Lapland Hotels Saaga

We have just returned from a 4 night stay 22-26th December. All I can say is wow, we have already rebooked to come back next Christmas for 7 nights in the same hotel we loved it that much. So we booked our package deal with TUI and blew from Birmingham to Kittila airport. We had a 6am flight and decided to stay in hotel Ibis at the airport the night before so we could get a couple of hours rest as we have a five year old little girl and thought it wouldn’t be fair to wake her up really early as we was travelling from Liverpool to Birmingham. The staff at the airport were amazing, dressed as elves and came over to speak to each child individually asking them if they have been good etc. Again the staff on the plane were amazing with the children and had them singing Christmas songs at the front and back of the plane and entertaining them with some games. The pilot dropped the plane a few times and said Santa had landed on the plane with his reindeers when we were close to landing. Upon arrival at the airport the whole process was really quick, we went through customs collected our luggage and was shows to our coach were we put our luggage and then walked back to a small building right by the coaches. This is were we collected our snow suits, boots and gloves etc. They gave us a large bag to put it all in and we pulled it along the snow back to the coach and off we went. In total it took about 30/40 mins to arrive to the hotel but it felt like 10 mins as the view was just unbelievable. When we arrived at the hotel we were lucky enough that our room was ready to check in straight away and wow what a view we had from our room. We were second floor so our door open straight into the slopes which was definitely a deal breaker for us as we could just walk out our room and play on the sledges on the slopes. We were bed and breakfast which was perfect for us as we like to try new places and not be tied down to bullet food. The first night we ate our tea in the hotel which was really nice food and reasonable price. I think it came to €70 to two adults and a child with drinks included in that price. The remaining nights we went for a meal in the local restaurants which were about 2/3 mins walk from the hotel. Again all the restaurants were really nice and reasonable price. The hotel is situated in a really great location right next to the ski slopes, restaurants, ski rental shop, tourist shop were you can book extra excursions. Although we arrived the 22nd of December and did not have extra excursions booked, surprisingly they had them all still available such as husky ride, reindeer ride, snowmobiling, so we just booked all this when we arrived. We booked private ski lessons on Christmas Day and also rented the ski equipment from the hotel which was about €40 each for the day. We had such a good time skiing and would highly recommend the slopes here as they have a huge variety of slopes. The spa- wow the spa area was much nicer in person than t

- The location of the hotel was absolutely perfect for our skiing trip. We could put on our skiis outside and get straight to the lifts. - Easy paring outside the hotel. - The room was clean and big enough for the three of us. Lovely view over the mountain and perfect for the kids to go out and play in the snow. - The kids loved the swimmingpool after a day out skiing. - Breakfast was nothing special but ok. - I would have liked to have a dryer cabin in the room for our damp skiing clothes and boots. I will gladly stay here again.

We stayed in one of the chalets as a couple at the end of January. I’m not sure it really qualified as a “chalet” as it was part of a much larger building, but it was still very nice. The private sauna was wonderful as was the included breakfast, which was among the best hotel breakfasts I’ve ever had. I agree with some of the other reviewers that it seemed weird to leave the balcony lights on all night when you’re trying to look out at the sky, but maybe there’s a good reason for that. It also seemed strange not to supply at least some coffee and tea supplies in the rooms, especially since the grocery next to the hotel is very limited. But overall this was a magical place with easy bus connections with the Kolari train and many great tour options. The spa within the main hotel was not included in the chalet price and we didn’t see that, but were very happy with the private sauna in the chalet.

Loved our stay here. Long way from hotel facilities and no pool access. We had children with us. Our apartment needed more cutlery and glasses. I often expect when booking through a hotel and upgrading the room that you still get to access hotel facilities and have basics in room like tea and coffee. Amazing views, clean and comfortable. Good room temperature

We stayed as part of a TUI Lapland trip, the staff were all very helpful and friendly from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. The rooms are a little dated, we had a twin with a pull out sofa bed, bit of a squeeze for a family of 4. Bathroom had a shower, no bath. Beds were comfortable enough. The buffet breakfast was decent enough, although there was no variation so after 4 days was a little samey. Little things like a decent coffee being chargeable doesn’t help either. We also ate from the bar one evening (Bistro menu), which was again fine, menu very similar in all the resort eateries, and the staff also seemed to appear over the road in Taiga too. Swimming pool was a handy addition, a little cold mind, but addition of a couple of jacuzzis is good. Overall a decent stay, and would return for skiing in Ylläs.

We’ve just returned from what was a pretty shambolic, awful and upsetting, experience with TUI in Lapland. Whilst we were really pleased with the welcome at Gatwick, and the staff at the airport and onboard were wonderful, the issues started as soon as we arrived at the Saaga Hotel. And a saga it was. Room allocation As we arrived, we were allocated a room, allegedly a 10 min walk from the main hotel building. Having been awake since 2am, we were told to drag ourselves, our luggage, our sack of snowsuits, and our 5 year old across the snow, to a block of chalets. Staff pointed in the general vicinity of a a few buildings in the distance. When we figured out the difference between what was on the piece of paper we were given, and the name of the building we were actually due to be in, we got our room - 30 mins later. Upon arrival, we unpacked for a couple of hours and decided to begin our holiday and play in the snow. As we were getting ready to leave, suddenly, our room door opens. We heard some voices outside and quickly realised it was another family coming in - they had been allocated the same room. Luckily, despite being mid getting dressed to go out, we were all decent. The family who were trying to come in were equally as tired and despondent as we were. After numerous phone calls (from our own phones as the rooms didn’t have any despite being 15 mins away from the main hotel), we were told that we had actually been allocated the wrong room and had to move. We’d spent about two hours unpacking and were not too pleased to say the least. The discussions continued and a ‘shift manager’ eventually made her way to the block. Upon arrival, this incredibly rude lady told us we had to move and that was that. We questioned why they just couldn’t give the other family another room. They initially told us the hotel was fully booked, but they then said there were no others in the ‘category’ they had booked for. They were adamant we had to pack our things and move. We weren’t too happy and wanted to see what alternative they could offer. Having spent so much time unpacking, we explained that we didn’t mind them moving us if they were happy to move our things for us to avoid us spending another 2 hours packing and unpacking. When you’re on a three day holiday, this time is important. Whilst we were negotiating the next course of action, three members of the hotel staff barged into the room (two men and one woman) and started remaking the beds, and cleaning the room. This is whilst my five-year-old, my wife, and myself were sat in the room. It was quite intimating, incredibly aggressive and completely inappropriate. As the hotel staff did what they were doing, I walked outside the room to see the ‘shift manager’ talking to the other family. It seems they did have another room after all. We stayed in our room. After we came back from playing in the snow, we tried to get into our room, only to find out we had been lock

So firstly I wanted to say that I'm surprised at how little reviews this place has due to the amount of visitors here. We stayed here for 3 nights B+B as part of a Lapland Santa holiday with TUI. The hotel was lovely. Good standard food and drink throughout. Lovely fires in most locations. Polite and friendly staff. We stayed in the 2 bedroom apartments in block 9 located beside the ski lifts and Tiagra restaurant/bar and other eateries. The appartment was fabulous. Clean, modern and large. Never heard any other residents and it was lovely and warm with added bonus of our own sauna. We were allocated Tiagra like others for breakfast which was ideal. Nice and close, plenty to chose from (buffet style) We also ate at the main restaurant for lunch and dinner once, ate at the Tiagra for dinner and the bistro. Our favourite was the bistro. Nice big fire and fantastic views of the slopes. Sat and had a drink while watching people finishing their ski/boarding. Kids sledges, don't worry if they aren't at the front of the hotel you will find them all around the complex (side roads, backs of apartments , outside the pub) if you struggle to get one there will be plenty at the sledge slope. The sledge slope is behind the ski lifts . When facing the hotel it's on your right as far as you can walk. I've oast the Tiagra restaurant, past the bistro, he'sburger and ski lifts. We did the Santa experience with TUI which we all enjoyed. We also got the ski bus down to Askalompolo where we saw the large reindeer statue, the frozen lake, swing and went to the shops. Nice day out. Bus was €13 day trip ticket and took about 20 minutes. You can download the timetable yllas ski bus.. the bus picks you up outside Tiagra or the main hotel. I would definitely recommend this hotel and if we ever go back to Yllas I would definitely stay here rather than in town or Askalompolo. For TUI guests-lapland experience. Festival finale.....give it a miss! Here is why... Like another guest has said the TUI festival finale should be scrapped or altered. Here's why. Firstly you get picked up at reception for 6pm to go to a different hotel in middle of nowhere. Remember you have handed back your snowsuits by this point. On entering the hotel you wait in a long queue for 20-30 minutes to then be seen to a table that you will share with total random people for the next 4 hours. Whilst at your table you are invited up for the buffet traditional xmas dinner. On finishing your dinner there is a couple of poor singers, followed by a kids disco and then a terrible cabaret act. Around 10pm you are invited outside for a firework show which is actually a cardboard box with a single fuse, lit by one member of staff and lasts 45 seconds. You then join another queue to get one of the 5 buses back to various venues. Arriving back at the hotel just after 11pm. Our flight the next day wasn't until 1235 but our pick up was 8.20am with no other stops along the way. A long wait at a small a

Booked with Tui 4 nights b&b. There was 5 of us (boys 15, 13 and 8) we upgraded to two apartments with a sauna each which were lovely- warm, cozy, clean, quiet and well equipped with a drying cupboard, dishwasher, microwave and tv. Breakfast at the Taiga was lovely with lots of variety, quiet and plenty of seating. We ate a few times at the bistro in the main hotel - bar meals which were tasty with friendly bar staff. Tui staff were friendly and helpful - day trip to the ice hotel to meet Santa was lovely. This hotel is right next to the ski lifts and gondolas with ski hire and lessons available. We went up the gondola to the top of the mountain - cafe at the top for hot chocolate. There is an area for sledging the other-side of ski lift. My partner and 15 year old went skiing for 2 days and thoroughly enjoyed it. I took the 8 and 13 year old on the tui reindeer and husky experiences which were around £800 total!! However, a once in a lifetime experience especially when the elf told my youngest that if a reindeer winks with his left eye then it is actually Rudolph and a reindeer winked and he literally is still talking about it even now we are home! I thought tui were great and only have two negatives which I must stress is nothing to do with the hotel (which was perfect) 1) the Xmas finale party was terrible - they take coach loads of people from Saaga and other hotels and leave you at this venue for 3 hours eating lukewarm food listening to Xmas music. People were taking taxis back early and more people were sitting on the stairs waiting to leave than sat in the room. Then a 30 second firework display and back in the coaches at 10pm when the next issue 2) they drop you at the airport early the next day about 1 1/2 hours earlier than you need to - there are young children on this trip- if the party could be held in the Taiga venue then people could leave when they wanted. This were the only issues (tui and not hotel) and apart from that we had an amazing time and a shout out to the elf on our transfer coach (fig pudding) who was a lot of fun! In all an amazing trip and we loved Saaga and even considering coming here just for skiing in the future

Family of 4 and we were allocated the Nordic apartments which are a few hundred meters from the main hotel. The SC apartment was excellent, had everything we needed, spacious, clean, amazing views and a sauna, very impressed overall. We had the half board option with breakfast in Taiga and Dinner at Saaga which were both only a few mins walk. The buffet food was excellent especially the evening meal so I’m so glad we went for this option. Different dishes each evening and a good variety for meat eater, vegetarians and kids. I would not recommend going SC in this village as the nearest shop is an hr walk and is expensive compared to UK so the half board option is both delicious and great value for money. The staff at both venues were great, helpful and friendly. The location is amazing, few minute to walk to ski slopes and other bars/restaurants. If we return to Yllas then I would def return here, thank you for a wonderful experience.