Reviewed 25 Mar 2008 by Anne Mathieu
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Dog sledge safari in the wilderness and getting an insight of the husky’s world with the manager of one of the biggest European husky centre.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you are very sensitive to the cold, go in March rather than December when the temperature is much warmer (-10C in the day), pack merino wool clothing and make sure you avoid staying still for too long e.g. being a passenger of a snow mobile, cross country skiing is very effective for warming up and is an excellent exercise.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The vacation benefited local people as to the local jobs opportunities it creates (hotel staff, guides, massage therapist, taxi drivers...) Activities were controlled by guides, skiing routes marked on maps so that tourism has a less damaging effect on the environment. Obviously going to Lapland on a bank vacation week-end has a bigger carbon foot print then going for a week so the impact on the environment in that respect was not minimal.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I would definitively go back despite the fact I am not a great fan of the cold weather. But Lapland is magical and inspiring. People are friendly. It is an extraordinary place to get away to. I would go back for a week for more cross country skiing and husky safari. I would recommend this vacation to anybody, youngsters or grown ups, couples or family, there is something for everyone from not so active vacation makers to thrill seekers.
Reviewed 09 Jan 2008 by Deborah Thomas
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Snowmobiles and riding on the Huskies!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Go for a longer Husky safari, rather than just a 1.5 hour one, as their much more fun. Same goes for snowmobiles - go for the longest you can stand, so that you get to go on more isolated terrain.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes and No. It made me appreciate the wilderness, but obviously charging around on metrol-powered skimobiles is not fantastically green. However, vacations like these benefit local communities and stop them from moving away from the area. I had a much greater appreciation of the resourcefulness of the local population though.
The government should make sure it does not over-develop the area, as its popularity increases - it will ruin the place and just make it a colder costa del sol. Manage the growth carefully, to keep the spirit of the area.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fab!
Read the operator's response here:
We are naturally delighted that our client had a "fab" vacation but would like to add a few words regarding the snowmobile safaris and some reassuring words about future tourism development in Lapland.
Snowmobiles are a way of life in Lapland. They are also one of the most environmentally friendly ways of getting around especially as most are powered by 4-stroke engines. The alternative for the local people would be the much maligned 4WD vehicles.
Of course, visitors to the area do not have the same reliance on snowmobiles but the local economy does. There is a huge industry in this area built up around the supply and maintenance of these machines, an industry that provides incomes and jobs which are as much a part of Responsible Travel as environmental considerations.
The growth of tourism in the area is very carefully managed. It is an essential part of the local economy now that forestry work inparticular is so mechanised. However, the Finns and other Scandinavian countries have very carefully Tourism Development strategies which are designed to ensure that it doesn't become a "cold Costa".
The worst time of year is Christmas when the UK charters flood in with fleeting Santa trips which are of little benefit to the environment, the economy or the local communities. That is why the Finnish Tourist Board is actively promoting companies like ourselves because we will not sell durations of less than 3 nights and our focus is on January, February, March and April which provides more sustainable income streams locally.
Reviewed 12 Dec 2007 by Rachel MacGeehan
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The most memorable part of my vacation was getting engaged while husky sledding in Finland! Of course I will never forget that! But everything was exciting - from waking up to see snow on the first morning, to fitting in as many activities as we could while we were there, to eating reindeer (the staff assured me it was not Rudolph!)
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The start of November was a fantastic time to go, because it was just before the big groups arrived for the winter, so we had the run of the place - we were the only ones on our activities, we had the saunas to ourselves, but there was still snow so we could participate in all the activities we wanted to.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I think so, the area we were staying in is mostly a tourist area, so I do feel we benefited local people by staying at Harriniva.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I have told everyone I know how fantastic this place is, we really wanted to go husky sledding and this was why we chose Harriniva, but everything was brilliant, all the equipment was there to use, guides to help you, the staff at the front desk were wonderful with our many questions about the place, the food was plentiful and the saunas were relaxing. I would definitely go again!
Reviewed 11 Dec 2006 by Nicole Vosnakis
We had a fab time... It was very quiet, being just before ski season which we thought might be a bit dull, but it didn't matter one bit. The staff at hotel Jeris and Harriniva were all fantastic, very welcoming,helpful and knowledgable about everything.
The highlight for us was seeing the Northern lights on an evening snowmobile safari... truly an amazing sight, together with fun and excitment of the skidoos... by far the best thing we've done on vacation for ages! Definitely 4 stars!
The only drawback for us was the wellness centre at the hotel wasn't open as there were few people booked into the hotel... we'd set aside a day to make use of this facility. Fortunately the hotel is directly opposite a National Park so we opted for some hiking on it's snowy paths instead.
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