Starstruck by Santa

Bev Fearis and family went in search of the man of the moment on a two-night break at Santa’s Lapland.

The magic began the moment we arrived at London Gatwick. Our trip to see the big man was in a specially chartered easyJet flight to Ivalo, Finland, and sparkling away in the corner of the departure hall was a dedicated Lapland check-in desk.

We left grey, drizzly London and three hours later we were in the winter wonderland of Finnish Lapland. According to the Captain, it was minus 2, which is mild for this part of the world where temperatures can dip to minus 40. Everywhere was covered in snow and we were already feeling festive.

Santa had sent some of his elves to greet us. They chased the children around the baggage hall, playing tag and posing for photos. Freddie, aged 4, was delighted.

After checking in to the Hotel Riekonlinna in Saariselka and getting kitted out in our thermal snowsuits, boots and gloves, we grabbed toboggans from reception and headed to the next door toboggan run.

The next day’s activities at the Arctic Circle Centre began with a reindeer ride through the forest.

Freddie and I snuggled up underneath the blankets and enjoyed the ride. We were taken to two giant igloos. Inside one was an ice bar serving hot chocolate and schnapps and in the other we found a couple of mischievous elves…

Santa’s Lapland is all about the children, of course, but the adults are encouraged to join in too and this little elf show ended with us all on our feet, singing and joining in with the fun.

It’s not just the grown-ups who get the chance to drive a skidoo at the Arctic Circle Centre. Children aged four and up get the chance to speed around in this mini-skidoo. Freddie loved it.

The highlight of Daddy’s day was definitely the husky ride, but he wasn’t allowed to go as fast as he wanted too – thank goodness!

Freddie shouted ‘faster, Daddy, faster’ as we raced through the wintry wilderness. It was only a 10-15-minute ride but you can book a two-hour excursion with a 30-minute drive for €117 adults, €91 children (2-11).

The main event of the day is the Magical Snowmobile Sleigh Ride (known to the grown-ups as the Search for Santa). It took us to this log cabin where we had a snow ball fight with two of his naughty elves before being led inside.

Meeting Santa Clause was truly magical and Freddie was so starstruck he forgot how to speak. Luckily Freddie’s letter had arrived in time, and also the picture he’d drawn. "I hear you’ve been a good boy," said Santa, in a kind, gentle voice just as I had imagined. I was a bit starstruck too.

The elves joined Santa and Freddie for another picture, before we said our goodbyes and thank yous. Our once-in-a-liftetime trip was coming to an end and we’d accomplished our mission to find the real Santa. Happy Christmas everyone.

Santa’s Lapland is run by Esprit Holidays. Alongside the London Gatwick flights, for winter 2015 the operator is adding flights to Ivalo from Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, Birmingham, Bristol, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Exeter and Luton.