We were on a trip of a lifetime to Lapland in Finland, and as we heard ‘figgy pudding’ and ‘toffee’ being called out, you would be forgiven for thinking they were part of the sumptuous buffet at our hotel. But no, these were the names of the fun and knowledgeable ‘elves’ who were bringing our magical Christmas trip alive. Our hotel, the 4T Lapland Hotel Saaga , was a scenic 40-minute drive from Kittilä airport, during which our elf flagged points of interest, including the runway that Santa uses for take off and landing on Christmas Eve.
The hotel’s location, in the heart of the Yllasjarvi ski area, was the perfect base for everything in this Arctic wonderland. The decor is a mix of cosiness and modern Scandi design , and floor to ceiling windows provide impressive views of the ever-changing sky, and a swimming and spa area like any you would find in a luxury French alpine resort but also perfectly equipped for children. Our room had the added bonus of being able to watch skiers navigate the slopes from the comfort of our own beds.
It’s only a 20-minute drive to get to all our scheduled winter activities, and with festive fairytales and quizzes from Figgy Pudding along the way, there wasn’t a single cry of ‘Are we there yet?’ READ MORE: ‘I flew to Mauritius expecting a ‘fly-and-flop’ winter sun holiday but I was wrong’ READ MORE: ‘I found the perfect Christmas holiday in a country you wouldn’t expect – it was like a movie’ Of course, ri.