Information from Natalie Backman
I'm really bad at keeping track of things but luckily a friend asked me about Finland just after we got back so everything was fresh in my mind. Below is the message I sent her. The place we stayed would be too small for your family. We just looked on airbnb. We loved or vacation there! The kids still say it's one of their favorite trips. It was very cold, especially the dog sledding. My favorite were the reindeer rides (it is the tour in conjunction with the ice fishing and snow shoeing). Our reindeer were crazy and took off booking it through the single track forest. Apparently we were lucky though, I had a friend at the same time in Norway who said their reindeer ride was slow and boring. We also went to Santa's village. It was fun but not as cool as I was expecting. I did still like it though. We spent a night in an ice hotel. Jonny and the kids were fine, I was freaking freezing! Ice go carting in Rovaniemi was fun.
Anyhoo, below is all the info I sent my friend a couple of years ago, hope it helps and have fun! It is such a unique place!
I wrote down all the information while it was fresh in my head: kerttu@wildnordic.fi (dog sledding)
http://www.homeaway.com/
www.laplandsafaris.com (recommended tour company from our homeaway owner)
kael@levi.fi http://www.reindeerandfishing.
Snowmobiling with http://www.snowfunsafaris.com/
Flew in to Rovaniemi airport where santa’s village is. We rented a car and drove 2 ½ hours north to Äkäslompolo. The airport near Levi would have been more convenient but was more expensive. Yllas ski resort was great, just one gondola – the rest T-bars. Levi not as good of a resort but has more amenities. You can rent cross countries with lots of places to go. Hope that helps!
