Amaze the kids with a family trip to see Father Christmas in Winter Wonderland and experience festive holidays in Lapland
TAKE the kids to see Santa in Lapland and be on their Good List for ever.
But Father Christmas has made his home in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth — the Arctic Circle, where temperatures fall as low as -30C.
So how would our four-year-old, Lily, cope?
Well, Thomson made sure they ramped up the magic from minute one, with Santa’s elves entertaining us with singing and games ahead of our 4am flight.
When we arrived at Kittila airport in Northern Finland, the place was buzzing with elves rushing around to greet their visitors. Our personal one, Snowdrop, guided us to our coach.
The road to Yllas, we were told, is one of the most beautiful roads in Finland.
I could see why. The tall trees were buried in a blanket of snow and it felt like we were in a Nordic fairytale.
We stayed at the Snow Princess Hotel. It’s basic but comfy and cosy and all the rooms have a sauna.
During our stay, the temperature hit -27C. But we had been advised to pack several layers, plus Thomson provides thermal suits and boots, thick socks, gloves, mittens and hats for guests during their stay.
During our three nights in Lapland, we experienced a reindeer safari, rode snow- mobiles and went on a husky- ride adventure.
But not all of them were as enjoyable for Lily as they were for me.
An overload of fun meant we swerved the snow- mobile safari — and she had a meltdown in front of the reindeer.
Lily started wailing due to the freezing cold and her tears freezing on her eyelashes — until our reindeer stopped to “drop”.
Perhaps Poo-dolph, as we named him, had seen similar dramas and knew how to turn tears to giggles.
But nothing will ever top the look on Lily’s face when she met Santa.
It is one of the greatest joys I have felt as a parent.
There are only around four hours of daylight in Northern Finland at this time of year and when we arrived at Santa Claus Village in nearby Rovaniemi in the twilight, the pathways were lit with soft, flickering candles.
Busy elves did a great job keeping the kids entertained. There was sledging, football on the frozen lake and lots of hot berry juice.
The drink is a Finnish tradition and we were offered it everywhere we went during our holiday. It tastes like warm Ribena infused with cinnamon.
Inside the grotto, was crafts and cookie-decorating.
For the adults, there was snowmobile-driving across the frozen lake.
Then it was time to meet Saint Nick — and I have never seen Lily so excited.
She showed her Christmas list, as well as her one-year-old brother’s, and Santa was just as we had imagined — talking warmly to Lily, reading her letters and giving her a gift.
That evening, we visited the shops of the Snow Village.
Inside, there is an ice bar, an ice chapel where you can get wed, and hotel rooms with beds made of ice where you tuck yourself into a thermal sleeping bag.
We headed to the bar, where they serve a mean Sambuca in an ice glass, before carrying on to the ice slide.
Though the slide is only for kids, I was told, after landing with a bump.
The only thing that could have made this trip more perfect would have been seeing the Northern Lights fill up the sky.
But it gives me the perfect excuse to go back to Lapland again.
GO: FINNISH LAPLAND
THOMSON is offering three nights’ full-board at the 3star Hotel Snow Princess from £795 per person, based on two adults and two children sharing.
Price includes transfers and flights departing from Gatwick on December 3.
To book, visit your local Thomson travel shop, see or call 0871 230 2555.
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