sky hotel

Hi due to go out to the Sky Hotel on 22nd December. Can anyone advise on how much snow there is, the web cams dont look too promising currently.Anyone travelled with Esprit and got any good/bad points and things to watch out for? Your views would be welcomed.

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Where is this hotel situated??

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Hi CameronsMum

I got back from a 4 day %26#39;wonder of santa%26#39; tour with esprit staying in the type D log cabins at the Sky Hotel, Ounasvaara yesterday.

We were also concerned about the amount of snow and although there wasn%26#39;t much and it was melting when we left - there was still enough to create the WOW factor for the kids.

We felt that considering it had been -26 only two weeks ago we were quite blessed to have only 0 to -2. One guide said that his eyes were freezing together in that extreme cold so this would have been a bit %26#39;hardcore%26#39; for our kids aged 8 and 6!

I believe that snow if forecast so hope you get some more!

On to the hotel... when we arrived at about 1pm, our guide Warren (wannabe %26#39;Bill%26#39; / %26#39;Ted%26#39; or %26#39;Wayne%26#39;s World%26#39; extra %26quot;yeh dude!%26quot;) told us that our cabin hadn%26#39;t been cleaned yet and that we%26#39;d have to wait until 3:30pm. We were all starving having got up at 5am and only had a light breakfast on the plane.

We looked around for some signs of food (being a full board package) but were told that we were not full board and there was nothing to eat until 6pm! Evidently the hotel does not serve lunch and this is only provided by Esprit on the following days.

We were vexed to say the least and tried along with another couple (who had walked into a dirty room) to get Warren to order us some take out pizza or something but after many phone calls were told we could get a taxi into Rovaniemi if we needed to eat!

I would have liked a little more appeasing and perhaps even a gesture like some free grub but it was all a bit too much effort for both the hotel and the guide who in particular seemed to resent anything that disrupted his laid back attitude.

When we finally got our key and dropped our bags off at the cabin, the key wouldn%26#39;t lock it so we had to leave all our stuff in an open cabin. The hotel staff by then had us down as trouble makers I think as we had been warned that the locks can freeze. However, when we returned it had been fixed.

So, that was how it started on the first day - pretty irritating BUT that%26#39;s where we left the troubles. We had no intention of letting a few glitches spoil our holiday and from then on everything was BRILLIANT!!!

The cabin was fantastic, we stayed in I17 which was super luxurious and looked so idylic in the snow.

We spent the evening toboganning half way down the side of the ski slope (although some people did get told off for this and there is now a notice up on the hotel door - oops! great fun though). You hire these for a 10 euro deposit at reception. There%26#39;s also a smaller run which is OK to use.

Day 2 started with snow mobilling. This wasn%26#39;t quite as much fun as I%26#39;d envisaged as kids aren%26#39;t allowed on them as I%26#39;d thought. I had to go in a sliegh behind a driver whilst hubby took one off on his own. Mind you I could have swapped half way but was a bit of a wimp!

The artic circle ceremony was fabulous - I just loved the whole place although my son did get wiped out by his dad togoganning down a hill to the frozen lake and whacked his head - not good.

Later, the bus dropped us off by Lordi square were I had some retail therapy BUT a word of advice, if you think you might wait to see some other stuff later in your trip don%26#39;t! I thought they%26#39;d be other opportunities to get stuff but there wasn%26#39;t and I%26#39;m now a bit gutted that I didn%26#39;t buy some lovely thick socks and some felt elf-style slippers! I saw the slippers at Santa Park but they were double the price!

We chose not to go on the northern lights tour that night even though Esprit were trying to sell it to people. It was quite obviously cloudy and paying £300 doesn%26#39;t make any difference to the conditions! The best place to see them is for free on top of the Sky hotel roof although the steps up are super treacherous! I can%26#39;t quite understand why they don%26#39;t grit around the hotel or something - one little boy slipped getting off the coach and ended up in A%26amp;E so beware!

We did see the northern lights although very faintly on the last night which was great - I hope the conditions are better for you.

Day 3 was the Santa day and oh my goodness - it was brilliant! We were taken to some location in the woods and the whole thing was so well planned and authentic with plenty of activities to keep you occupied when not on %26#39;the hunt%26#39;.

Firstly, the husky sledging...WOW we went on a massive frozen lake which was so beautiful. The amazing thing about the place is the colours in the sky - it%26#39;s either sun rise or sun set during the day light hours which makes for great colours. This lake was so open and picturesque.

The dogs are bonkers though - they get so hyped up and bark until they start running! Then they are sooo fast that my husband had to keep the break on all the time to stop a pile up! If you let a bit of space come between you and the sleigh in front you can then take off the break and let them go full belt! Amazing!

Later on we were told we could take these sort of chair ski things down to the lake. It was just us four in the middle skiing around by ourselves which was (help I%26#39;m running out of adjectives!)... super!

When we actually started the hunt for santa, we didn%26#39;t realise but I won%26#39;t spoil that part for you because it was so good and anyway it%26#39;s all top secret.

That afternoon, we went to the ski school at the bottom of the slope (walk down side by the way - it%26#39;s quicker) We had an hours lesson for me and the kids while hubby took off on his own. This was fun too, although knackering so I went on strike and demanded a taxi home rather than going back up the slope!

The santa park show was just OK although the kids loved getting up on stage to do a dance routine (gutted I forgot the cameras!). We had a drink in the Ice Bar and saw the sculptures.

If I could, I%26#39;d do it all again right now. The kids were totally convinced by Santa and his elves and I am also sure that that was the real Santa - a little tear might have come to my eye when we%26#39;d all met him.

One slight issue was the food for the kids - if they%26#39;re picky like mine, they%26#39;ll probably only eat bread and fries if their lucky. There%26#39;s one choice or nothing - we would probably go to a supermarket for some back up supplies if we go again.

Hope you have a wonderful time and that it snows lots without being too cold,

best wishes

Justine

xxx

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