At the start of December I went to Rovaniemi in Finland with my partner, my mum and my brother.
As it was my mum and brother’s first trip abroad it was super exciting, so here’s a look at our holiday.
Day 1
As we had an early flight, we was all up and getting ready by 2am.
A selfie at the airport.
Just over three hours later, we arrived in Rovaniemi, the official home of Santa Claus.
As we’d booked a package holiday with TUI, we hopped on the waiting coach and was whisked into the city.
View from the coach.
Once we’d arrived in Rovaniemi centre, we checked into our hotel.
We stayed at the Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna which I’d highly recommend. We had a super cosy and quiet room and the included breakfast buffet was also good.
Our room.
Once we’d unpacked and had a bit of time to rest, we walked to the Arktikum Museum.
The Arktikum is a science centre and museum all about life in the Artic and the challenges it presents.
After exploring the museum, we walked back into the city centre for dinner.
As there was a pizza shop just opposite our hotel, we decided to get a pizza each and eat it in our rooms.
As it got dark early and my mum and brother were tired, they stayed in for the rest of the night.
Whilst me and my partner headed out to explore until the early hours.
The first spot we visited was the Kemijoki River and Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge, which wasn’t far from our hotel.
After walking along the river, we headed back into the city centre to explore.
We took photos in Lordi’s Square.
Lordi’s Square was originally named Sampo Square. In 2006 when the Finnish band Lordi won the Eurovision Song Contest, the square was renamed in honour of the band.
After Lordi’s Square, we stopped at the world’s second most northerly McDonald’s (recently knocked off first place by one in Russia).
And then headed back towards the Arktikum, as you can sometimes see the northern lights from there.
We spent a couple of hours around the area but it was too cloudy to see anything, so we made the most of the extra deep, untouched snow.
We made footprints in the snow, made snowballs and then walked back to our hotel, ready for bed.
Proper winter holiday ☺️❄️☃️
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😊💕❄☃ xx
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Deep snow sounds great! It’s been years since I saw any:)
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It snowed twice here in London this month. It was the first time in 7 years! Nowhere near as deep and fun as Lapland’s snow though😊 x
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Heh heh! I’m in London too 😊 I just meant we haven’t seen deep snow in years. Would love to build a snowman with my little boy one day 🙂
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Yeah we never see deep snow sadly. Maybe your little boy would like Lapland. Deep snow, reindeers and Santa😊 x
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I’ve never had a ‘winter holiday’ abroad, but it’s something that I want to do. It looks incredibly beautiful! The museum looks interesting as well, I love exploring them. 🙂
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Aaw I really like a winter holiday. The Nordic countries are lovely this time of year😊 Me too. I love visiting new museums xx
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These pictures are so beautiful and wintry! The fluffy blanket on the bed in your room looks super cosy and I love all the pretty lights on display x
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Aaw thank you😊 It was such a cosy, lovely room xx
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This looks like a great vacay. The hotel was beautiful and sights were breathtaking!
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Aaw thank you. We had a great time😊 x
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Since I am about to take an early flight next week, girl you are travel goals! Seriously you look amazing for 2 AM! I am so excited to read this! Your pics looked amazing! Also you guys are couple goals! You are so cute and take the best selfies. Lumberjack Candle Bridge is soooo beautiful and I love that you guys played in the snow! Seriously this gave me all the feels! ❤
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😂 thank you! How I did makeup at that time I don’t know! Aaw thanks so much huni, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Lumberjack’s Candle Bridge was one of my favourite spots, it was just gorgeous at night💕 We also loved to crunch through the snow and play in it at night. We was like two kids😊 xx
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This looks so magical omg!xx
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Aaw thank you, it was such a magical trip😊 x
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We’ve only been to Helsinki, Finland – nothing rustic like what you experienced! I never thought to visit a Scandinavian country in the winter months but I guess it makes a lot of sense… the snowy backdrop is the perfect setting.
Fun fact, in McDonald’s in Russia, they sell little packettes of spices / flavouring to toss onto chicken nuggets.
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Aaw I’d love to visit Helsinki😊 I think a lot of people don’t visit in winter but the snow, northern lights etc is lovely. Really? I said to my partner we should visit Russia most northerly McDonald’s😂 x
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such a magical place, I love that you took so many photos of the twinkling lights, it made me feel I had visited too. a lovely lovely holiday and exploring till the wee hours sounded so much fun.
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Aaw thank you. It felt so magical. The snow, frozen rivers, lights. It was such a special break😊 xx
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Santa’s town is truly impressive. Way better than the one in the mall in the US.
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That’s ‘cos Rovaniemi is Santa’s official home😉 xx
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No way I can’t believe this was your mum and brothers first holiday abroad, I bet they were so excited!!! How lovely 😅 This sounds like the perfect Winter trip, reading this post and looking at the photos makes me miss Christmas so much. The Arktikum museum sounds really interesting, I’d love to go there I bet it’s really cool (literally haha). So looking forward to the rest of your posts! X
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I know! My mum had never been abroad so she was a bit nervous. That’s why we all went😊 Christmas feels like it was so long ago already doesn’t it? I’m still in the cold weather/snow mood like it’s Christmas. Haha it is a cool museum, a bit unusual. Thanks hun😊 x
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Aw bless her, has she made any more travel plans since?? I bet it put her mind at ease going with you as you are such an experienced traveller! Yes it does, and so am I!!! Like I am ready for Christmas again already, I’m still wishing to watch Christmas films and be festive but I’m like I can’t it’s not Christmas anymore! You’re welcome xx
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She wants to take my brother to Disneyland Paris but she’d want me to go as she’s not confident travelling alone. Haha yes she said she wanted to go with me ‘cos I’m an experienced traveller! I know. Christmas just goes so fast. I just want cosy nights and snow x
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Aw I love disneyland! Do you think you’ll go? Haha well I guess it makes sense you would be the perfect person to travel with for a first time traveller! Me tooooo! Although I am also excited for Summer now! Xx
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I’m not sure. I’ll see if I’m able to go but hopefully😊 Haha yes. I think she’s more confident with me there. I guess it wouldn’t be nice for her to travel alone with a child. I know I prefer travelling with someone else. Me too. I like either cold cold weather with snow or hot weather. I hate the grey, rainy UK weather we get xx
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Lovely post! I’m from Sweden and when I went home to Stockholm at Christmas I was so hoping for snow but no snow came. Of course after I left they got some lol lovely to see these snowy pictures / Anna x
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Thank you😊 Oh no! It’s always that way! Lapland was the first time I’d seen very deep snow as I’ve lived in London my whole life x
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great post!! bringing back memories when I was last in Lapland
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Aaw thank you. Lapland is lovely😊 x
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