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Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!

London, United...
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110 posts
13 reviews
5 helpful votes
Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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I'm trying to organise a pre-christmas Lpaland Santa trip for our family of 3 adults 9inc Grandma) and 7 year old and almost 4 year olds sons from 19-23rd December.

We are looking for magical, a low-key and uncommercial experience, so have discounted Rovaniemi. ldeally we'd lik to be in the middle of nowhere but my husband is nervous of flying so we need to go with a company which flies direct. As our younger son is quite small we thought a hotel with a pool would be good so he can have some fun out of the cold. So that narrows the choice even more.

A trip with The Magic of Lapland to The Saaga Spa Hotel seems to tick most of the boxes but I am a little put off by the fact it's in a ski resort The photos show a modern building surrounded by car parks so it's not the "pretty little hotel nestling in the woods" that I had dreamed of!

Can anyone reassure me that it it is more attractive/magical in real life than it looks, or suggest an alternative with pool and direct flights?

Arsy, France
Level Contributor
3,328 posts
88 reviews
212 helpful votes
1. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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on teh 24th the village of yllas puts candles out in the snow along all the paths - it really is lovely and very christmassy

Wallasey, United...
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1 post
4 reviews
2 helpful votes
2. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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Yllas is very magical at Chritmas all low lighting and gorgeous.

look at saariselka for a very out of the way and remote Lapland experience

Edited: 11 years ago
Hull
Level Contributor
16 posts
3. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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YES YES YES !!!!!!!! Magical place .........Log Cabins are much more christmassy than the hotels.....this is our third visit and we just love it !!

southampton
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65 posts
18 reviews
22 helpful votes
4. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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Ylllas is lovely, we went last Xmas and are returning this year. Magical. Look at the Akas Hotel , sometimes called the Snow elf. Has a small pool.

Ashton-under-Lyne...
4 posts
2 reviews
5. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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We stayed at the snow elf over Christmas last year, it was brilliant, pool was great bit cold but not that bad. The resort is great it is just off the beaten track but walking distance to the local restaurants if needed,that by the way look like log cabins, not commercial. There is a supermarket and if you walk out of supermarket door turn back on yourself there is a place called Alko and yes it's sells spirits etc cheap. Behind the supermarket is a lake great place to see northern lights we saw then just before midnight on Christmas eve. Beware in Lapland there Xmas day is on 24th place close early, not that it's busy. You can go up past snow princess hotel and go to santas shop, opposite this hotel you can hire snowmobiles, we did great fun, but you need to be a bit wise as the snowey woods look the same, I wouldn't have done this if I wasn't with my husband. Xmas eve is unforgetable with all the street lights out... Amazing... The hotel saaga for me was too far out with nothing around.. I will go back to snow elf hotel but be aware the basic accomodation isnt good cant swing a cat, we were luck we upgraded to a beautiful modern appartment, cost 50 euros night but it was worth it, the woods are all around the hotel really great. I want to return over Xmas for 5 days this year but no operaters are running this trip... Still looking...

Ashton-under-Lyne...
4 posts
2 reviews
6. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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We stayed at the snow elf over Christmas last year, it was brilliant, pool was great bit cold but not that bad. The resort is great it is just off the beaten track but walking distance to the local restaurants if needed,that by the way look like log cabins, not commercial. There is a supermarket and if you walk out of supermarket door turn back on yourself there is a place called Alko and yes it's sells spirits etc cheap. Behind the supermarket is a lake great place to see northern lights we saw then just before midnight on Christmas eve. Beware in Lapland there Xmas day is on 24th place close early, not that it's busy. You can go up past snow princess hotel and go to santas shop, opposite this hotel you can hire snowmobiles, we did great fun, but you need to be a bit wise as the snowey woods look the same, I wouldn't have done this if I wasn't with my husband. Xmas eve is unforgetable with all the street lights out... Amazing... The hotel saaga for me was too far out with nothing around.. I will go back to snow elf hotel but be aware the basic accomodation isnt good cant swing a cat, we were luck we upgraded to a beautiful modern appartment, cost 50 euros night but it was worth it, the woods are all around the hotel really great. I want to return over Xmas for 5 days this year but no operaters are running this trip... Still looking...

Southern England
Level Contributor
181 posts
7. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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We stayed at the Villa Armas which are log cabins behind the Snow Elf hotel. They were fab and you can use the pool at the Snow Elf. I wouldn't stay at the Saaga hotel it has never appealed to me, it doesn't look very christmassy to me and it is surrounded by car parks!

sussex
Level Contributor
23 posts
1 review
1 helpful vote
8. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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Have you looked at going to Saariselka with Esprit? We went there about 6 years ago and it was absolutely fantastic. Saariselka is a beautiful place and Esprit fly there direct. You get met at the airport by elves and real reindeers!

Yllas is very nice but if you are after a magical Christmas feel I wouldn't recommend the Saaga. We have passed it on our way to the Yllas Log Cabins and it really is just a hotel in a car park!

York, United Kingdom
Level Contributor
17 posts
58 reviews
45 helpful votes
9. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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Oh no! We're going to the SAag on a santa special with thompsons. Now lm really worried. Has anyone got anything good to say about it???

Finland
Level Contributor
896 posts
11 reviews
13 helpful votes
10. Re: Is Yllas "Christmassy enough?!
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Do not put much weigh on the words of someone just driving by. See the reviews. Lots of people review Saaga well

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g930792-d1168390-Reviews-Yllas_Saaga-Yllasjarvi_Lapland.html

It has a splendid location next to the mighty Ylläs fell.

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