How much luggage can be taken on the plane?
Passengers travelling with Titan have a baggage allowance of 1x 20kg Hold luggage 1x 10kg Hand baggage per person.
Passengers travelling with Jet2 have a baggage allowance of 1x 22kg Hold luggage 1x10 kg Hand baggage per person.
What happens with the children’s letters to Santa?
We will send out full details to you with our special writing paper for your little ones – all this is supplied with your pre-departure information.
Santa's Lapland Price Promise
If you are yet to book and you find a Santa’s Lapland holidays cheaper with a travel agent, we will match the price. You’ll then get all of the Lapland magic for the same amount you would pay if booking through your local travel agent. This applies to new bookings only.
How many hours of daylight can we expect?
There's about four and a half hours of daylight in December, with approximately two to three hours of ‘grey light’ either side, rather like twilight in the UK.
Are the meetings with Santa private for each family?
Yes absolutely!
We know how important and special this time is for you and your family so it will be just you and Santa himself. You'll have a team of helpers helping you find Santa's hidden log-cabins in the woods, with those on our Santa's Magic package travelling by snowmobile and a driver and our Santa's Aurora package arriving by reindeer sleigh.
What are the flights like?
Our flights fly direct to Saariselkä’s own local airport of Ivalo, with an easy 25-minute transfer from Saariselkä itself.
All flights, both outbound and return, include a full buy-on–board service with drinks and snacks etc, but we always recommend bringing extra snacks for the little ones.
Are activity vouchers issued?
A voucher will be in your welcome pack for any optional activities that are pre-booked. Details of extra activities are on your invoices.
Are there any deals or special offers I can take advantage of when booking?
You can find our latest Santa's Lapland deals here. Our offers are subject to availability and we have often have limited places, so it's best to book early to avoid disappointment.
What currency is used in Lapland?
The Euro is the local currency in Lapland, with only one cash-point machine in Saariselkä so please ensure you bring enough Euros with you!
Major credit cards (except American Express) are accepted in hotels, most restaurants and for booking the optional adventures locally.
Will anything on my holiday change due to Brexit?
As of the 1st January 2021, the UK has left the EU. Here’s what you need to know before travelling with us:
Passports: You'll need to ensure that you have at least six months validity left on your passport when returning from EU countries. You can check whether your passport will need renewing for your trip here. You may also be required to provide your evidence of your return ticket and that you have enough currency for your holiday when arriving in your destination.
Travel Disruption: When entering and exiting countries, it is your responsibilty to give yourself extra time to get through the immigration queues in the airports as there will be delays. We may have to organise our transfers slightly to help with this and ensure that you have extra time.
Driving in the EU: From 28 September UK stickers will replace GB stickers. Check the GOV.UK Displaying number plates website for more information on what to do if you are driving outside the UK before, on or after 28 September 2021.
If you are hiring a car, ensure you have a green card. In both cases you must make sure that you have the relevant international driving insurance with your chosen provider.
EHIC Cards and Travel Insurance: Under a new agreement with the EU, UK residents are now able to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your current European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has expired. This will give you access to emergency and medically necessary healthcare in the EU during your holiday. You can still use your EHIC card, excluding Switzerland and Norway, if it is still valid and in date and as part of our terms and conditions, you must also still hold valid travel insurance to cover your personal circumstances, (pre-existing conditions, etc). In Norway, you can show your UK Passport to receive limited urgent healthcare.
Data Roaming: Free data roaming will cease, therefore you need to be aware of any additional charges for using your phone and data abroad. Most of our properties have complimentary Wi-Fi for guests to use, but please remember that this is for social usage only.
ATOL & ABTA: As we are an ATOL and ABTA bonded UK travel company, guests booking with us enjoy comprehensive consumer protection. Your holiday will be protected under the Package Travel Regulations, which means you have the right to a full refund if, for any reason, we can no longer provide your holiday.
Visas: There are no current plans to implement necessary visas to travel in Europe in 2021, but if that changes we will ensure you are made aware before travelling with us.
The UK government and ABTA have also put together some useful information about holidaying in the EU after the 31st January 2020. These resources can be found below:
What is included in my experience?
All of our experiences include return flights to Ivalo Airport, transfers, half-board accommodation, a fun-filled activity day with a private family visit to see Santa, and complimentary snowsuits to keep you warm.
When do the pre-booked Optional Adventures operate?
For our 4 day breaks, our Optional Adventures are usually on your Adventure Day and for our 3 day breaks, the Northern Lights Snowmobile trip will be on the first evening, with all other excursions on the departure morning. These times are typically given upon arrival, but can change due to unforeseen circumstances
Is there a swimming pool?
Yes, there is a superb swimming-pool in the Santa's Hotel Holiday Club in Saariselkä, complete with water-slide, waves, water-chutes, two whirlpool spa-baths, an upstream ‘river’, children’s pool and pool-bar!
It is free for Holiday Club guests, and offers a special reduced rate, payable locally, for my other guests staying elsewhere.
Which airport can I fly from?
You can fly from 14 regional airports from around the UK, including London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh & East Midlands.
Our snow guarantee - what happens if there is a lack of snow?
The weather is an important factor on our Santa’s Lapland holidays, we’re always keeping an eye on the forecast and speaking with our local suppliers. If we have any cause for concern about the weather conditions, we will endeavour to contact you 7 days before your departure to let you know.
If we and our suppliers believe that there’s not enough snow to run the activities included in your Santa’s Lapland package, we will contact you again 72 hours before travel with an update and advice on the options available to you, which may include cancellation.
In the event that we decide that there is insufficient snow you will have the following choices:
- you can amend your travel dates to any of our other Santa’s Lapland dates that are available in the same season and at no cost, provided that the elements of the holiday (accommodation, room type, duration and party composition) remain the same. If you change any of the holiday elements, you’ll need to pay the difference in price if it is more expensive, or if the new arrangements are cheaper, you will receive a refund of the difference.
- If you decide not to travel at all, you can cancel with a full refund of all monies paid to Santa’s Lapland for the trip.
What kind of insurance do I need?
It is a condition of booking with us that you and your party take out suitable Wintersports Insurance from a reputable provider.
We would strongly recommend that you take travel insurance out at the time of booking that offers additional Coronavirus cover.
Our insurance partner Campbell Irvine offer travel insurance with additional comprehensive Covid-19 cover and will be happy to give you a quote. To contact them, please visit their website.
Do you have any airport parking offers?
Through our partnership with APH, we are able to offer up to 35% discount to all of our Santa’s Lapland customers at airports throughout the UK.
With our Lapland flights all departing early in the morning why not take advantage of some of the great ‘Airport Hotel and Parking’ packages and stay at an airport hotel the night before you fly. This takes the stress out of getting to the airport in the morning on time and finding the car park. Taking an extra night away this allows you to wake up fully refreshed & enjoy your entire break to Lapland
If an overnight stay is not for you then the ‘Meet & Greet’ Valet Parking is the perfect way of dropping your car off. ‘Meet & Greet’ Valet Parking saves you time, hassle free and so convenient. Simply drive to the airport terminal, where an APH chauffeur meets you and takes your car to their nearby secure car-park. On your return, your car is then delivered back to you directly at the terminal, for you to drive straight off home!
What if I want to go longer than 2 or 3 nights?
Our sister brand Inghams offers 3 & 4 night Santa Breaks to Levi and Ylläs in Finland as well as 7 night breaks to Levi, Ylläs and Saariselkä.