Village

SANTA VISIT

I spent the last 18 months researching and how to make this trip as special as possible and what better way than to get Santa himself to call to our room. If the kids weren’t won over by seeing him earlier (which they were) they surely would when he arrived for a chat and to give out some early gifts!

David Simpson and family in Saariselka, Finland. Arriving in Santa Claus Village

Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi

  FACTS ABOUT SANTA:
  • If you would like to send a letter to Santa then you can post your letters to:

Santa/Father Christmas
Santa’s Grotto
Reindeerland
XM4 5HQ

  • Santa Claus has lots of different names! UK – Father Christmas or Santa, USA, – Kris Kringle. France – Père Noël / Papa Noël. Poland – Święty Mikołaj. And in Germany, Santa is known as Weihnachtsmann.
  • Santa lives in Lapland because the weather suits his reindeers.
  • The tradition of him wearing red began in the 1870s with the American cartoonist Thomas Nast, who introduced the red suit and cap, white fur lining and buckled black belt.

WILDERNESS KOTA DINNER

Kota, “a traditional tent of the Sami people, the indigenous people of Finland.”

It turns out the food at the hotel was really good which meant it was difficult to decide on how many times to eat out or not but when you have unique experiences such as a Kota dinner you know you might not get many more opportunities like this again. The food was great and with the help of long exposure on my phone we could see the Northern Lights for the first time. Hoping its not the last!

Snowy landscape in Saariselka, Finland. Arriving in Santa Claus Village

Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have to say there’s nothing that has made me happier today than the accommodation. Knowing we will be staying in quality accommodation at such an important time of the trip will make the next few days so much better for everyone. I can sleep anywhere but when you have a family of 10 with you and you pay a fair amount you want to make sure you aren’t getting shafted twice in a few days.

NEXT UP

Christmas Day in Lapland!! Click to read.

SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
158/229

This post was part of The Lapland Series. To view my Instagram highlights click here.
If you would rather read the rest of the series from the blog just click here.

Question Time

  • What is the best accommodation you have stayed in?
  • Would you like to visit Santa Claus Village?
  • Think you could handle -15C?

Let me know in the comments below . . .

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JUMPING IN AN ICE LAKE WITH MUM & DAD
CHRISTMAS DAY IN LAPLAND

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