Hi. We are hoping to take our 2 kids aged 3 and 6 to visit Father Christmas in December. We havent booked yet, and am a bit bamboozled by the huge choice of trips. We are probably most likely to all go on the one day or two day trip if funds allow. These also seem to have a choice of activities, and I am not sure which would best suit our kids at their ages? Won't a one dayer be too exhausting? Has anyone been? I would hate it to be a disappointment! It is still too soon to reveal that Father Christmas 'may' not exist!

Hi, we went last year with our 2 boys (6 &4 at the time). Went with Canterbury Travel on their one day trip to Enontekio. It was quite tiring for them but they just slept all the way homeon the plane, although the youngest also fell asleep on the snowmobile transfer from the airport to the village. This was a brilliant trip, with absolutely no commercialisation! The visit to santa was on our own with no queues and imagine there faces when the elves shouted the boys names as we walked through the lantern-lit forest to santas home. Priceless! It is a long day and remember it is dark all the time you are there. the thermal suits and boots were no problem, all just about brand new, the kids had no trouble getting ones to fit so don't worry about the cold, in fact we could have probably worn less layers. I would definitely recommend canterbury travel and yes i supppose it would be less tiring if you stayed one night but the kids will love it! The only downside was the scramble for suits and boots at the airport but it is fairly well organised and you're soon off to the village being towed by snow mobiles through the forests. Canterbury travel do get booked up very early though, we booked in August and went on Dec 23 from stanstead.

Esprit holidays are currently offering free child places on their 3 day Santa's Magic trips to Lapland. 1st child goes free and 2nd child goes half price, for various dates departing from Gatwick. Adults from ?659, includes flights, transfers, sleigh rides, private meeting with Father Christmas, thermal outersuit loan, lunch and 2 nights in 4 star hotel accommodation. For more information and booking details go to: http://www.takethefamily.com/trips/lapland_santasmagic/ Limited availability, so book now to avoid disappointment. Happy ho-ho-holidays from Take the family

Hi nick, i see u went on the lapland trip last year, i am due to go in December my father has booked it for me... the only thing i was wondering was do we need to take a lot of money with us.... dont want to get a load changed and then not use it, but i dont want to go without much and wish i had took more... Our trip has only been booked today my kids are 5 and 10, and they wont know till we get to the airport, im so excited

Hi Chrissy, To be honest with the day trip we went on with Canterbury travel, we didn't need to spend anything!! Food was all free, a hot buffet running all day.....there was a really small shop at the airport in lapland and we bought a couple of christmas decorations just as a momento and that was it but obviously you don't have to buy anthing. The kids were so engrossed in toboganning and everything else that was going on even if there was a shop they certainly weren't interested in it(but i don't think there were anymore shops!). So I would say ENJOY every second of it and don't worry about the shopping! Have a lovely time, it really is magical....just go with the flow and let the kids have a great time.

Hi nick, Thanks for you post, I got a bit of cash changed, but like you more than anything its for momentos and something for the kids to remind them of the trip in years to come, i have heard a lot of stories about this trip and they are all good, so i am more excited now than ever before, we go on Sunday, So thanks for letting me know, i aint gonna worry no more

Chrissy, let us all know how it goes.....

Just to let u all know, we went on the Lapland trip on sunday 17th Dec, have a wonderful day, it was not stop from when we got to airpport in birmingham to be greated by a giant rudolph and a husky dog, we got to lapland and the fun did not stop all day, but we were not rushed once, it went at a lovley speed so you got to see and do everything, dinner was great there and it was an enjoyable for both my kids, the 5 year old loved the santa part and the 10 year old love the fun and adventures, and i just loved all of it, It was a magical day that i will remember for a long time

Hi Chrissy. Really pleased that your trip was such a success for both you and your kids! We unfortunately didn't get to go this year, but are planning to next year when the kids will be 4 and 7 years. Thanks to your fantastic review, I think we may well do the one day trip too. Amazing really that so much gets fitted in. Hooray to you for taking them somewhere so magical! Glad it went so well.

If you want to go on a particular date from your preferred airport, remember to book early as possible...these trips get booked up very quickly (particularly the one's very close to Christmas)