the package deals go on the 21st dec and go for a week, this is going to be your best and cheapest option, can you go then?

You cna either stay in catered cabins or self catering, it's personal choice, the latter will be cheaper and probably nicer

if you can't go for the week then I think you may end up on one of the santa breaks which do 5 nights which maybe too child friendly ;-) but also, very expensive

if you can go for the week then you need to decide what type of resort, do you want:

rural log cabins in the woods near a village with a few amienities

log cabin in the town with bars etc

log cabin with ski to the door facilities

as for the activites, these can be done in any of the resorts, so let us know what you are looking for in a resort and we can guide you more, however, you really need to think about your dates and also, if you want christmas week, you need to book soon

Thanks Poe for your reply.

Yes we can go for one week starting on the 21st (rather than the santa trip!) - is it best to go for a package then or book flights/accomm separately? If we go for a package, who can you recommend?

In terms of resort, we want something traditional and not too busy but not too quiet, something kind of in between if possible! We def want log cabin and not a hotel but am not sure whether to do compeltely self catering or go for the half board option where you have to go to a hotel for breakfast and dinner?? Too many choices!!

I was looking at Levi or Yllas but as you say, it seems they are getting booked up pretty quickly.

Also, do you know about hiring thermal suits etc? Is it worth doing or shoudl we buy before? Thanks for your help....

the cost is about the same if you go for a package or DIY but it's just easier with a package

you cna check out inghams and crystalski but you have to get a move on

I would say go for yllas if you want to cabin in the woods, it's fab there, you can get a half board option if you want to but getting dressed and ready to go out for breakfast is boring and it can be a trek, best of just getting breaky in and cooking yourself, as for eating out, lots of places to choose from.

Yllas is a village and the cabins are dotted about the woods, if you want a traditional cabin then make sure that if you book with crystal you do not go for the E type cabin as this is a modern row house cabin, you need to go for the C or the E1 type, and with inghams you need to go for the yllas log cabins and not the armas villas

you can hire suits with either of these companies, you will pay something like £30 I think for the suit and the boots but to be honest with you, you may find it better to get something second hand from ebay, some great deals on at the mo, nothing wrong with the hire suits at all but not very chic and they are all in ones which are so 80's ;-)

you will need to get some thermals and fleece layers yourself regardless if you hire suits or not, you can wear jeans etc but they are not cumfy with a snow suit over them etc, go for comfort and warmth over style any day, you will need a warm hat and gloves and that's it really, you can go over the top about it (Like I do) if you want to but you don't need to really

going back to resorts, what about saaraselka? looks amazing, only problem is that there is a 3 hour coach trip from kittila airport, inghams go there if you are interested

if you go with crystal or inghams you also get a christmas gala dinner which is nice, take some crackers with you if you can

for an idea of costs for 4 of you (with flights from gatwick and transfers):

inghams going to yllas staying in a two bedroomed log cabin self catering £2838

as above but half board is £3404

if you want a big cabin in levi (like the one we stayed in which was lush) it will cost you £3646

I have just checked out crystal and they only have the 1 bedroomed log cabins left in yllas, these are nice but you have one bedroom and the mezzanine which had single bed, this is fine for kids but would drive adults mad as the ceiling slope, also, they get really hot up there so I wouldn't recommend you get one of these.

when you are looking at the cabins, they will say things like 2 roomed cabins, this means there are two rooms, not two bedrooms, they include the living area as one of the rooms so if you want 2 bedrooms make sure it says 3 or more rooms and you have read the description well

if you are seriously thinking of yllas then there are only 9 cabins left with inghams so you need to get a move on, the deposit is low with them so you may concider going with them and then if you cancel the loss it not too bad. inghams also have regonal airports so if you are not near gatwick this company will be the best option

nelsen ski also do yllas and levi but they are more expensive

as for excussions, it is cheaper to book these with your ski company such as inghams than locally (don't know why), you can pre book or book when you are out there, I highly recommend the super husky safari and the snowmobile trips, have a read of my reviews on tripadvisor for more info on the cabins and excussions etc and check out www.lapland.fruitbandit.com for info on clothing

I really do hope you go to lapland, it really is magical - I have also sent you a message - check your inbox

Saariselka is very nice, a small resort with log cabins dotted amongst the trees, a range of hotels and other places where you can eat, a few gift shops, pretty wooden chapel with glass wall overlooking the forest, plenty of floodlit cross country ski routes, floodlit ski runs (ski ing more limited than Levi) but does have the longest toboggan run in Europe and also an ice karting track. There are several companies doing all the usual safaris.

Inghams are the only Uk company doing a week long trip there. The transfer from Kittila airport is one hour 15 mins drive, a 20 min break and then another 1 hour 25 mins drive but the roads are straight and it is a very smooth ride so didn't seem too much an ordeal and the scenery is lovely.

As the resort is so far North we have had no problem with snow cover during our two visits in Dec. and have seen the Northern lights both years

We are returning again for New Year.