My husband and I travelled here on Boxing Day with our 9 year old son for a Tui Santa trip. It has been one of the most magical times of our lives. Well organised by omnipresent Tui Reps, you arrive in the wilderness of a snow drenched National Park via a circuit of tree-lined roads where Reindeer can be spotted amongst the trees and yours are the first tyre tracks of the day. You’re greeted by elves at the airport, cheekily throwing snowballs, who accompany you throughout on the extra trips and offer a host of activities for kids and grown ups from snow shoeing and husky sleighs to camp fire songs and 24 hour sledging. The elves are magnificent, multi-lingual, informative, ever perky and full of wonder. We stayed 3 nights -
Enjoying a reindeer ride on a frozen lake (slow but extraordinary), a trip to the Snow Village (jaw dropping carving) and an extra Huskey Ride through a moonlit forest (just wow). We met Mrs Claus who sat with us quietly and gently, listening to our son with such beautiful attention. We met her husband as part of the Festive Finale on the final night - appearing as he does in the snow and then meeting families one by one with equal measure of quiet mystery. Faintly but still there, we saw the Northern Lights in a star pricked sky on our final night. The hotel itself is a fell hotel, built for skiing and walking sometime after the war. The staff are gentle and kind. The rooms are more akin to youth hostels - basic but functional and perfect for getting in and out of layers of snowy garb. They are warm and you can’t open a window - so be sure to pack some lighter things to sleep in. It is so relaxed and easy. The food is fine - Finnish, buffet style. And there’s always snacks and sweets around - little cakes and drinks. If I came again I’d have packed my slippers to pad around the hotel in. All this with the backdrop of the national park in all its winter beauty. I could have stayed in its silence forever.

Ski resorts tend towards party, bars and booze although many visitors come to Lapland for the nature, the amazing fells, the quiet and the awe. Although there ought to be, at present, there are no organic, green sustainability respecting resorts, yet Pallas Hotel comes close to it. With its exquisite gourmet food, refusal to refurbish everything with plastic and new paint, its ice swimming pond, incredible views, history and tradition, it is the only Finnish hotel that qualifies as a Nordic equivalent to an alpine resort. The dozen fell tops at your fingertips, the wooden interiors, the laid back homely ambiance, the wild fauna and flora, the quiet, the views, the library rooms, the kitchen, the kitchen and the kitchen, and the chef... It is a gem for nature and hiking lovers.

Omg this was my trip of a lifetime. Something I’ve dreamed of since a small child and dream come true at 46yrs old! There was just me and my husband with another couple and no children but that didn’t deter us. The hotel is in the middle of a national park and is so unspoilt in its surroundings. Yes the hotel is a bit dated but it added to the experience. Food was a bit bland but nothing bad about it as it was edible. Drinks were a bit sparse and staff were busy all the time so the bar got a bit packed at times. Only downside was I expected a nice big fireplace but it’s tiny and they only put two small logs on it at a time. Hey ho, we are in LAPLAND.
The whole experience just was amazing. Can’t fault the hotel staff and elves. All very pleasant and someone always about.
Definitely a trip of a lifetime and would definitely return again. Maybe take the grandkids one day!! Dog sledding and snowmobiles were the best. Miss out on the reindeer ride as that was way overpriced and a big disappointment unfortunately.