Yllashumina is the perfect Artic winter lodge with all the facilities delivered to a very high standard. The website photos of the hotel to not do the place justice! Usually they make a place look better then it is, not the case here! We stayed in a Superior cabin, number 47 overlooking the lake, but only two min walk from the reception which also incorporates the lounges, bar, restaurant. The ski garage / shop, steam, sauna and jacuzzi huts are all next door. The cabin is very well equipped with an enclosed porch with cupboards and dryer for wet gear, an open plan lounge, kitchenette and bedroom with a full bathroom and a huge his and hers all in one walk in shower! The cabin also has fridge, coffee machine, kettle, TV, CD player and speaker system, Apple docking station (30 pin connection only), glasses, cups, plates, and a small amount of tea bags , coffee and hot chocolate capsules. There is also a drying cabinet for wet and damp gear that has controllable temperature and timer. The bed is a king size with a medium to firm mattress and two separate single quilts. Heating is under floor and operated via a wall thermostat just like home. It also has a sensor that switches the heating to low when your out or asleep. When it detects movement it raises the heating up to the set thermostat temperature. At the front...Yllashumina is the perfect Artic winter lodge with all the facilities delivered to a very high standard.

The website photos of the hotel to not do the place justice! Usually they make a place look better then it is, not the case here!

We stayed in a Superior cabin, number 47 overlooking the lake, but only two min walk from the reception which also incorporates the lounges, bar, restaurant. The ski garage / shop, steam, sauna and jacuzzi huts are all next door.

The cabin is very well equipped with an enclosed porch with cupboards and dryer for wet gear, an open plan lounge, kitchenette and bedroom with a full bathroom and a huge his and hers all in one walk in shower!

The cabin also has fridge, coffee machine, kettle, TV, CD player and speaker system, Apple docking station (30 pin connection only), glasses, cups, plates, and a small amount of tea bags , coffee and hot chocolate capsules. There is also a drying cabinet for wet and damp gear that has controllable temperature and timer.

The bed is a king size with a medium to firm mattress and two separate single quilts.

Heating is under floor and operated via a wall thermostat just like home. It also has a sensor that switches the heating to low when your out or asleep. When it detects movement it raises the heating up to the set thermostat temperature.

At the front of the cabin is an open decked area with wood lounging chairs and soft wool throws for watching the Northern lights.

Centre piece of the cabin is the glass enclosed fire (wood supplied, refills at €10 - a refill will do two or three burns, delivered to your cabin). The fire can be seen from both lying in bed or sitting in the lounge. The fire is easy to start and takes two minutes.

Everything is well maintained and good quality. The maid comes every other day.

This room made our holiday as there was nothing better of an evening cosying around the open fire, watching TV, reading, it’s was so great just to relax and watch the fire!

We stayed half board which is a good option as the local the area is sparse for bars and restaurants, the closest being 1.5km a 15 / 20 walk and at night in the heavy snow, wind and -10 to -20 it’s a bit much.

The food is buffet style for all included meals. There is a good variety and the food is well prepared and good quality. Breakfast is continental and cooked, fruit, cheeses, breads, porridge, juices, biscuits, pastries etc. For diner there are circa four courses including soup, (no Soup Spoons :-( just dessert spoons), salad bar (no chilled salad folks!), mains (two choices) and dessert (two choices plus fruit) etc The bread is always fresh with several choices.

The soup spoon and chilled folk is my attempt at humour and if this is the only fault with the hotel you know your on a winner!!

There is a great wine selection (extra cost by the glass or bottle).

The restaurant is very cosy and authentic Lapland. It’s well designed and well maintained.

The staff are all dressed in traditional Lappish dress and speak good English.

We did not have time to visit the sauna and Jacuzzi so we cannot comment.

One negative is the Hotel Yllashumina App for the Northern Lights, cost £5 is the worst App ever! Use one of the free ones available.

Excursions:

The hotel offers a number of these some managed and run by themselves*. We booked three excursions, Reindeer farm visit and sleigh ride*, half day Husky mushing and Snow mobile safari*.

All three are definitely worth booking as they have 100% made our holiday. They are all very different from each other and are exiting and especially the Reindeer farm visit take you back to how Finnish people originally lived.

The Husky mushing I have reviewed separately as they have their own TA page called Powerun Adventures.

Ski mobile is a must. You go out as a single or a pair and after a short safety and skills lesson you go out on a good 30 to 40 km drive, up and down fells, through forests and over lakes reaching speeds of up-to 50km depending on the driver. At the half way point you stop for rest and a light lunch supplied which was curried chicken tikka masala soup and cheese breads with hot blueberry juice to drink.

The rest was for circa 40 minutes during which time myself and another rider took the Ski Mobiles out on the frozen lake for a speed run or two getting up-to speeds of 70 km per hour.

If your riding in a pair you have a the option to switch around so the passenger becomes the driver.

One other excursion we booked locally was the Ice Village which we have reviewed separately. This is a 65€ cab fare each way as a cab or drive is the only way to get to it. Drive time is 25 min. Entry 17€ per person. There is a coach service but I think this is on a pre booked excursion. Cost unknown.

All pre arranged transfers and pickups, to and from the Airport and excursions where always on time and the vehicles are mini van types that are well heated.

Taxis are the same as London and work on a black cab style meter.

Airport transfer time is 45 minutes, Reindeer farm 25 minutes, Huskies 15 minutes, Snow mobile 5 minutes and Ice Village 30 minutes.

Internet connection in the hotel, out and about even in the middle of the wilderness is a very good 4G.

Hotel in all areas has strong free WiFi.

This possibly is the best holiday we have ever had!

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