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Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams

Stranraer, United...
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235 posts
6 reviews
5 helpful votes
Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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Hello

I'm looking to go to Lapland with my son. He will be 3 in October so perhaps too young for this Christmas so thinking ahead to Dec 2013 when he will be 4. Is this a better age? Does anyone know how soon I can book for Dec 2013 please?

I've done extensive research and am very keen on Saariselka with Espirit. Has anyone done this trip and can you recommend? Which is the best hotel-torn between Holiday club and Tunturi. Looking at Inghams/Monarch though the prices are so much cheaper for a longer trip but don't want anything too commercialized which is putting me off Levi a bit.

I really don't want to get this wrong! Thanks everyone.

Stranraer, United...
Level Contributor
235 posts
6 reviews
5 helpful votes
1. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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I should have added that I've looked at a ski week with Inghams in a s/c log cabin for Saariselka-this seems much cheaper than a 2/3 night santa break. Has anyone been on these? It's so hard to make a decision! Thank you.

liverpool
Level Contributor
580 posts
9 reviews
14 helpful votes
2. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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Hi

I had the exact same dilemas as you a few months ago! We couldn't choose between Thomsons and Esprit for Saariselka as they both went to the Holiday Club (which we wanted) but vary in price by £1000+!

In the end I chose Thomsons for the following reasons:

- Date for 3 night trip was 3 days later - the later the better for snow guarantee!

-Esprit only give you one type A room for family of 4 whereas Thomsons don't count the sofa bed so you actually get 2 twin rooms (both have sofa bed) for the same family of 4! Lots of people with esprit commented on room size being small so i felt this addressed this issue!

- As thomsons only started with Saariselka last year, i found it hard to get reviews so i contacted several people directly through trip advisor and asked for details of their Thsomson experience. All said they went the same Santa resort as Esprit - just different day, and they do al the same activities inc huskies, snowmobiles, reindeers, lapish ceremony, ice fishing etc (even though some isnt mentioned in Thomson brochure). The activities last 10-15 long - same as Esprit and they got a snowmobile/sleigh ride on a search for santa lasting 15 mins plus a guaranteed 10 min private meeting with santa in his cabin.

- The gala meeting are set in the same hotels but in different rooms. One person told me she sat in on the esprit one for half hour by mistake and said its the exact same set up only Thomsons seemed livelier as they had kids up on the stage etc etc!

- Esprit use easyjet and i dont think they do anything special on the plane out (may be wrong) whereas Thomsons last year gave out activity bags and had party games etc on the flight.

So we go on the 16th Dec, 3 nights holiday club from Manchester for 2 adults and 2 kids (aged 5 and 7) for £2200 - over £1000 cheaper than esprit. (I chose B&B as you get lunch on activity day and gala meal included so didnt seem worth paying £250 for 2 evening meals - we could get more choice for less when we get there.

Ive never been so obviously only going of other peoples comparisons but the many people i contacted with Thomsons Saariselka all confirmed the above so i was happy to save the cash for trips!

Stranraer, United...
Level Contributor
235 posts
6 reviews
5 helpful votes
3. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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That's great. thanks for your detailed response which answers lots of my queries. It's so hard isn't it, trying to make the right decision when there's so much choice!!

i've looked at Thomson again and for 3 nights there is a difference in price of £800 for 2 adults and 1 child. It's a massive difference and too big to ignore really!

Do you know if all the activities are included in the price though Kitty Kat I can't see that they are.I don't mind booking when we are there of course as long as it won't be really expensive!! Thanks for your help

Stranraer, United...
Level Contributor
235 posts
6 reviews
5 helpful votes
4. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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I've just seen the activities are included, thanks. It's bizarre ins't it how there can be such a difference in price to same place. plus Espirit fly out on 7th and 14th for 3 days whereas the Thomson one is 16th, which as you say would be better for snow, and nearer Christmas. We'd be flying from Manchester too and it's a nice early flight plus goes to Ivalo whereas I think Inghams fly to Kittila which put me off as really long transfer.

Thanks for your help

Stranraer, United...
Level Contributor
235 posts
6 reviews
5 helpful votes
5. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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I also like the fact that with Thomsons your activity day is on your first full day whereas with Espirit it is on you 2nd full day. Think its best on first day as you can then decide which activities you like best to do on your free day.

liverpool
Level Contributor
580 posts
9 reviews
14 helpful votes
6. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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exactly! May see you on the plane then if you book for this year!

The online price for the 16th is significantly less than for the week before or after too.

The people i spoke too said the activities inc reindeer, snowmobiles, huskies (min 10-15 mins), mini skidoos for kids, lapish ceremony, ice fishing, tobogganing etc all on the same day. The trips for Thomsons look the same cost as booking direct with local agencies but im going to wait and see as i think my kids would prefer lots of smaller trips of say an hour rather than 2 big trips of 4 hours if you see what i mean!

A few people said they didn't bother booking trips as they felt those on the activity day were enough and spent the rest of the time on the toboggan run!

Thomsons today emailed me to confirm they provide suits, boots, hat/balaclava and gloves. They suggest buying your own hat too for kids as everyone has the same so all the kids look the same!

I cant wait - always wanted to go and now ive got kids i have the perfect excuse!

Arsy, France
Level Contributor
3,328 posts
88 reviews
212 helpful votes
7. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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inghams do saariselka (or they at least used to) so you could go for a week if you wanted to

also, have you checked out crystalski as they are back going to lapland and have some nice options

Stranraer, United...
Level Contributor
235 posts
6 reviews
5 helpful votes
8. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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Thanks Poe. I've looked at Inghams but was put off by the long transfer from Kittila. A week is better value but it's more for my son is only 3 so think a week might be just too long and would rather have a Santa break that concentrated on Santa activities. If we like it (which I'm sure we will!!) we'll prob come back again for a week and sort out our own activities in a couple of years when my son is a bit older.

I didn't understand that either Kitty, how it is more expensive earlier than the 16th-bizarre! That's a good point about the hat-I've seen some on AMazon which i'll get.just need to persuade my husband it's a good idea to go this year now as he thinks we should wait till next year when our son is 4. My logic is he will still enjoy it even though he won't remember it when he is older and we do intend going back in 2/3 years anyway.

Arsy, France
Level Contributor
3,328 posts
88 reviews
212 helpful votes
9. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams
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the 3 hour trip is fine - I hate bus trips but it was good fun and there were lots of toddlers on the bus - i found that the adults got more aggy than the kids :)

10. Re: Saariselka with Espirit or Yllas/Levi with Inghams

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