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cul-de-sac. Rooms share sparkling bathrooms (one is ensuite) and a kitchen/dining area
where you prepare your own breakfast. Prices soar at Christmas.
Santa Claus Holiday Village
COTTAGES
( 040-159-3811;
www.schv.fi
;
Tähtikuja 2, Napapiiri;d €99-149; )
This cottage complex is right at Santa's Napapiiri home. It's run out of an enormous
souvenir shop (there's a Santa in here too) but staff bend over backwards to be helpful and
can arrange all sorts of activities. Cottages are at a decent distance from tour groups and
offer modern, spacious hotel-standard rooms with sauna and kitchenette.
Cottages are semi-detached with connecting doors so families can rent out a whole one.
Staff will collect you from the airport, but a car can be a good idea so as not to be stuck
out here. Prices are high in December and New Year, but include half-board.
Arctic Snow Hotel
ICE HOTEL
( 040-769-0395;
www.arcticsnowhotel.fi
;
Lehtoahontie 27, Sinettä;s/d/ste €170/250/330, glass ig-
loo tw €385; mid-Dec-Mar; )
On the shore of a lake, the Arctic offers the complete snow hotel experience and also has a
snow restaurant as well as warmer eating choices. Alongside the snow hotel is an array of
glass igloos (available from the beginning of December), ideal for aurora-watching. It's
26km northwest of Rovaniemi, but staff will collect you for not much more.
You can visit the complex (adult/child €12/6) even if you're not a guest.
Hotel Santa Claus
HOTEL
(
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
;
016-321-321;
www.hotelsantaclaus.fi
;Korkalonkatu 29;s/d €168/203;
)
Thankfully this excellent hotel is devoid of sleighbells and 'ho-ho-ho' kitsch. It's right in
the heart of town and very upbeat and busy, with helpful staff and a good bar and restaur-
ant. Rooms have all the trimmings and are spacious, with a sofa and good-sized beds; a
supplement gets you a slightly larger superior room. Unacceptably, wi-fi is charged. Prices
can halve in summer.
Eating
