Magical Lapland

Booking through Natalie at Designer Travel made everything so simple, even the headache that is COVID!

Natalie holds your hand like a responsible adult throughout so you always feel in good hands.

There was an early morning drive to Stansted (Natalie arranged parking close to the terminal so only a 2 min walk the other end!) and a coach journey the other end which I must admit I wasn’t looking forward to but everything was so seamless that it made no odds. The coach journey was made bearable by the staff of Canterbury Travel: enthusiastic, knowledgeable, positive - everything you want from a tour operator.

They kept the kids (and adults!) entertained through their tiredness with songs and stories and even a cheeky bit of ‘Elf’ on the coach TV. Really impressed with the hotel and the room. Super cosy, big enough for two adults and two kids and spotless. There was even a large heated cupboard for your gloves and socks to dry out in. We even set the cupboard to get everything toasty for the morning.

The food was better than you’d expect from a tour-type experience. Decent enough choice for the little ones too. The experience was really made by the staff who were excellent throughout. The “elves” stayed in character with a near religious fervour and they all had jokes for the adults and time for the kids which really made it special for all ages. The kids had an absolute blast. There was playing in the snow, tobogganing, reindeer sleigh rides, husky rides, the dance party and, of course, meeting Santa. Everything was well organised and the staff, again, would bend over backwards to ensure everyone was included and enjoying themselves.

I can really recommend both this trip and having someone like Natalie on hand to help out when things (like COVID requirements) get tricky. Her advice in the booking process was invaluable.