Lapland Hotels Bear´s Lodge

This review is split in 2, one for TUI and one for the hotel. I know this is trip advisor and really should be hotel only but I thought it would be useful to hear about TUI and what you'll get upto as well! Hotel review is further down. TUI This TUI review is SPECIFICALLY for people staying in Bears Lodge - Winter Wonderland Hotel. I'm calling this out as it MIGHT be different if you stay elsewhere. The hotel is really remote and that might impact activities etc. Check in: at Manchester airport was brilliant, Christmas music playing, elves welcoming you on board and festive picture opportunities Flight: 3hrs, Brilliant, singing Christmas songs, colouring competitions for the kids Arrival at Rovaniemi: Great met by the Elves and shown quickly to the bus Snow Gear: On the way to the hotel you stop at a warehouse and collect your snow gear, they provide boots, socks, gloves and snow suit. All of the equipment is really good, kept us really warm the whole time (in -15). We had our own hats, gloves and socks but great all the same. The process was super quick too, on and off really efficiently. (I'm going to review the hotel separately so going to keep talking about TUI at this point) Communication: I know this is a weird thing to call out, but I thought it was particularly bad / confusing and maybe even deliberately so (explained later) We all get an itinerary, but it's REALLY vague, and lacks any specifics, i.e. how long you spend in places, how long it lasts, where the excursions are (Santa village etc)... More detail later Arrival at the hotel: you get there about 2pm and check in isn't until 4pm. It's kind of weird because the TUI reps just kind wander off and you're a bit in limbo as to what the plan is, when evening meals are etc. All the information is on a hotel notice board though so easy enough to find. At this point we put our snow gear on and played in the snow for a bit until we were able to check in TUI Excursions chat: This is the bit about an hour after arriving where they sell you the excursions. This is the bit that was getting on my nerves the most because at this point, you still don't know EXACTLY what your taster day includes so made it a bit tricky to decide. (More in the Day 3 bit below)... So here's the detail about your stay Day 1: arrive (explained above, evening meals and entertainment in the hotel review bit) Day 2: Taster Day Specifics Starts ~9.45am (you get allocated a time based on your flight, more below) Husky Ride: 5/5 Bus arrives and taken to the woods for a Husky ride. This lasts for approx 2 mins but was really good. Snow Mobile: 4/5 Next you hop on a snow mobile for a ride through the woods, this was brilliant, the scenery is amazing and this last approx 5 mins Santa: 5/5 Then you arrive at a small cabin in the woods. Here you meet Santa. This was brilliant and our little girl loved it, we snuck her Christmas list to the Elf on the way in and she was amazed when Santa showed her her exact Christ

Great hotel, in fairness more like a youth hostel so do not expect plush or Al a cart but it works for a family Lapland holiday, isolated position so kids have the freedom to roam, kids club and activities are ok. Food is basic but ok. Plenty of sledging in the day. Negatives are that after the 2nd day get together they take away the ice hockey, football and sledges which is disappointing, also small bar area. One recommendation is bearshill husky experience it is fabulous

We stayed at the Lapland Bear’s lodge for 3 nights. We had a very good time: the staff is really friendly, the food is fine (enough options, could be more variety but if you stay only a few days it is completely fine. There is a possibility to rent ski/snowshoe material, and you can book different snow activities. The activities are not possible every day. The rooms are clean, a little bit outdated. The sauna in the hotel is small and has limited opening hours, there is a mixed sauna, and a sauna for only women and only men. It is a little bit small for the whole hotel but it was nice that it is there, there is also a pool to cool off. The location is the best of all: very nice nature, lots of snow. If you are looking for a stay in the middle of Lapland’s nature, i would recommend this hotel for sure!