A mother from Nottinghamshire has revealed how she saved an impressive £500 on her family's magical Christmas trip to Lapland by choosing the authentic Finnish experience over the UK alternative.
The Price Shock That Sparked A Better Idea
Jen Carr, 36, had initially planned to visit Lapland UK in either Ascot or Manchester with her six-year-old son, her friend, and their child. However, her research revealed that a day trip to the UK winter wonderland could cost around £1,100.
"I was asking on my socials how much people were spending on Lapland UK because I know it can be quite competitive to get certain tickets, and the prices get ridiculous," Jen explained. "A few families told me that they'd spent over £1,000 on Lapland UK, just for the day ticket and a hotel."
The Smart Booking Strategy That Slashed Costs
Refusing to abandon the Christmas dream, Jen had a revelation: "Surely you can go to the real Lapland for that?" She immediately began searching for flights on Skyscanner and discovered that the cheapest departure airports were Birmingham and London Stansted.
She successfully booked direct return flights from Stansted to Finland for £103 per person, totalling £412 for their group of four. The flights are scheduled for Monday, 15 December, and they're travelling with hand luggage only to keep costs down.
Even though they face a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the airport from Nottinghamshire, they've cleverly arranged to park on someone's private drive for free, avoiding expensive airport parking fees.
Thinking Outside the Tourist Zone for Accommodation
With accommodation in the popular area of Rovaniemi either booked up or priced as high as £2,000 for two nights, Jen looked further afield. She found a room at a reindeer farm approximately an hour's drive from Rovaniemi for just £187 for two nights, accommodating two adults and two children.
The room includes a small kitchenette, allowing them to prepare their own meals, and features a shared bathroom. To facilitate their stay outside the main tourist area, they hired a car for £147, which they'll use for the journey from the airport to their accommodation and for exploring.
"We thought, it's in the middle of nowhere, so it's going to be forestry and snowy. There are going to be reindeer there, and we might even see the northern lights because it's in the middle of nowhere," Jen said.
Free and Low-Cost Activities Make the Magic
During their stay, the group plans to enjoy sledging at their accommodation and feeding the reindeer. They'll also drive to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, where entry is free and visitors can meet Santa Claus without charge.
To manage food costs, they'll shop at a supermarket for meals, preparing sandwiches, noodles, and pasta. Jen is even bringing their own marshmallows for toasting and flasks with homemade hot chocolate to enjoy by the open fires, avoiding expensive on-site purchases.
The total cost works out to approximately £149 per person, including flights and two nights' accommodation - significantly cheaper than many Lapland UK day tickets.
Jen's advice for other families? "It's research and being a bit flexible, being willing to step out of the box a little bit and go a bit further afield. Maybe travel from an airport that isn't the closest one to you and try to travel without luggage."
Jen Carr, a family travel expert and founder of The Travel Mum, regularly shares affordable holiday deals for families on her website.
